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(431) Considering ecological relevance in designing toxicity tests: when is it appropriate? Kapustka, Lawrence1, 1 ABSTRACT- Toxicity data are used in different settings to answer different questions. Global efforts to label products focus on relative and actual hazards of commercial products. Against a backdrop of 250,000 flowering plant species in dozens of distinct ecological systems, it is patently futile to invoke ecological relevance from any limited suite of phytotoxicity toxicity tests that might be used to characterize hazard. Similarly, regional or generic risk assessments must always consider large uncertainties when extrapolating potential effects from a few species to a few hundred plant species. Ecological relevance of toxicity tests become increasingly important as the scale of interest (both spatially and temporally) narrows to sites (i.e., from a few hectares to several kilometers square and a relatively few years in duration). Standardized and customized test methods will be discussed as they apply to hazard determination and ecological risk assessment. Limitations and advantages, including cost considerations will be discussed. Key words: phytotoxicity, ecological relevance, interspecies variation, sensitive species |
