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Updated June 2007 | ||||
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Living organisms have long been used to monitor environmental contamination. The value of biota in monitoring programs relates to their characteristic of integrating contaminant exposure and effects over time and space. | ||||
Written summaries of biological characteristics and contaminant exposure and effects data for 49 coastal and estuarine terrestrial vertebrates are available. | ||||
Species
were selected based on their previous use in contaminant monitoring, their
status as valued natural resources, or as representatives of taxonomic
groups. |
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Characterizations were compiled from over 1800 references obtained from literature searches of several scientific databases. |
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