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A methodology for inferring the causes of observed impairments in aquatic ecosystems
Author(s) -
Suter Glenn W.,
Norton Susan B.,
Cormier Susan M.
Publication year - 2002
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.5620210602
Subject(s) - causal inference , causation , inference , process (computing) , computer science , causality (physics) , field (mathematics) , risk analysis (engineering) , data science , econometrics , artificial intelligence , medicine , epistemology , mathematics , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics , operating system
Biological surveys have become a common technique for determining whether aquatic communities have been injured. However, their results are not useful for identifying management options until the causes of apparent injuries have been identified. Techniques for determining causation have been largely informal and ad hoc. This paper presents a logical system for causal inference. It begins by analyzing the available information to generate causal evidence; available information may include spatial or temporal associations of potential cause and effect, field or laboratory experimental results, and diagnostic evidence from the affected organisms. It then uses a series of three alternative methods to infer the cause: Elimination of causes, diagnostic protocols, and analysis of the strength of evidence. If the cause cannot be identified with sufficient confidence, the reality of the effects is examined, and if the effects are determined to be real, more information is obtained to reiterate the process.