Environmental Bioindication Studies by Bayesian Network with Use of Grey Heron as Model Species
Agnieszka Sujak, Andrzej KUSZ, Marcin Rymarz, Ignacy Kitowski · Environmental Modeling & Assessment · 2016
The article presents a procedure for assessing the quality of the environment, using eggshells of birds as a biomarker implemented into a Bayesian network. An environmental quality index (EQI) was proposed and calculated on the basis of local quality indicators. Experimental data on concentrations of toxic elements in grey heron ( Ardea cinerea ) eggshells (biomarker of river valleys) were used to determine the empirical variables (nodes) and the probability distributions on the set of these variables. A probabilistic graphical model represents a multitude of relationships between variables in a system that enables the prediction of EQI. The model presented is a useful tool for environmental quality management.