ABSTRACT
CONTENTS The Current Status of Estuarine Indicators........................................................................................... 503 Future Directions ................................................................................................................................... 504
Understanding of Scaling and Variability.................................................................................... 504 Long-Term Studies ....................................................................................................................... 505 Understanding of Influential or Causal Environmental Factors.................................................. 505 Integration of Assessment Approaches and Techniques.............................................................. 505 Utilization of Indicators within a Holistic Framework ............................................................... 506
New Approaches to Estuarine Indicators .............................................................................................. 506 References .............................................................................................................................................. 506
Estuaries are complex, variable, and diverse; consequently, they present unique challenges relative to understanding the effects of environmental stressors on these systems. Because of these challenges, the main purpose of the Estuarine Indicators Workshop and this subsequent volume was to bring together a diverse group of estuarine scientists to present and discuss the principles, concepts, and practical use and application of indicators in estuarine research and management practices. Thus, the principal objectives of this volume were to (1) identify the major effects that natural and anthropogenic stressors have on estuarine systems, (2) help identify and understand the underlying cause(s) of these effects, and (3) provide guidelines and recommendations for the development and use of indicators in the effective environmental management of estuarine ecosystems.
