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ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN RISK ASSESSMENT: WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Citation:
Stahl Jr., R. G., J OrmeZavaleta, K. Austin, W J. Berry, J. R. Clark, S M. Cormier, W S. Fisher, J H. Garber, R. A. Hoke, L E. Jackson, G. L. Kreamer, C. Muska, AND M. Sierszen. ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN RISK ASSESSMENT: WORKSHOP SUMMARY. HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT 6(4):671-677, (2000).
Description:
Ecological indicators can be defined as relatively simple measurements that relay scientific information about complex ecosystems. Such indicators are used to characterize risk in ecological risk assessment and to mark progress toward resource management goals. In late 1997 scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and from the Chemical Manufacturers Association held a workshop to explore opportunities for collaborative research and scientific exchange on the development and application of ecological indicators. Several scientific challenges were identified relating to problem formulation, exposure and effects analysis, and risk characterization. Workshop participants agreed on the need for research leading to a better understanding of multiple stressors (both chemical and non-chemical), characterization of reference sites and natural variability, extrapolation of measures to ecologically-relevant scales, development of comprehensive, ecosystem-based models that incorporate multiple stressors and receptors, and a consistent system for evaluating indicators.