Prediction of Ecological Effects of Toxic Chemicals: Overall Strategy and Theoretical Basis for the Ecosystem Model

摘要

A strategy is developed for modeling ecosystems to permit assessment of effects of toxic chemicals on element cycling and other ecosystem processes. The strategy includes use of multi-species representations of biotic communities and mathematical descriptions of the processes that are important in aquatic ecosystems. Direct effects of toxicants are assigned to the species comprising the biotic community in a manner suggested by available toxicological information. Effects are calculated as the difference between selected measures of processes from unaffected systems and systems affected by the presence of a toxic chemical.