Ecological indicators for the nation / Committee to Evaluate Indicators for Monitoring Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology [and] Water Science and Technology Board, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 131-148) and index.

1. Introduction. Why Are Ecological Indicators Needed? This Study. Key Ecological Processes and Products That People Value. Establishing Baselines to Evaluate Trends. Evaluating Indicators. Realistic Expectations about the Value of Indicators -- 2. The Empirical and Conceptual Foundations of Indicators. Scientific Underpinnings of Indicators. Using Multiple Approaches. Historical and Paleoecological Data As Aids to Indicator Development. Sources of Information about Current Ecological Processes. Models to Assess Ecosystem Functioning. The Committee's Conceptual Model for Choosing Indicators -- 3. A Framework for Indicator Selection. Criteria for Evaluating Indicators. Information Handling and Calibration. Data Quality Control, Archiving, and Assignment of Responsibilities. Use of the Committee Framework -- 4. Indicators for National Ecological Assessment. The Extent and Status of the Nation's Ecosystems. Indicators of Ecological Capital: A. Biotic Raw Materials.

Indicators of Ecological Capital: B. Abiotic Raw Materials. Indicators of the Performance of the Nation's Ecosystems. Indicators of Nutrient-Use Efficiency and Nutrient Balances in Agroecosystems. Research Needs -- 5. Local and Regional Indicators. Productivity Indicators. Forests as an Example. Indicators of Species Diversity -- 6. References -- App. A. Variability, Complexity, and the Design of Sampling Procedures -- App. B. Markov Matrices of Landscape Change -- App. C. Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff.

This important book from the National Research Council identifies national ecological indicators that can support U.S. policy making and can also be adapted to decisions at regional and local levels. Federal, state, local, and private-sector decision makers, as well as environmental scientists and practitioners, will be especially interested in this book."--BOOK JACKET.