Ecological dose-response curves against the clock

Abstract

Dose-response curves are the basis for most public and environmental health decisions in ecology, environmental toxicology, pharmacology, and policymaking. Dose-response curves are often mistakenly assumed to be static in time. This gives rise to a major challenge in the field, correcting them for temporal variability. We review, here, evidence that there is unforeseen opportunity to predict temporal changes and that, by doing so, we might secure impactful progress in diverse disciplines such as ecotoxicology, conservation and restoration sciences, and precision agriculture. We develop a perspective on the steps that we need to take to realize this lost potential.