Ebook: Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches

Ecotoxicology is the science that seeks to predict the impacts of chemi­ cals upon ecosystems. This involves describing and predicting ecological changes ensuing from a variety of human activities that involve release of xenobiotic and other chemicals to the environment. A fundamental principle of ecotoxicology is embodied in the notion of change. Ecosystems themselves are constantly changing due to natural processes, and it is a challenge to distinguish the effects of anthropogenic activities against this background of fluctuations in the natural world. With the frustratingly large, diverse, and ever-emerging sphere of envi­ ronmental problems that ecotoxicology must address, the approaches to individual problems also must vary. In part, as a consequence, there is no established protocol for application of the science to environmental prob­ lem-solving. The conceptual and methodological bases for ecotoxicology are, how­ ever, in their infancy, and thus still growing with new experiences. In­ deed, the only robust generalization for research on different ecosystems and different chemical stresses seems to be a recognition of the necessity of an ecosystem perspective as focus for assessment. This ecosystem basis for ecotoxicology was the major theme of a previous pUblication by the Ecosystems Research Center at Cornell University, a special issue of Environmental Management (Levin et al. 1984). With that effort, we also recognized an additional necessity: there should be a continued develop­ ment of methods and expanded recognition of issues for ecotoxicology and for the associated endeavor of environmental management.

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This book conveys to the reader an up-to-date overview of the science of ecotoxicology, which describes and predicts ecological changes resulting from a variety of human activi- ties irvolving release of chemicals to the environment. Throughout, the emphasis is on the analysis and synthesis of underlying principles from an ecosystem perspective that will be valuable to scientists and professionals in this area of environmental science.

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This book conveys to the reader an up-to-date overview of the science of ecotoxicology, which describes and predicts ecological changes resulting from a variety of human activi- ties irvolving release of chemicals to the environment. Throughout, the emphasis is on the analysis and synthesis of underlying principles from an ecosystem perspective that will be valuable to scientists and professionals in this area of environmental science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches....Pages 3-7
Indicators of Ecosystem Response and Recovery....Pages 9-35
Front Matter....Pages 37-39
Effects of Heavy Metals in a Polluted Aquatic Ecosystem....Pages 41-67
Determining the Ecological Effects of Oil Pollution in Marine Ecosystems....Pages 69-97
The Effects of Chemical Stress on Aquatic Species Composition and Community Structure....Pages 99-144
Theoretical and Methodological Reasons for Variability in the Responses of Aquatic Ecosystem Processes to Chemical Stresses....Pages 145-179
The Effects of Chemicals on the Structure of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Mechanisms and Patterns of Change....Pages 181-209
Front Matter....Pages 211-212
Models in Ecotoxicology: Methodological Aspects....Pages 213-220
Mathematical Models—Fate, Transport, and Food Chain....Pages 221-243
Deterministic and Statistical Models of Chemical Fate in Aquatic Systems....Pages 245-277
Bioaccumulation of Hydrophobic Organic Pollutant Compounds....Pages 279-313
Environmental Chemical Stress Effects Associated with Carbon and Phosphorus Biogeochemical Cycles....Pages 315-350
Biomonitoring: Closing the Loop in the Environmental Sciences....Pages 351-366
The Role of Terrestrial Microcosms and Mesocosms in Ecotoxicologic Research....Pages 367-410
The Role of Aquatic Microcosms in Ecotoxicologic Research as Illustrated by Large Marine Systems....Pages 411-470
Front Matter....Pages 471-472
Ecotoxicology Beyond Sensitivity: A Case Study Involving “Unreasonableness” of Environmental Change....Pages 473-496
Regulatory Framework for Ecotoxicology....Pages 497-516
Environmental Decision Making in the Presence of Uncertainty....Pages 517-540
Back Matter....Pages 541-547

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This book conveys to the reader an up-to-date overview of the science of ecotoxicology, which describes and predicts ecological changes resulting from a variety of human activi- ties irvolving release of chemicals to the environment. Throughout, the emphasis is on the analysis and synthesis of underlying principles from an ecosystem perspective that will be valuable to scientists and professionals in this area of environmental science.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches....Pages 3-7
Indicators of Ecosystem Response and Recovery....Pages 9-35
Front Matter....Pages 37-39
Effects of Heavy Metals in a Polluted Aquatic Ecosystem....Pages 41-67
Determining the Ecological Effects of Oil Pollution in Marine Ecosystems....Pages 69-97
The Effects of Chemical Stress on Aquatic Species Composition and Community Structure....Pages 99-144
Theoretical and Methodological Reasons for Variability in the Responses of Aquatic Ecosystem Processes to Chemical Stresses....Pages 145-179
The Effects of Chemicals on the Structure of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Mechanisms and Patterns of Change....Pages 181-209
Front Matter....Pages 211-212
Models in Ecotoxicology: Methodological Aspects....Pages 213-220
Mathematical Models—Fate, Transport, and Food Chain....Pages 221-243
Deterministic and Statistical Models of Chemical Fate in Aquatic Systems....Pages 245-277
Bioaccumulation of Hydrophobic Organic Pollutant Compounds....Pages 279-313
Environmental Chemical Stress Effects Associated with Carbon and Phosphorus Biogeochemical Cycles....Pages 315-350
Biomonitoring: Closing the Loop in the Environmental Sciences....Pages 351-366
The Role of Terrestrial Microcosms and Mesocosms in Ecotoxicologic Research....Pages 367-410
The Role of Aquatic Microcosms in Ecotoxicologic Research as Illustrated by Large Marine Systems....Pages 411-470
Front Matter....Pages 471-472
Ecotoxicology Beyond Sensitivity: A Case Study Involving “Unreasonableness” of Environmental Change....Pages 473-496
Regulatory Framework for Ecotoxicology....Pages 497-516
Environmental Decision Making in the Presence of Uncertainty....Pages 517-540
Back Matter....Pages 541-547
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