8201

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8201
• Author: Carter, J. and V. Lamarra.
• Title: An ecosystem approach to environmental management.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: 261-287
• Copyright Material: YES

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We then proceed to Level II to determine if CR
changes can be explained. We explore the relationships
determing CR, i.e.:

CR f(biomass of invetebrates, microbes,
organics)

If we determine the standing crops of invertebrates and
microbes to be normal, the relationship has not
explained the change. Therefore, other factors which
could be causing the change must be considered. We
enter Level III where other hypotheses are formulated to
explain the change.

We may hypothesize that invertebrate or microbe
respiration has increased, thus, respiration must be
directly measured by utilizing respirometers developed
for the project. If microbial respiration is normal but
invertebrate respiration is above normal, the deviation
in invertebrate respiration must be determined. Perhaps
leached metals or organics caused sublethal stress. We
then analyze properly preserved samples of stream
invertebrates for these compounds. Concurrently,
process waste stream records are inspected for abnormal
levels of the suspected agent. If levels are above the
baseline, then leachate is implicated and the pathway
and appropriate mitigation must be determined.

In summary, community level parameters and
ecosystem-based relationships with sublevels can be used
to narrow the path of investigations of an abnormal data
point. This can then lead to a logical management
decision and action. It should be noted that many of
the activities presented as level I, II, and III could
be occurring concurrently to reduce reaction time.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT/MONITORING PROGRAM

Data gathered in the baseline and monitoring
programs for Tracts Ua and Ub will be incorporated into
an ecosystem model which will be continually refined as
more data are accumulated. Emphasis is being placed on
the preproduction period to complete the majority of
ecosystem relationships for the model and refine
techniques to be used in the long-term program.

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