Monitoring challenges and innovative ideas

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6538588

O'Neill, R V; Hunsaker, C T; Levine, D A

Monitoring programs are difficult to design even when they focus on specific problems. Ecosystems are complex, and it is often impossible to predetermine what aspects of system structure or dynamics will respond to a specific insult. It is equally difficult to interpret whether a response is a stabilizing compensatory mechanism or a real loss of capacity to maintain the ecosystem. The problems are compounded in a broad monitoring program designed to assess ecosystem health'' at regional and continental scales. It is challenging in the extreme to monitor ecosystem response, at any scale, to past insults as well as an unknown future array of impacts. The present paper will examine some of the fundamental issues and challenges raised by large-scale monitoring efforts. The challenges will serve as a framework and as an excuse to discuss several important topics in more detail. Following the discussion of challenges, we suggest some basic innovations that could be important across a range of monitoring programs. The innovations include integrative measures, innovative methodology, and creative interpretation. 59 refs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER; USEPA
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6538588
• Report Number(s): CONF-9010198-1; ON: DE91000586
• Resource Relation: Conference: Ecological indicators conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (USA), 16-19 Oct 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ECOSYSTEMS
MONITORING
ALGAE
BIODEGRADATION
CLIMATES
ENVIRONMENT
FISHES
GEOCHEMISTRY
MORTALITY
POLLUTANTS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
REMOTE SENSING
VARIATIONS
WATER QUALITY
WATERSHEDS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PLANTS
VERTEBRATES
540000* - Environment- (1990-)