Exploring relationships among stream health, human well-being, and demographics in Virginia, USA

Angermeier, PL; Krometis, LA; Stern, MJ; Hemby, TL

HERO ID

8802259

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Language

English

HERO ID 8802259
In Press No
Year 2021
Title Exploring relationships among stream health, human well-being, and demographics in Virginia, USA
Authors Angermeier, PL; Krometis, LA; Stern, MJ; Hemby, TL
Journal Ecological Indicators
Volume 121
Page Numbers 107194
Abstract Quantification of empirical relationships between ecosystem health and human well-being is uncommon at broad spatial scales. We used public data for Virginia (USA) counties to examine pairwise correlations among two indicators of stream health, thirteen indicators of human well-being, and four demographic metrics. Our indicators of stream health included the Virginia Stream Condition Index (VSCI) and the percentage of stream kilometers with a fish consumption advisory (%FCA); these measures are inversely related. VSCI and %FCA were correlated with some indicators of human health, safety and security, and living standards, as well as with some demographic metrics. VSCI was most strongly correlated (positively) with the percentage of a county’s population self-identifying as White; %FCA was most strongly correlated (positively) with overall mortality rate (number of deaths per 100,000 people). This exploratory study highlights the need for future multidisciplinary, multiscale studies to characterize toxicological, epidemiological, socioeconomic, and political linkages – including causal mechanisms – between ecosystem health and human well-being.
Doi 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107194
Wosid WOS:000604880400006
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English