ROMN Wetlands Ecological Integrity (WEI)

Schweiger, Billy

The Rocky Mountain Inventory & Monitoring Network (ROMN) includes a wide range of biophysical environments, ranging from mountain peaks down through evergreen and deciduous forests to western grasslands of the North American Great Plains. Here, we present a protocol to monitor wetland ecological integrity (WEI) within four units of the network (GLAC, GRSA, ROMO, and FLFO). The general goals for long-term ecological monitoring of ROMN wetlands focus on documenting the status and trend in wetland condition, understanding the causes of change in wetland condition, and assisting in the application of WEI results and relevant auxiliary information to park wetland management. Under budget scenarios and management needs as of 2015, we expect to conduct and report on park-scale surveys only in ROMO and in GRSA every 10 years. We report on objectives specific to data derived from annual sample efforts in ROMO, GRSA, FLFO, and GLAC every fifth year, staggered by park. Continuously logged hydrologic data will be reported on more frequently. The ROMN will consider altering this schedule with changes in budget, resource condition and management needs. Generalized WEI objectives include the following: 1. Determine the status in wetland areal extent using survey site extent data and park-scale map or imagery data. 2. Determine status in a suite of response measures: a.) Vegetation composition, including bioassessment modeling b.) Groundwater hydrology (more detailed and continuously logged at most sentinel sites) c.) Soil chemistry (more detailed at sentinel sites) d.) In situ water chemistry e.) Anthropogenic and natural disturbances 3. Determine the long-term trend in the condition of select wetland responses. 4. Assess status of select responses through: a.) Comparisons to existing and published assessment points, including any regulatory criteria (rare for wetlands), ecological thresholds or ecoregion assessment points that are relevant to ROMN park wetlands and their management b.) Comparisons to ecoregion assessment points derived from distributions of reference site data from within the park or surrounding ecoregion(s) c.) Comparisons to baselines derived from partner or auxiliary data 5. Relate any spatial or temporal patterns (including trend when possible) in select wetland responses to important ecological and anthropogenic drivers. To meet the WEI monitoring objectives we have designed a multi-faceted, integrated approach. We have three sample design forms that each address specific needs, but are also integrated through analysis and implementation of the protocol in a given park. While episodic, large probability surveys are essential for meeting several of our objectives; most WEI monitoring in most years is restricted to annually sampled sentinel sites. A focus on sentinel sites is both more realistic given our budget and at a temporal scale more likely to elucidate the role of hydrology and soil chemistry in controlling wetland condition as measured by vegetation. We emphasize response measures of community-level floristic composition and vegetation structure, hydrology, and qualitative or categorical indicators of condition and stress (including both anthropogenic and natural). We develop park-specific integrative bioassessment models using vegetation as the response and the suite of stressor or driver covariates collected at all wetland sites. WEI methods are documented in this protocol and are largely derived from well-established and existing protocols developed by ROMN partners. The application of standardized protocols facilitates comparison of wetlands within an ecoregion and across ROMN and other NPS units.

ROMN Wetlands Ecological Integrity (WEI)

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