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EMAN Frequently Asked Questions
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment
Becoming part of the Network
Ecological Monitoring Programmes and Data Management
National Ecological Framework – How EMAN is Organized
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment What is Ecological Monitoring? Ecological monitoring is the regular observation, measurement and evaluation of organisms, communities and the environment in which they live. Why conduct Ecological Monitoring? Ecological monitoring is important for a number of reasons. Through the collection of ecological data via a standardized monitoring programme, environmental baselines representing the current status of ecosystem components can be established. Repeat observations and analysis of data can allow for the detection of changes over time - changes that are above the natural variation for established baselines. Continuing monitoring is often necessary as many ecological responses to changing conditions occur over the long term. The findings that are a result of analysing data collected from monitoring lead to the communication of status, trends and information to scientists and decision-makers about relatively gradual and/or possibly significant environmental changes that may require further attention. Ecological monitoring is used throughout the world in order to report on the state of the environment. In Canada, State of the Environment (SoE) reports involve a commitment to reporting on environmental conditions and trends, their causes and consequences, their significance to the ecosystem, human health and the economy, and progress on resolving particular environmental issues. Canada does not currently have a national environmental monitoring system that provides a comprehensive picture of the state of our natural resources and conditions affecting environmental or human health for the whole country. This has brought about the need for an Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) to better coordinate the individual monitoring projects being done throughout the country. Science assessments are a summary ofecological data and information on the status of defined ecological spaces and their associated species biodiversity. Describing specific species groupings and areas in Canada, they represent the most comprehensive status and trends analysis possible based on available data. The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) has actively worked on assessments, or contributed to them, since its inception and continues to focus on them as a contribution to ecological knowledge in Canada. Science assessments have been completed for the Montane Cordillera ecozone, the Mixedwood Plains ecozone, Mercury pollutant pathways, and landscape changes to Biosphere Reserves. Work is currently being completed on assessments for the Prairies, Atlantic Maritime and Pacific Maritime ecozones, and on the decline of chorus frogs in Ontario. Top of pageWhat is the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN)? The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) is made up of linked organizations and individuals involved in ecological monitoring in Canada to better detect, describe, and report on ecosystem changes. The network is a cooperative partnership of federal, provincial and municipal governments, academic institutions, aboriginal communities and organizations, industry, environmental non-government organizations, volunteer community groups, elementary and secondary schools and other groups/individuals involved in ecological monitoring. EMAN was created by Environment Canada to augment Canada’s ability to describe ecosystem changes, provide timely information to decision makers, and help inform the Canadian public. For more information please see All About EMAN. How do I become an EMAN partner? Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) partnership is open to anyone or any organization that has done, is currently doing or wants to do ecological monitoring. An EMAN partner:
What are the benefits of partnership? Partnership with the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) and participation in the network offers many rewards. These benefits include:
Ecological Monitoring Programmes and Data Management What are the EMAN monitoring protocols? The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) contributes to partnerships through the endorsement and/or development of standardized protocols for ecological monitoring. There are three different groupings of protocols for integrated monitoring projects.
The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), in partnership with the Canadian Nature Federation, has established a series of NatureWatch programmes that are designed to collect reliable information that can contribute to local, regional and national monitoring programmes. The focus of NatureWatch is to encourage the cooperation of community partners in order to expand geographic coverage and augment the frequency of observations. At the same time communities gain solid information on local changes, which aids local decision-making. Though the protocols in NatureWatch have been designed by scientific experts for validity and reliability, they are also laid out simply and available for use by people with varying degrees of monitoring experience. Therefore monitoring project managers can expand the capacity of local monitoring information collection by engaging the broader community. How do I start monitoring for ecological data? If you are interested in starting a monitoring project, you will need to decide what you are interested in monitoring in your environment (clean water, healthy soil, wildlife etc). Pick the monitoring programme that will allow you to track any changes. Choose the monitoring protocols to learn how to collect the information based on your own monitoring goals and field experience (for example if you are researching frogs for an undergraduate thesis – use the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) Ecosystem Monitoring Protocols for Anuran Species Richness and Calling Phenology whereas if you are encouraging a school group to learn about frogs – use FrogWatch). Then decide where your monitoring project will occur (i.e. your backyard, a natural area close by etc.). Collect data by following the data collection procedures outlined in the protocol and/or programme. Once data collection is complete, you can share your data with EMAN CO and compare your results to what others have found. How do I know the data collected are reliable? Biodiversity Monitoring Protocols have been developed by scientists and expert teams and have been reviewed by the Biodiversity Science Board to ensure that data collection procedures are peer-reviewed, scientifically reliable and suitable for scientific research and reporting. EMAN Ecosystem Monitoring Protocols (EMPs) have been developed from common, accepted methods by scientists and ecological monitoring experts to ensure reliability and scientifically valid data collection. EMPs were developed to detect and track ecosystem changes over time. These EMPs are based on environmental indicators that identify significant changes in ecosystems so as to trigger and guide the design of future investigation. The purpose of the NatureWatch programme is to give early indications of change and where change is occurring in order to direct further scientific study. The NatureWatch programmes are built upon the above solid scientific protocols and those used in other programmes, with method descriptions designed for accuracy. These programmes are also based on independent observations, which limits systematic bias. The validity of data also relies upon repeatability, which is why training is made available as part of each watch programme to provide for replicable data collection. This programme is intended to detect change, and can also provide a solid basis for research but is not intended to produce data which is equivalent to that collected by professionals. How do I share my data with the Network? Small electronic data sets can be shared through online submission (which is available through the NatureWatch website) or via email to eman@ec.gc.ca. FTP areas for sharing data and a distributed data network are other ways to share and become a part of the data network within EMAN. Hard copies of data can also faxed to (905) 336-4499 or mailed to the following location:
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network Coordinating Office
National Ecological Framework – How EMAN is Organized The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) particularly focuses on issues that cut across jurisdictions, agencies and environmental disciplines. Issues such as climate change, invasive species, biodiversity and the management of sustainability in diverse “working” landscapes demand an inclusive ecological approach which includes consideration of interacting social, economic and environmental aspects. The appropriate basis for study is a geographical one and EMAN therefore uses Canada’s National Ecological Framework. What is the ecological framework? The ecological framework used in Canada describes ecologically distinct areas of the earth's surface at different levels of generalization, ranging from the broad scale ecozones to the more detailed ecodistricts. It is based on a common system of classifying and mapping terrestrial ecosystems developed in the 1970s and 1980s by professionals from governments, non-government organizations universities and industry through the Canada Committee on Ecological Land Classification. The most recent version was prepared in 1994 and is available in hardcopy and GIS format with narrative descriptions of each ecozone and ecoregion. Although not specifically part of the ecological framework, nested within the ecodistricts are the polygons that make up the recently completed CLBRR national Soil Landscapes of Canada GIS database developed for use at the 1:1,000,000 scale. The ecological framework and the soil landscapes provide a series of seamless nested coincident map units at all four levels of generalization. Ecozones are areas of the earth's surface representative of very generalized ecological units characterized by interactive and adjusting abiotic and biotic factors. Canada was first subdivided into 15 ecozones to meet reporting requirements of the first State of the Environment Report for Canada published in 1986 (Wiken 1986). The ecozone lies at the top of the ecological hierarchy as defined by the Canada Committee on Ecological Land Classification (CCELC) (Wiken, 1979). In this context, the ecozone defines on a subcontinental scale, the broad mosaics formed by the interaction of macroscale climate, human activity, vegetation, soils, geological, and physiographic features of the country. There are 15 terrestrial ecozones and 5 marine ecozones in Canada. Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1995. A National Ecological Framework for Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research and Environment Canada, State of the Environment Directorate, Ecozone Analysis Branch, Ottawa/Hull. Report and national map at 1:7,500,000 scale. Wiken, E.B. 1979. Rationale and methods of ecological land surveys: An overview of Canadian approaches. In D.G. Taylor (ed.) Land/wildlife integration: Proceedings of a technical workshop to discuss the incorporation of wildlife information into ecological land surveys, 1-2 May, 1979, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Ecological Land Classification Series No. 11. Lands Directorate, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. 160 pp. Wiken, E. (compiler) 1986. Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 19. Lands Directorate, Environment Canada, Ottawa. Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1995. A National Ecological Framework for Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research and Environment Canada, State of the Environment Directorate, Ecozone Analysis Branch, Ottawa/Hull. Report and national map at 1:7,500,000 scale. Ecoregions are subdivisions of the ecozone characterized by distinctive large order landforms or assemblages of regional landforms, small order macro- or mesoclimates, vegetation, soils, water, and regional human activity patterns/uses. In this compilation, ecoregion boundaries which already existed from precious work were refined to reflect more recent detailed provincial studies and knowledge. The ecoregions constitute the major bridge between the subcontinental scale economies and the more localized ecodistricts. There are 217 terrestrial and 18 marine ecoregions in Canada. Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1995. A National Ecological Framework for Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research and Environment Canada, State of the Environment Directorate, Ecozone Analysis Branch, Ottawa/Hull. Report and national map at 1:7,500,000 scale. Ecodistricts are subdivisions of ecoregions and are characterized by distinctive assemblages of landform, relief, surficial geologic material, soil, water bodies, vegetation, and uses. The ecodistricts bring together various subregional units which had been defined by environment Canda, agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and provincial agencies. According to the ecodistrict database, there are 1030 terrestrial and 48 marine ecodistricts in Canada. Ecological Stratification Working Group. 1995. A National Ecological Framework for Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Branch, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research and Environment Canada, State of the Environment Directorate, Ecozone Analysis Branch, Ottawa/Hull. Report and national map at 1:7,500,000 scale. |
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