Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP)

Approach for Designing Pan-Arctic Biodiversity Monitoring Plans

Mike Gill: CBMP Program Officer, Environment CanadaMcMurdo Dry Valleys Terrestrial Observation Network: An NSF Workshop

Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP)

• Arctic Council (CAFF) Program; Led by Canada

• International network improving detection, understanding and reporting of Arctic biodiversity trends

• Focal point for current and credible Arctic biodiversity information

• Bridging the information-policy gap• www.cbmp.is

CBMP Objectives: Adding Value• Monitoring networks coordinated, harmonized

and cost-effective• Best monitoring practices utilized and

promoted• Existing data rescued and utilized• Arctic people involved in monitoring• Current, timely and accurate information on

Arctic biodiversity accessible to decision-makers, including the public

• UNEP Biodiversity Indicator Partnership• Global Earth Observation: Biodiversity

Observation Network• Convention on Biological Diversity • Other AC Working Groups

International and Strategic linkages

Overall Program Design & Organization

• Expert Monitoring Groups (EMGs):– Marine, Coastal, Freshwater, Terrestrial– Ecosystem-based, network of networks – Forum for scientists and community experts– Pan-Arctic, integrated monitoring plans

CBMP Key Initiatives: Coordinated Monitoring

CBMP Monitoring Plans

• Based on clear monitoring questions & user needs• Core set of circumpolar, plus regionally specific metrics

& indicators• Ecosystem-based: Linked to relevant & multiple drivers• Scaled monitoring (e.g. intensive-extensive)• Simple & realistic: based on existing capacity & data• Optimal sampling & partners identified• Adaptive: able to adjust parameters & indicators during

start-up phase• Establish baselines & assessments

CBMP-Terrestrial Plan

• Co-led by Kingdom of Denmark and USA

• Background Paper and two workshops completed

• Plan is being drafted• Release date Jan ‘13

Process for Developing a Pan-Arctic Plan – Background Paper

1. Identify objectives of the monitoring plan – What are the:

– Key science questions to address? – Management objectives for this region? – Reporting mandates?

2. Conduct an inventory/analysis of what existing research & monitoring efforts & data exist & how well they can serve objectives.

Process for Developing a Pan-Arctic Plan – Background Paper

3. Define scope (spatial & thematic) - where relevant, define focal areas for focused monitoring & reporting

4. Develop and agree upon criteria for choosing attributes, parameters, & indicators

5. Develop conceptual model(s) for the ecosystem in question

Process for Developing a Pan-Arctic Plan – First Workshop• Goals: identify focal ecosystem components (FECs),

parameters (metrics) & indicators• Using a scoping process (Adaptive Environmental

Assessment and Management)– Form breakout groups – based on discipline themes (e.g.

vegetation, invertebrates, mammals, birds)– Develop impact hypotheses (IH) and cause effect charts for

these focal ecosystem components– Using the criteria & based on the IH & cause-effect charts,

choose the key attributes for each FEC to measure & determine the most suitable parameters.

Examples: Conceptual Scenarios

Examples: Cause-Effect Charts

POLLUTION/CONTAMINATION FISHERY

CLIMATE CHANGE

OIL SPILLS

HARVESTING

FECSEABIRDS

PREDATION

REPRODUCTION

MARINE HABITATS

TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

ADULT MORTALITY

DISEASES & PARASITES

FOOD AVAILABILITY

DISPERSAL

BODY CONDITION

1

Drivers

EXPLANATIONS:CLIMATE CHANGE1. Climate change affects sea ice distribution and features; water masses distribution2. Climate change affect snow cover, coastal erosion, sea level which important for breeding sites3. Climate change affects distribution, abundance and availability of prey4. Climate change affects distribution, life cycle and virulence of infectouse and parasitic organisms5. Climate change affects distribution of predators6. Climate change affects phenology of dispersal and availability of seasonally important areasPOLLUTION & CONTAMINATION7. Pollution/contamination may increase adult mortality 8. Pollution may reduce reproduction success9. Pollution may decrease body conditionOIL SPILL10. Oil spill may reduce reproduction success11. Oil spill may cause direct mortality12. Oil spill may decrease body conditionFISHERY13. Commercial fishery deplete prey species abundance, on another hand, fishery can provide additional food source14. Fishery can lead to direct seabird mortality in fishing gear (bycatch)DISTURBANCE15. Disturbance can affect reproduction successHABITAT ALTERATION16. Bottom disturbance may affect food availability for benthos feeding seabirds. 17. Area claim and disturbance may reduce availability of suitable breeding sitesALIEN SPECIES18. Introduced species may increase predationHARVESTING23. Harvesting increase adult mortality19. Harvesting may decrease reproduction success

EXPLANATIONS:20. Decreased body condition may decrease reproductive success21. Predation on eggs and chicks will reduce reproduction success22. Seabirds stressed by predators may decrease their body conditions24. Shortage in food may reduce reproduction success25. Shortage in food may decrease body condition26. Changes in distribution and availability of marine habitats may affect food availability for seabirds27. Alteration in ice habitats can affect accessibility of seabirds for their predators (polar bears, arctic foxes).29. Alteration of terrestrial habitat may affect availability of suitable breeding sites30. Changes in distribution of marine habitats may affect migration routes and phenology, location of staging and wintering areas31. Occurrence and types of pathogens and parasites may affect body conditions32. Occurrence and types of pathogens and parasites may affect reproduction success33. Changes in body condition may affect adult mortality34. Body condition affects reproduction success35. Body condition affect bird’s ability to disperse, and vice versa movement distances and time can affect body condition28. Changes in dispersal patterns may cause changes in composition and frequency of pathogens and parasites

Group:

DISTURBANCE

ALIEN SPECIES HABITAT ALTERATION

121197

8

5

6

3

4

2

21

19 23

18

17

16

15 14

13

10

30

29

27

26

31

24

3233

25 22

20

34 2835

Examples: Conceptual Visualization of Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring Scheme

Process for Developing a Pan-Arctic Plan – Second Workshop

• Goals: identify sampling scheme, partners & implementation plan.– Using the inventory/metadata in Background Paper,

come to agreements on sampling methods (spatial and temporal)

– Using the inventory/metadata determine existing networks/groups that can implement

– Develop implementation plan (organizational structure, budget, reporting timelines, data management, etc.)

Example: Pan-Arctic Sampling Design

Spatial distribution of marine population data collected. The size of the circle denotes the number of population time series from that location.

www.asti.is

CBMP Output: Indices and Indicators

CBMP Output Examples: Arctic Biodiversity Data Service

www.abds.is

CBMP Output Examples: Arctic Report Cards (Ecosystem Chapters)

CBMP Output Examples: Multi-Authored Publications

CBMP Output Examples: Assessments

CBMP Output Examples: Predictive Models

Figure 12. Comparison of observed (A) and predicted (B) population trends expressed as average rates of change, for terrestrial data only. The term lambda means rate of change.

• Be relevant - Clearly articulate objectives, questions & reporting mandates & design plan around these

• Art of the Possible: build a simple plan based on existing/anticipated capacity & data (don’t forget existing data!) & start small

• Budget for Data Management, Analysis & Reporting: plan & agree on data management approach early in process & use new technologies (distributed data networks)

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

• Meet annually (at least) to ensure implementation is happening, allow for adjustments to the plan & have performance measures

• Build flexibility and adapt – remember you are guessing on what are the key elements of the system to monitor (time will tell)

• Involve managers & funders in the development• Show value of integration through early results:

– Develop early, targeted products for policy makers, scientists and the public

Photos by Carsten Egevang/ ARC-PIC.comShutterstock.com/Larry MauerShutterstock.com/Oksana PerkinsShutterstock.com/Erkki & HannaU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Thank you

For more information please visit:www.cbmp.iswww.caff.is

Questions To Focus On• With our ‘clients’ in mind…

– In 10 Years, what do we want to be able to say about Antarctic Terrestrial Ecosystems? What elements of the system should we be tracking?

– Therefore, what are the priority indicators to develop?– What data will we need (e.g. What parameters to

measure?)– What driver data is needed to allow us to interpret these

trends?– What conceptual framework should we use to ensure the

system is well covered?

Questions To Focus On

• What existing data and networks do we have that can help us begin to report?

• What new networks (filling gaps) would we need?

• What trends may the plan be unable to detect?

Questions to Focus On• Where should we be sampling? How frequently? (e.g. power

analysis)• What organizational structure will we need to organise the

relevant networks and stations to form and implement an integrated Arctic biodiversity monitoring plan?

• What resources will be required to implement the monitoring plan?

• What critical gaps remain, and what approaches should be considered to fill these?