Ecology and Wildlife Risk Assessment
This analysis of case studies from Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the case study to
predict the effects of pesticides on aquatic systems and the waterfowl that uses them. Comparing
the two processes of these case studies, along with analysis of the assessments. Describing the
case study on the effects of pesticides in aquatic ecosystem, the risk assessment correlated to
observed field studies and evaluate the importance of this type of correlation in general for all
risk assessment efforts. Breaking down the ecological and social values in the assessments.
Try to establish a value for the components in each case and how the risk assessment was
determined.
The process of defining ecological value in Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
from section 19.5 took an approach to take a structured process to break down the value of the
different species that are located at LANL. This was done to ensure that all relevant valued
resources was used to come up with the endpoints, and provide the proper documentation to
form a structured that was based on the resources. This process known as the general assessment
endpoints (GAE) helped eliminate data that was not needed and helped provide the means of
having data that was needed to follow through with the assessment, along with the values for
each potential ecosystem that is based on potential exposure to the environmental stressors.
The comparison of the two assessments take a different approach as the endpoints are
staggering in the LANL case as the amount of species possess many possibilities to establish
the relevant value of the endpoints that are needed to complete the assessment. By utilizing just
the values that the stakeholders suggested in case study Los Alamos National Laboratory, the
assessors focused on the immediate values on certain species the all as a hole eliminated the
possibility of the lesser values in the case study. The workgroups (aquatic) began their attempts
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by explaining the main problem that is addressed within a pesticide risk assessment and it then
began to define the many sources involving uncertainty for assessing exposure and effects. This
technique of probabilistic assessment has helped in the reanalysis of the case study of pesticides
on aquatic systems. This allowed assessors to look closer at the issues at hand relating to the
organisms.
The case from chapter 22 is based on a case study on how pesticides affect the impact
on ecology. This risk assessment helps explain probabilistic assessment, and it then broke down
the probability of researching the possibility of direct harm in duck populations. The time frame
that the pesticides are used to reduce grasshopper population is around the same time that the
ducks are breeding, rear young and lay eggs. This is the concern for the use of pesticides in
these pothole regions across America and Canada. This case study provides a reanalysis of the
wildlife in the pothole regions. The use of probabilistic methods is entered into the process to
characterize variability’s and the uncertainties of the effects on aquatic macro invertebrates
from the pesticides that are released to control agricultural pest control. The assessment shows
in the data that the results of the analysis are a way to relate the uncertainties of mortality in the
ecosystem. Along with the damage that is done with the food source for the ducks.
The pesticides case study applied a different risk assessment framework and hypothesizes
to improve the final analysis process to cover all the grounds and bring attention the uncertainties
of the damage that is being inflicted onto the water fowl and ducklings that are in the region
during the time of treatments. The exposure levels are at a high during the treatment process.
Thus setting up a risk assessment frame work allows the assessor to take the uncertainties to
another level to determine the effects on the contamination faze of the treatment time frame.
A framework was developed and it incorporated the characteristics of agricultural landscapes,
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aquatic ecosystems, and chemicals that interact to influence exposure. From this particular
framework, the workgroups came up with a tiered system that works for the risk assessment
process where the assessment carries on from a determining assessment to probabilistic
assessments of increasing complexity. Each individual tier includes several analytical and
experimental options that reduce uncertainty and provide more complete descriptions of the
aquatic environment (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).
The risk assessment was to use the field data to include the uncertainties that eliminates
any more future concerns with affecting the species during this process, along with the reduction
of the mortality rate among the ducklings. The breakdown of the uncertainties was used in order
to predict probability and magnitude of any adverse effects to the non-target terrestrial and
aquatic species that results from introducing into the environment, and probabilistic analysis
used in the assessment provides quantification towards the uncertainties in the risk estimate.
The risk assessment of the complex exposure to the pesticides provides methods to estimate
the probability and impacts resulting from exposure, in this approach. In al it sheds light on the
case study that certain elements and processes need to be changed in all phases of general risk
assessment.
The ecological and social values of concern in the first case study Los Alamos National
Laboratory is the different array of possibilities that are presented in the amount of species that
are involved, establishing a structured assessment to eliminate the less valued resources. The
process is used to establish the most valued resources to help in setting management goals and
endpoints to complete the assessment. The ecological and social values of concern in the case
study on pesticide contamination are that there are so many aspects on how to eliminate the less
informative data to complete the case study. The social value is to combine the stakeholders
Ecology and Wildlife Risk Assessment 5
concerns and incorporate assessment managers and assessors input to implement valued
endpoints to reach a conclusion and game plan to eliminate the risk that are on hand. The social
values of these cases, points to preserving the regions that are treated, eliminating the harm to
all organisms in the ecosystem that is contaminated by the pesticides. The social values are that
these regions house many species and food sources, this assessment breaks down the damage
that is being done and the damages that are effecting the ducks in the region. The ponds are
watersheds that protect the habitats of many organism, thus having a healthy environment is
needed to produce a healthy ecosystem. The ecological view is to preserve the regions from
harm, allowing the pesticides to be used in a manner that the organisms are not affected by them.
The value of the ecological components in the Los Alamos National Laboratory
case study would be the principle values the functional integrity, biodiversity, and the energy
dynamics and nutrient contents. By doing so the strongest of the species are chosen to be valued
endpoints, so positive results come from the assessment. The trade off would be instilling
sensitive species that could be extinct with the decision to use as a value endpoint when they are
too sensitive to give a positive result. The value of the ecological components in the effects of
pesticides on aquatic systems is that the uncertainties of the valued resources are eliminated and
evaluated to have the best valued endpoint to work with in the case study. The tradeoffs relating
to the wildlife and development is that the species if not grasshoppers that are at risk then it is
the ducks that are present during treatment process. The contamination will alter either one of
these species value in the ecosystem. The risk assessment in these cases is determined by
compiling the concerns of all parties involved and eliminating the less valued uncertainties, to
have valued data to come up with goals to meet all of the concerns. Risk assessment is known as
a process where scientific information is used in order to address any possible environmental
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risks associated with pesticide use. A Good regulatory decision relys on an understanding of the
strengths and weaknesses of the specific risk assessment, sound professional judgment in
drawing conclusions from compiled data, and documented scientific research. The
Environmental Protection Agency states that risk assessments should successfully and clearly
identify the most important facts along any assumptions deemed necessary to accurately evaluate
the pesticide (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).
The probabilistic analysis process can be improved in the chapter 22 case study by more
research of the effects on the organisms involved, along with going in another direction on
controlling the grasshopper’s presence in these pothole regions. During a process of elimination
of what harms of being caused by the toxin, the analysis can be altered to focus on the main risk
factors and once those issues are addressed then one can run another assessment and conclusion
as you eliminate even more sensitive data from the finale analyst. These points along helps
explain the importance of the Ecology and Wildlife Assessment.
The conclusion to the analysis of the case study helps break the process of implementing
different type of risk assessments for different issues on hand. The need to eliminate the more
sensitive values and collection of data is the key to performing an assessment to help the
environment. Finding the valued endpoints and compelling enough data to eliminate the more
sensitive resources, to come up with a positive and accurate decision in the long run.
