Comparison of aquatic system models using outdoor mesocosm data for ecological risk assessment, part I: methodology

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, vol. 22, pp. 919–931

Abstract

Mesocosm studies are conducted in the context of higher-tier ecological risk assessments (ERAs) to integrate environmental conditions and study species interactions within waterbodies in agricultural landscapes. Aquatic system models (ASMs) could provide tools to extrapolate the dynamics and effects of chemicals observed in mesocosm studies to a wider range of environmental conditions and exposure scenarios. In this article, we present the methodology of a ring study with four ASMs (AQUATOX, CASM, StoLaM+, Streambugs) applied to data from mesocosm studies, while the results of the ring study are presented in a companion article to be published alongside this work. The ring study aimed to test the feasibility and capability of ASMs to represent mesocosm data and to evaluate if such models can be used as an extension of mesocosm experiments in ERAs. The ring study methodology allowed for model comparison and identified models' strengths and limitations in representing the ecosystem dynamics in control and treated mesocosm studies. Groups of species were defined to map the diversity of the mesocosm ecosystem in the taxa represented by the models, and a consensus trophic web was agreed on to ensure harmonization among the models. Control and effect calibration criteria were developed to evaluate and compare model performances for each species group, explicitly considering the variability in mesocosm data. Our proposed methodologies and the challenges in using mesocosm data to inform modeling approaches are discussed. Finally, we derived recommendations for future research to facilitate the development of models representing mesocosms to support ERAs.

Authors 16

1. Chiara Accolla corresponding

   Waterborne Environmental (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Waterborne Environmental, Inc. , Leesburg, VA,

   Waterborne Environmental, Inc, Leesburg, Virginia, USA

2. Amélie Schmolke

   Waterborne Environmental (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Waterborne Environmental, Inc. , Leesburg, VA,

   Waterborne Environmental, Inc, Leesburg, Virginia, USA

3. Nika Galić

   Syngenta (Switzerland)

   Affiliation as printed

   Syngenta Crop Protection AG , Basel,

   Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Basel, Switzerland

4. Steven M. Bartell

   Stantec (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Stantec, Inc. , Greenback, TN,

   Stantec, Inc, Greenback, Tennessee, USA

5. Daniel E. Dawson
   Affiliation as printed

   Integral Consulting Inc. , Berlin, MD,

   Berlin, Maryland, USA

   Integral Consulting Inc, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

   Seattle, Washington, USA

6. Klaus Peter Ebke

   Mesocosm

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut für Gewässerschutz Mesocosm GmbH , Homberg (Ohm),

7. Jana Gerhard Aachen Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac) , Aachen,

   Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac), Aachen, Germany

8. Analise Lindborg
   Affiliation as printed

   Integral Consulting Inc. , Berlin, MD,

   Berlin, Maryland, USA

   Integral Consulting Inc, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

   Seattle, Washington, USA

9. Ann-Kathrin Loerracher

   Mesocosm

   Affiliation as printed

   Institut für Gewässerschutz Mesocosm GmbH , Homberg (Ohm),

10. Isabel A. O’Connor

    Ernst Basler + Partner (Switzerland)

    Affiliation as printed

    EBP Schweiz AG , Zürich,

11. Robert A. Pastorok

    Integral Consulting (United States)

    Affiliation as printed

    Integral Consulting Inc. , Seattle, WA,

    Berlin, Maryland, USA

    Integral Consulting Inc, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

    Seattle, Washington, USA

12. Damian V. Preziosi
    Affiliation as printed

    Integral Consulting Inc. , Berlin, MD,

    Berlin, Maryland, USA

    Integral Consulting Inc, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

    Seattle, Washington, USA

13. Brandon Sackmann

    GSI Environmental (United States)

    Affiliation as printed

    GSI Environmental Inc ., Olympia, WA,

    GSI Environmental Inc, Olympia, Washington, USA

14. Nele Schuwirth

    Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology , Dübendorf,

15. Tido Strauß Aachen Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac)

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac) , Aachen,

    Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment (gaiac), Aachen, Germany

16. Roman Ashauer

    University of York · Syngenta (Switzerland)

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Environment and Geography, University of York , York,

    Syngenta Crop Protection AG , Basel,

    Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK

    Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Basel, Switzerland