Biomonitoring: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Bioindicators
Biomonitoring is the use of bioindicators to assess environmental stress, and it involves monitoring the biological responses of living organisms.
Compared to traditional methods, biomonitoring has several advantages, such as providing information from past, current, and future, detecting low or unknown pollutants, detecting indirect effects such as biomagnification, and providing information at the ecosystem level. However, biomonitoring also has some disadvantages, such as being scale and habitat-dependent, oversimplifying the effects of whole ecosystems, and sometimes being unable to distinguish between natural variabilities and anthropogenic impacts. A good bioindicator requires measurable responses, moderate tolerance ranges, abundant and common organisms, well-studied ecological and life history traits, well-documented taxonomy, and ease of survey. Commercially important organisms can also increase public awareness and interest.
Review questions:
- What are the advantages of using bioindicators over traditional methods in biomonitoring?
- What are the disadvantages of using bioindicators as tools in biomonitoring?
- What are the characteristics of a good bioindicator?
- How can biomonitoring detect indirect effects such as biomagnification?
- How can biomonitoring provide information at the ecosystem level?
Sustainable Development in Health and Ecology
Sustainable Development in Health and Ecology
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