W2 PM Chesapeake Bay Restoration (Part 2)
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in Ballroom 2

(MEN-1122-325526) Applying a multi-stressor and relative risk framework for understanding factors influencing conditions within Chesapeake Bay.

Menzie, C¹, Amos, B¹, ¹ Menzie-Cura & Associates, Inc.

ABSTRACT- Biological, physical, and chemical stressors vary throughout the Chesapeake Bay. The role they play in shaping conditions depends on local factors as well as factors that operate at larger scales. The relative importance and cumulative effects of physical alterations, nutrient inputs, harvesting, toxics, and introduced species must be viewed within this multi-scale framework. This paper illustrates how conceptual models and a multi-stressor relative risk framework can be used to organize information at varying scales. The approach is designed to lay information out in a manner that is understandable by people with varying degrees of scientific understanding. As such it affords a useful communication tool. For illustration, the approach is focused on three types of regions and regional problems: Baltimore (toxics, nutrient inputs, dissolved oxygen, sedimentation, loss of sea grass beds), island systems within the Bay (physical erosion, sediment enrichment, development), and the Bay at large (dissolved oxygen, nutrients, loss of SAV, toxics, introduced species.

Key words: Biological