Conceptual ecological models: Drivers for Vital Signs and Monitoring

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Conceptual ecological modelsDrivers for Vital
Signs and Monitoring

• Dave Miller, Todd Esque, Dave Bedford, Debra
  Hughson, and Sean Finn
• with contributions from Jayne Belnap, Bob Webb,
  and many more.
• and special thanks to reviewers Joel Siderius,
  John Gross, Penny Latham, Kris Heister, and Bob
  Truitt

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Purpose of Conceptual Models

• Conceptual models are tools to organize and
  describe key ecosystem processes and components.
• The models lead to identifying vital signs and
  designing monitoring approaches.
• Models describe factors and processes controlling
  the structure and function of ecosystems, and
  help with interpreting monitoring data
• Models identify gaps in knowledge that may need
  to be pursued

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WHY USGS?? Recoverability and Vulnerability of
Desert Ecosystems

• RVDE and the Desert Managers ?Improve
  understanding of the Mojave Desert
• Integrated science to fill a void in
  understanding of desert ecosystems
• USGS studies the biotic-abiotic coupling in this
  abiotically structured ecosystem

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Our Approach

• Parks in the MOJN represent fundamentally
  arid to semiarid landscapes where biota compete
  for water there are some important mesic
  landscapes as well
• Small areas have perennial or seasonal
  abundance of water where aquatic to riparian
  organisms thrive
• WET and DRY systems
• ATMOSPHERIC (climate) and HUMAN systems
• This scheme allows the use of concepts on the
  availability of water as a way to link biotic and
  abiotic systems

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Heirarchy of Models
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Mojave Network Framework Model
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Atmospheric System Model
Winter storm moisture intercepted at the Sierra
Nevada and Coast Ranges creates arid conditions
for the Great Basin and Mojave deserts Mountains
within the deserts have temperature and
precipitation gradients that create
biomes Eastern areas have more prevalent monsoon
moisture in the summer
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Wet Systems General Model

• Climatic inputs mainly move via Groundwater to
  the components of interest
• Springs and wetlands
• Stream and riparian areas
• Lakes

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Groundwater Model
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Spring and Wetland Models
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Spring and Wetland Models (cont.)

• Vital Signs
• Groundwater dynamics and chemistry climate
• Monitoring goals
• Aquatic or riparian species sensitive to change
• Discharge
• Water characteristics

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Dry Systems General Model

• Climate influences the three main components
  directly
• Soil system
• Vegetation and crusts
• Animals
• Complex links among the components are governed
  by many processes

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Dry Systems Models
Effective Moisture controls position of
biomes Each biome is described by one or more
models
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Shrubland Models
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Soil Moisture and Shrubland Models

• Soil Moisture is dependent on texture, age of
  deposit, and climate factors
• Soils govern plant community (species and cover)
• Geomorphology and soils descriptions, when
  combined, provide predictors of plant community
  and health
• Vital Signs vegetation change, soil quality,
  climate

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Shrubland Models
Develop monitoring strategies with detailed,
modern geomorphic and soils data.
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Fire and Shrubland Models

• Fire is dependent on plant community and climate
  factors
• repeated fires can create a permanently altered
  state an invasive grassland
• Vital Signs fire and fuel dynamics, invasive
  plants, soil quality, vegetation change, climate

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• USGS is pleased to have participated in the IM
  process by expanding on its integrated science
  studies of the Mojave Desert ecoregion

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• The conceptual models have led to vital sign
  selection and hopefully will aid with monitoring
  designs and protocols