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<br />2 BIOLOGICAL REPORT 90(5)
<br />
<br />Ecological Research and Impact Assessment:
<br />Complementary but Different Endeavors
<br />
<br />Mark B. Bain
<br />
<br />by
<br />
<br />u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service
<br />Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
<br />331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University
<br />Auburn, Alabama 36849
<br />
<br />While both science and impact assessment rely
<br />on technical studies, they differ in fundamental
<br />goals, approach and scope, and final products.
<br />Research and management biologists come from
<br />similar educational backgrounds, share similar
<br />career interests, and have a high regard for bio-
<br />logical knowledge. However, varied philosophy and
<br />interests emerge due to different work settings and
<br />responsibilities. Science is defined as systematized
<br />knowledge derived from observation, study, and ex-
<br />perimentation carried on in order to determine the
<br />nature or principles of what is being studied. The
<br />basic approach to study is the scientific method:
<br />observation, hypothesis formation, hypothesis test-
<br />ing, deriving results, and interpreting findings
<br />relative to principle or theories. Impact assessment
<br />is the process of documenting the important con-
<br />sequences of proposed actions by (1) objective
<br />analyses of current and predicted conditions and
<br />(2) subjective evaluation of the significance of pre-
<br />dicted changes. In contrast to the scientific method,
<br />the impact assessment method uses distinctly differ-
<br />ent steps: reviewing proposed actions, documenting
<br />baseline conditions, identifying possible impacts,
<br />predicting changes, documenting significant im-
<br />pacts, and formulating recommendations. The
<br />definitions and methods of both science and impact
<br />assessment reflect the fundamental differences
<br />between these endeavors.
<br />Other aspects of science and assessment also dis-
<br />tingaish the professions. Most notable among these
<br />is the interpretation of the term significance. To
<br />scientists, the term refers to the probability level
<br />associated with rejecting a true null hypothesis; in
<br />practice, a result is significant if the data deviate
<br />enough (probability of occurrence ~0.05) from the
<br />prediction of the null hypothesis to be considered
<br />different. To assessment biologists, significance is
<br />determined by a subjective determination that in
<br />
<br />practice depends largely on agency policies, public
<br />concerns, legal standards, personal preferences, and
<br />past case histories. The scope of study differs
<br />between the professions. Scientists work hard to
<br />narrow the number of factors affecting their obser-
<br />vations, whereas assessment studies attempt to
<br />assemble a diverse array of information, data, and
<br />past agency actions to defend a recommendation.
<br />Science progresses through the peer-reviewed litera-
<br />ture, advancement and replacement of theories and
<br />principles, and university education programs. Im-
<br />pact assessment lacks modes of progress due to the
<br />limited nature of professional impact assessment
<br />journals, dependence on changing agency policies
<br />and laws, lack of formal educational programs, and
<br />low emphasis on disseminating assessment study
<br />findings.
<br />Although science and assessment differ in many
<br />ways, the professions complement one another and
<br />benefit from exchange of needs and information.
<br />Natural resource agencies need reliable and ac-
<br />cepted information, methods, and principles from
<br />scientists. Most important are the key factors, pro-
<br />cesses, mechanisms, and structural properties that
<br />represent the essential characteristics and functions
<br />of species and biological systems. In addition, when
<br />this type of information is reduced to accepted
<br />basics, science is directly serving natural resource
<br />agency biologists. To enhance the value of science
<br />to natural resource agencies, assessment biologists
<br />should convey information on the type of scientific
<br />studies that are most needed: intensive studies of
<br />a few factors or extensive studies of complex system
<br />patterns, key biological levels of study (species to
<br />ecosystems), geographic scale, habitat types, and
<br />duration (short- or long-term). Each profession
<br />benefits by understanding the difference and needs
<br />of the other so that information can be exchanged
<br />effectively for mutual benefit.
<br />
<br />J
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