Biological monitoring: Part III—Receiving system methodology based on community structure

Abstract Application of community structural analysis in biomonitoring programs must be practical but also have a base in fundamental ecological principles. Descriptive approaches are essential in biomonitoring programs because only through careful description can one characterize the aquatic community. Analytical approaches are also necessary if one wishes to quantify cause-effect relationships. The goal of the biomonitoring efforts should be the development of information resources that will allow decision-making based on certainty of cause-effect relationships. This can be achieved through a conjunction of descriptive and anlaytical approaches to community structure biomonitoring.