The choice and implementation of environmental bioassays

Bioassays play a crucial role in assessing the actual or potential impacts of anthropogenic agents on the natural environment. They can be used to probe the extent to which an ecosystem is being or has been polluted, and to predict the ecological impact of agents before release. Problems associated with the choice and implementation of bioassays in both these modes are discussed. A major general conclusion is that the experimental method should play a prominent part in addressing the problems.