Priorities for Coastal Ecosystem Science (1994) / Chapter Skim
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3: SCIENCE PRIORITIES RELEVANT TO THE WATER SUBCOMMITTEE
3: SCIENCE PRIORITIES RELEVANT TO THE WATER SUBCOMMITTEE
Pages 29-58
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From page 29... ...
For the purposes of this evaluation, the committee considered the contributions of science to include not only research activities but also monitoring, modeling, and assessment. The committee determined the scientific priorities on the basis of the following criteria: · seriousness of the environmental problems to which the science is relevant: · relevance to the Water Subcommittee's goals within the broader framework of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
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From page 30... ...
. There are widely held concerns, however, about the degree to which monitoring programs are effectively designed; relationships to research and modeling; whether the most appropriate ecosystem properties and processes are being monitored; the extent to which results are actually used in environmental management; and the degree of integration among local, regional, and national monitoring efforts (NRC, 1990a)
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From page 31... ...
Monitoring programs have demonstrated that contamination by at least some toxic compounds is declining, presumably as a result of regulatory activities, while contamination by other toxic chemicals remained the same over the period of 1986 to 1990 (O'Connor et al., 1994~. Monitoring programs must be designed to answer specific questions and the use of the data must be determined before it is collected.
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From page 32... ...
Many data that are presently available may be adequate for discerning relative changes compared with other measurements made by the same program9 but cannot be compared with data collected by other monitoring programs. Trends in diffuse inputs (i.e.9 nonpoint source inputs)
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From page 33... ...
Develop Indicators of Biological Status and Processes Indicators of biological effects and ecosystem functions are not well developed for use in monitoring programs, but are essential for understanding how ecosystems respond to a variety of factors (NRC, 1994d)
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From page 34... ...
For eutrophication phenomena, relevant time scales range from hours to decades. Nutrient and oxygen concentrations and plankton biomass and metabolism can vary greatly over short time frames as a result of daily cycles, winds, and tides, whereas changes in community structure may only be evident over several decades.
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From page 35... ...
The Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality (1993) , which considered monitoring of inland as well as coastal waters, concluded that the lack of coordination in (1)
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From page 36... ...
feedback from management in an adaptive management strategy. The adequacy and usefulness of data from monitoring programs need to be assessed regularly.
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From page 37... ...
physical forcing processes within the coastal environment. Such research is the foundation for understanding how coastal ecosystems function and for the development of atmosphere-watershed-coastal ecosystem models.
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From page 38... ...
Develop Atmosphere-Watershed-Coastal Ecosystem Models Ecosystem modeling is considered in this section for coherence, but it has equal relevance to ecosystem function and habitat restoration and management, as discussed in subsequent sections. Calibrated and verified landscape and ecosystem models can be used to identify unknown ecosystem processes, synthesize research findings, and serve as management tools.
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From page 39... ...
Atmosphere-watershed models should be linked with hydrodynamic-ecosystem models of coastal receiving waters. A priority for such ecosystem modeling research is "to establish improved predictive capabilities for coastal ocean systems that link physical processes, biogeochemical cycles, and the interactions of living marine resources" (SUSCOS, 1993b)
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From page 40... ...
54 and 55~. Increase Understanding of Physical Forcing Processes As water moves from the highest headwaters to the edge of the continental shelf, there is a continuity of processes and fluxes across coastal ecosystems.
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From page 41... ...
Finally, storm events provide episodic physical forcing that can have extreme effects on coastal ecosystems by decreasing salinity
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From page 42... ...
WATER QUALITY AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS CENR Objective: Support research on the predictive understanding of the linkages between water quality and aquatic ecosystem functions, emphasizing conceptual and mathematical models and the development of new paradigms. inputs of nutrients, organic materials, toxic contaminants, and sediment can degrade water quality sufficiently to affect coastal ecosystem functions.
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From page 43... ...
, through its Coastal Ecosystems Health theme, has addressed aspects of coastal eutrophication (e.g., in its Nutrient Enhanced Coastal Ocean Productivity study off the Mississippi Delta and the Atmospheric Nutrient Inputs to Coastal Areas projects)
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From page 44... ...
These reservoirs of past inputs and the continuing inputs of toxic chemicals pose threats to coastal ecosystems and to human health by transfer through aquatic food chains (Dawe, 1991; IOM, 1991; Hamelink et al., 1994~. The fate, transformation, and bioavailability of various contaminants vary widely as a result of differences in their reactivities and uptake and incorporation into organisms (e.g., Fisher et al., 1991; Fisher and Reinfelder, 1991~.
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From page 45... ...
Perhaps the most profound difference is the functional importance of the seabed and suspended sediments in coastal ecosystem processes. Not only is there a continuous supply of sediment from rivers and shoreline erosion, but coastal ecosystems are characterized by the frequent resuspension of deposited sediment and the prevalence of biologically created or modified particulates in the form of organic-mineral aggregates, calcareous or siliceous skeletons, and fecal pellets.
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From page 46... ...
Coastal waters exhibit tremendous spatial and temporal variability, with the additional complexity that different scales are important for different processes or groups of organisms. If the effects of overexploitation on the structure and composition of coastal ecosystems are to be determined, studies will need to be planned in the context of this variability.
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From page 47... ...
Assess the Impact of Multiple Stressors Our approaches to understanding and managing the effects of water quality on coastal ecosystem function are too often highly reductionist (e.g., determining the effects of a single contaminant on a specific target organism under laboratory conditions that hold other variables constant) or too vaguely holistic (e.g., monitoring ecosystem health through abiotic and biotic condition indicators as is done by EMAP)
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From page 48... ...
In the past, most scientific efforts directed to the protection of coastal ecosystem integrity have focused on demonstrating threats or determining the precautions needed to protect these ecosystems. However, because of widespread degradation of coastal ecosystems and the extensive modification of coastal habitats, it is now necessary or desirable in many cases to rehabilitate coastal ecosystems through active intervention.
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From page 49... ...
To date, most restoration efforts have been short term and are planned assuming steady-state conditions. Substantial effort is needed to understand how to restore habitats in the coastal zone under various water management scenarios through seeking improved knowledge about the interactions of hydrological changes with establishment, succession, and function of restored coastal ecosystems.
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From page 50... ...
Restoration of coastal ecosystems may also be influenced by the presence of nonindigenous species, which can be aggressive invaders. Unfortunately, restoration projects present opportunities for the establishment of nonindigenous species, which are often adapted for colonizing disturbed habitats, and eventual displacement of the anticipated natural community.
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From page 51... ...
Research, including small-scale experiments and larger pilot programs, is needed to eliminate shortcomings in our understanding of coastal habitat needs, functions, and processes. In particular, research should be directed to providing a capability for predicting the effects of hydrodynamic and other physical processes on coastal habitats, with important factors for habitats ranging from wetlands to reefs.
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From page 52... ...
From a practical standpoint, information about relevant time and space scales can be used to establish appropriate monitoring programs and in setting regulatory standards for wetland use permits. Successful project performance is the most productive, conclusive, and reliable means of demonstrating the viability of restoration technology and building public and professional confidence in its application.
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From page 53... ...
Likewise, good management decisions also require accurate and effective communication of information among scientists, policymakers, and managers. Scientists and managers should strive to make environmental science more predictive by implementing observation and prediction systems that technological advances now allow and by employing ecosystem models as management tools.
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From page 54... ...
, and data management and communication are increasing our ability to observe environmental phenomena in near real time. This opens opportunities for the application of such information for a variety of purposes, including providing coastal storm warnings and marine advisories, weather forecasting, tracking oil spills, and fishing reports, as well as for use in scientific research and environmental management.
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From page 55... ...
Finally, observation and prediction systems should be integrated with both the predictive and adaptive aspects of ecosystem management, as discussed in the next two sections. Employ Ecosystem Models as Management Tools A basic premise of this report is that the effectiveness of coastal ecosystem and resource management can be improved by increasing the use of high-quality science in coastal environmental decisionmaking.
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From page 56... ...
This model of the fates of toxic contaminants integrates watershed, tributary, atmospheric deposition, and ecological processes. A few coastal research initiatives (LMER and the NOAA Coastal Ocean Program Ecosystem Health Theme)
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From page 57... ...
come useful tools for adjusting management policies that have been used in one coastal region to similar situations in other systems although achieving compatibility of such models among a range of systems may require relatively simple models that can be tailored to individual systems. Advance Adaptive Ecosystem Management Adaptive environmental management (Walters, 1986)
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From page 58... ...
The development and use of science-based management models and other innovative ways to transmit meaningful information and the intense interactions between scientists and managers involved in adaptive ecosystem management will help. To make real progress, however, federal agencies involved in coastal science and/or environmental management should make a more concerted effort to improve the understanding of management issues by scientists and of science by managers.
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