Response Functions

Why?

To determine risk, the magnitude of response to different levels of threat needs to be assessed.

Assessing response functions requires:

• New activities and approaches that focus on key dose-response relationships associated with the primary threats identified in Module 1:

• Loss of organic carbon
• Soil erosion
• Soil water status
• Impact of contamination

The magnitude of the risk posed by different threats cannot be elucidated without first defining some sort of dose-response function. I.e. what level of rainfall results in what level of soil erosion? The incorporation of well-defined dose-response functions will improve end-user confidence in outputs such as risk maps.

Outcomes

• Improved understanding of the processes involved in responses such as loss of organic carbon, and the impact of heavy metals on microbial indicators. This will inform land management.
• Quantified response functions for the four issues outlined above.
• Incorporation into the risk characterisation described in Module 1.

Contacts

Dr. Blair McKenzie, SCRI.