We use information gathered for the ecological assessment for retrospective source and stressor identification and characterization. One approach has been to develop physiological and biochemical indicators of exposure to environmental stressors, including toxicants and excessive nutrients. These data have been successfully combined with community and habitat indices, and water quality data to provide a more complete ecological assessment of stream segments inOhio. Laboratory and statistical skills have also been instrumental to the success of this work. A second approach has been to develop analytical methods at the landscape scale to link land uses and associated stressors with ecological effects.
Work is in progress to use both approaches for projecting change to watersheds.
Of special interest is the conversion of farm land to residential land use. Research opportunities exist to develop new indicators, integrate data from different levels of biological organization, and develop geographical information systems for ecological assessment and vulnerability studies.