disruption such as stream channelization and the loss of riparian habitat or because 

 natural background characteristics limited aquatic life. 



The review of research progress on habitat protection presented in this monograph 

 provides glimpses of research and technical development during the last decade. The 

 articles range from the broadly conceptual and theoretical to the practical. The 

 review addresses three major themes: (!) development of data bases on the 

 characteristics of ecosystems or wildlife populations and on the critically important 

 definition of species/ habitat relationships; (2) means of assessing and predicting 

 effects of human modification of ecosystems on fish and wildlife resources; and (3) 

 means of mitigating or managing damaged ecosystems and habitat. 



In summary, applied research on fish and wildlife habitat has resulted in significant 

 advances during the last decade that can contribute to sound environmental 

 management during the coming decade. .As is often the case with research advances, 

 application still lags behind development of many of the concepts discussed in this 

 document. It is paradoxical that although concern for ecological values is the central 

 theme of the National Environmental Policy Act, biological and ecological analysis 

 continues to be the weakest element of the environmental assessment process. 

 Increasingly, however, many of the new assessment approaches are being applied 

 and, through application and testing, are enhancing our understanding and our 

 ability to make our effective management choices. 



REFERENCES 



1. Carson, R. 1962. The Silent Spring. Fawcett Publishing Co., New York, NY. 



2. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 1980. State of the 

 Parks 1980, Report to the Congress. Washington, D.C., 44 pp. 



3. Swain, W. (In press). An ecosystem approach to the toxicity of residue forming 

 xenobistic organic substances in the Great Lakes. Manuscript submitted to 

 Environmental Studies Board, National Research Council, National Academy 

 of Sciences. Washington, D.C. 



4. National Science Foundation. 1977. Long-term ecological measurement. 

 Report of a conference. Woods Hole, Massachusetts, March 16-18, 1977. 

 Washington, D.C, 26 pp. 



5. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 1980. 

 The world conservation strategy. Gland, Switzerland. 



