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Wetland Health Assessment Toolbox
(WHAT)
Includes seven different
biological and chemical parameters.
1) Avifauna
Birds are used as bioindicators for the salt marsh habitats. The presence/absence
of certain bird species may provide clues about the fish and invertebrate
populations in the salt marsh. Field identification is necessary.
2) Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Invertebrate field sampling includes auger samples of the creek bed,
dip net samples of the vegetated creek bank edge, and quad sampling
on the top of the bank. Samples are preserved, sorted off site and then
identified under the microscope to family level. . The presence/absence
of particular family groupsas well as population size can be used to
assess the health of a wetland.
3) Vegetation
Plants are identified generally in August to assess plant diversity
and overall health of a wetland as well as the presence or absence of
invasive species. Vegetation is sampled using established transects
and quads.
4) Salinity
Shallow ground water wells are installed along three transects. Eoverall
health of a wetland. Refractometers and/or water quality meters are
used to take salinity measurements. This parameter is important in explaining
the dynamics of wetland water chemistry.
5) Tidal Influence
Tidal restrictions are measured using staff gauges and tape measures
as well as how the patterns of tidal range and water depth affect the
viability of a wetland
6) Land Use
Maps and aerial photography along with field techniques to describe
land use and the environmental characteristics of the landscape are
used to gain an overall measure of human disturbance at a particular
wetland site.
7) Fish
Fish are sampled using minnow traps three times during the summer. Learn
how to identify typical salt marsh fish species that use wetland sites
along the North Shore.
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