Ecological causal assessment / editors: Susan B. Norton, Glenn W. Suter II, Susan M. Cormier

Incluye bibliografía: páginas 445-485 e índice: páginas 487-497

Glosario: páginas 435-440

Preface.. Acknowledgements.. Editors.. Contributors.. Part 1 Introduction and Philosophical Foundation.. 1. Introduction.. 2. What is a Cause?.. 3. How Have Causes Been Identified?.. 4. Characteristics and Evidence of Causation.. 5. Human Cognition and Causal Assessment.. Part 2 Conducting Causal Assessments.. 6. Our Approach for Identifying Causes.. Part 2A Formulating the Problem.. 7. Defining the Case.. 8. Listing Candidate Causes.. Part 2B Deriving Evidence.. 9. Case-Specific Observations: Assembling and Exploring Data.. 10. Case-Specific Observations: Deriving Evidence.. 11. Regional Observational Studies: Assembling and Exploring Data.. 12. Regional Observational Studies: Deriving Evidence.. 13. Regional Observational Studies: Addressing Confounding.. 14. Assessment-Specific Field Study Designs and Methods.. 15. Laboratory Experiments and Microcosms.. 16. Mesocosm Studies.. 17. Symptoms, Body Burdens, and Biomarkers.. 18. Simulation Models.. Part 2C Forming Conclusions and Using the Findings.. 19. Forming Causal Conclusions.. 20. Communicating the Findings.. 21. After the Causal Assessment: Using the Findings.. Part 3 Case Studies.. 22. Causal Assessment in a Complex Urban Watershed-The Long Creek Case Studyn.. 23. The Clear Fork Watershed Case Study: The Value of State Monitoring Programs.. 24. The Northern River Basins Study and the Athabasca River: The Value of Experimental Approaches in a Weight-of-Evidence Assessment.. 25. Applying CADDIS to a Terrestrial Case: San Joaquin Kit Foxes on an Oil Field.. Glossary.. List of Abbreviations and Acronyms.. References.. Index

Edited by experts at the leading edge of the development of causal assessment methods for more than two decades, Ecological Causal Assessment gives insight and expert guidance on how to identify cause-effect relationships in environmental systems. The book discusses the importance of asking the fundamental question "Why did this effect happen?" before moving on to "How can we fix it?" The book provides a deeper understanding of different philosophical and analytical approaches, and of cognitive tendencies that can lead to errors. It describes formal processes for causal assessment that are particularly helpful when the situation is complex or contentious. It also describes how to approach the analysis of available data and to optimize collection efforts. The text then details a transparent process that helps others replicate results and can be used to convince skeptics that the true cause has been identified. Several detailed case studies show how to apply the process to streams, watersheds, and a terrestrial wildlife population. Causal assessment is a challenging, but endlessly fascinating endeavor. Success requires the persistence to figure things out and solid strategies for using the information that you have and getting more of the right kind of information that you need. This book gives you just that: the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to successfully unravel tough environmental problems and build the knowledge base for effective management solutions. eng