Puget Sound Science Review

Section 7. Glossary

Attribute	characteristic that is of scientific and/or management importance, but insufficiently specific and/or logistically challenging to measure directly; also, ecological characteristic that specifically describes the state of Focal Components
Baseline	reference level derived from time periods or locations free from human pressures
Benchmark	indicator value suggestive of progress toward targets
CCME	Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
Criteria	standards against which indicators were evaluated
Data considerations	indicator evaluation criteria related to the actual measurement of the indicator
DO	Dissolved Oxygen
Domain	distinct ecological areas that contain unique qualities or traits; terrestrial, freshwater, marine, interface/ecotone
Driver	factor that result in pressures that cause changes in the system
Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR)	conceptual framework that has been broadly applied in terrestrial and aquatic environmental assessments
EBM	Ecosystem Based Management
Ecosystem assessment indicator	technically robust and rigorous metric used by scientists and managers to understand of ecosystem structure and function
EPM	Ecosystem Portfolio Model
ESA	Endangered Species Act
Focal component	the major ecological characteristics of an ecosystem that capture the relevant scientific information in a limited number of discrete, but not necessarily independent categories
FRAP	Future Risk Assessment Project
GDP	Gross Domestic Product
GIS	Geographical Information System
Impact	measures of the effect of change in state variables such as loss of biodiversity, declines in productivity and yield, etc
Improving indicator	indicator that is increasing faster in the short-term but slower in the long-term than an index that captures aggregate changes in multiple indicators
IBI	Index of Biologic Integrity
Indicator	quantitative biological, chemical, physical, social, or economic measurements that serve as proxies for difficult-to-measure attributes of natural and socio-economic systems
JISAO	Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean
Lagging indicator	indicator that is increasing slower in the short- and long-term than an index that captures aggregate changes in multiple indicators
Leading indicator	indicator that is increasing faster in the short- and long-term than an index that captures aggregate changes in multiple indicators
Limit	reference level pegged to an extreme value beyond which undesired change occurs
Management strategy evaluation (MSE)	conceptual framework that enables the testing and comparison of different management strategies designed to achieve specified management goals
MPA	Marine protected areas
NMFS	NOAA National Martine Fisheries Service
Nonlinearity	sudden change in a response variable resulting from smooth and gradual change in a causal factor
Normative reference level	reference level defined based on what is socially acceptable, i.e., according to norms
Norms	define what is generally accepted within a cultural context, and may serve as societal standards to evaluate ecosystem conditions, human activities, or management strategies
Open Standards	Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, developed by the Conservation Measures Partnership, Version 2.0 released in 2007. Available at http://cmp-openstandards.org/. The Open Standards are a series of five steps that comprise the project management cycle, with the aim of providing a framework and guidance for successful conservation action. They define conservation efforts as “projects,” and bring together common concepts, approaches, and terminology in conservation project design, management and monitoring. For more information, see [3].
Other considerations	indicator evaluation criteria that make an indicator useful, but without which an indicator remains scientifically informative
PAH	polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PBT	Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics
PCB	polychlorinated biphenyls
PDBE	polybrominated diphenyl ethers
Performance Management	A system to track implementation and communicate progress of a conservation project or program
Precautionary reference level	reference level pegged to an extreme value beyond which undesired change occurs, but set to be more conservative than the limit; a.k.a. warning reference level
Pressure	factor that cause changes in state or condition. They can be mapped to specific drivers
Primary considerations	essential indicator evaluation criteria that should be fulfilled by an indicator in order for it to provide scientifically useful information about the status of the ecosystem in relation to PSP goals
PSAT	Puget Sound Action Team
PSNERP	Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project
PSP	Puget Sound Partnership
PSP Goals	combine societal values and scientific understanding to define a desired ecosystem condition, and include: Human health, Human well-being, Species and Food Webs, Habitats, Water Quantity, Water Quality
PSSU	Puget Sound Science Update
Ranking scheme	approach used to weight indicator evaluation criteria
Reference direction	which specifies how the trend in an indicator relates to the desired state of the ecosystem
Reference level	Point value or direction of change used to provide context so that changes in indicator values can be interpreted relative to desired ecosystem states
Reference point	Precise values of indicators used to provide context for the current status of an indicator
Response	Actions (regulatory and otherwise) that are taken in response to predicted impacts
Results chains	Map specific management strategies to their expected outcome (e.g., reduction of a threat) and their impact on key components of the ecosystem. One component in the Open Standards framework being used by the PSP to guide its performance management strategy. Results chains are diagrams that show how a particular action taken will lead to some desired result, by linking short-, medium- and long-term results in “if...then” statements. Comprised of three basic elements: strategy, expected outcomes, and desired impacts. Developed for use as part of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Performance Management System in {Neuman, 2009 #20}.
Slipping indicator	Indicator that is increasing faster in the long-term but slower in the short-term than an index that captures aggregate changes in multiple indicators
SMA	Shoreline Management Act
SRKW	southern resident killer whales
State	Condition of the ecosystem (including physical, chemical, and biotic factors)
Target	Reference level that signals a desired state
Threats	Any activities that have altered the ecosystem in the past or present, or are likely to in the future
UERL	Urban Ecology Research Lab
USFWS	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Vital sign indicator	Scientifically meaningful, but simple, metric that can generally inform the public and policy makers about the state of the ecosystem
WAC	Washington Administrative Code
WDFW	Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
WDNR	Washington Department of Natural Resources
WDOE	Washington Department of Ecology
WDOH	Washington Department of Health
WQI	Water Quality Index