Updated – Eutrophication Matrix Pressure-State-Response
Here is my take on the ‘Pressure-State-Response’ issue.
(Note that I do NOT suggest that this should be ‘State-Pressure-Response’ because cause and effect would then be misplaced).
The following are examples only of what we should include in such a table.
Some definitions and concepts:
- Pressure (or Impact) is the believed causative agent – i.e. the cause of the problem – resulting from some human action (whether local, regional, direct or indirect). It will generally have dimensions of a rate function, i.e. change over time e.g. formal physical dimensions M T-1
- State or Indicator is what we measure to assess Ecological or Environmental Response. Although we may report these as changes over time, State is described as a series of instantaneous measures (i.e. State is described without dimensions of Time). State is our ‘short-hand’ way of describing the present condition of the environment.
- Environmental Response is the change over time believed to be caused by some Pressure. Again it properly has formal physical dimensions M T-1
- Action Required is what needs to be done to alleviate the Environmental Response (i.e. remove or reduce the Pressure). Societal Response varies from being annoyed about the state of the environment to passing legislation and enforcing action.
- My Pressures are related to watershed use and coastal impacts, we could add many more.
- So in the table in www.gulfofmaine.org/esipplanning – file named “Indicator Matrix for Eutrophication – Organized Pressure State Response” we are not quite distinguishing clearly among these categories. For example: Nutrient Concentration is an Indicator or State Variable. However, Nutrient Loading is a pressure that can Result from several human activities. We could think of this as a Secondary (or derived) pressure for example, OR we can think of it as a Response.
- Finally, I suggest that we do not get hung up on all this!
| Primary Pressure or Impact |
Secondary Pressure or Impact |
State or Indicator |
Ecological / Environmental Response (to the Pressure) |
Societal Response/Action Required for Remdiation |
| Land Erosion | Increased Nutrient Loading | High Nutrient Concentrations |
Eutrophication and Increased Nutrient Concentrations | Watershed Buffer Zones |
| High Turbidity |
||||
| Deforestation | High Nutrient Concentrations |
Watershed Buffer Zones | ||
| High Turbidity |
||||
| Urbanization Without Sewage Treatment | High Nutrient Concentrations |
Improved Sewage Treatment Plants | ||
| High Turbidity |
||||
| Loss of Coastal Wetlands | Low Species Diversity |
Species Diversity Is Reduced | Restriction of Human Coastal Activities | |
| Increased Farming and Soil Fertilization | High Nutrient Concentrations |
Watershed Buffer Zones | ||
| High Turbidity |
Reduced Application of Fertilizers | |||
| Dissolved Oxygen |
Decreased Dissolved Oxygen | |||
| Chlorophyll Concentration |
Increased Chlorophyll Concentration | |||
| Species Composition |
Altered Species Composition |
For Indicators (listed in State/Indicator Column above and BOLDED):
| Indicator/State Listed in Above Table |
Specific Indicator |
Scientifically Valid |
Responsive to Change |
Cause and Effect Link |
Accurate Data Available |
Relevant to Users |
Comparable Regionally |
Useful at Different Scales |
Comparable to Targets, Thresholds, or Standards |
Indicates a Condition (i.e. Not Just A Measurement) |
| Nutrients |
Calculated Nitrogen Load (g/m2/yr) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
||
| Calculated Phosphorus Load (g/m2/yr) | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|||
| Nitrogen Concentration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Phosphurus Concentration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Redfied Ratio | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Light Extinction |
Secchi Depth |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
||
| Kd (Light extinction) |
||||||||||
| Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
||||||||||
| System Metabolism |
Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| P/R ratio | ||||||||||
| Phytoplankton | Chlorophyll a Concentration | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Green Algal Type
|
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| Species Composition/Changes in Food Web |
Macroalgae Distribution | |||||||||
| Macroalgae Abundance | ||||||||||
| Species reduction | ||||||||||
| Number and duration of harmful algal blooms | Yes |
Yes |
Yes? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
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| Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Distribution | ||||||||||
| Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Abundance | ||||||||||
| Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Health | ||||||||||
| Foraminifera taxa makeup | ||||||||||
| Diatom taxa makeup | ||||||||||
| Macro-invertebrate taxa makeup (NCA) | ||||||||||
| BHQ – state (coupled sediment-organism indicator |