Ecotoxicology in an Era of Rapid Environmental Change

Abstract

Ecotoxicology involves testing that uses attributes at higher levels of biological organization as endpoints. Ecotoxicologists have been accustomed to a relatively modest rate of environmental and ecosystem change. However, as of late, the global climate has changed rapidly due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This rapid change has had a major impact on all ecotoxicity testing from community level to microcosms and mesocosms. Throughout this rapid change, single species toxicity methods have remained useful.