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NMN: Biology Refinement NMN: Biology Refinement WorkgroupWorkgroup

• Biological ParametersBiological Parameters

• Priority 1, 2 and “Special”Priority 1, 2 and “Special”

• Need further work in terms of temporal Need further work in terms of temporal scales (how often to sample) and what scales (how often to sample) and what might be the thresholds (in instances might be the thresholds (in instances where they may be appropriate)where they may be appropriate)

Jawed Hameedi, NOAANWQMC Meeting, Philadelphia, PA

July 2007

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Biology Refinement Biology Refinement WorkgroupWorkgroup• Ian Hartwell, NOAA (Chair)Ian Hartwell, NOAA (Chair)• Marty Gurtz, USGSMarty Gurtz, USGS• Hal Walker, EPAHal Walker, EPA• John Kraeuter, Rutgers UniversityJohn Kraeuter, Rutgers University• Barbara Scudder, USGSBarbara Scudder, USGS• Danielle Kreeger, PDE Danielle Kreeger, PDE • Gabrielle Canonico, USGSGabrielle Canonico, USGS• Ellen Tarquinio, EPAEllen Tarquinio, EPA• John Hummer, Great Lakes John Hummer, Great Lakes • Ed Santoro, DRBC Ed Santoro, DRBC • Mike Connors, SFEI Mike Connors, SFEI • Jawed Hameedi, NOAA (ghost chair; mostly auditing)Jawed Hameedi, NOAA (ghost chair; mostly auditing)

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Desired Criteria for Parameter Desired Criteria for Parameter SelectionSelection 1.1.They are measurable with a low margin of error, They are measurable with a low margin of error,

such that a “change” can be detected after a such that a “change” can be detected after a reasonable sampling effort and decision-making reasonable sampling effort and decision-making time-frame.time-frame.

2.2.They are not costly to obtain; at least the cost They are not costly to obtain; at least the cost should be relatable to the value of information should be relatable to the value of information being provided.being provided.

3.3.They are based on consensus and “expert They are based on consensus and “expert counsel.”counsel.”

4.4.They are responsive to environmental conditions They are responsive to environmental conditions (or stressors), preferably in a monotonic way; (or stressors), preferably in a monotonic way; variables that respond oppositely to different variables that respond oppositely to different stressors are probably no good.stressors are probably no good.

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First ChallengeFirst Challenge

• Biologists’ menagerie of measurements to Biologists’ menagerie of measurements to describe environmental status is extensive – the describe environmental status is extensive – the toolbox is overloaded!toolbox is overloaded!– Over 200 indicators of ecosystem status (Rice Over 200 indicators of ecosystem status (Rice

2000)2000)– Over 20 biomarkers just relating to NOAA’s Over 20 biomarkers just relating to NOAA’s

NS&T (Hameedi, 2005)NS&T (Hameedi, 2005)– Nearly 25 in integrative assessment Nearly 25 in integrative assessment

approaches used by NOAA/NCCOS (Hameedi, approaches used by NOAA/NCCOS (Hameedi, 2007)2007)

– Over 30 recommended at the National Core Over 30 recommended at the National Core Coastal Indicators (2007) workshopCoastal Indicators (2007) workshop

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Second ChallengeSecond Challenge

• Integrative biological measures such as biological Integrative biological measures such as biological diversity and ecosystem healthdiversity and ecosystem health– Difficult to interpret by managers and communicate to Difficult to interpret by managers and communicate to

the publicthe public• What is ascendancy? Or resiliency (one of three parameters What is ascendancy? Or resiliency (one of three parameters

that define “ecosystem health”that define “ecosystem health”• What does diversity of order 2 mean to a decision-maker (or What does diversity of order 2 mean to a decision-maker (or

what does Hill’s N2 value of 2.42 suggest?)what does Hill’s N2 value of 2.42 suggest?)• What is alpha, beta or gamma diversity?What is alpha, beta or gamma diversity?

• Numeric values of most indices are not comparable Numeric values of most indices are not comparable (derived differently – number of spp., biomass, (derived differently – number of spp., biomass, probability, bits per species, etc.)probability, bits per species, etc.)

• ““Any index of diversity can be misleading” (Rice, Any index of diversity can be misleading” (Rice, 2003); the concept of diversity is “meaningless” 2003); the concept of diversity is “meaningless” (Hurlbert, 1971)(Hurlbert, 1971)

• You are better off by simply describing species You are better off by simply describing species richness or status of biota (particular species or richness or status of biota (particular species or groups of species)groups of species)

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Examples of Measures of Diversity (Jost, Examples of Measures of Diversity (Jost, 2006) -- some with reasonable application to 2006) -- some with reasonable application to biological communities, some not.biological communities, some not.

• Species RichnessSpecies Richness• Shannon-Wiener Index (entropy)Shannon-Wiener Index (entropy)• Simpson’s Reciprocal IndexSimpson’s Reciprocal Index• Gini-Simpson IndexGini-Simpson Index• Renyi entropiesRenyi entropies• HCDT (Havrda-Charvat-Daroczy-Tsallis) or HCDT (Havrda-Charvat-Daroczy-Tsallis) or

Tsallis entropyTsallis entropy• Patil and Taillee average rarity indexPatil and Taillee average rarity index• Varma entropyVarma entropy

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Indices of Biotic IntegrityIndices of Biotic Integrity

• They are They are notnot based on any ecosystem theory or based on any ecosystem theory or unifying principles in ecologyunifying principles in ecology

• They are based on field observationsThey are based on field observations

– An ecosystem’s health is bad because the An ecosystem’s health is bad because the index is low, and a low index value index is low, and a low index value indicates bad health because the index is indicates bad health because the index is low for unhealthy ecosystems (Suter, low for unhealthy ecosystems (Suter, 1993)1993)

• This is a case of tautology: It is like saying, either it This is a case of tautology: It is like saying, either it will rain tomorrow or its will not rain tomorrow. You will rain tomorrow or its will not rain tomorrow. You can’t be wrongcan’t be wrong!!

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Still, we have a list of biological Still, we have a list of biological parameters (see handout)parameters (see handout)

• The selected parameters are The selected parameters are integrators or integrative of coastal integrators or integrative of coastal conditionsconditions

• The have wide “appeal” and The have wide “appeal” and appreciationappreciation

• They can be measured effectively They can be measured effectively with current technologieswith current technologies

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Fish disease and Fish disease and deformitiesdeformities

Freshwater Discharge Freshwater Discharge ImpactImpactFish healthFish healthResuspension (contaminants, Resuspension (contaminants,

sediment, fungi)sediment, fungi)Osmotic stressOsmotic stress

Land-Use Activities ImpactLand-Use Activities ImpactAgrochemicalsAgrochemicalsIndustrial chemicalsIndustrial chemicalsSewage and stormwaterSewage and stormwater““Legacy” contaminantsLegacy” contaminantsHabitat loss and alterationHabitat loss and alteration

ExamplesExamplesTumor (PAH-induced)Tumor (PAH-induced)Wound aggravated by fungusWound aggravated by fungus

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Examples of fish deformitiesExamples of fish deformities(pictures courtesy --Joan Browder, NOAA)(pictures courtesy --Joan Browder, NOAA)

• Fin erosionFin erosion

• Saddleback Saddleback

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Aggregated SQT values for two sampling strata in Galveston Bay. Note the relative sizes and numerical

values of the two strata (550 and 21)(Hameedi, 2004; Hameedi, et al., in prep.)

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Toxicity

DiversityContaminants

Stratum 18: Galveston Island nearshoreRelative Area: 550

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DiversityContaminants

Stratum 8A: Clear LakeRelative Area: 21

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Thank You!Thank You!

It is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in It is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in each class of things just so far as the nature of the subject each class of things just so far as the nature of the subject admits …admits …

Our discussion will be adequate if it has as much clearness Our discussion will be adequate if it has as much clearness as the subject matter admits of; for precision is not to be as the subject matter admits of; for precision is not to be sought for alike in all discussions.sought for alike in all discussions.

AristotleAristotle(384-322 B.C.)(384-322 B.C.)