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Conceptual Approaches to Identify and Assess Multple Stressors, Section 1.1
Citation:
Suter, B. Antcliffe, W Davis, S. Dyer, J. Gerritsen, G. Linder, AND Munkittrick. Conceptual Approaches to Identify and Assess Multple Stressors, Section 1.1. Multiple Stressors In Ecological Risk and Impact Assessment, Pellston, MI, Sept. 13-17, 1997.
Description:
Every ecosystem is subject to multiple stressors arising from the interactions of biological, physical, and socioeconomic processes (e.g. exploitation and development). These stressors and their interactions need to be identified if risks associated with a planned activity are to be assessed or if the causes of past and future impacts are to be understood. Risks and impacts can be identified from at least 2 perspectives that may not be mutually exclusive: through an assessment of the structure and function of ecological systems (biologically directed approach) or through a stressor-directed (risk-based) approach. The biologically directed approach relies on knowledge of ecosystem effects and the use of ecological epidemiologic strategies to identify stressors and infer relationships among stressors, sources, and activities that are amenable to management intervention. Alternatively, risk-based models are constructed using a top-down approach that links knowledge of landscape activities, sources, and stressors with impacts on ecological receptors. In practice, both strategies are employed, particularly in large-scale, multi-stressed systems. Regardless of the approach, the identification and assessment of multiple stressors demands an interdisciplinary analysis (Bella and Williamson 1976; Holling 1993; Francis 1997). That is, consideration should be given during the analysis to the fundamental biology, chemistry, hydrology, geomorphology, and physics of the system, as well as to its socioeconomic and political setting. Each of these conceptual approaches is discussed below.