Long-Term Ecological Monitoring in Glacier Bay

1. Long-Term Ecological Monitoring in Glacier Bay Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

2. Mission Statement Ecological data… …for the parks… …over the long-term… …delivered publicly. Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

3. 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 complex Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

4. 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 resources Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

5. 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 models Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

6. 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 Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

7. 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 data Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

8. 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 Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

9. Vital Sign Identification Process • Scoping Workshops • Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial • Build conceptual models Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

10. Terrestrial plant succession following glacial recession… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

11. Influences on Marine Systems… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

12. Primary succession in streams… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

13. Marine-derived nutrients… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

14. Intertidal zone… Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

15. Everything should be made as simple as possible. But not one bit simpler. -Einstein Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

16. SEAN Holistic Model: Drivers of Change Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

17. Terrestrial Environments Marine Environments Freshwater Environments Ungulates Breeding Landbird Populations Western Toads Wetland Communities Kittlitz’s Murrelets Phenology Intertidal Communities Landcover and Landform Bald Eagles Bears Biodiversity Pests and Diseases Plant Communities Streamflow Macroinvertebrates and Algae Freshwater Water Quality Humpback Whales Marine Predators Forage Fishes Harbor Seals Killer Whales Steller Sea Lions Salmonids Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

18. Vital Signs Relation to Conceptual Models Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

19. Terrestrial Environments Marine Environments Freshwater Environments Ungulates Breeding Landbird Populations Western Toads Wetland Communities Kittlitz’s Murrelets Phenology Intertidal Communities Landcover and Landform Bald Eagles Bears Biodiversity Pests and Diseases Plant Communities Streamflow Macroinvertebrates and Algae Freshwater Water Quality Humpback Whales Marine Predators Forage Fishes Harbor Seals Killer Whales Steller Sea Lions Salmonids Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

20. Core Program Airborne Contaminants Marine Predators Weather and Climate Streamflow Freshwater Water Quality Oceanography Marine Contaminants Freshwater Contaminants Intertidal Communities Landform and Landcover Kittlitz’s Murrelets Glacial Dynamics (extent) Secondary Program Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae Invasive and Exotic Plants Western Toads Humpback Whales Human Use and Mode of Access Underwater Sound SEAN Core Program Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

21. 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 Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

22. Data Management Philosophy • Single Authoritative Source Concept • Web-based delivery Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

23. Design: 1-2-3-4 Operation: 4-3-2-1 Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009

24. Core Program Airborne Contaminants Marine Predators Weather and Climate Streamflow Freshwater Water Quality Oceanography Marine Contaminants Freshwater Contaminants Intertidal Communities Landform and Landcover Kittlitz’s Murrelets Glacial Dynamics (extent) Secondary Program Freshwater Macroinverts, Algae Invasive and Exotic Plants Western Toads Humpback Whales Human Use and Mode of Access Underwater Sound SEAN Core Program Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

25. Southeast Alaska Network Inventory and Monitoring Program