omsap public meeting september 1999 ecological interactions in massachusetts bay a guide to how the...
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OMSAP Public MeetingSeptember 1999
Ecological Interactions in Massachusetts Bay
A guide to how the MWRA Harbor and Outfall Monitoring Program evaluates the ecological system in Massachusetts Bay
Carlton D. Hunt, Ph.D.Battelle
OMSAP Public MeetingSeptember 1999
Why show ecological interactions? Concern that discharge in Massachusetts Bay does not
adversely disrupt the specific ecological compartments or linkages
Monitoring focus is on measuring compartments that can be repeatedly sampled and measured quantitatively
Parameters of major interest are those that • ecologically important• respond early to perturbation • indicate longer-term response • provide explanatory information
Context of these compartments and monitoring are best shown through a ecological diagram
Thresholds are the key pulse points that indicate a response is potentially unacceptable
InflowOutflow
Light
ConcernsEcological Nutrients Contaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources
Human Health Contaminants Bacteria Viruses Bioaccumulation
SEDIMENT
Mammals
Infauna
Piscivorous Fish
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Planktivorous Fish
Epibenthos
Demersal Fish
Regeneration
DetritusParticulate
Microbes
Dissolved
WATER COLUMN
Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint Effluents
Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2
N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O22, CO, CO22 Microbes
ATMOSPHERE
InflowOutflow
Light
ConcernsEcological Nutrients Contaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources
Human Health Contaminants Bacteria Viruses Bioaccumulation
SEDIMENT
Mammals
Infauna
Piscivorous Fish
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Planktivorous Fish
Epibenthos
Demersal Fish
Regeneration
DetritusParticulate
Microbes
Dissolved
WATER COLUMN
Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint Effluents
Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2
ATMOSPHERE
N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O22, CO, CO22 Microbes
InflowOutflow
Light
ConcernsEcological Nutrients Contaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources
Human Health Contaminants Bacteria Viruses Bioaccumulation
SEDIMENT
ATMOSPHERE
Mammals
Infauna
Piscivorous Fish
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Planktivorous Fish
Epibenthos
Demersal Fish
Regeneration
DetritusParticulate
Microbes
Dissolved
WATER COLUMN
Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint Effluents
Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2
N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O22, CO, CO22 Microbes
InflowOutflow
Light
ConcernsEcological Nutrients Contaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources
Human Health Contaminants Bacteria Viruses Bioaccumulation
SEDIMENT
Mammals
Infauna
Piscivorous Fish
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Planktivorous Fish
Epibenthos
Demersal Fish
Regeneration
DetritusParticulate
Microbes
Dissolved
WATER COLUMN
Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint Effluents
Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2
Microbes
ATMOSPHERE
N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O22, CO, CO22