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Investigating Causes of Biological Impairments in Aquatic Systems: the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System
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| Abstract: | Increasingly, the regulatory, remedial and restoration actions taken to manage impaired environments are based on measurement and analysis of the biotic community. When an aquatic community has been identified as impaired, the cause of the impairment must be determined so that appropriate actions can be taken. The USEPA's Stressor Identification (SI) Guidance describes a methodology for identifying the causes of observed impairments in aquatic systems. Stressor identification requires extensive knowledge on a variety of stressors as well as depth of knowledge on the mechanism, symptoms, and stressor-response relationships for specific stressors.
This poster describes results of a recent workshop on developing the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System (CADDIS). CADDIS is envisioned as a decision support system that will help investigators in the regions, states and tribes find, access, organize and share information useful for causal evaluations in aquatic systems. Workshop participants recommended that the system be developed incrementally and iteratively, and emphasized that frequent user input and feedback will be essential to the system's success. Functions identified for short-term development include a step-by-step guide to stressor identification, a knowledge base that would help users find and interpret relevant information, and assistance in organizing and reporting results. |
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| Citation: | Norton, S. B., L. E. Rao, S. M. Cormier, G. Suter, B. Swietlik, D. Norton, B. G. Brown, B. Subramanian, and K. S. Minamyer. Investigating Causes of Biological Impairments in Aquatic Systems: the Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System. Presented at North American Benthological Society, Athens, GA, May 27-31, 2003. |
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| Contact: |
Linda Ransick - (513) 569-7395 or ransick.linda@epa.gov
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| Division: |
Ecological Exposure Research Division |
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| Branch: |
Immediate Office |
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| Product Type: |
Abstrct/Oral |
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| Presented: |
05/27/2003 |
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