Purpose and Study Design
4
terrestrial ecosystems nationwide. Such studies are often conducted at the
individual park, forest, or wilderness level. Larger regional and even national
studies are also conducted. This book provides a consistent framework regarding decisions of where, when, and how to conduct water sampling for the purpose
of evaluating and monitoring air pollution effects on aquatic ecosystems. It also
describes how to conduct laboratory analyses, how to quality assure project data,
and how to analyze and interpret the database developed in a water quality
study. It is based on protocols developed for the Forest Service (FS) by Sullivan
(2012), which in turn is based on protocols previously developed by or for the
US EPA, US Geological Survey (USGS), and FS, including documents prepared
by Herlihy (1997), Turk (2001), Webb et al. (2004), Eilers (2007), and Sullivan and
Herlihy (2007). Appendix A provides a list of protocols, guidance documents,
and methods manuals that were reviewed.
This framework allows the user to build a site-specific project plan based on
relevant research and management questions. References that provide more
details on these measurements are also included. Individual chapters address
approaches for water sampling, laboratory analyses, quality assurance/ quality
control (QA/QC), data analysis, and approaches for sampling and analyzing
aquatic biota. A final chapter addresses issues that arise when you transition
from one set of methods to another.
1.1.1 Resources Sensitive to Atmospheric Deposition
The most common ecological air quality-related values (AQRVs) that are susceptible to air quality degradation are water (and associated aquatic fauna),
soil, and flora. Sensitive receptors for effects on surface water include water
chemistry, productivity, and the response of life-forms, including fish, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton. This book focuses
mainly on surface water chemistry, and secondarily on zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates.
AQRVs are resource elements that could be damaged by air pollution or
atmospheric deposition. There are many possible sensitive indicators for each
AQRV. To protect the AQRV water, sensitive receptors might include the chemistry of the water, which could influence its suitability to support various aquatic
species and life-forms. ANC is an indicator of change for the sensitive receptor
water chemistry. There are also sensitive biological receptors, which reflect the
suitability of the lake water for supporting aquatic organisms that might be
sensitive to acidification or eutrophication. These could include, for example,
specific species of fish, zooplankton, insects, or diatoms. A sensitive receptor
can be evaluated by measuring indicators of injury or ecosystem change.
There are many approaches that can be used to assess (1) current condition
of surface waters; (2) the sensitivity of aquatic natural resources to potential
4
terrestrial ecosystems nationwide. Such studies are often conducted at the
individual park, forest, or wilderness level. Larger regional and even national
studies are also conducted. This book provides a consistent framework regarding decisions of where, when, and how to conduct water sampling for the purpose
of evaluating and monitoring air pollution effects on aquatic ecosystems. It also
describes how to conduct laboratory analyses, how to quality assure project data,
and how to analyze and interpret the database developed in a water quality
study. It is based on protocols developed for the Forest Service (FS) by Sullivan
(2012), which in turn is based on protocols previously developed by or for the
US EPA, US Geological Survey (USGS), and FS, including documents prepared
by Herlihy (1997), Turk (2001), Webb et al. (2004), Eilers (2007), and Sullivan and
Herlihy (2007). Appendix A provides a list of protocols, guidance documents,
and methods manuals that were reviewed.
This framework allows the user to build a site-specific project plan based on
relevant research and management questions. References that provide more
details on these measurements are also included. Individual chapters address
approaches for water sampling, laboratory analyses, quality assurance/ quality
control (QA/QC), data analysis, and approaches for sampling and analyzing
aquatic biota. A final chapter addresses issues that arise when you transition
from one set of methods to another.
1.1.1 Resources Sensitive to Atmospheric Deposition
The most common ecological air quality-related values (AQRVs) that are susceptible to air quality degradation are water (and associated aquatic fauna),
soil, and flora. Sensitive receptors for effects on surface water include water
chemistry, productivity, and the response of life-forms, including fish, zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton. This book focuses
mainly on surface water chemistry, and secondarily on zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates.
AQRVs are resource elements that could be damaged by air pollution or
atmospheric deposition. There are many possible sensitive indicators for each
AQRV. To protect the AQRV water, sensitive receptors might include the chemistry of the water, which could influence its suitability to support various aquatic
species and life-forms. ANC is an indicator of change for the sensitive receptor
water chemistry. There are also sensitive biological receptors, which reflect the
suitability of the lake water for supporting aquatic organisms that might be
sensitive to acidification or eutrophication. These could include, for example,
specific species of fish, zooplankton, insects, or diatoms. A sensitive receptor
can be evaluated by measuring indicators of injury or ecosystem change.
There are many approaches that can be used to assess (1) current condition
of surface waters; (2) the sensitivity of aquatic natural resources to potential