Essential Research Process for Environmental Contaminant Evaluation 



Public 



Fish & Wildlife Managers 



I 



Assess Relevant Contaminant — Fish 

 and Wildlife Resource Interactions 



Government Agencies 



Research Scientists 



Industry 



Monitoring Program 



Status of Fish & Wildlife Populations 



Chemical-Physical Properties 



Chemical Production and Use 



I 



Define Scope of Problem 

 and Research Tasks 



Survey Current Research Activities 



Literature Review 



Habitat Status 



Chemical Distribution and Disposal 



Postulated Biological Impacts 



Fisheries and Wildlife Biology 



Ecology 



Ethology 



Microbiology 



Pollution Abatement and 

 Regulatory Recommendations 



Technological Improvements 

 and Methods Development 



1 



Design and Conduct Research 



1 



\ 



Interpretation and Application of Results 



Biochemistry and Physiology 



Toxicology 



Statistics 



Analytical Chemistry 



Data Reports and 

 Scientific Publications 



Identify Additional 

 Research Needs 



Hazard Evaluations and Management Recommendations 



Figure 1. Major steps and some sources of input for a research approach 

 to assessing contaminant threats to fish and wildlife resources. 



