TITLE:
Determining Environmental Impacts for Sensitive Species: Using Iconic Species as Bioindicators for Management and Policy
AUTHORS:
Joanna Burger, Michael Gochfeld, Charles W. Powers, James H. Clarke, Kevin Brown, David Kosson, Lawrence Niles, Amanda Dey, Christian Jeitner, Taryn Pittfield
KEYWORDS:
Assessment; Bioindicators; Contaminants; Endpoints Management; Public Policy; Fish; Birds
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.8B,
August
27,
2013
ABSTRACT: Environmental assessment of impacts,
management, and policy are important aspects of protection of human health and
the environment. Assessing the impacts of human activities requires selection
of bioindicator species that can be used to assess, manage, and develop public
policies that ensure ecosystem integrity, and therefore sustainability of
social, cultural, and economic systems. With the use of Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Pacific Cod (Gadusmacrocephalus), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa), we explore assessment and measurement
endpoints, and their relationship to management and development of public
policy. This combination of fish and birds provides a diversity of life
histories, ecosystem roles, human values, and resource use to explore their use
as bioindicators and endpoints. It also allows examination of 1) conservation
and protection of species and biodiversity, 2) protection of ecosystems, 3)
provision of goods and services, and 4) societal well-being.