PH02 Undergraduate Education in Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Thursday
(PH003) Ecotoxicological Information for Teachers and Students: Wildlife and Contaminants Online.
McKernan, M1, Kershnar, R2, Meckstroth, A2, Eisenreich, K1, Golden, N1, Hothem, R2, Rattner, B1, 1 USGS-Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA2 USGS-Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon, CA, USA
ABSTRACT- The Contaminant Exposure and Effects-Terrestrial Vertebrates (CEE-TV) database (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/contaminants-online/) summarizes ecotoxicological information for free-ranging amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals residing within estuarine and coastal habitats in the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes, and Alaska and Hawaii. A new curriculum derived from this website introduces students through the processes by which scientists interpret raw data and draw conclusions about the effects of contaminants on wildlife. This curriculum contains five lesson plans developed for high school biology or environmental science. Each lesson has a downloadable teacher's manual, PowerPoint presentation, activity sheet, assignments, glossary, and bibliography. In addition to the Tools for Teachers, the CEE-TV database, Utility and Vulnerability Ranking Programs for Terrestrial Vertebrates and the Species Characterizations continue to provide useful and interesting ecotoxicological information. The CEE-TV database is a compilation of ecotoxicological data derived from published literature, other databases, and unpublished reports searchable by species, collection date, site coordinates, estuary name, sample matrix, contaminant concentrations, biomarker and bioindicator responses, and reference source. The Ranking Programs assist and educate decision makers in risk assessments. Two sets of indices have been developed to rank terrestrial vertebrates for their utility in biomonitoring and susceptibility to Persistent Organic Pollutants, Cholinesterase-Inhibiting Pesticides, Petroleum, Mercury, and Lead Shot. The Utility Indices rank the suitability of terrestrial vertebrate species as potential sentinels of exposure to contaminants in a region, while the Vulnerability Indices rank susceptibility of populations upon exposure to contaminants in a region. These indices can be applied to many types of habitats and can be of value to managers that routinely conduct environmental quality assessments. The species characterizations are written summaries of biological characteristics and contaminant exposure and effects data for 42 coastal and estuarine terrestrial vertebrates. This website now contains a variety of resources for educators, students, managers, and scientists.
Key words: database, curriculum, teaching, education