Ecotoxicology

A hands-on approach to understanding the impact of local and global stresses on ecosystems

Ecotoxicology: A Case-based Approach follows a “learning by doing” approach, building a deeper understanding of this multi-faceted discipline through the guided analysis of five carefully selected case studies that between them address both local and global anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem structure and function.

The book is divided into three sections. Section I covers the definition, history and methodology of ecotoxicology. Section II comprises five case studies, each detailing a selected anthropogenic stress, showing how the ecotoxicological approach has been used to explain its environmental impact and by doing so has provided mitigation and restoration strategies. The final section highlights future directions of ecotoxicology. To aid in reader learning, each chapter includes a test bank and reading list for further study.

Written by a highly experienced instructor with more than 30 years of studying and teaching the subject, Ecotoxicology includes case studies on:

• Acid rain in the past and in the present
• Finfish and shellfish aquaculture
• The extraction of bitumen from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada
• The release of toxic metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium, and the dumping of chemical wastes and other contaminants of concern in the Great Lakes area

Ecotoxicology: A Case-based Approach is an essential guide for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students in ecology and environmental sciences, as well as professionals and policy makers concerned with the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.

SECTION I: ECOTOXICOLOGY IN CONTEXT

Chapter 1 Introduction to Ecotoxicology, Definition, Book Overview

Chapter 2 Circular versus Linear

2.1 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Toxicology 2.2 The forgotten chapter of DDT 2.3 The origins of toxicity testing as the keystone to Environmental Toxicology Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 3 Life

3.1 Introduction: The equation for life on this planet 3.2 Life and the wonder of the biodiversity our planet holds Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 4 Evolution of Ecotoxicology; The study of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem structure and function

4.1 Introduction 4.2 What do the species do in ecosystems? 4.3 What is Ecosystem Structure? 4.4 What is Ecosystem Function? 4.5 Ecotoxicology placed within the framework of Ecosystem structure and function Problems and Recommended Reading

SECTION II: CASE STUDIES

Chapter 5 Acid Deposition within the Framework of Ecotoxicology

5.1 Introduction 5.2 What were the fundamental geochemical functions being altered and what were the consequences? 5.3 Putting together the lines of evidence proving that acid deposition was responsible for the destruction of both aquatic and terrestrial communities 5.4 What was happening in the aquatic systems? Why this region of North America, the LaCloche Mountains? 5.5 General observations of what was happening in acidified systems 5.6 Denial 5.7 Recovery of acidified lakes 5.8 Revisiting Acid Rain today 5.9 Summary Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 6 Application of the Science of Ecotoxicology in Understanding the Impacts of Toxic Metals on Ecosystem Structure and Function

6.1 Introduction 6.2 Mercury 6.3 Lead 6.4 Cadmium 6.5 Summary: Moving forward Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 7 Aquaculture

7.1 Introduction 7.2 Salmon Aquaculture with emphasis on coastal British Columbia 7.3 Enter Aquaculture 7.4 Shellfish Aquaculture 7.5 Chapter Summary Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 8 Big Oil

8.1 Introduction 8.2 What are the environmental impacts of mining the oil sands? 8.3 The Paradox 8.4 The reality of Reclamation and Restoration 8.5 Chapter summary Problems and Recommended Reading

Chapter 9 The Dark Side of Carbon

9.1 Introduction 9.2 The Love Canal 9.3 State of the Great Lakes 9.4 Chapter Summary Problems and Recommended Reading

SECTION III: THE FUTURE OF ECOTOXICOLOGY

Chapter 10 Where To Now?

10.1 Introduction 10.2 What is an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)? 10.3 Challenges Ahead 10.4 Future Directions in Ecotoxicology 10.5 An Opportunity 10.6 Chapter Summary Problems and Recommended Reading

Leah Bendell is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science at Simon Fraser University. For over 30 years, she has studied how anthropogenic impacts alter ecosystem structure and function and the consequences of such impacts on ecosystem and human health. Her research has taken her to the Albertan Tar Sands, the mines of Indonesia, the freshwater lakes and wetlands of Ontario and the intertidal regions of coastal British Columbia.

A hands-on approach to understanding the impact of local and global stresses on ecosystems

Ecotoxicology: A Case-based Approach follows a “learning by doing” approach, building a deeper understanding of this multi-faceted discipline through the guided analysis of five carefully selected case studies that between them address both local and global anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem structure and function.

The book is divided into three sections. Section I covers the definition, history and methodology of ecotoxicology. Section II comprises five case studies, each detailing a selected anthropogenic stress, showing how the ecotoxicological approach has been used to explain its environmental impact and by doing so has provided mitigation and restoration strategies. The final section highlights future directions of ecotoxicology. To aid in reader learning, each chapter includes a test bank and reading list for further study.

Written by a highly experienced instructor with more than 30 years of studying and teaching the subject, Ecotoxicology includes case studies on:

• Acid rain in the past and in the present
• Finfish and shellfish aquaculture
• The extraction of bitumen from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada
• The release of toxic metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium, and the dumping of chemical wastes and other contaminants of concern in the Great Lakes area

Ecotoxicology: A Case-based Approach is an essential guide for upper undergraduate and postgraduate students in ecology and environmental sciences, as well as professionals and policy makers concerned with the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.