Application of a regionalized knowledge-based model for classifying the impacts of nitrogen, sulfur, and organic acids on lakewater chemistry

Changes in the Chemistry of Small Irish lakes

“…In addition to strong acidic deposition, lake pH is largely controlled by organic anions (Sullivan et al 2005) and sea salt inputs; both DOC (albeit non-significant) and sea salts were higher during the 2007 survey. In concert, the absence of a statistically significant change (decrease) in conductivity was largely related to the constant high input of sea salts.…”

“…Although the drivers associated with this increase are speculative, suggestions include decreased acidic deposition, increased temperatures owing to global warming, changes in hydrology and changes in land use (Evans et al 2005). Increased organic acidity in surface waters may offset decreases in mineral acid anions, suppressing the recovery of pH (Sullivan et al 2005;Evans et al 2008).…”

A novel system for environmental monitoring through a cooperative/synergistic scheme between bioindicators and biosensors

“…In knowledge management, 'ontology' is an explicit formal specification of how to represent the object, concepts and other entities that are assumed to exist in some area of interest and the relationships that hold among them. Ontology resembles faceted taxonomy but use richer semantic relationships among terms and attributes, as well as strict rules about how to identify/ specify/analyse/synthesise terms and relationships (Neches, et al, 1991;Sullivan et al, 2004). Since ontologies do more than just control a vocabulary, they are thought of as knowledge representation, suitable to provide information for (a) decision making in complex interdisciplinary domains (like surveillance technology and ecosystems) and (b) problem solving within these domains.…”

“…Although some of these relations have been studied in vitro and in vivo even to gene level with respect to single exposure (one pollutant), the available information is scattered and highly unorganised (Seaward, 1995;Bargagli, 1998;Conti and Cecchetti, 2001;Wolterbeek, 2002;Sørensen et al, 2003;Sullivan et al, 2004). Among the most studied, in number and extent, is the exposure of lichens to sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, providing dose-response relations, sensitivity indices, bioavailability correlations, bioaccumulation levels, and metabolic/ biochemical pathways of infestation (Seaward, 1995;Loppi et al, 1998;Beeby, 2001;Conti and Cecchetti, 2001;Wolterbeek, 2002;Zschau et al, 2003;Szczepaniak and Biziuk, 2003); however, the effect of the two pollutants in combination has only been studied at a phenomenological level (morphological characteristics).…”

Assessing ecological quality of shallow lakes: Does knowledge of transparency suffice?

“…Moss et al (2003) wrote: ''It is the tragedy of our time, perhaps of all times, that we must set up expensive and elaborate measures to do what, with experience, and consensus within society as to its environmental goals, could be done much more easily. '' Knowledge and experience of experts is a valuable source of information in ecological sciences such as conservation biology (Regan, Master, & Hammerson, 2004), the development of reference lists (Richardson & Healey, 1996), and bioassessment (Sullivan, Saunders, Tonnessen, Nash, & Miller, 2005). Generally, experts use a combination of logic, common sense, skill, experience and judgement, to generate a final assessment that is intended to be timely, relevant, and meaningful (Rush & Roy, 2001).…”