1. Section 7
Environmental Monitoring

2. Ecosystem (Environmental) Monitoring
Scientists monitor the health of ecosystems much like a doctor monitors the health of a patient.
Scientists monitor the health and understand the impact of disturbances and changes of an ecosystem in order to try and reverse or reduce them.

3. Ecosystem (Environmental) Monitoring
Scientists do:
Physical monitoring using satellites and maps
Environmental monitoring watching the climate, temperature and weather.
Chemical monitoring testing air, soil and water quality
Biological monitoring looking for changes in organisms or populations of organisms.

4. CDC Health Monitoring

5. When Do We Monitor? Environmental Monitoring will begin because of:
Natural changes/disturbances
Earthquake, forest fires, storms, land slides, volcanic eruptions
Human development
Clearing land for forestry.
Building of roads or housing developments
Scientists attempt to predict what changes will happen to an ecosystem and balance our needs with that of the ecosystem and minimize our impact on an ecosystem.
Fish tracking

6. Long Term Monitoring
Amphibians- frogs, toads, and salamanders breathe both through their mouths but also through their skin.
Amphibians populations are rapidly declining because of sensitivity their environments
They are biological indicators and can tell us about the health of an ecosystem.
Pica Indicator Species

7. Long Term Monitoring
Scientists are trying to find out what changes have caused such a decline in amphibians
Populations fluctuate from year to year, but over all amphibian populations are decreasing.
Indicator Species

8. Baseline Data
Baseline data is the starting point of an investigation, and is used to compare how changes happen over time.
Scientists use permanent plots to study changes.
Studies of global warming and how it affects forests
Several plots throughout Canada and the US have been established to count the number of species from year to year.

9. Baseline Data
Baseline data can also be used to predict changes in the environment.
If we want to drain a wetland for a housing project, studies tell us that most of the natural species in the area will die off.
Often new developments will set aside protected areas for natural wildlife (reserves, green spaces)
A report that outlines how an activity will affect the environment is called an Environmental Impact Assessment.

10. Environmental Monitoring
Oxygen downstream from pulp and paper industries were lower then normal.
Less oxygen for invertebrates in the lakes in rivers and they began to die off.
Less food for fish meant they were smaller and unhealthier.
Environmental Monitoring (10:47)

11. Environmental Monitoring
Tracking indicator species gives scientists lots of feedback about an ecosystem
Invertebrates are important to most ecosystems and need to be present
These are common Albertan invertebrates

12. Environmental Monitoring
Producers provide the energy of all food chains and need to stay in balance
These are common Albertan plants

13. Environmental Monitoring
Northern Alberta
Heavily Industrialized- oil sands, pulp and paper, forestry.
Aboriginals
Woodland area called the Boreal Forest with a lot of sensitive species.
Reclamation after well sites have dried is key to many big oil companies
Air Monitoring

14. Environmental Monitoring - Oil Sands