Using an Ecosystem Approach to complement protection schemes based on organism-level endpoints

Authors

Clare Bradshaw, Stockholm UniversityFollow
Lawrence Kapustka, LK ConsultancyFollow
Lawrence Barenthouse, LWB Environmental ServicesFollow
Justin Brown, Norwegian Radiation Protection AuthorityFollow
Philippe Ciffroy, Electricité de FranceFollow
Valery E. Forbes, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Stanislav Geras'kin, Russian Institute of Agricultural Radiology and AgroecologyFollow
Ulrik Kautsky, Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management CoFollow
Francois Brechignac, Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear SafetyFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 136 (2014), pp. 98-104; doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.05.017

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

Radiation protection goals for ecological resources are focused on ecological structures and functions at population-, community-, and ecosystem-levels. The current approach to radiation safety for non-human biota relies on organism-level endpoints, and as such is not aligned with the stated overarching protection goals of international agencies. Exposure to stressors can trigger non-linear changes in ecosystem structure and function that cannot be predicted from effects on individual organisms. From the ecological sciences, we know that important interactive dynamics related to such emergent properties determine the flows of goods and services in ecological systems that human societies rely upon. A previous Task Group of the IUR (International Union of Radioecology) has presented the rationale for adding an Ecosystem Approach to the suite of tools available to manage radiation safety. In this paper, we summarize the arguments for an Ecosystem Approach and identify next steps and challenges ahead pertaining to developing and implementing a practical Ecosystem Approach to complement organism-level endpoints currently used in radiation safety.