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Characterizing aquatic ecological risks from pesticides using a diquat dibromide case study III. Ecological process models
Author(s) -
Bartell Steven M.,
Campbell Kym Rouse,
Lovelock Cynthia M.,
Nair Shyam K.,
Shaw Jennifer L.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620190529
Subject(s) - diquat , ecology , daphnia , lepomis macrochirus , environmental science , aquatic ecosystem , population , pesticide , biology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental health , medicine , biochemistry , paraquat , crustacean
The purpose of this study was to add to the set of risk characterization approaches developed in an earlier study beyond simple comparisons of exposure and effects (e.g., quotients, overlapping frequency distributions) through use of ecological models. These models were used to evaluate the ecological risks from diquat dibromide for individual Daphnia using an individual‐oriented model, a population of bluegill sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus ) using a demographic model, and ecological communities within a generic lake in Central Florida, USA, using the Comprehensive Aquatic Systems Model. The ecological models presented in this study more realistically address the potential risks posed by pesticides to individual organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems than risk assessment methods based on simple comparisons of exposure and effects. The ecological impacts calculated by these models support the inference of minimal risks being posed by diquat dibromide to aquatic systems as concluded from previous empirical comparisons of exposure and toxicity data.