Ecological concern as a factor in the optimal attenuation of diverse stressor sources in a stream.
The use of an objective function based on fuzzy ecological effect expectation in a genetic optimisation algorithm to obtain site or situation specific stressor attenuation values for the management of diverse stressors emanating from several sources is investigated. The approach is based on the premise that both regulator and regulatee are able to formulate their goals in fuzzy terms. In the case of the regulator the goals will be formulated in terms of acceptability of levels of ecological concern (a fuzzy analogy to ecological risk). In the case of the regulatee it will be formulated in terms of acceptability of the level of attenuation, which is also the control variable. A hypothetical catchment is used to illustrate the principle.
Jooste
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Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Private Bag X313, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D013019:South Africa; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical