Evaluating the Sampling Design of a Long-Term Community-Based Estuary Monitoring Program

Fishes

Michael R. van den Heuvel¹  Simon C. Courtenay¹  Robert C. Bailey²  Mark R. Servos³  Jess A. Kidd³  Monica Boudreau⁴ 

[1] Canadian Rivers Institute, 28 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada;Department of Biology, Institute of Technology, University of Ontario, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada;Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada;Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 343 University Ave, Moncton, NB E1C 9B6, Canada;

关键词: community-based monitoring;    estuary monitoring;    nekton assemblage;    sampling design;   

DOI  :  10.3390/fishes6030027

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Community-based monitoring programs (CBMPs) are a cost-effective option to collect the long-term data required to effectively monitor estuaries. Data quality concerns have caused some CBMP datasets, which could fill knowledge gaps for aquatic ecosystems, to go unused. The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) is a CBMP that has collected littoral nekton assemblage data from estuaries in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2003. Concerns with the CAMP sampling design (station placement and numbers) have prevented decision-makers from using the data to inform estuary health assessments. This study tested if CAMP’s sampling design that accommodates volunteer participation provides similar information as a scientific sampling approach. Six CAMP stations and six stations selected using a stratified random design were sampled at ten estuaries. A permutational-MANOVA revealed nekton assemblages were generally not significantly different between the two sampling designs. The current six CAMP stations are sufficient to detect the larger differences in species abundances that may indicate differences in estuary condition. The predicted increase in precision (2%) with twelve stations is not substantive enough to warrant an increased sampling effort. CAMP’s scientific utility is not limited by station selection bias or numbers. Furthermore, well-designed CBMPs can produce comparable data to scientific studies.

【 授权许可】

Unknown