wildlife Monitoring program-2015

Home Browse Search

• Total Wetland-Associated Species–For birds only,the total species associated with wetlands. • Diversity Index–Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index accounts for species richness and evenness, or the distribution of total individuals across the total number of species. A baseline monitoring report is prepared after collecting the first year's data. This monitoring report describes the baseline conditions for select wildlife species richness and abundance before significant ecological restoration occurred. Limited restoration occurred in 2014 which did not significantly affect wildlife species. Buckthorn removal occurred in upland and lowland forests early in the year before wildlife monitoring began. Follow-up spot-herbiciding of resprouting buckthorn and garlic mustard took place in summer. Cattails in the marsh were herbicided in mid-summer. In late summer native trees and shrubs were planted in the upland and lowland forests. The restoration work that significantly affects the wetland—cattail removal,excavation,and planting of wet meadow vegetation—will occur in late 2014 and in 2015. Post-restoration data will be collected in 2015 and 2016 after the significant work in the wetland is completed. After the 2016 sampling event, pre-restoration conditions will be compared to post-restoration conditions and the assumptions of the restoration plan assessed and modified as needed. Trends in wildlife at the Nelson Wetland may be positive, negative or neutral for individual species and for the groups of birds, insects,and amphibians. Positive trends indicate that the restoration approach is successful,while negative trends indicate that the restoration approach should be changed. It is assumed that post-restoration conditions will result in: • Increase in the number of species and individuals of wetland-associated birds; • Increase in the number of species and individuals of dragonflies and damselflies; • Increase in the number of species and individuals of frogs and toads; • Increase in the diversity index. A visual inspection of graphs of these metrics for 2014 baseline and 2015-2016 post-restoration data will determine whether the assumption that wetland species will benefit from the restoration is correct. Negative trends, however,can be due to natural phenomena,such as drought or wet years. Sometimes a catastrophe,such as tornado or disease,affects plant and animal species, producing a temporary negative trend. Due to this natural variability,two years of post-restoration monitoring are needed before trends are considered real. Trend data will help decide whether to change a restoration technique. A decision about changing the restoration technique based on trend data should not, however, be made lightly. The cause may be natural variability,for example. Rather,trend data merely give notice that something should be looked at more carefully. Investigating negative trends is a normal part of implementing a restoration plan and within the adaptive management cycle. Given uncertainty about the ultimate effect on wildlife of a restoration,setting a target condition is not useful. It is useful to ensure that the initial establishment of a planting played out as intended. Achieving a certain percent of native cover,for example, is expected by the third year after planting and will be measured in the separate vegetation monitoring program. 6 1 P a g e