Site Map Contents
Introduction to Ecological Risk
Assessment
Introduction: What Is Ecological
Risk Assessment?
> Resource:
Stressors (Text Version)
> Resource:
Adverse Effects (Text Version)
> In-Depth:
EPA's Guidelines for Ecological Assessment
> Activity:
Human And Ecological Risk Assessment
> Resource
:Human And Ecological Risk Assessment (Text Version)
The Phases of Ecological Risk
Assessment
> Resource:
The Phases of Ecological Risk Assessment (Text Version)
Related Activities
> Resources:
Related Activities (Text Version)
> Activity:
How Does Ecological Risk Assessment Contribute to Effective Environmental
Decision-Making?
> Resource:
How Does Ecological Risk Assessment Contribute to Effective Environmental
Decision-Making? (Text Version)
Module 1: Planning the Risk Assessment
Planning the Risk Assessment
> In-Depth: Help
Pages: Navigating the Course
Lesson 1: Planning the Risk Assessment
Planning the Risk Assessment
> Resource:
Ecological Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
The Planning Dialogue
>Resource:
The Planning Dialogue (Text Version)
>In-Depth:
Roles in Planning
Lesson 2: Products of Planning
Products of Planning
> Activity:
Questions Risk Managers and Risk Assessors May Address During Planning
> Resource:
Questions Risk Managers and Risk Assessors May Address During Planning
(Text Version)
Management Goals
> Activity:
Ways Management Goals Are Created
> Resource:
Ways Management Goals Are Created (Text Version)
> Activity:
Management Goals for Waquoit Bay
> >
Resource: Waquoit Bay Management
Goal (Text Version)
>
> Resource:
Five Waquoit Bay Management Objectives (Text Version)
>
> Resource:
The Last Five Waquoit Bay Management Objectives (Text Version)
> >
Resource: How Management Objectives
Are Broken Down into Ecological Entities and Endpoint Attributes
(Text)
Management Options
> Activity:
Identifying Management Options
> Resource:
Identifying Management Options (Text Version)
Scope and Complexity of the Risk
Assessment
> Resource:
Uncertainty (Text Version)
Lesson 3: A Tiered Approach to Risk Assessment
A Tiered Approach to Risk Assessment
> In-Depth:
Avoiding Unnecessary Iteration
> Resource:Tiered
Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
Lesson 4: Finishing Planning
Finishing Planning
> In-Depth: The
Planning Summary
Lesson 5: Wrap-Up
Wrap-Up
Module 2: Problem Formulation
Problem Formulation
> In-Depth: Finer
Points of Problem Formulation
Lesson 1. Overview
Problem Formulation Overview
> Resource: What
Is Problem Formulation? (Text Version)
> Resource:
What Is the Goal of Problem Formulation? (Text Version)
>
Resource: Ecological Risk Assessment
Process Flow (Text Version)
Key Steps
Participants
> In-Depth: Interested
Parties
> Reflection:
Involvement
> Resource:
Possible Answers (Text Version)
Lesson 2. Integrating Available Information
Integrating Available Information
> Resource: Problem
Formulation Process Flow (Text Version)
Information Gathering
> In-Depth: Integrating
Available Information
> Resource:
Integrating Available Information Process Flow (Text Version)
> Resource:
Audio Transcript (Text Version)
> Activity: Starting
an Assessment
> Resource:Starting
an Assessment (Text Version)
> In-Depth:
Data Validity
> Resource: Audio
Transcript
Scale
> Activity: Scale
of Assessment and Information Needs
> Resource:
Scale of Assessment and Information Needs (Text Version)
> Reflection: Ecological
Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
Lesson 3. Selecting Assessment Endpoints
Selecting Assessment Endpoints
> Resource: Information
Gathering
Characteristics
Defining Entities and Attributes
> Activity: Attributes
> Resource:
Attributes (Text Version)
Endpoints vs. Management Goals
> Activity: Example
Management Goals and Assessment Endpoints
> Resource:
Example Management Goals and Assessment Endpoints (Text Version)
> Reflection: Assumptions
in the First Example
Selection Criteria
> Graphic: Considering
Endpoint Criteria
> Resource:
Considering Endpoint Criteria (Text Version)
> Graphic: Individual
> Graphic: Populations
> Graphic: Communities
> Graphic: Hollow
Tree as Ecosystem
> Graphic: Landscapes
> Graphic:
Multiple Ecosystem Processes
Ecological Relevance
> Activity: Relevant
Endpoints
> Resource:
Relevant Endpoints (Text Version)
> In-Depth:
Cascading Effects
Susceptibility
Sensitivity
> Activity: Sensitivity
> Resource:
Sensitivity (Text Version)
> Reflection:Sensitivity
Stressor Exposure
> Activity: Estimating
Exposure
> Resource:
Estimating Exposure (Text Version)
> Activity: Predicting
Entity Response
> Resource:
Predicting Entity Response (Text Version)
> Activity:
Predicting Entity Response — Receptors
> Resource:Predicting
Entity Response — Receptors (Text Version)
Relevance to Management Goals
> Reflection:
Relevance to Management Goals
> In-Depth: Other
Ways to Address the Relevance to Management Goals Example
> Activity: Relevance
to Management Goals
> Resource:
Relevance to Management Goals (Text Version)
Example
> Activity: Salmon
as an Assessment Endpoint
> Resource:Salmon
as an Assessment Endpoint (Text Version)
Evaluating Endpoints
> Activity: Ecosystem
Integrity
> Resource:
Ecosystem Integrity (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Narrow
Endpoints
> Graphic: Selecting
Assessment Endpoints Flow Chart
> Resource:
Selecting Assessment Endpoints Process Flow (Text Version)
Lesson 4. Developing a Conceptual Model and Risk Questions
Developing a Conceptual Model
> Resource: Problem
Formulation Process Flow (Text Version)
What Does the Conceptual Model Encompass?
Conceptual Model Components
Conceptual Model Example A
Conceptual Model Example B
Why and How to Develop Conceptual
Models
> Activity: Conceptual
Models Should Make Sense out of Relationships
> Resource:
Conceptual Models Should Make Sense out of Relationships (Text Version)
> Graphic: Developing
the Conceptual Model
> Resource:
Developing the Conceptual Model (Text Version)
> Activity: Using
Conceptual Models
> Resource:
Using Conceptual Models (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Iteration
in Conceptual Model Development
Uncertainty
> In-Depth: Handling
the Perils of Uncertainty
Lesson 5. Developing an Analysis Plan
Developing an Analysis Plan
> Resource: Problem
Formulation Process Flow (Text Version)
Specifications
> Graphic: Specifications
of the Analysis Plan
> Resource:
Specifications of the Analysis Plan (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Variations
in Analysis Plan Requirements
Risk Questions
> Activity: Risk
Questions
> Resource:
Risk Questions (Text Version)
Measures
> Activity: Types
of Measure
> Resource:
Types of Measure (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Measurement
Terminology
> In-Depth: About
the Coho Salmon Example
Measures of Effect
> Activity: Measures
of Effect
> Resource:
Measures of Effect (Text Version)
Measures of Exposure
> Activity: Measures
of Exposure
> Resource:
Measures of Exposure (Text Version)
Measures of Ecosystem and Receptor
Characteristics
> Activity: Measures
of Ecosystem and Receptor Characteristics
> Resource:
Measures of Ecosystem and Receptor Characteristics (Text Version)
> Activity: Ecosystem
vs. Receptor Characteristics
> Resource:
Ecosystem vs. Receptor Characteristics (Text Version)
Surrogate Measures
Describing Measures
Planned Analytical Methods
Presentation of Results
> Activity: Anticipated
Format and Presentation of Results
> Resource:
Anticipated Format and Presentation of Results (Text Version)
Lesson 6. Wrap-Up
Wrap-Up
> In-Depth: Flow
Chart Review
> Graphic: Integrating
Available Information Process Flow
> Resource:
Integrating Available Information Process Flow (Text Version)
> Graphic: Selecting
Assessment Endpoints Process Flow
> Resource:
Selecting Assessment Endpoints Process Flow (Text Version)
> Graphic: Developing
the Conceptual Model Process Flow
> Resource:
Developing the Conceptual Model Process Flow (Text Version)
> Graphic: Specifications
of the Analysis Plan
> Resource:
Specifications of the Analysis Plan (Text Version)
> Reflection:
Wrap-Up
> Resource:
Wrap-Up Possible Answers (Text Version)
Checkpoints
> Activity:Risk
Manager—Risk Assessor Checkpoints
> Resource:
Risk Manager—Risk Assessor Checkpoints (Text Version)
When Does Analysis Begin?
Review
> Audio: Review
> Resource:
Review: (Text Version)
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Module 3
Module 3: Analysis
> Resource:
Ecological Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
Lesson 1. Analysis Overview
Analysis Overview
> Resource:
What Is Analysis? (Text Version)
> Resource:
What Is the Goal of Analysis? (Text Version)
Key Steps in Analysis
> Resource: Analysis
Process Flow (Text Version)
> In Depth: Conducting
an Analysis When Cascading Effects Are of Concern
Lesson 2. Data
Data
>
Activity: Types of Data
> Resource:Types
of Data (Text Version)
>
In-Depth: Data Collection vs. Data
Selection
> In-Depth:
Field Study Design
Presenting Data
>
Resource: Presenting Data (Text
Version)
>
In-Depth: Indices
>
Activity: Uses and Limitations
of Data Types
> Resource:
Uses and Limitations of Data Types (Text Version)
Questions for Selecting Data
>
Resource: Questions for Selecting
Data (Text Version)
>
In-Depth: Analyzing the Design
of a Study
Sources of Uncertainty
>
Resource: Sources of Uncertainty
(Text Version)
Lesson 3. Characterizing Exposure
Characterizing Exposure
>
Resource: Characterizing Exposure
Process Flow (Text Version)
Describing the Source
Questions
for Describing the Source
> Resource:
Questions for Describing the Source (Text Version)
>
Reflection: Natural Counterparts
to Stressors
>
Resource: Natural Counterparts
to Stressors
>
In-Depth: Questions For Describing The Receptor
Describing Stressor Distribution
Evaluating Transport Pathways from
the Source
> Resource:
Evaluating Transport Pathways from the Source (Text Version)
> Reflection: Diffusion
and Jump Dispersal of Biological Stressors
> Resource:
Diffusion and Jump Dispersal of Biological Stressors
Factors Influencing Transport
> Resource:
Factors Influencing Transport (Text Version)
Evaluating Formation and Distribution
of Secondary Stressors
> Resource:
Evaluate Formation And Distribution Of Secondary Stressors (Text
Version)
> In-Depth: Chemical
Transformation in the Lab and in the Field
> In-Depth: Questions
for Describing the Stressor
Describing The Extent Of Exposure
> Activity: Co-Occurrence
> Resource: Co-Occurence
(Text Version)
> >
Activity:Other
Possible Answers
> >
Resource:
Other Possible Answers (Text Version)
> Activity: Absorption
and Uptake
> Resource:
Absorption and Uptake (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Evaluating
Contact with Chemical Stressors
Factors that Influence Exposure and
Complicate Exposure Evaluation
> Resource:Factors
that Influence Exposure and Complicate Exposure Evaluation (Text
Version)
> Activity: Influential
and Complicating Factors in a Coastal Mine
> Resource: Influential
and Complicating Factors in a Coastal Mine(Text Version)
Estimating Exposure
>
Resource: Estimating Exposure
(Text Version)
> In-Depth: Chemical
Assessments May Average Intensity Over Time
Writing the Exposure Profile
>
Activity: What Should Be Included
In The Exposure Profile
>
Resource: What Should Be Included
In The Exposure Profile (Text Version)
Lesson 4. Characterizing Ecological Effects
Characterizing Ecological Effects
>
Resources: Characterizing Exposure
Process Flow (Text Version)
Perform an Ecological Response Analysis
Qualitative Stressor-Response Analyses
Quantitative Analyses
>
Activity: Single-Point Estimates
and Response Curves
>
In-Depth: Stressor-Response Curves
>
In-Depth:"No- and Low-Effect"
Stressor Levels
>
In-Depth: Cumulative Effects Distributions
>
Resource: Cumulative Effects
Distributions (Text Version)
Assessing Multiple Stressors
>
Reflection:
What Information Do You Need?
>
Resource: What Information
Do You Need? Sample Answers (Text Version)
Establishing Causality
Criteria That Strongly Affirm Causality
When You Are Relying On Observational Data
>
Resource: Criteria That Strongly
Affirm Causality When You Are Relying on Observational Data (Text
Version)
Koch's Postulates, Fox's modifications
>
Resource: Koch's Postulates,
Fox's modifications (Text Version)
Establishing Causality for Complex
Chemical Mixtures
Linking Measures of Effects to Assessment
Endpoints
Establishing Linkages
>
In-Depth: Common Extrapolations
>
Activity:
Two Ways to Extrapolate Are:
>
Resource Two Ways to Extrapolate
Are: (Text Version)
Empirical Approach
>
Resource: Empirical Approach
(Text Version)
Process-Based Approaches
>
Activity: Single-Species Population,
Multiple-Species Community, and Ecosystem Models
>
Resource: Single-Species Population,
Multiple-Species Community, and Ecosystem Models (Text Version)
>
In-Depth:
Using Process Models
>
Reflection: What Information Do
You Need?
>
Resource: What Information
Do You Need? (Text Version)
Professional Judgment
>
Activity:
What Would You Say? Extrapolation Between Species
>
Resource:
What would you say? Extrapolation Between Species (Text Version)
> Resource: What
would you say? Extrapolation Between Species Answers
>
Reflection:
Extrapolation from Laboratory Data to Field Effects
>
Resource:
Extrapolation from Laboratory Data to Field Effects Answers (Text
Version)
>
Activity:
Extrapolation Between Geographic Areas
>
Resources:
Extrapolation Between Geographic Areas (Text Version)
Prepare A Stressor-Response Profile
>
Resource: Prepare A Stressor-Response
Profile (Text Version)
Lesson 5. Wrap-Up
Wrap-Up
>
Flow
Chart Review
>
Resource: Analysis Process Flow
(Text Version)
>
Graphic: Data
>
Resource: Data (Text Version)
>
Graphic: Characterizing Exposure
>
Resource: Characterizing Exposure
Process Flow (Text Version)
>
Graphic: Characterizing Ecological
Effects
>
Resource: Characterizing Exposure
Process Flow (Text Version)
Final Review
> Resource:
Final Review: Answers
Congratulations!
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Module 4: Risk Characterization
Module 4: Risk Characterization
Lesson 1. Risk Characterization Overview
Risk Characterization Overview
> Resource:Ecological
Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
> Resource:
What is Risk Characterization? (Text Version)
> Resource:
What Are the Qualities of an Effective Risk Characterization? (Text
Version)
> In-Depth: What
if the Risks Are Not Sufficiently Defined to Inform a Management
Decision?
Key Steps
Lesson 2. Estimating Ecological Risk
Estimating Risk
> Resource:
Estimating Risk Process Flow (Text Version)
Field Surveys
> In-Depth: Example
Use of Field Surveys for Risk Estimation
> Activity: Advantages
and Limitations of Field Surveys
> Resource:
Advantages and Limitations of Field Surveys (Text Version)
Categorical Rankings
> In-Depth: Using
Qualitative Evaluation to Estimate Risk
Process Models
> In-Depth: Example
Uses of Process Models for Risk Estimation
> Resource:
Three Step Procedure (Text Version)
> Activity: Advantages
and Limitations of Process Models
> Resource:
Advantages and Limitations of Process Models (Text Version)
Exposure/Effects Comparisons
The Quotient Method
> In-Depth: Example
Uses of the Quotient Method
> Activity: Advantages
and Disadvantages of the Quotient Method
> Resource:
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Quotient Method (Text Version)
> Graphic: Incorporating
Uncertainty into Point Estimates
Using the Entire Stressor-Response
Curve
> Activity: Tutorial
in Reading Stressor-Response Curves
> Resource:
Tutorial in Reading Stressor-Response Curves (Text Version)
> Resource:Tutorial
in Reading Stressor-Response Curves (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Advantages
and Limitations of Using the Entire Stressor-Response Curve
Incorporating Variability
> In-Depth: Advantages
and Limitations of Comparisons by Methods That Incorporate Variability
Test What You've Learned
> Resource: Test
What You've Learned (Text Version)
Lesson 3: Describing Risk
Describing Risk
Evaluating Lines of Evidence
> Activity: General
Rules to Follow When Evaluating Lines Of Evidence
> Resource:
General Rules to Follow When Evaluating Lines of Evidence (Text
Version)
> Activity: Factors
to Consider
> Resource:
Factors to Consider When Evaluating Lines of Evidence (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Example:
The Importance of Evaluating All Lines of Evidence
> In-Depth: What
if Lines of Evidence Point Toward Different Conclusions?
> In-Depth: Addressing
Uncertainty
Determining Significance of Adverse
Effects
> In-Depth: Extent
of the Evaluation
Nature and Intensity of Effects
> Reflection: Asking
the Right Questions
> Resource:
Asking the Right Questions (Text Version)
Spatial and Temporal Scale
> Activity: Analyzing
Spatial Factors
> Resource:
Analyzing Spatial Factors (Text Version)
> In-Depth: Temporal
Issues in Interpreting Adversity
Potential for Recovery
> In-Depth: Irreversible
Effects
> Activity: Defining
the Attributes of a Recovered System
> Resource:
Defining the Attributes of a Recovered System (Text Version)
Exercise
> Activity: Exercise
in Evaluating Adversity: Background
> Resource:
Exercise in Evaluating Adversity: Background (Text Version)
> Activity: Exercise
in Evaluating Adversity
> Resource:
Exercise in Evaluating Adversity
> In-Depth: Read
These Helpful Facts
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
Wrap-Up
> In-Depth: Flow
Chart Review
> Graphic: Flow
Chart: Estimating Risk
> Resource:
Flow Chart: Estimating Risk (Text Version)
> Graphic: Flow
Chart: Describing Risk
> Resource:
Flow Chart: Describing Risk (Text Version)
Lesson 5: Creating a Risk Characterization Report
Reporting Results
> Resource: Ecological
Risk Assessment Process Flow (Text Version)
Report Characteristics
> In-Depth: Possible
Elements of a Report
> In-Depth: Clarity
> In-Depth: Transparency
> In-Depth: Reasonableness
> In-Depth: Consistency
with Other Risk Characterizations
Congratulations
Module 5: Communicating Results in Risk Management
Communicating Results
Questions Between Risk Manager and
Risk Assessor
> Resource: Questions
Risk Managers and Risk Assessors Ask Each Other (Text Version)
Communicating With the Public
> Activity: Information
the Risk Assessor Needs to Give to the Risk Manager
> Resource:
Information the Risk Assessor Needs to Give to the Risk Manager
(Text Version)
> In-Depth: Guidelines
for Communicating Risk to the Public
> In-Depth: Risk
Communication Resources
Management Decision-Making
> Activity: Elements
of Risk Management Decisions
> Resource:
Elements of Risk Management Decisions (Text Version)
Wrap-Up
> Activity: Ordering
the Components of Risk Assessment
> Resource:
Ordering the Components of Risk Assessment (Text Version)
> Activity: Information
Considered in Risk Management Decisions
> Resource:
Information Considered in Risk Management Decisions (Text Version)
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