An approach to grouping species for ecological risk assessment
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Environmental Science and Research Foundation, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Ecology and Environment, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
The ecological risk assessment (ERA) paradigm acknowledges all levels of ecological organization as having potential for defining assessment and measurement endpoints. However, assessment goals and endpoints are generally concentrated at individual species and population levels. As part of a sitewide, screening-level ERA process at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), a ``functional group`` approach was developed to incorporate assessment at a higher level of ecological organization into the risk analysis process. Functional groups demonstrating biological similarity and similar potential for contaminant exposure were developed using taxonomic, trophic and habitat parameters. As defined, all species are potential surrogates for the other members of the same functional group. Measurement endpoint data for several species may be integrated to address the risk to the group as a whole. The functional group concept was applied throughout the problem formulation, analysis, and risk characterization phases of the assessment process. This approach allows the ERA to be focused on risk to the integrity of individual functional groups, which can subsequently be related to guild and community integrity.
- OSTI ID:
- 40162
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9410273--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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