Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Ecotoxicology: Problems and Approaches

      • Simon A. Levin, Mark A. Harwell, John R. Kelly, Kenneth D. Kimball

      Pages 3-7

   3. Indicators of Ecosystem Response and Recovery

      • John R. Kelly, Mark A. Harwell

      Pages 9-35

3. Responses of Ecosystems to Chemical Stress

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 37-39

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   2. Effects of Heavy Metals in a Polluted Aquatic Ecosystem

      • Paul L. Klerks, Jeffrey S. Levinton

      Pages 41-67

   3. Determining the Ecological Effects of Oil Pollution in Marine Ecosystems

      • Robert W. Howarth

      Pages 69-97

   4. The Effects of Chemical Stress on Aquatic Species Composition and Community Structure

      • Jesse Ford

      Pages 99-144

   5. Theoretical and Methodological Reasons for Variability in the Responses of Aquatic Ecosystem Processes to Chemical Stresses

      • Suzanne N. Levine

      Pages 145-179

   6. The Effects of Chemicals on the Structure of Terrestrial Ecosystems: Mechanisms and Patterns of Change

      • David A. Weinstein, Elaine M. Birk

      Pages 181-209

4. Methods and Models

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 211-212

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   2. Models in Ecotoxicology: Methodological Aspects

      • Simon A. Levin

      Pages 213-220

   3. Mathematical Models—Fate, Transport, and Food Chain

      • Donald J. O’Connor, John P. Connolly, Edward J. Garland

      Pages 221-243

   4. Deterministic and Statistical Models of Chemical Fate in Aquatic Systems

      • Robert V. Thomann

      Pages 245-277

   5. Bioaccumulation of Hydrophobic Organic Pollutant Compounds

      • John W. Farrington

      Pages 279-313

   6. Environmental Chemical Stress Effects Associated with Carbon and Phosphorus Biogeochemical Cycles

      • Abraham Lerman, Fred T. Mackenzie, Robert J. Geiger

      Pages 315-350

   7. Biomonitoring: Closing the Loop in the Environmental Sciences

      • Edwin E. Herricks, David J. Schaeffer, James A. Perry

      Pages 351-366

   8. The Role of Terrestrial Microcosms and Mesocosms in Ecotoxicologic Research

      • James W. Gillett

      Pages 367-410

   9. The Role of Aquatic Microcosms in Ecotoxicologic Research as Illustrated by Large Marine Systems

      • Juanita N. Gearing

      Pages 411-470

5. Ecotoxicological Decision Making

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 471-472

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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.

• Biom
• Biomonitoring
• biogeochemical cycles
• ecosystem
• ecosystem processes
• environment
• mesocosm
• terrestrial ecosystem
• terrestrial ecosystems
• ecotoxicology

• Center for Environmental Research and Ecosystems Research Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  Simon A. Levin, Mark A. Harwell

• Ecosystems Research Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

  John R. Kelly

• Research Department, Appalachian Mountain Club, Gorham, USA

  Kenneth D. Kimball

Policies and ethics