Research and monitoring
1 like418 views
This document discusses monitoring the dynamic changes in biotic and abiotic factors of coastal dunes. It recommends: 1) Measuring target and indicator plant species, species groups, vegetation structure maps, habitat maps, and permanent vegetation plots to track changes in vegetation. 2) Integrating measurements of abiotic factors like aerial images, drones, and transects to understand changes. 3) Planning evaluations of the monitoring data and disseminating results with an English summary in an international repository.
Research and monitoring
- 1. Monitoring dynamic dunes state of the art monitoring biotic changes Hubert Kivit
- 2. Considerations • Large-scale dynamics leads to changes on landscape level Developments unpredictable • Define unambiguous and measurable targets (not easy!) – name them expectations instead of targets • Where existing vegetation will not be destroyed, start monitoring the situation before the intervention • Integrate abiotic and biotic measurements, e.g. along transects • Plan evaluation
- 3. What to measure? • Target & process indicator plant species • Species groups • Landscape pictures • Vegetation structure map • Vegetation map -> Habitats • Vegetation relevés (permanent quadrats)
- 4. • Target & process indicator plant species (€ 500/km2) • use a (ha)grid to standardize time spent and area coverage • if short in time, monitor grid cells on gradiënts or make random selection • use tablet with e.g. Locus mapping app for oriëntation • in most dynamic parts start on a yearly basis • monitor recurrence of remnants of former vegetation (e.g. Ammophila, Rubus caesius, Populus) How to measure (1)
- 5. How to measure (2) – Species groups • use methods according to Non-governmental data managing organisations (PGO’s) • choose species groups, depending on budget, volunteers & current monitoring – plants (Tansley relevés) – birds – butterflies, dragonflies, mushrooms etc. – thermophilous insects
- 6. Monitoring Thermophilous fauna NW Nature Core – target groups: bees, wasps, ants, carabid beetles – methods: • pitfalls (terrestrial species) • malaise traps (flying species) • water boards (flower visitors) • sightings along fixed route (from trap to trap) – 2008, 2015 – needs specialist! – Labour intensive: € 12000 Total monitoring budget (incl. abiotics) 3%
- 7. How to measure (3) • Vegetation structure (€ 500/km2) – aerial (IR-) images – drones or existing photo’s • vegetation map -> habitats (€ 8000/km2) – national standard under construction
- 8. How to measure (4) • vegetation relevés (permanent quadrats) (€ 1000/10 rel.) – to follow subtle changes in vegetation (and soil) – combine with abiotic monitoring – use a 10 cm accurate GPS – also install reference transects
- 9. How to measure (5) • Landscape pictures: (panoramic) photo’s at fixed points & fixed date
- 11. The finishing touch • Evaluate & dissiminate – with English summary – spread through international repository