Sampling
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Field sampling programs provide the information needed to determine the status and dynamics of populations and communities and thus are the basis for many kind of research.
Field sampling studies can be clasified into four categories:
Baseline studies: data are collected to define the present state of a biological population or community. They are also called "one-off" studies, because by definition, they are not replicated in time.
Impact studies: are designed to determine the changes brought about a particular disturbance or stressor by comparing the status of natural or unimpacted biological parameters with their status under unimpacted conditions.
Monitoring studies: are designed to detect any changes from the present state. By definition, monitoring studies involve reapeted sampling in time. Monitoring programms in marine environments have focused on chemical, physical, and biological parameters, addresing objectives such as detecting microbial contamination of beaches, determining the concentration of potential harmful material on fish.
Pattern and process (ecological) studies:
References
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