Ecological effects description

It is important to clearly describe and quantitatively estimate the assumptions and uncertainties involved in the evaluation, where possible. Examples include natural variability in ecological characteristics and responses and uncertainties in the test system and extrapolations. The description and analysis of uncertainty in characterization of ecological effects are combined with uncertainty analyses for the other ecological risk assessment elements during risk characterization. 

French, N. R. 1964. Description of a study of ecological effects on a desert area from chronic exposure to low level ionizing radiation. University of California at Los Angeles, U.S. AEC Rep. UCLA 12-532. 27 pp., 15 figs. 

Each review is written by an internationally recognized expert and presents descriptions of the chemicals involved, the effects of semiochemically mediated interactions on reproductive success, and the evolutionary pathways that have shaped the chemical ecology of arthropods. 

The chemical-ecological literature abounds with descriptions of effects of secondary plant substances on insects, vaguely lumped under the heading "toxic". If we persist in being satisfied with "toxicity" as a description cum explanation of the effect of plant substances on insects, we shall remain very much in the dark as to the action of these important compounds. The only way we can... 

The next step in this framework is the risk description. The two aspects of this segment include an ecological risk summary and the interpretation of ecological significance. Although this division is somewhat artificial, it can be paraphrased as (1) what are the potential effects and do I believe them, and (2) how big a problem is this really going to be ... 

Woodwell, G. M., and E. C. Hammond. 1962. A Descriptive Technique for Study of the Effects of Chronic Ionizing Radiation on a Forest Ecological System. U.S. AEC, Brookhaven National Uboratory, Rep. BNL-751(T-251). 13 pp. 

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