ewp3

Ecological Integrity Monitoring in National Parks: 

Ecological Integrity Monitoring in National Parks high stress low stress Josh Van Wieren St. Lawrence Islands National park

Overview: 

Overview Parks Canada Agency EI Monitoring Program St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) SLINP EI Monitoring Program Forest Measures at SLINP Wetland Measures at SLINP Recommendations

Overview: 

Overview Parks Canada Agency EI Monitoring Program St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) SLINP EI Monitoring Program Forest Measures at SLINP Wetland Measures at SLINP Recommendations

Ecological Integrity: 

Ecological Integrity Ecological Integrity is # 1 Priority of PCA EI Panel – stresses outside the park “Ecological integrity means, with respect to a Park, a condition that is determined to be characteristic of its natural region and likely to persist, including abiotic components and the composition and abundance of native species and biological communities, rates of change and supporting processes” (Parks Canada Act, 2001).

Slide7: 

Information Iceberg

Slide8: 

Measures to Indicators [example of set of indicators at a national park]

Slide9: 

Reporting Scale

Slide10: 

Targets and Thresholds

Program Requirements: 

Program Requirements USEFUL: Clear messages about the state of EI and the effectiveness of park management activities COMPREHENSIVE: All major park ecosystems Scientifically robust methods Effectively synthesized and communicated SUSTAINABLE: Sustainable in the long-term financial and human resources; Can be carried out with existing capacities

Overview: 

Overview Parks Canada Agency EI Monitoring Program St. Lawrence Islands National Park EI Monitoring Program SLINP EI Monitoring Program Forest Measures at SLINP Wetland Measures at SLINP Recommendations

St. Lawrence Islands National Park: 

Small St. Lawrence Islands National Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park: 

Small Fragmented St. Lawrence Islands National Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park: 

Small Fragmented High Visitor Density – 7844\ km2 St. Lawrence Islands National Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park: 

Small Fragmented High Visitor Density – 7844\ km2 A2A Corridor St. Lawrence Islands National Park

St. Lawrence Islands National Park: 

Small Fragmented High Visitor Density – 7844\ km2 A2A Corridor High Species Diversity St. Lawrence Islands National Park

Overview: 

Overview Parks Canada Agency EI Monitoring Program St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) SLINP EI Monitoring Program Forest Measures at SLINP Wetland Measures at SLINP Recommendations

Slide26: 

Great Lakes Indicators (Ecosystems) 1. Forest 2. Wetland 3. Rivers / Streams 4. Lakes 5. Great Lakes Shore 6. Non-Forest

Slide29: 

2m 4m EMAN Forest Plot Design N S W E 20m x 20m Quadrat 2m x 2m Seedling regen. 25cm x 50 cm flip + strip Worm inventory Soil Decomposition 5m Tree species, crown condition, stem defects, DBH, height, status, health, Woody Debris Woody Debris Avian Diversity Lichen Diversity Salamander Abundance Stand condition

Slide31: 

Measures terrestrial salamander abundance forest bird species richness tree species diversity decomposition regeneration / succession downed woody debris lichen diversity crown vigor fragmentation BIODIVERSITY PROCESSES STRESSORS EI Framework PCA EI Framework

The Protocols: 

The Protocols Marsh birds – call survey Macroinvertebrates – jab and sweep Vegetation – exotic species transect Amphibians – visual encounter survey Water Quality – 5 parameters tested Landscape – GIS analysis

The Protocols: 

The Protocols Marsh birds – call survey Macroinvertebrates – jab and sweep Vegetation – exotic species transect Amphibians – visual encounter survey Water Quality – 5 parameters tested Landscape – GIS analysis

Marsh Monitoring Program – Bird Survey: 

Marsh Monitoring Program – Bird Survey Call survey Surveys conducted from one central point 2-10 minutes surveys per station Broadcast tape played for shy species Sampled between may 20 and July 5 (no less than 10 days apart)

Wetland Birds Monitored: 

Wetland Birds Monitored

Slide42: 

(Implementation begun in 2006)

PCA EI Framework: 

PCA EI Framework Measures amphibians species richness marsh bird species richness macroinvertebrates diversity landscape measures vegetation classes water quality exotic vegetation macroinvertebrate communities EI Framework BIODIVERSITY PROCESSES STRESSORS

Overview: 

Overview Parks Canada Agency EI Monitoring Program St. Lawrence Islands National Park (SLINP) SLINP EI Monitoring Program Forest Measures at SLINP Wetland Measures at SLINP Recommendations

Recommendations: 

Recommendations Know your Question

Recommendations: 

Recommendations Know your Question Study design FIRST

Recommendations: 

Recommendations Know your Question Study design FIRST Appropriate stress gradients

Recommendations: 

Recommendations Know your Question Study design FIRST Appropriate stress gradients Use standardized protocols

Recommendations: 

Recommendations Know your Question Study design FIRST Appropriate stress gradients Use standardized protocols SLINP EI monitoring program to monitor the Moraine???

Thank you!: 

Thank you! ? ?