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Prof. David M. Rosenberg PhD, Univ. of Manitoba and the Freshwater Institute, DFO, Winnipeg, and lead author of the EMAN Protocol (cf. Bull. Entomol. Soc. Can. 1998. 30(4):144-152)
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"The algologist can be compared to a doctor who tells us that the patient is ill, while the benthologist may tell us whether the illness is critical or not."Prof. Ole A. Saether PhD, Museum of Zoology, Univ. of Bergen, Norway, and Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Canada (cf. Prog. Wat. Tech., IAWPR/Pergamon Press Ltd., UK. 1980. 12:161-180)
Biological integrity is equated with pristine conditions, or those conditions with no or minimal disturbance. The reference condition is commonly associated with biological integrity, and the threshold is some proportion of the reference condition.
After much careful study, environmental scientists have determined that the presence, condition, and numbers of the types of fish, insects, algae, and plants can provide accurate information about the health of a specific river, stream, lake, wetland, or estuary. These types of plants and animals are called biological indicators.
"An indicator is a numerical value derived from actual measurements, has known statistical properties, and conveys useful information for environmental decision making. An ecological indicator is defined here as a measure, an index of measures, or a model that characterizes an ecosystem or one of its critical components." (USEPA)
(EQG refers to the CCME's Environmental Quality Guidelines)
"Among the limitations of relying solely on chemical and/or physical parameters to assess ecological health and sustainability is the fact that existing environmental quality guidelines (EQGs) only consider a toxic response to single chemicals, and therefore cannot account for the cumulative impacts from multiple chemical discharges (a "cocktail" of compounds) which may be coupled with physical changes in the environment. Furthermore, EQGs may not account for lower response thresholds in highly sensitive organisms or life-stages. Single-point-in-time samples can miss, cannot detect, or cannot re-construct periodic events that collectively may influence a biota."
Biological monitoring is also important in situations where there are a range of contaminants whose biological effects may be synergistic or antagonistic and would not be appreciated through chemical measurements. Moreover, it can be argued that if we wish to maintain healthy, diverse biological communities, it is more appropriate to monitor the aquatic community rather than chemical variables only.
Periphyton, macroinvertebrates and fish are all sensitive indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. Furthermore, the aquatic biota can serve as sensitive early warning indicators of problems that may take years to fully develop (Winter, 2000).
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