Science 7: Unit A – Interactions and Ecosystems Topic 7: Environmental Monitoring

Environmental Monitoring Also known as ecosystem monitoring is the periodic checking on certain indicators of an ecosystem’s health. Scientists do environmental monitoring to determine what changes are happening to the ecosystem and what’s the causing the changes. Both biotic and abiotic factors of an ecosystem can be monitored.

When and What do We Monitor? Monitoring can occur anytime, but is usually done after some kind of disturbance such as pollution spill, or natural disaster. Monitoring occurs repeatedly after the disturbance. Indicator Species – are species which are sensitive to environmental changes. If any change in the ecosystem happens, they will be the first to feel it.

Amphibians Are Excellent Indicator Species Amphibians are very sensitive to changes in their ecosystems. All over the world, amphibian populations are declining. Also, the number of deformities in amphibians is increasing. This is telling us that pollution levels are increasing world-wide. Scientists are monitoring amphibian populations for the long-term.

How To Environmentally Monitor You need: Baseline Data – This is the starting point in monitoring. This is the info. On how your indicator species does normally. How it did before the disturbance occurred. Eg. The Great Canadian Toad population has an average size of 250 organisms in our area of study.

How to Environmentally Monitor Cont’d Permanent Plots – are the areas of the ecosystem you study. Most ecosystems are very large, and too large to study. So what scientists do is that they pick a smaller area and use that part of the ecosystem as a sample to study. Scientists then return to this plot every few years and study the biotic and abiotic factors for changes.

Environmental Impact Assessment Baseline data can also be used to predict what could happen to similar species in other ecosystems if changes occur. Eg. Noting that 20% of a toad population died off when a highway was built in its ecosystem. What would happen if a highway was built in a similar ecosystem in Manitoba? Environmental Impact Assessment – a report that outlines how an activity will affect the environment.