title: In situ-based effects measures: determining the ecological relevance of measured responses.
abstract: The aim of this review is to examine how the choice of test species and study design employed in the use of in situ approaches in ecological risk assessment can maximize the ecological relevance of data. We provide a framework to define and assess ecological relevance that permits study designs to remain focused on the ecological question being addressed. This framework makes explicit the linkages between effects at lower levels of biological organization and higher-order ecological effects at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. The usefulness of this framework is illustrated by reference to specific examples from aquatic ecotoxicology. The use of models as both interpretive and predictive tools is discussed, with suggestions of appropriate methods for different protection goals.
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: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lagadic
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liess
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maltby
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreira-Santos
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Geoffrey I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005843:Geography; D011153:Population; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants