HR: 13:55h
AN: GC53B-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Ecological Indicators and Monitoring Systems are Needed to Track Changing Ecosystem Condition in the United States
AU: * Negra, C
EM: negra@heinzctr.org
AF: Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, 900 17th Street, NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20006, United States
AU: O'Malley, R
EM: omalley@heinzctr.org
AF: Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, 900 17th Street, NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20006, United States
AU: Cavender-Bares, K
EM: bares@heinzctr.org
AF: Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, 900 17th Street, NW, 7th floor, Washington, DC 20006, United States
AB: Well-designed ecological indicators are important tools for tracking the cumulative effects of land management, disturbance patterns and climate on the biogeochemical condition of ecosystems. Indicators can be used to identify direct and indirect ecological responses to major stressors, to evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies and to understand potential changes in provision of ecological services. To contextualize the magnitude of contemporary ecological changes, long-term data sources are needed for indicator metrics. In the absence of ongoing, objective monitoring programs, public and private environmental decisions will not be adequately supported by scientifically sound baseline or trend information. In the State of the Nation's Ecosystems, the Heinz Center reports on 108 indicators selected to represent the most important components of major terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem types in the U.S. A central finding of this effort is the large number of gaps in available datasets to populate key ecological indicators. The 2008 edition of the report will have complete data for 42 indicators, partial data for 27 indicators and data gaps for 28 indicators (11 indicators require further development). The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Heinz Center have produced major assessments of the status of environmental monitoring systems. The GAO report highlights eroding data-gathering capacity in the face of funding constraints and expanding information demands. The Heinz Center report maps out specific technical challenges in filling high-priority, national-scale data gaps and addresses barriers to integration and efficiency in the nation's overall monitoring system. This presentation will focus on crucial environmental monitoring needs for reporting on U.S. ecological indicators. Key concepts for effective monitoring systems will be presented including: (1) design to capture essential dynamics of ecosystems and to establish credible baselines; (2) ongoing programs characterized by appropriate sampling methodologies, transparent reporting and independent review; (3) plot and county level data-gathering embedded within regional and national frameworks to enable scaleable indicator reporting. Two case studies will focus on current data-gathering and needed improvements in monitoring for air quality and carbon storage.
DE: 0434 Data sets
DE: 1699 General or miscellaneous
DE: 1848 Monitoring networks
DE: 1895 Instruments and techniques: monitoring
DE: 9820 Techniques applicable in three or more fields
SC: Global Environmental Change [GC]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting