You are here:
A Report on the Methods to Associate Variations in Aquatic Biotic Condition to Variations in Stressors
Citation:
HOLLISTER, J. W., S. J. BENYI, J. A. KIDDON, H. A. WALKER, AND D. J. COBB. A Report on the Methods to Associate Variations in Aquatic Biotic Condition to Variations in Stressors. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/X-09/024.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to summarize our many efforts utilizing probabilistic sampling data (i.e. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program and National Coastal Assessment data) to explore the associations between likely stressors and the response as measured by biological endpoints. The key contribution this report makes is a concise summary of numerous methods and links to a more detail bibliography of published research on these methods.
Description:
In this report we present examples of methods that we have used to explore associations between aquatic biotic condition and stressors in two different aquatic systems: estuaries and lakes. We review metrics and indices of biotic condition in lakes and estuaries; discuss some physical, chemical and landscape stressors that may adversely impact biotic condition of receiving waters; and highlight a general approach using several methods to associate variations in aquatic biotic condition to variations in stressors. Our aim is not to create the definitive approach for associating stressors with responses (but see CADDIS for an example detailing methods for stressor identification and causal analysis); however, we present a generic approach, provide a concise listing of methods, and show some selected examples of how we have applied these methods. An additional purpose of this report is to provide a convenient summary of the numerous publications that we (the authors of this report) and others have completed that provide detailed examples of our research on associating stressors and biological response in aquatic systems. These publications (listed in the Annotated Bibliography) represent the most complete and detailed record of our accomplishments towards the completion of APM 179.