Rapid Measurement of Ecological Integrity May 10, 2012
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Transcript of Rapid Measurement of Ecological Integrity May 10, 2012
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Rapid Measurement of Ecological IntegrityMay 10, 2012
Measuring Habitat/Biodiversity Outcomes Across Jurisdictions
and Scales[ ]
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A broad partnership is developing tools to
address:• Measuring aspects of
biodiversity condition
• Metrics for tracking biodiversity outcomes
• Consistent approach
• Practical design
• Sharing of tools and data
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Key questions for establishing habitat
metricsQuestion Assessment approach Characteristics
1. What habitats exist?Ecological systems and National Vegetation Classification (US NVC)
• FGDC standard• Used by states, feds and NGOs• Systematic hierarchy of types
2. Which ones are targets for action?
Relative significance of habitats or populations (e.g., proportion of known habitat at site, GRank)
• Provide context for choosing among sites
• Efficient targeting of scarce resources
3. How are they faring?• Ecological Integrity
Assessment (EIA)• Landscape Condition
• Multiple spatial scales• Multiple scales of effort• Consistent between levels
4. What actions are needed to achieve goals?
EIA stressors that can be managed on the ground Same as #3
5. Are these actions working? EIA monitoring framework • Scale effort to mgmt need
• Designed with goals in mind
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United States
7 biomes
47 ecoregions
826 ecological systems
191 macrogroups (NVC)
Nested hierarchy of ecological units
Terrestrial ecological systems and land cover of the coterminous US, map
produced by NatureServe
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Users of Ecological Systems and USNVC Classifications
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Which ones are targets for action?(examples)
Wetlands (mitigation)
Priority ecosystems and habitats for regulated species (planning and mitigation)
Longleaf pine forests; fire stressed ecosystems (restoration)
Habitats on state wildlife management areas (restoration and planning)
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How are they faring?Ecological integrity
• The ability of an ecological system to support and maintain a community of organisms that has species composition, diversity, and functional organization comparable to those of natural habitats within a region
• Define goals and objectives related to ecological integrity for:1. Land management2. Restoration and mitigation3. Conservation metrics
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Ecological integrity
Adapted from Faber-Langendoen et al. 2008
Rank A
Rank B
Rank C
Rank D
Increasing disturbance
Incr
easi
ng
eco
log
ical
in
teg
rity
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Excellent integrity – A rank
• Highest quality sites
• Unfragmented landscape
• Landscape area larger than minimum dynamic area
• Exemplary size (e.g., area-dependent species)
• Biotic/abiotic components well within natural range of variability
• Invasives largely absent
• Natural processes in place
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Poor integrity – D rank
• Severely altered characteristics
• Highly fragmented
• Landscape well below minimum dynamic area
• Size is small, e.g. unable to sustain area-dependent species.
• Biotic/abiotic components severely altered from natural range of variability
• Invasives abundant
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Setting Ecological Integrity Goals
Rank A
Rank B
Rank C
Rank D
Increasing human disturbance
Incr
easi
ng
eco
log
ical
in
teg
rity
Ecosystem Conservation Goal
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Ecological Integrity Monitoring
Level 1) Remote assessment
Level 2) Rapid field assessment
Level 3) Intensive assessment
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Overall components of ecological integrity
assessmentLevel 1
Remote Sensing Assessment
ID reference sitesLandscape context metricsSupplement status & trend
plots
Level 3Intensive
AssessmentVerify reference sites
Condition metricsSample design, S&T
plots
Level 2Rapid Assessment Verify reference sites
Condition & buffer metrics
StressorsSupplement S&T plots
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Level 1: Remote assessment
Landscape context – Connectivity, surrounding land use, patch size, and stressors
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Level 1: Remote assessment
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Level 2: Rapid field assessment
Landscape characteristicsVegetation cover and compositionSoil conditionDisturbance regimesWildlife abundance and compositionStressorsCalibration of remote techniques
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Level 2: Rapid field assessment
Photo plots as example
1957 2006
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Level 3: Intensive assessment
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Level 3: Intensive assessment
Landscape characteristics
Vegetation cover and composition
Soil condition
Disturbance regimes
Wildlife abundance and composition
Stressors
Calibration of remote and rapid techniques
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Steps to Implementation
• Conduct assessment of current condition to determine ecological integrity
• Identify limiting factors
• Choose goal desired for site
• Determine desired ecological conditions to meet the Ecological Integrity goal
• Establish relevant Tier 1-3 monitoring design based on desired conditions
• Collect data – conduct evaluation
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Ongoing partnerships to test and implement EIAs
Wetlands restoration and measuring changes in wetlands nationally
Assessment of habitat condition and management of ecosystem stressors
Management and restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems; fire management nationwide
Define conservation goals and measure management effectiveness
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Application of Ecological Integrity
Monitoring and EvaluationExamples from State of Washington
• WDFW Grazing Program
• WDFW Wildlife Areas – Habitat Conservation Plans
• State Wildlife Action Plan
• EPA wetland condition assessments
• Biodiversity Monitoring
• Citizen Science
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Working in partnership, we can realize these benefits…
Benefit Mechanism
1. Reduced cost • Don’t re-invent the wheel• Scale level of effort to resources and mgmt need
2. Easier to communicate • Consistent approach• Common tools and models
3. Adaptive management • Monitoring flows from EIA goals• Results linked to management objectives
4. Inform climate change adaptation
• Assessment can include climate stressors
5. Report outcomes to investors • Demonstrate results for specific metrics• Show advancement towards desired condition• Increase transparency
6. Job creation • Improve public confidence in restoration and mitigation by businesses – reducing delays
• Grow constituencies for effective public sector management