United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Abstract Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) Goal #4 Annual Performance Measure #230 Significant Research Findings: Joint ORD/OPP Workshop on the Analysis of Population Genetics of Invertebrates in Agroecosystems Scientific The U.S. EPA is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to improve Problem and ecological risk assessment and regulation of pesticides. The field of population Policy Issues genetics is concerned with the question of how genes and traits move through populations of species in time and space. As such, it has application to questions of pesticide regulation, environmental impact assessment, and environmental monitoring. However, these tools have not historically played a large role in risk assessments performed by EPA. Establishment of a dialogue between risk assessors and researchers active in the field of population genetics is a necessary first step to increasing the utility of these tools within the Agency. Research A workshop was organized that included representatives from academia, the U.S. Approach Department of Agriculture (USDA), two divisions of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), and two laboratories within EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). Organization of the 1/4-day workshop was driven by three fundamental goals. First, it was to provide a forum to educate environmental researchers about the challenges confronted by pesticide risk assessors and regulators and to convey the key questions that need to be answered. Second, it was to provide an opportunity for risk assessors to be educated on population genetic concepts and how tools that have been developed in this field might be used to solve key environmental questions. Finally, an intended outcome was to evaluate the usefulness of existing EPA research in population genetics and develop a prioritized list of future research priorities that could be pursued through intramural research, extramural funding programs, or collaborative agreements with other agencies. Results and A key conclusion of the workshop was that population genetic methods would Impact have great value in development of long-term ecosystem monitoring tools. EPA is in need of systematic, unbiased ecosystem monitoring programs to evaluate the environmental results of regulatory programs. A well structured, long-term research vision that identifies incremental improvements in the program was recommended. Pesticide effects on nontarget organisms are a key concern of OPP and development of genetic methods to directly assess population impacts and to extrapolate impacts across species would be welcomed. Research Collaboration and Research The workshop was jointly organized by ORD (Ecological Exposure Research Division of NERL and the Western Ecology Division of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory) and OPP (Environmental Fate and ------- Products Effects Division and the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division). Invited participants came from academia (University of California at Davis, Washington State University, Vanderbilt University, University of Idaho, and University of Maryland), and the USDA. A summary report for the workshop is forthcoming. Future Research Population genetics research at EPA is currently being conducted by multiple laboratories at ORD, as well as in academia and other government agencies. This workshop served to focus development of future research activities to best serve the needs of pesticide risk assessment. The workshop formed the basis for continued dialog and feedback between regulators and researchers that will result in more effective research products. Questions and inquiries can be directed to: Mark J. Bagley, Ph.D. U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development National Exposure Research Laboratory 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45268 Phone:513/569-7455 E-mail: bagley.mark@epa.gov Funding for this workshop was through the U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecological Exposure Research Division. Contacts for Additional Information ------- |