Terrestrial Fixed Plot Monitoring: Terrestrial Fixed Plot Monitoring: Terrestrial Fixed Plot Monitoring: Terrestrial Fixed Plot Monitoring: Measurement, Observation, Action!Measurement, Observation, Action!

Natasha GonsalvesNatasha GonsalvesToronto and Region ConservationToronto and Region Conservation

Terrestrial Monitoring Forum Terrestrial Monitoring Forum Terrestrial Monitoring Forum Terrestrial Monitoring Forum April 7April 7thth, 2010, 2010

OutlineOutline♦ Program Goals and Objectives♦ Program Goals and Objectives♦ Study Design♦ Plot Placement♦ Plot Placement♦ Protocols♦ Monitoring Measures♦ Monitoring Measures♦ Timeline for Data Analysis & Reporting♦ Highlights♦ Highlights♦ Contacts♦ A k l d t♦ Acknowledgements

P G l & Obj tiP G l & Obj tiProgram Goals & ObjectivesProgram Goals & Objectives

• Monitor and measure long-term changes in the terrestrial ecosystem in the TRCA jurisdiction

Goal # 1y j

• Obtain scientifically defensible data

• Use standardized protocolsObj ti

p• Detect trends in community

structure and composition• Measure population trends

Objectives

Goals & ObjectivesGoals & ObjectivesGoals & ObjectivesGoals & Objectives

Goal #2 ObjectivesGoal #2

To report and share t d di d d t t

Objectives

To manage data in a l ti l d ti lstandardized data to

identified partners.relational and spatial

database

To provide access to psummarized interpreted data

to internal and external partners

To develop reporting framework

Study Design: PlanningStudy Design: Planning

high

B

Coptimal use optimal use of resourcesof resources

mpl

e P

ower effective buteffective but

inefficient use inefficient use of resourcesof resources

Sam

Alow return onlow return oninvestmentinvestment

Sample Size

low

small large

investmentinvestment

(Zorn, 2008)

Forest CommunitiesForest CommunitiesMonitoring Measure Monitoring Objective Sample Sizeg g j p

Tree MortalityOverall temporal trend 40 trees

Difference in trend among 3 zones 30 trees per strata (90 trees total)

Overall temporal trend 30 treesCrown Vigour

Overall temporal trend 30 trees

Difference in trend among 3 zones 30 trees per strata (90 trees total)

Mean Floristic Quality IndexOverall temporal trend 11 EMAN plots

Difference in trend among 3 zones 7 EMAN plots per strata (21 total)

Forest Bird Species Richness

Overall temporal trend 14 FBMP routes

Difference in trend among 3 zones 8 FBMP routes per strata (24 total)

Overall temporal trend 14 to 20 FBMP routesForest Bird Abundance Difference in trend among 3 zones 8 to 11 FBMP routes per strata (24

to 33 total)

Plethodontid AbundanceOverall temporal trend 14 EMAN plots

Difference in trend among 3 zones 8 EMAN plots per strata (24 total)Difference in trend among 3 zones 8 EMAN plots per strata (24 total)

Wetland CommunitiesWetland CommunitiesMonitoring Measure Monitoring Objective Sample SizeMonitoring Measure Monitoring Objective Sample Size

Frog Chorus CallOverall temporal trend 14 MMP stations

Difference in trend among 3 zones

6 MMP stations per strata (18 total))

Bird Species RichnessOverall temporal trend 10 MMP routes

Difference in trend among 3 zones

7 MMP routes per strata (21 total)

Bird Abundance

Overall temporal trend 14 to 20 MMP routes

Difference in trend among 3 zones

8 to 11 MMP routes per strata (24 to 33 total)

Mean Floristic Quality Index

Overall temporal trend 12 transects

Difference in trend among 3 zones

8 transects per strata (24 total)

Meadow CommunitiesMeadow CommunitiesMonitoring Measure Monitoring Objective Sample Sizeg g j p

Bird Species Richness

Overall temporal trend 7 FBMP routes

Difference in trend among 3 6 FBMP routes per strata (18 zones total)

Bi d Ab d

Overall temporal trend 14 to 20 FBMP routes

Bird Abundance Difference in trend among 3 zones

8 to 11 FBMP routes per strata (24 to 33 total)

Plot PlacementPlot Placement

Landscape site selection based on 3

criterion

Site locations adjusted at the site

level to ensure:criterion

TRCA o ned propert

level to ensure:

Monitoring parameters• TRCA owned property• Jurisdictional-wide

distribution

• Monitoring parameters met

• Accessibility

Forest Plot LocationsForest Plot Locations

Wetland Plot LocationsWetland Plot Locations

M d Pl t L tiM d Pl t L tiMeadow Plot LocationsMeadow Plot Locations

F Pl P & P lF Pl P & P lForest Plot Parameters & ProtocolsForest Plot Parameters & Protocols

Tree Health(EMAN, modified)

Regeneration: Shrub & SaplingRegeneration: Shrub & Sapling(EMAN, modified)

Ground Vegetation(EMAN)(EMAN)

Birds(FBMP)

Plethodontid Salamanders(EMAN/Parks)

ProtocolsProtocols

Forest: Plot DesignForest: Plot Design

Forest: Tree HealthForest: Tree Health

Data Collected

Stand •Age

Crown•Class

Stem•DefectsAge

•Species

•Heights

Class

•Vigour

Defects

•Diseases

•Location

Forest: Regeneration Forest: Regeneration

• Species• Height

classData Collected • Percent

coverCollected

Forest: Ground VegetationForest: Ground Vegetation

Data collected

• SpeciesSpec es• Percent cover

Forest: BirdsForest: BirdsForest: BirdsForest: Birds

• Species• Count

Data Collected • CountCollected

F tF t Pl th d tidPl th d tid S l dS l dForest: Forest: PlethodontidPlethodontid SalamandersSalamanders

• SpeciesC t

Data C ll t d • CountCollected

Wetland PlotWetland PlotParameters & ProtocolsParameters & Protocols

Wetland Vegetation(CVC, modified)

Breeding Birds(FBMP & MMP)(FBMP & MMP)

Amphibians (F & T d )(Frogs & Toads)

(MMP)

tion

tion

Veg

eta

Veg

eta

Des

ign

Des

ign

land

Vla

nd V

Plo

t D

Plo

t D

Wet

Wet

Wetland: Transect LineWetland: Transect LineWetland: Transect LineWetland: Transect Line

• Prism sweep• Soils• Water depth

Data Collected Water depth

Wetlands: Woody VegetationWetlands: Woody VegetationWetlands: Woody VegetationWetlands: Woody Vegetation

• Species• Percent Cover• Height Class

Data Collected Height Class

Wetland: Ground VegetationWetland: Ground VegetationWetland: Ground VegetationWetland: Ground Vegetation

• Species• Percent cover

Data Collected Percent coverCollected

Wetlands: BirdsWetlands: BirdsWetlands: BirdsWetlands: Birds

• Species• CountData Collected • Count

W tl d A hibiW tl d A hibiWetlands: AmphibiansWetlands: Amphibians

• SpeciesP /Ab

Data C ll t d • Presence/AbsenceCollected

Meadow Parameters Meadow Parameters &Protocols

Breeding Birds(FBMP, modified)

Data Collected•Species•Abundance

Timeline for Data Analysis and Timeline for Data Analysis and Timeline for Data Analysis and Timeline for Data Analysis and ReportingReporting

Year 4Year 5

Year 3

Year 4

2012-2013Statistical

Year

Year 2 2010:Power

analysis of

Statistical analysis of

data

Year 1Year

2008:

analysis of baseline

data

Start baseline data collection

HighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlights♦ Comprehensive monitoring program♦ Comprehensive monitoring program♦ Trend detection♦ Strengthen existing data sets♦ Strengthen existing data sets♦ Contributes to other program & projects♦ Regional and local applications♦ Regional and local applications ♦ Maintain and increase biodiversity

Program ContactsProgram ContactsProgram ContactsProgram Contacts♦ Project Manager, Terrestrial Monitoring and♦ Project Manager, Terrestrial Monitoring and

Inventories – Sue Hayes♦ Manager, Regional Watershed and Reporting -g , g p g

Scott Jarvie♦ Environmental Technical Assistant - Natasha

Gonsalves♦ Flora Biologist - Kelly Purves♦ Flora Biologist - Gavin Miller♦ Fauna Biologist - Paul Priorg

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAcknowledgements♦ Region of Durham♦ Region of Durham♦ Peel Region♦ York Region♦ York Region♦ City of Toronto♦ Remedial Action Plan♦ Remedial Action Plan

Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank You

Questions?Questions?