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M 2 <br /> RAPID <br /> BIOASSESSMENT <br /> INNOVATIVE BIOLOGY y , <br /> A new set of techniques known prioritizing problem areas that are <br /> as Rapid Bioassessment is capturing the slated to receive more intensive study. <br /> attention of environmental regulators The techniques were developed in r, <br /> and the companies that are responsible response to EPA's 1987 initiatives that <br /> for complying with the regulations. called for baseline characterizations of <br /> Rapid Bioassessment, or RBA, is bring- the nation's aquatic resources as the <br /> ing faster results,reduced costs, and basis for managing water resources. <br /> high standards of reliability to the Under contract to the U.S. EPA, EA has <br /> assessment of the quality of rivers and been developing and refining these <br /> streams. The"rapid"element is rapid bioassessment techniques. <br /> possible because of standardized The term Bioassessment signifies <br /> collection procedures and interpretation the evaluation of the condition of <br /> methods along with taxonomic biological populations and communities <br /> identification of subsamples. Rapid in response to pollution. Rapid <br /> Bioassessment has received national Bioassessment focuses on the concept <br /> attention from the U.S. EPA, state that the health and condition of a <br /> governments, and professional biological community are constrained <br /> environmental scientists, who see the by the quality of the habitat. Once this <br /> opportunity to efficiently obtain large relationship is established through <br /> amounts of data for making decisions sampling of reference areas, an <br /> about environmental actions. This imbalance or variation from the ex- <br /> concept is not intended as a replace- pected structure would indicate some <br /> ment for traditional approaches, but it impairment of the system due to water <br /> can be used to supplement and expedite quality effects, or in some cases, an <br /> the acquisition of biological data. enrichment that results in an artificial <br /> RBA can be used as an independent elevation of biological conditions. The <br /> assessment technique for problem components of rapid bioassessments are <br /> identification and screening, and in biosurveys, habitat assessments, and <br /> physicochemical measurements. For <br /> example,the number of taxa can be a <br />