Research Product

Medicine employs an approach to diagnose, give a prognosis, and develop a treatment for human patients. Specific signs and symptoms determined from medical examinations, laboratory tests, and patient history are utilized to predict the outcome of a potential pathological disorder. Utilizing a strategy similar to the medical examination, the status of ecosystems can be examined. To demonstrate this concept a "patient" case study of the Gulf of Mexico is described. The diagnosis of potential abnormalities within the Gulf of Mexico was conducted by examining field indicators including sediment chemistry and tissue chemistry (field examinations), sediment toxicity (laboratory testing), and a benthic index (patient history and existing symptoms). Based on the diagnosis (ecological assessment), a prognosis for the Gulf of Mexico was determined and specific areas that are impacted by stressors were identified for more detailed assessments. Pensacola Bay was identified as such an area impacted by stressors. The case study example demonstrates that a medical approach of "diagnosis and prognosis" can be utilized as a strategy to help identify stressors, develop a successful treatment plan, and prevent future ecosystem degradation.