Indirect Effects in Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment |
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Authors: | BENJAMIN L PRESTON |
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Affiliation: | (1) Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550, Arlington, Virginia 22201, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Understanding toxicant effects at higher levels of biological organization continues to be a challenge in ecotoxicology and
ecological risk assessment. This is due in part to a tradition in ecotoxicology of considering the direct effects of toxicants
on a limited number of model test species. However, the indirect effects of toxicity may be a significant factor influencing
the manner in which ecosystem structure and function respond to anthropogenic stressors. Subsequently, failure to incorporate
indirect effects into risk assessment paradigms may be a significant source of uncertainty in risk estimates. The current
paper addresses the importance of indirect effects in an ecotoxicological context. Laboratory, mesocosm, and whole ecosystem
research into indirect effects is reviewed. The implications of indirect effects for ecological risk assessment and potential
areas of profitable future research are also discussed. |
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Keywords: | : Ecotoxicology Indirect effects Ecological risk assessment Interspecific interactions |
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