Resource
In EMAP, an ecological entity that is identified as a target of
sampling and is a group of general, broad ecosystem types or
ecological entities sharing certain basic characteristics. Seven such
categories currently are identified within EMAP: estuaries, great
lakes, inland surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid ecosystems, and
agroecosystems. These categories define the organizational structure of monitoring groups in EMAP and are the resources addressed
by EMAP assessments. A resource can be characterized as belonging to one of two types, discrete and extensive, that pose different
problems of sampling and representation.
Resource class
A subdivision of a resource; examples include small lakes,
oak-hickory forests, emergent estuarine wetlands, field cropland,
small estuaries, and sagebrush dominated desert scrub.
Resource domain
The areal extent of a resource; the region occupied by a resource.
Resource group
In EMAP’s Resource Monitoring and Research section, a group of
scientific and administrative personnel, headed by a technical director (TD), responsible for research, monitoring, and assessments for
a given EMAP resource. There are seven such groups in EMAP:
estuaries, great lakes, inland surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid
ecosystems, and agroecosystems. Landscape ecology is also considered a resource group in EMAP.
Resource unit
A unit of a discrete resource, for example, a lake. A population of
such a resource will be an explicit set of resource units.
Risk
“A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property,
and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard.” In
statistics, “the expected loss due to the use of a given decision
procedure.”
Risk assessment
“Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human
health and/or the environment by the actual or potential presence
and/or use of specific pollutants.”
Risk characterization
Determination of the nature of a given risk and quantifying of the
potential for adverse change to the environment from that risk. “A
phase of ecological risk assessment that integrates the results of the
exposure and ecological effects analyses to evaluate the likelihood
of adverse ecological effects associated with exposure to a stressor.
The ecological significance of the adverse effects is discussed,
including consideration of the types and magnitudes of the effects,
their spatial and temporal patterns, and the likelihood of recovery.”
Risk communication
“The exchange of information about environmental risks among
risk assessors, risk managers, the general public, news media,
special interest groups, and others.”
Risk management
“The process of evaluating and selecting alternative regulatory and
non-regulatory responses to risk. The selection process necessarily
requires the consideration of scientific, legal, economic, and behavioral factors.
Sample
A subset of the units from a frame. A sample may also be a subset of
resource units from a population or a set of sampling units.
Sampling strategy
A sampling design, together with a plan of analysis and estimation.
The design consists of a frame, either explicit or implicit, together
with a protocol for selection of sampling units.
Sampling unit
An entity that is subject to selection and characterization under a
sampling design. A sample consists of a set of sampling units or
sites that will be characterized. Sampling units are defined by the
230
S. O. Darkwah et al.
In EMAP, an ecological entity that is identified as a target of
sampling and is a group of general, broad ecosystem types or
ecological entities sharing certain basic characteristics. Seven such
categories currently are identified within EMAP: estuaries, great
lakes, inland surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid ecosystems, and
agroecosystems. These categories define the organizational structure of monitoring groups in EMAP and are the resources addressed
by EMAP assessments. A resource can be characterized as belonging to one of two types, discrete and extensive, that pose different
problems of sampling and representation.
Resource class
A subdivision of a resource; examples include small lakes,
oak-hickory forests, emergent estuarine wetlands, field cropland,
small estuaries, and sagebrush dominated desert scrub.
Resource domain
The areal extent of a resource; the region occupied by a resource.
Resource group
In EMAP’s Resource Monitoring and Research section, a group of
scientific and administrative personnel, headed by a technical director (TD), responsible for research, monitoring, and assessments for
a given EMAP resource. There are seven such groups in EMAP:
estuaries, great lakes, inland surface waters, wetlands, forests, arid
ecosystems, and agroecosystems. Landscape ecology is also considered a resource group in EMAP.
Resource unit
A unit of a discrete resource, for example, a lake. A population of
such a resource will be an explicit set of resource units.
Risk
“A measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property,
and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard.” In
statistics, “the expected loss due to the use of a given decision
procedure.”
Risk assessment
“Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed to human
health and/or the environment by the actual or potential presence
and/or use of specific pollutants.”
Risk characterization
Determination of the nature of a given risk and quantifying of the
potential for adverse change to the environment from that risk. “A
phase of ecological risk assessment that integrates the results of the
exposure and ecological effects analyses to evaluate the likelihood
of adverse ecological effects associated with exposure to a stressor.
The ecological significance of the adverse effects is discussed,
including consideration of the types and magnitudes of the effects,
their spatial and temporal patterns, and the likelihood of recovery.”
Risk communication
“The exchange of information about environmental risks among
risk assessors, risk managers, the general public, news media,
special interest groups, and others.”
Risk management
“The process of evaluating and selecting alternative regulatory and
non-regulatory responses to risk. The selection process necessarily
requires the consideration of scientific, legal, economic, and behavioral factors.
Sample
A subset of the units from a frame. A sample may also be a subset of
resource units from a population or a set of sampling units.
Sampling strategy
A sampling design, together with a plan of analysis and estimation.
The design consists of a frame, either explicit or implicit, together
with a protocol for selection of sampling units.
Sampling unit
An entity that is subject to selection and characterization under a
sampling design. A sample consists of a set of sampling units or
sites that will be characterized. Sampling units are defined by the
230
S. O. Darkwah et al.