Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Use of behavioral endpoints in natural resource damage assessment

Conference ·
OSTI ID:85959
;  [1];  [2]
  1. RCG/Hagler Bailly, Boulder, CO (United States)
  2. National Biological Survey, Columbia, MO (United States)
Behavioral effects caused by exposure to hazardous substances can play an important role in Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) cases. Behavioral avoidance has been recognized as a natural resource injury in the Department of Interior`s NRDA regulations. Behavioral avoidance may be particularly important as an NRDA endpoint because it can occur at exposure concentrations substantially less than lethal concentrations, and can result in the effective loss of aquatic habitat. For example, in a recent NRDA case, laboratory testing demonstrated behavioral avoidance at copper concentrations of 1.2 {micro}g/l and 6 {micro}g/l for rainbow and brown trout, respectively. Other behavioral effects may have similar adverse effects on populations in the wild and may merit inclusion in NRDA injury and restoration studies.
OSTI ID:
85959
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English