Ecological Integrity as a Model for Understanding and

Managing Parks and Protected Areas

Stephen Woodley, PhDChief ScientistParks Canada

Purposes of Protected Areas

ObjectivesNatural conditionsResource ValuesSingle speciesWildernessNature

Ecological Integrity

Ecosystem Integrity as a Philosophy

Utilitarian

Nature serves us

Most resourcemanagement

Harvest

water qualityducks/hectaretourists/park

Ecological

We are part ofnature

Land ethicEcosystem integrity

Sustainability

biodiversityindicator suitesstress analysis

Romantic

Humans absent

from nature

PristineNatural

Wilderness

unroaded>20 hectaresno facilities

Assumptions

Expectations

Measures

Changes in Ecosystem Understanding

World View 2

Non-equilibrium, openDynamicSelf-organizeComplexEmergent Properties

World View 1

OrderlyBalance of natureStabilityEvolve slowly

Ecosystem Structure and Energy Flowenergy gradient

high quality energy low quality energy

Organized - sun Unorganized - heat

ComplexStructure orEcosystem

Type of ecosystem is affected by:- latitude, because suns energy is stronger- water and nutrient availability- colonization history

Species Richness by Latitude for Mammalian Quadrupeds

Ave

rage

# s

peci

es

Latitude o

100

80

60

40

20

0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Ecological integrity

A state of ecosystem development that is characteristic for its geographic location

Full range of native species and supporting processes Likely to persist - viable

for protected areas, we have often called this natural, or untouched.

Measuring Ecological Integrity- there are several ways

1. Whole systems measurement - thermodynamics2. Flows and rates - 3. Suite of indicators

structure and functionmulti-scalemost sensitive

400

300

200

100

0

-10 0 10 20 30

Worldwide Ecosystem Distribution by Average Annual

Temperature and Rainfall

Ave

rage

an

nu

al p

reci

pita

tion

(cm

)

Average annual temperature (oC)

Tropicalrainforest

Tropicalrainforest

Temperaterainforest

Tropicalrainforest

Taiga

Tundra DesertShrubland

(Grassland)

Woodland

Whole system measures - thermodynamic efficiency

Ecosystem structure - keeping the parts is the first priority is a precautionary approach to ecosystem management – focus on species

Landscape level structure - must be maintained to ensurespecies and community survival

Ecosystem Function - keeping the processes

Biodiversity exists because of, not in spite of, ecosystem disturbances. Maintaining process is critical.

Organisms use patches on the landscape. The patches need to remain connected.

Hypothesis - Cascade Corridor Restoration

Before 1997

1997-Present

Wolf Pack Tracking Sequences

Active Management - Can we/should we? Prescribed fire

Population control

Exotics

The Parks Canada Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program

y = -0.319x + 27.813

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

Properties of Scale

population

community

landscape

Time

S p a c e

organism

cell

structure and function

Ecosystem

Possible Cause and Effect

Relationships

Case 1: Known Stress Known Effect

Case 2: Known Stress Unknown Effect

Case 3: Unknown Stress Known Effect

Case 4: Unknown Stress Unknown Effect

Monitoring Approach

Threat- Specific Monitoring – Key Management Issues

Core Indicators

- Prediction of response- Research component

- Hierarchical approach - Structure and function- Most likely to react to a range of stressors

A two pronged approach to assessing ecological integrity

Ove

rall

Mon

itori

ng P

rogr

am

Ecological Integrity Monitoring FrameworkA Balance Sheet for Assessing Ecological Integrity

Biodiversity Ecosystem Functions Stressors

Species richness- change in species richness- numbers and extent of exotics

Population Dynamics- mortality/natility rates of indicator species- immigration/emigration of indicator species*- population viability of indicator species

Trophic structure- size class distribution of all taxa- predation levels

Succession/retrogression- disturbance frequencies and size- vegetation age class distributions

Productivity

Decomposition

Nutrient retention- Ca, Nitrogen

Human land-use patterns- land use maps, roads densities, population densities.

Habitat fragmentation- patch size, inter-patch distance, forest interior

Pollutants- sewage, petrochemicals etc.- long-range transport of toxics

Climate- weather data- frequency of extreme events

Other- park specific issues

Measure or IndicatorChanges in Species Richness

Taxonomic Historical Present % Native Present Present %Group Native Native Species Non-native Non-native

Species Species Loss Species Species

Mammals 40 34 15.0 3 8.1Vascular Plants 414 412 0.5 119 22.3Herpetofauna 18 18 0.0 0 0.0Breeding Birds 95 93 2.1 2 2.1

Totals 567 557 1.8 124 18.2

Interpreting the Indicators

Changes in native species:

Original number of native mammals vs. present number of native mammals

Reference value (34) 1.00

Measured value (26) 0.76

Changes in non-native species:

Ratio of present total numbers of vascular plants, including exotics to native plants.

Reference value (412) 1.00Measured value (533) 1.29

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

1g 10g

100g 1k

g10

kg

100k

g

ExtirpatedExisting

Body Size Class

Prop

orti

on o

f al

l Ver

tebr

ates

The proportion of all existing and extirpated invertebrates found in National Parks, grouped by body size class

Assessing Human ImpactsStatistical correlations R2 Values

Exotic Vertebratesand Vascular Plants

ExtirpatedVertebrates

In parkRoad density 0.732 0.818

Visitors/sq km 0.477 0.830

Percentage human-dominated landscape

0.461 0.348

In regionRoad density 0.583 0.712

Human populationper sq km

0.630 0.868

Percentage human-dominated landscape

0.580 0.544

Source: 1997 Parks Canada State of Park Reporthttp://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/library/indexe.htm

The Principle, Criteria, Indicator, and Target Framework

Principle Criteria Indicator Target maintain grizzly bears at

viable levels in Park and greater ecosystem

# of breeding females

to maintain a minimum of 50 breeding females, with annual mortality of less than 2%

maintain salamanders at viable levels in Park

# of individuals to maintain less than a 50% change in population counts over 20 years

maintain mountain goats at viable levels

ratio of lamb:non-lamb nursery sheep

to maintain ratio within limits of the ‘worst case’ scenario

maintain ecosystem productivity at historical levels

soil/foliar macronutrient concentrations (N,P,K)

to measure changes in soil/foliar macronutrient concentrations from historical means, within a confidence interval of =0.20 and =0.10

maintain most ‘functional’ seral stage coverage for park objectives

areal coverage of all seral stages

to maintain areal coverage of late seral stages at 70-80% of park landscape

maintain macroscale ecosystem productivity

AVHRR/NDVI to measure changes in NDVI from historical means within a confidence interval of =0.20 and =0.10

maintain ecological integrity of all Park ecosystems

MONITORING PROTOCOLS

Suite of Ecological Indicators - Example

State of the Greater Fundy Ecosystemhttp://www.unb.ca/web/forestry/centers/cwru/soe/title.htm

Succession/Retrogression - younger forests, little old growth

Loss of native species - 14 species of vertebrates, one invertebrate and 20 plants

Invasion of exotic species - 17.5% of the total known species

Loss in average body size - loss of large bodied mammals (-13%)

Reproduction in key indicator species - generally OK

Ability to retain nutrients - significant loss of N and Ca

Landscape fragmentation - extreme

Viability of populations - little chance for Pine marten or flying squirrel

Reporting on a Suite of Indicators

Parameter 1

Parameter 2

Parameter 3

Parameter 4

chopsticks

salamanders

foliar nutrient concentrations

subcanopy < 1m

subcanopy > 1m

forest canopy

songbirds

nutrient availability and uptake

soil Ca/N

forest floor mineralization

nutrient leaching

bark/leaf invertebrates

unmonitored factors

leaf litter nutrient concentration

climate change

stressor

monitored indicator

soil process

stream water monitoring

forest floor invertebrates

climate change

acid rain

herbivory

ecological effect

stressor effect

Conceptual model showing relationships between monitored ecological indicators and two ecosystem

stressors – acid rain and climate change biotic process

changes in vegetation structure/composition

prey base changes

prey base changes

prey base changes

process indicator

Sound Science

Park SOP Report Card

Realm Terrestrial Ecosystems Freshwater Ecosystems System Forests Wetlands Streams Lakes

Biodiversity

Ecosystem Function

Human Stressors – In Park

Human Stressors – Outside Park

?

Other stressors

?

Code Management Concern Symbol Condition Change

immediate management action is required

condition is worsening

there is an important management concern

no change in condition

there is a minor management concern

condition is improving

no management concern ? condition trend unknown

Effective Communication

Communicating EI Science

Using the Results of EI Assessment

high

low

North Yukon

Fundy

Pt. Pelee

Increasing

need for active

management

high low

Ecological

integrity

Intensity of Stresses

Management Plan

State of Parks

What scale is correct for management?

Management by zoneWhat about before the park was a parkPre-Colombian America

Forest Changes

Stand Dynamics

Gap Dynamics

Tree replacement

Tree Growth

Whole tree physiology

Leaf Physiology

Spatial Scale1000 KM

Tim

e sc

ale

Ecosystems are inherently multi-scaled.

Larger parks

Hemisphericplanning.

Inter-regionalplanning

Regional planningI.e. greater ecosystems

Parks

Spatial Scale10000 KM

Tim

e sc

ale

Institutional Responses to Ecological Issues must also be multi-scaled.

Ecological IntegrityNew way of thinking about parks that is more rooted in conservation science

Avoids the traps of “wilderness”, “role of people”, and “natural”

Allows measurement and accountability

Key Points:

- Understand how the ecosystem worksUnderstand how the ecosystem works

- Maintain good vital signsMaintain good vital signs

- Manage at the all scalesManage at the all scales

- Monitor condition and reactMonitor condition and react