ENSC 595: Ecological Risk Assessment

Paper Discussion: Effects

In a ≤ 7 page paper:

1. Summarize the approach, methodology, results, and conclusions of this paper.

2. Discuss the paper in terms of the following questions. Make sure to include evidence to back up your assessments of each question, don’t just give a generic answer without an explanation as to why you came up with that answer (e.g., don’t just say “The background was sufficient to justify the significance of the study. The introduction was sufficient to justify the study.” etc.)
3. To what extent was the background introduction sufficient to justify the significance of the topic?
4. To what degree was the introduction sufficient to justify why the study needed to be done?
5. To what extent was the introduction sufficient to justify the approach taken/receptor studied?
6. Were the objectives and hypotheses clearly stated?
7. Were the methods and approach appropriate to address the objectives and test the hypothesis?
8. Were the results clearly and succinctly presented? Were the figures and tables understandable?
9. Did the discussion state whether or not the hypothesis was supported?
10. How well did the conclusions logically follow from the results, without speculation that was not supported by the data?
11. How much did the author relate the results of their study to pertinent scientific literature?
12. How well did the author make the argument that the results of the study were significant to the field?
13. How good of a job did the author do in making overall conclusions from the study?

3. Imagine these studies are part of an effects assessment for an overall risk assessment of a contaminated site.
4. Come up with a hypothetical policy goal and assessment endpoint(s) for this study.

1. Describe what the indicators of effects and measurement endpoints are in the paper.

1. Discuss (specifically) at least two other measures of effects (not covered in the paper) that could be used to assess effects. Be sure to include what your measurement endpoints would be.  Make sure that these measurements are discussed with respect to your specific site.