Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1093/biosci/biae086
Title (Primary) Ecological risk assessment when species-specific data are scarce: how trait-based approaches and modeling can help
Author Galic, N.; Forbes, V.; Grimm, V.; Schmolke, A.; Vaugeois, M.; Brain, R.
Source Titel BioScience
Year 2024
Department OESA
Volume 74
Issue 10
Page From 701
Page To 709
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords highlight; Endangered Species Act; representative species; classification; cluster analysis; population model
Abstract Ecological risk assessments are legally required to ensure that there are no unacceptable risks to living organisms from exposure to chemicals and other anthropogenic stressors. Significant data gaps, however, make it difficult to conduct such assessments for all species that we wish to protect. Consequently, there is growing interest in trait-based approaches because they provide a more functional and context-independent basis for characterizing biodiversity that is useful for biomonitoring, conservation, and management. In the present article, we discuss how trait-based approaches can support risk assessment, identify vulnerable and representative species to be used in ecological modeling, and inform decision-making more generally. We use examples to demonstrate the utility of trait-based approaches but also highlight some of the challenges and open questions that remain to be addressed.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=29726
Galic, N., Forbes, V., Grimm, V., Schmolke, A., Vaugeois, M., Brain, R. (2024):
Ecological risk assessment when species-specific data are scarce: how trait-based approaches and modeling can help
Bioscience 74 (10), 701 - 709 10.1093/biosci/biae086