Table of contents

This book provides comprehensive single source coverage of bioindication/biomonitoring in the fields of ecology, ecotoxicology and environmental sciences; from the ecological basics to the effects of chemicals on the environment and the latest test strategies. Contributions by leading figures in ecology from around the world reflect the broad scope of current thinking and research, making this volume essential reading for informed professionals and students.

This essential book contains material presented at a September 1990 meeting organized by the Commission for Bioindicators, International Union for Biological Sciences.**A key role of the Commission for Bioindicators (IUBS) is to promote the use of bioindicators in environmental management. This means encouraging the transfer of ideas regarding potential bioindicators, and originating in laboratories, into the harsher realities of field environmental monitoring. Although the concept of biomonitoring is ancient, its application to current monitoring problems is relatively slow to develop.**In a bid to rectify this problem, this invaluable book brings together and discusses approaches developed around the world. It will provide both environmental administrators and research scientists with a valuable sense of proportion of the state of the art in their particular field. Bioindicators and Environmental Management is organized into four sections Bioindicators, industry, and administration Biomonitoring of the Chernobyl accident Monitoring long-term/large-scale environmental trends Basic research in biomonitoring

There is not much question that plants are sensitive to air pollution, nor is there doubt that air pollution is affecting forests and agriculture worldwide. In this book, specific criteria and evaluated approaches to diagnose the effects of air pollution on trees and forests are examined.

Provides the reader with an overview of the variety of animal and plants that are available for use as environmental monitors. The author emphasizes that the use of a single species of target bioindicator is not appropriate or scientifically sound for the monitoring of several toxic pollutants.

Monitoring the environment is absolutely essential if we are to identify hazards to human health, to assess environmental cleanup efforts, and to prevent further degradation of the ecosystem. Biomonitors and biomarkers combined with chemical monitoring offer the only approach to making these assessments. Based on an International Association of Great Lakes Research conference, this book is intended for researchers who want to incorporate new and different technologies in their development of specifically-crafted monitors; students who are learning the field of biomonitoring; and regulatory agencies that want to consider newer technologies to replace inadequate and less powerful test regimes.

Plants are among the most sensitive organisms to pollutants, often responding with distinct, easy-to-recognize symptoms from exposure to specific environmental contaminants. This characteristic makes plants useful as bioindicators and biomonitors of pollutants. Using plants as bioindicators offers several advantages over physical/chemical monitoring systems: plants are easy to grow and maintain and inexpensive to deploy at a great number of sites; plants integrate pollutant exposure with other environmental factors to provide a biological assessment of exposure; and plant samples may be archived for retrospective analysis. Systems in use include indicator gardens, lichen transplants, plant growth and exposure benches, standard grass cultures, field survey of indigenous or cultivated species, and chemical analysis of plant tissue. A case study illustrating the use of bioindicators to assess the level of fluoride pollution in the Rhône valley in Switzerland is presented.