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Large Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring for Decision Makers: Monitoring to Target and Evaluate Success of Ecosystem Restoration
Citation:
Harwell, M., E. Hinchey, T. ODonnell, AND T. Pierce. Large Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring for Decision Makers: Monitoring to Target and Evaluate Success of Ecosystem Restoration. National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, Coral Springs, FL, April 18 - 22, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
This special session abstract focuses on the importance of showing, through restoration monitoring, what restoration actions in Large Aquatic Ecosystem (LAE) have worked, what have not worked, and what actions may require more time before their success can be evaluated. Both short and long-term monitoring is important in LAEs because decision makers and funding organizations need to show measures of success in both time horizons in order to sustain the projects. Regardless of time scale, monitoring provides information about what level ecosystem condition and function has been restored.
Description:
Monitoring ecosystem restoration at various scales in LAEs can be challenging, frustrating and rewarding. Some of the major ecosystem restoration monitoring occurring in LAEs include: seagrass expansion/contraction; dead zone sizes; oyster reefs; sea turtle nesting; toxic and nutrient pollution; bacterial contamination; invasive species growth/removal; function of restored vs. created vs. native wetlands; ecosystem resilience; habitat expansion/contraction; and, air deposition that influences restoration. LAE restoration needs its companion restoration monitoring to show relate how investments of resources and effort relates to increased and improved ecosystem condition and function over time. Funding agencies, especially at the federal level, often need short-term monitoring and associated measures of success (ecosystem condition) in ecosystem restoration projects to justify continued investments to stakeholders. However, the ultimate benefits of ecosystem restoration are often realized over longer time periods when more broad-based recovery of ecosystem function has occurred. It is important to share both short term and long term restoration monitoring successful methods as well as areas where monitoring and methods have been challenging to show change.