2012/11/5 Martin Meiss <[email protected]>
> Howdie, Ecologers, > > As others have pointed out, based on their knowledge of ecology, > using a single axis (good, fair, poor) to evaluate ecosystems is inherently > flawed. I would extend this to say that it is inherently flawed for > mathematical/pragmatic reasons, as well. Any time we collapse multiple > axes to a single axis, we are throwing away dimensions of information. This > can only be justified if the purpose of the desired metric is very limited, > such as "good for people to drink," or "good to sustain a trout > population." The most disgustingly sewer-polluted lake in the world is > good from the standpoint of some organisms, such as anaerobic bacteria. > > Additionally, one respondent use the term "healthy" in application > to ecosystems, and I have seen this also in many other threads on this > list-serve. So now I must ask, is the concept of a "healthy" ecosystem > really meaningful? Or does it simply mean something like "this ecosystem > hasn't been messed with very much by people"? > > Of course, one could ask "healthy for whom?" Again, the > sewage-filled lake is healthy for anaerobes, but this doesn't seem to be > what people mean. They seem to use the term as though health is a property > of an ecosystem itself, not a reflection of the requirements of one of its > participants. > > Other times people apply "healthy" to populations, e.g., "There > is a healthy trout population in that lake." Does this mean that the trout > are relatively disease free, or is this form of health something reflected > in the demographics of the population (e.g., stable age structure), > irrespective of the state of its component individuals? > > Does these uses of the word make sense? Is health the property > of an ecosystem or population? If so, is it analogous to health in a plant > or an animal? If not, is not the word misleading, and best avoided? > > Martin M. Meiss > > > 2012/11/4 malcolm McCallum <[email protected]> > >> The outcomes of what Nolan refers to are published in the ASTM >> Standard Methods. >> These will be under effluent testing, 48 hr, 24 hr, etc acute and >> chronic tox assays >> using daphnae, chironomids, etc. There are other effluent testing >> protocols for testing impairment, >> most are standard methods under US EPA manuals. OThers, are published >> by the American Water Works Association. . >> >> On Sun, Nov 4, 2012 at 10:21 AM, J. Michael Nolan >> <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Took a course one time taught by John Cairns, Ph.D. of VA Tech at the >> U. of Michigan. His entire push was to use macroinvertebrates, etc. as more >> important tools of monitoring Water Quality in not only Streams, Rivers, >> but also Lakes. So, find publications from him. >> > >> > I'm sure in all of the indices mentioned to this point, Fecal Coliform >> Bacteria are included in many of them. If not they should be. >> > >> > Also, took a course in Limnology once. Find some good texts on the >> topic and you will find some good recommendations. >> > >> > Thank you. >> > >> > Mike Nolan >> > >> > ---------- >> > >> > If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your >> number, best time to return your call and your e-mail address. >> > >> > After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request. >> > >> > Sincerely, >> > >> > J. 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