Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Intertidal Monitoring
Sitka National Historical Park
Justification
• Intertidal areas are diverse, biologically sensitive habitats vulnerable to disturbance.
• Fuel spills and boat groundings are constant threats. Trampling from high visitor use affects some areas (SITK).
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Objective
• Determine the changes over time of species composition and distribution
• Identify those caused by anthropogenic activity
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Sitka Intertidal
Technical Approach
• Evolution from VS to Repeat Inventory
• High power for few, most common species
• High natural variability
• Informed by monitoring report and expert input
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
Logistics and Budget
• $20K in FY12 to establish agreement– Design and implement first iteration
• Sci.comm products
• Periodic (10 years?) need for experts to assist with inventory
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program
What we’re learning
• Power to detect trend is high for barnacles, Fucus, and Littorina snails.
• Mobile and rare organisms under-represented
• Random transects confound trend detection
• Inventory will concentrate on presence/ND; algae, rare speciesSoutheast Alaska Network
Inventory and Monitoring Program
Southeast Alaska NetworkInventory and Monitoring Program May 6, 2009
Program Delivery
Potential Inventory Products
Species list, ID sheet
Signage