Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Salt Marsh Vegetation
Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network. Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network Salt Marsh Vegetation. 2003. National Park Service
In addition to monitoring tidal wetland elevation and nekton in salt marshes, we also study vegetation. Salt marshes are sensitive to natural mechanisms, such as storms and geomorphic processes, as well as human-induced impacts. Some of these human impacts include urbanization and increase in nutrient-laden runoff, restrictive infrastructure, and ditching. At the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, we monitor changes to species composition and the presence of invasive species. These changes could relate to water pollution and salinity levels, tidal flow, groundwater levels, and the effects of climate change and sea level rise. In monitoring salt marsh vegetation, we provide early warnings of change and other information that helps park managers make conservation decisions. How We Monitor 1) Set up square plots (1m by 1m) throughout a salt marsh at spaced-out intervals 2) In each plot, record the number and height of plants and what species are present 3) Analyze collected observations for any patterns in the variety and abundance of species 4) Repeat steps one to three for each salt marsh and every two years
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Northeast Coastal and Barrier Inventory & Monitoring Network
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- ASIS , CACO , COLO , FIIS , GATE , GEWA , NCBN , SAHI
- Keywords
- Crabs, Fish, Invertebrates, mekton, Monitoring, Plants, Salt Marsh, Shrimp, Vegetation
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Estuarine Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Marine Invertebrates , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Fishes , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex
Products
- Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network salt marsh vegetation monitoring protocol implementation plan: Version 1.0
- Monitoring salt marsh vegetation at Colonial National Historical Park: 2010 summary report
- Salt marsh vegetation monitoring at Colonial National Historical Park: 2008 summary report
- Monitoring salt marsh vegetation at Colonial National Historical Park: 2014 summary report