alteration of critical habitats, especially vegetated aquatic habitats, within coastal ecosystems. 
Project 2 {Shoreline, Lake, and Estuary Scale Habitat Research) also deals with societally 
important endpoints, but focuses on those coastal ecosystems where the interactions of multiple 
habitats predominantly determine the condition of fish, shellfish, and wildlife populations. 
Project 3 {Salmon arid Native Fish Habitat Research) and project 4 {Multiple Stressor Risks to 
Common Loon and Other Piscivorous Bird Populations [cross-listed in Section 7, Toxic 
Chemicals, Project B3\) concentrate on providing the scientific basis to protect critically 
important endpoints such as wild salmon and migratory wildlife whose populations are at risk 
due to, among various factors, large scale changes in their habitats. As described in the Critical 
Path, work at the vegetated habitat and multiple habitat scale primarily addresses the need for 
developing habitat-biota-response relationships. Work at the watershed/regional/landscape scale 
is divided into two projects that are conceptually related but deal with different ecosystems and 
biological endpoints. Research will directly address the consequences of habitat alteration for 
societally important fish, shellfish, and wildlife species. Table 2 lists those species that, on the 
basis of initial assessment, appear as the best candidates for study under projects 1 and 2. During 
development of specific research plans by NHEERL Ecological Divisions, a more detailed 
Table 2. List of candidate species for study in marine and Great Lakes coastal regions. 
Northeast Atlantic Coast 
{Atlantic Ecology Division) 
Gulf Coast 
{Gulf Ecology Division) 
Winter flounder 
Striped bass, bluehsh, and weakfish 
Tautog 
Bay scallops and lobster 
Waterfowl and shorebirds 
Penaeid shrimp 
Blue crab 
Red drum and other sciaenids 
Oysters 
Waterfowl and shorebirds 
Great Lakes 
{Mid-Continent Ecology Division) 
Northwest Pacific Coast 
{Western Ecology Division) 
Northern pike 
Walleye 
Yellow perch 
Laigemouth and smallmouth bass 
Waterfowl and shorebirds 
Salmon and trout 
Dungeness crab 
Pacific herring 
Threatened and endangered native fishes 
Waterfowl and shorebirds 
analysis of the current state of knowledge concerning the species-habitat relationships for those 
on this list will be done. Development of research efforts on particular organisms under this plan 
will be closely coordinated with other efforts, both within EPA and in other organizations. For 
example, NHEERL also has developed a Wildlife Research Strategy (WRS) (EPA 2000), and 
the related research initiated here will be integrated with any NHEERL research on semi-aquatic 
wildlife. 
A systematic approach will be used to evaluate candidates and select species using a consistent 
societal value-based scheme. A data table will be constructed for each region listing the species 
18 
