Abstract
ABSTRACT We define recovery of a biological resource as occurring when the injured resource reaches the state it would have been, had the impact not occurred. The recovery process, and natural spatial and temporal variation affect the abundance of an injured resource and will confound to either delay or accelerate detection of recovery. The effects of natural variation can be reduced by sampling design and statistical analyses, both of which remove potentially confounding influences of temporal and spatial variation. Reference areas are useful when they respond in the same way as the impacted areas to changes in climate and anthropogenic influences. Historical data and time series data collected after the impact event are useful for detecting recovery and for assessing ecological assumptions implied in statistical analyses. Corroborative evidence from co-occurring studies of toxicity and chemistry, and supplementary data on regional changes in climate and abundance can be useful for assessing recovery. Examples from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill show that full recovery of oiled shorelines and seabirds occurred in the early 1990s.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
