Implementing Long-Term Monitoring of Salt Marsh Communities Within the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network of the National Park Service

Roman, Charles

Proposal giving information on the terms and ideas that were to be implemented in the monitoringof Salt Marsh Communities. The purpose of this project is to implement a salt marsh vegetation and salt marsh nekton monitoring program at several park units throughout the coastal northeast (Acadia, Boston Harbor Islands, Cape Cod, Fire Island, Sagamore Hill, Gateway, Assateague Island, Colonial, George Washington Birthplace). Salt marshes are sensitive to natural and human-induced disturbances, such as nutrient enrichment, watershed development, tidal alteration, ditching, storms, sea level rise, oil spills, and climate change. Long-term monitoring of vegetation and nekton will allow for the detection of ecosystem changes and enable resource managers to anticipate detrimental changes and design management strategies. The sampling protocols to be implemented at the parks are being developed by the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN). This modification provides research, technical assistance through training, and education of graduate students through the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.This is a revised statement of work for the project entitled “Implementing Long-Term Monitoring of Salt Marsh Communities within the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network of the National Park Service”. In brief, this work plan will continue to assist the NCBN to implement the salt marsh vegetation and nekton monitoring protocols at National Park Service units within the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network. Additionally, the principal investigator will work with NCBN personnel to revise both protocols following external peer review and assist with the development of an Access Database for the salt marsh vegetation and nekton protocols.