Ecological Indicators for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Assessment

Ecological Indicators for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Assessment
Author: João Carlos Marques
Publisher: WIT Press
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2009
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1845642090

Ecological indicators address ecosystems structure and/or function and are commonly used to provide synoptic information about their state. Through quantitative representations of either the forces that steer ecosystems, responses to forcing functions, or of previous, current, or future states of an ecosystem, indicators are expected to reveal conditions and trends that will help in development planning and decision making processes. Ecological indicators combine numerous environmental factors in a single value, which may be useful in terms of management and in the development of ecological concepts, compliant with the general public's understanding. Nevertheless, their application is not exempt of criticisms, the first of which is that aggregation results in an oversimplification of the ecosystem under observation. Ecological indicators must therefore be handled following the right criteria and in situations that are consistent with its intended use and scope; otherwise they may drive to confusing interpretations of data.

Indicators and Surrogates of Biodiversity and Environmental Change

Indicators and Surrogates of Biodiversity and Environmental Change
Author: David Lindenmayer
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2015-11-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1486304117

Ecological indicators and surrogates are used widely by resource managers to monitor and understand complex biota and ecosystem processes. Their potential to guide complex resource management has meant they have been proposed for use in all ecosystems worldwide. Despite extensive research into indicators and surrogates, there remains much controversy about their use, in addition to major issues and knowledge gaps associated with their identification, testing and application. Indicators and Surrogates of Biodiversity and Environmental Change provides insights into the use of indicators and surrogates in natural resource management and conservation – where to use them, where not to use them, and how to use them. Using an ecological approach, the chapters explore the development, application and efficacy of indicators and surrogates in terrestrial, aquatic, marine and atmospheric environments. The authors identify current gaps in knowledge and articulate the future directions for research needed to close those gaps. This book is written by the world’s leading thinkers in the area of indicators and surrogates. It is the first major synthesis of learnings about indicators and surrogates and will be a critical resource for the vast number of people developing and applying them in ecosystems around the world. It will be an essential resource for scientists, policy makers and students with interests in surrogates and indicators.

Sustainability Indicators in Practice

Sustainability Indicators in Practice
Author: Agnieszka Latawiec
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
Total Pages: 244
Release: 2016-01-29
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 3110450674

A unique book which reflects the multifaceted nature of sustainability by bringing together authors from interdisciplinary backgrounds. The book highlights the opportunities and challenges associated with applying sustainability indicators in different socio-cultural and geographical settings. It presents a range of possible solutions to common challenges associated with the use of indicators in practice.

Nematodes as Environmental Indicators

Nematodes as Environmental Indicators
Author: Michael John Wilson
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 340
Release: 2009
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1845933850

Nematodes are the most wide spread multicellular animals in nature and analysis of nematodes in terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments as well as their role and function in ecosystems, can be used for environmental monitoring. Compared to other organisms, they offer the greatest potential as bioindicators and can be used to study gene expression in relation to environmental challenges, to monitor changing impacts on the environment and in laboratory ecotoxicity tests. This volume addresses classical and molecular approaches to nematode community analysis, the contemporary field of nematodes as biosensors, as well as genomic aspects of nematode bioindicators. In addition, the case studies stress the importance of these bioindicators and demonstrate the commercial potential of these technologies.

Environment at a Glance OECD Environmental Indicators

Environment at a Glance OECD Environmental Indicators
Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 159
Release: 2006-05-30
Genre:
ISBN: 9264012192

This book includes key environmental indicators endorsed by OECD Environment Ministers and major environmental indicators from the OECD Core Set.

Sustainability Indicators

Sustainability Indicators
Author: Tomás Hák
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 443
Release: 2012-09-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1597266280

While the concept of sustainability has been widely embraced, it has been only vaguely defined and is exceedingly difficult to measure. Sustainability indicators are critical to making the broad concept of sustainability operational by providing specific measures by which decision makers and the public can judge progress. Sustainability Indicators defines the present state of the art in indicator development. It presents a comprehensive assessment of the science behind various indicators, while placing special emphasis on their use as communications tools. The contributors draw on their experience as academics and practitioners to describe the conceptual challenges to measuring something as complex as sustainability at local, regional, national, and global scales. The book also reviews existing indicators to assess how they could be better employed, considering which indicators are overused and which have been underutilized. Sustainability Indicators will help planners and policy makers find indicators that are ready for application and relevant to their needs, and will help researchers identify the unresolved issues where progress is most urgently needed. All readers will find advice as to the most effective ways to use indicators to support decision making.

Environmental Indicators and Agricultural Policy

Environmental Indicators and Agricultural Policy
Author: Floor Brouwer
Publisher: CABI
Total Pages: 318
Release: 1999
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0851992897

Indicators in the field of biodiversity and landscape; Indicators in the field of environmental pollution; Indicators in the field of policy analysis.

Environmental Indicators for North America

Environmental Indicators for North America
Author: United Nations Environment Programme
Publisher: UNEP/Earthprint
Total Pages: 174
Release: 2006
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9789280726831

Although the environment of North America is not dissected by political borders, Canada and the United States often measure environmental conditions and report on them using different indicators. This report examines the environmental indicators used by both nations, and based on analysis of current research into common methodologies used in national, regional and global environmental reporting, it goes on to draw lessons for the development of bilateral indicators to cover the North American region.