Wednesday, August 8, 2007: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
B1&2, San Jose McEnery Convention Center
OOS 28 - Inferring environmental conditions from biological observations: Tools for environmental management
Ecologists have long used observations of assemblage composition to infer environmental conditions at a site. These inferences rely on the notion that different organisms require particular environmental conditions to persist. In recent years, the increased availability of large datasets and the development of new statistical methods have enhanced the accuracy and general applicability of biological inferences. Thus, biological inferences have become increasingly important for addressing environmental and ecological questions. In this session we survey recent methodological developments in biological inference. We also consider how biological inferences have been used to answer environmental questions, such as determining historical environmental conditions and setting restoration targets, assessing the biological condition of different ecosystems, and diagnosing the causes of degradation.
Organizer:Lester L. Yuan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Co-organizer:Amina I. Pollard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Moderator:Lester L. Yuan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1:30 PMOOS 28-1Lotic benthic diatom assemblages and environmental characteristics in the Western USA
Yangdong Pan, Portland State University
1:50 PMOOS 28-2Distinguishing natural from anthropogenic regulation of algae in aquatic ecosystems
R. Jan Stevenson, Michigan State University
2:10 PMOOS 28-3Plant species responses: From expert knowledge to hard data
G. Wieger Wamelink, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Ruut Wegman, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Joep Frissel, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Pieter Slim, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Han F. van Dobben, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Paul W. Goedhart, Wageningen University and Research Centre
2:30 PMOOS 28-4Inferring temporal trends in stream temperature from changes in biological assemblage composition
Lester L. Yuan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Shannon Hubler, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Larry Whitney, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
2:50 PMOOS 28-5Comparisons of macroinvertebrate traits with empirically defined environmental preferences
Amina I. Pollard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lester L Yuan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
3:10 PM Break
3:20 PMOOS 28-6Evaluation of an inference model for nutrients: Can we make inferences about nutrient loading in streams using invertebrate assemblages?
Daren Carlisle, U.S. Geological Survey
3:40 PMOOS 28-7Protozoan assemblage dynamics in headwater streams: A potential water-quality bioassessment tool
Deborah K. Hersha, The Ohio State University, Lance R. Williams, The Ohio State University
4:00 PMOOS 28-8Anuran calling activity as an indicator of wetland health: The importance of including variation in landscape composition
Neal T. Halstead, University of South Florida, Earl D. McCoy, University of South Florida, Henry R. Mushinsky, University of South Florida

See more of Organized Oral Session

See more of The ESA/SER Joint Meeting (August 5 -- August 10, 2007)