Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Long-Term Ecological

Monitoring in Glacier Bay

Mission Statement

Ecological data…

…for the parks…

…over the long-term…

…delivered publicly.

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

OK, so, why are we here? Well, it’s complex…

• The world is not only more complex than we understand, it’s more complex than we can understand. –J. B. S. Haldane

• NPS mandate to “preserve unimpaired…”

• Decision-making, scale, and boundaries are complexSoutheast Alaska Network

Inventory and Monitoring Program

Given that complexity…

• A reasonable approach? Vital Signs.

– Subset of park resources and processes – biological, physical, chemical

– Most significant indicators of health and condition of park resourcesSoutheast Alaska Network

Inventory and Monitoring Program

What do Vital Sign Monitoring Data Provide?• Context and perspective; range of

variation

• Trend detection

• Covariate and response variables; not subject to crisis of the day

• Aid in updating conceptual modelsSoutheast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

What SEAN is not built to do…

• Research: Investigate causal relationships– The “how” and “why” questions

• Assess value:– Management significance– Identify thresholds for management response– Define a desired condition or state

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

What SEAN is built to do…• Answer questions:

– What? Where? When? How much change? What direction? What magnitude? What range?

• And answer them with scientific rigor– Embrace uncertainty– Refining understanding over the long term

• Work with park managers to understand context for change

• Provide data on select ecosystem elements that represent covariates and response variables

• Analyze, report, deliver dataSoutheast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Key Principles

• Be relevant to the Parks

• Do a few things well• Focus. Design elegantly. Work efficiently.• Overlay the optimum with reality of funding and staff

• Build a program that is longer-lived than our careers, larger than ourselves

• More than philosophy – major implications for program structure

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Vital Sign Identification Process

1. Scoping Workshops– Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial– Build conceptual models

Terrestrial plant succession following glacial recession…

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Influences on Marine Systems…

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Primary succession in streams…

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Marine-derived nutrients…

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Intertidal zone…

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Everything should be made

as simple as possible.

But not one bit simpler.-Einstein

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

SEAN Holistic Model: Drivers of Change

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Marine Environments Freshwater Environments

Terrestrial Environments

Ungulates

Breeding Landbird Populations

Streamflow

Macroinvertebrates and Algae

Freshwater Water QualitySalmonids

Humpback WhalesMarine Predators

Forage FishesHarbor SealsKiller Whales

Steller Sea Lions

Kittlitz’s MurreletsPhenology

Western Toads

Wetland Communities

Intertidal Communities

Landcover and Landform

Bald EaglesBears

BiodiversityPests and DiseasesPlant Communities

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Marine Environments Freshwater Environments

Terrestrial Environments

Ungulates

Breeding Landbird Populations

Streamflow

Macroinvertebrates and Algae

Freshwater Water QualitySalmonids

Humpback WhalesMarine Predators

Forage FishesHarbor SealsKiller Whales

Steller Sea Lions

Kittlitz’s MurreletsPhenology

Western Toads

Wetland Communities

Intertidal Communities

Landcover and Landform

Bald EaglesBears

BiodiversityPests and DiseasesPlant Communities

SEAN Core ProgramCore Program

1. Airborne Contaminants2. Marine Predators3. Weather and Climate4. Streamflow5. Freshwater Water Quality6. Oceanography7. Marine Contaminants8. Freshwater Contaminants9. Intertidal Communities10. Landform and Landcover11. Kittlitz’s Murrelets12. Glacial Dynamics (extent)

Secondary Program1. Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae2. Invasive and Exotic Plants3. Western Toads4. Humpback Whales5. Human Use and Mode of Access6. Underwater Sound

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Key Distinctions - How is this new?

• Direct funding from Washington, not thru Parks

• Protocol development process– Procedures, design, siting for long-term stability– Field testing and peer review

• Major commitment to data management and information delivery

• Reporting and Accountability

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Data Management Philosophy

• Single Authoritative Source Concept

• Web-based delivery

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

Design: 1-2-3-4Operation: 4-3-2-1

SEAN Core ProgramCore Program

1. Airborne Contaminants2. Marine Predators3. Weather and Climate4. Streamflow5. Freshwater Water Quality6. Oceanography7. Marine Contaminants8. Freshwater Contaminants9. Intertidal Communities10. Landform and Landcover11. Kittlitz’s Murrelets12. Glacial Dynamics (extent)

Secondary Program1. Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae2. Invasive and Exotic Plants3. Western Toads4. Humpback Whales5. Human Use and Mode of Access6. Underwater Sound

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program

Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program