title: Summary and recommendations from a SETAC Pellston Workshop on in situ measures of ecological effects.
abstract: The objective of a SETAC Pellston Workshop held in Portland, Oregon, USA, in November 2004 was to evaluate the use of field-based biological effects and exposure techniques in the hazard and risk assessment of aquatic ecosystems, thereby improving the accuracy and relevance of the decision-making process. This objective was addressed by keynote presentations outlining the state of the science and providing case studies, followed by work-group discussions focusing on 4 main areas: 1) Improving stressor-effect diagnostic capability in the assessment process; 2) maximizing efficiency, quality assurance and quality control, and broad-scale applicability of in situ field bioassays and experimental approaches; 3) determining the ecological relevance and consequences of individual and food chain-based effect measures; and 4) incorporating results from field-based effect methods into a weight-of-evidence decision-making process. Major outcomes from group discussions are highlighted, and future priorities for research in this area are recommended.
authors.affiliation: National Water Research Institute (Environment Canada) at Canadian Rivers Institute, Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, PO Box 45111, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 6E1, Canada. djbaird@unb.ca
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: G Allen
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Culp
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maltby
mesh_terms: D003226:Congresses as Topic; D003657:Decision Making; D004463:Ecology; D004782:Environmental Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D020387:Food Chain; D005843:Geography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants