Nearshore marine vital signs monitoring in the Southwest Alaska Network of National Parks

Bodkin, James; Dean, Thomas; Coletti, Heather; Kloecker, Kimberly

In 2007, we successfully completed the second year of development and field sampling for the Southwest Area Network’s (SWAN) Nearshore Vital Signs monitoring program. The protocol narrative for the program was revised, standard operating procedures (SOPs) were revised based on 2006 sampling, and standardized data entry and database management functions were further developed. In addition, sampling was conducted in accordance with protocols set forth for each of six vital signs (kelp and seagrass, marine intertidal invertebrates, marine birds, black oystercatcher, sea otter, and marine water chemistry and quality). At Katmai National Park and Preserve (KATM), we tested several newly developed preliminary sampling protocols for kelp and eelgrass; measured water temperature; collected mussel tissue for estimation of levels of contaminants; and conducted a second year of sampling for marine intertidal invertebrates and algae, marine birds, black oystercatchers and sea otters. Methods for evaluating the abundance of eelgrass provided sufficient confidence to allow us to develop a SOP for implementation of monitoring in 2008. Methods for estimating the abundance of kelp were unsatisfactory and will be reevaluated. Temperature data were obtained from two sites and mussel tissues were obtained from six sites and have been submitted for analysis for a suite of heavy metal and organic toxicants. Newly established sites were sampled to estimate the abundance of clams on sand-gravel beaches. A second year of sampling was conducted to estimate species composition and abundance of intertidal invertebrates and algae on rocky shores; estimate species composition and abundance of marine birds; estimate abundance, nesting success, and prey composition black oystercatchers; and estimate survival and prey composition for sea otters. Aerial surveys for estimation of sea otter abundance were postponed until 2008 because of difficulties in obtaining plane charters. As of yet there is insufficient data for establishing meaningful trends in any of the metrics examined, but for those in which we have two years of data, there was relatively little inter-annual variation and no alarming trends. At Kenai Fjords National Park (KEFJ) we conducted preliminary eelgrass surveys; deployed instruments to measure temperature; collected mussels for contaminant analyses; established sites for sampling of intertidal invertebrates; established and sampled sand-gravel beaches for estimation of the abundance of clams; conducted marine bird surveys; estimated abundance, nesting success, and prey composition for black oystercatchers; estimated abundance, survival, and prey composition for sea otters. In 2008, we plan to continue revision of the sampling protocol and SOPs, continue to develop data entry and data management procedures, and continue sampling of vital signs at both KATM and KEFJ. Sampling will include an initial winter survey of birds, initial sampling of invertebrates and algae on rocky shores in KEFJ, and an initial aerial survey of sea otter abundance at KATM.

Nearshore marine vital signs monitoring in the Southwest Alaska Network of National Parks

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