PT03 Landscape-Scale Ecological Risk Assessment
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday, 11 November 2003
(PT041) Assessment of lentic ecological integrity in a complex montane landscape.
Mehling, M1, Oris, J1, 1 Miami University - Center for Environmental Toxicology & Statistics, Oxford, OH, USA
ABSTRACT- The Sierra Nevada mountain range is an ecologically heterogeneous region subjected to a multitude of anthropogenic impacts. The purpose of this project was to contribute to the development of an assessment protocol for lakes of the region by testing the sensitivity of numerous potential bioindicators of ecological integrity. Intensive sampling was conducted on 17 lakes along an a priori gradient of human impact. Geographic information systems and remote sensing were used (1) to characterize watershed-scale variables to account for landscape complexity and (2) to quantify watershed-scale anthropogenic impacts. A multivariate statistical approach was used to associate anthropogenic impacts with potential bioindicators of ecological integrity and to account for natural covariation.
Key words: remote sensing, geographic information systems, landscape, bioindicators