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Definition
of Ecological Indicators:
Ecological indicators are physical, chemical, or biological measures
that best represent the key elements of a complex ecosystem. They
describe ecological status and trends for a variety of spatial and
temporal scales. Useful ecological indicators inform the scientific
community, the decision makers, and the public about the overall
state of an ecosystem and how it may be changing due to anthropogenic
and other pressures (Modified from National Academy of Science,
2000. Ecological
Indicators for the Nation. Gordon Orians, Chair).
Scope:
The geographic
and ecological focus of the workshop is Narragansett Bay and the
Coastal Ponds.
Workshop
Goal:
Develop a framework to create and implement indicator(s) of the
ecological integrity of Narragansett Bay and coastal ponds.
Purposes
of the Workshop:
(1) Review the conceptual basis of ecological indicators and their
quantitative properties.
(2) Discuss which ecological indicators have proven useful for estuarine
ecosystems.
(3) Determine what aspects of the Narragansett Bay and coastal pond
ecosystems need status assessment and trends tracking.
(4) Identify appropriate ecological indicators for Narragansett
Bay and coastal ponds.
(5) Decide what environmental measurements, in addition to present
measurements, are needed to develop these ecological indicators.
(6) Identify ways to report on these indicators and communicate
their significance to the scientific community, the decision makers,
and the public
(7) Develop a plan to implement a viable and sustainable system
to determine indicators of ecological integrity of Narragansett
Bay and the coastal ponds
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