Bringing together more than thirty influential regulators, academics, and industry scientists, Ecological Models for Regulatory Risk Assessments of Pesticides: Developing a Strategy for the Future provides a coherent, science-based view on ecological modeling for regulatory risk assessments. It discusses the benefits of modeling in the context of registrations, identifies the obstacles that prevent ecological modeling being used routinely in regulatory submissions, and explores the actions needed to overcome these obstacles. The book focuses on the following issues: Uncertainties in the process of model development, such as design, analysis, documentation, and communication The availability of data and background information needed for optimal modeling The limited knowledge of modeling The lack of confidence in the outcome of ecological models and their reliability in pesticide risk assessment It also suggests future solutions to these challenges, including: A guidance document on the modeling process Case studies that show how ecological models can provide reliable ecologically relevant risk assessments Training the people who generate or evaluate results obtained by ecological models Focusing on ecological models, such as unstructured population models, stage-structured matrix models, and individual- or agent-based models, this volume helps regulatory authorities, manufacturers, and scientists assess the risk of plant protection products in nontarget organisms. Armed with this knowledge, readers will better understand the challenges of using ecological modeling in the regulatory process.

This first volume in the series provides a detailed treatment in ecotoxicology and stresses why genetics is important in understanding if and how chemical contaminants affect populations. Written by an array of international contributors from various fields covering mammals, invertebrates, fish, plants, as well as molecular ecotoxicology, this book considers both ecological/evolutionary consequences and practical implications of the interplay between chemical toxicants and the genetic population.
In broadening the understanding of ecological response, this resource ranges from molecular to classical genetics, from plant to animal, from asexual to sexual, touching on some fundamental issues of evolutionary biology. In addition, gaps in our present understanding of genetic and ecotoxicological processes and future research directions have been identified.