Sierra Nevada Network
Monitoring: Vital Signs
Thirteen Vital Signs: Water Chemistry
 |
Mountain Stream: Sequoia National Park |
Below is more detailed information on the thirteen vital signs that the Sierra Nevada Network will pursue for protocol development. Several Vital Signs are grouped according to the wider ecosystem being studied. Current sampling designs and protocols are found in the Sierra Nevada Network: Vital Signs Monitoring Plan (2007).
Abbreviations:
SIEN Sierra Nevada Network
DEPO Devils Postpile National Monument
SEKI Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Park
YOSE Yosemite National Park
Lakes: Surface Water Dynamics, Water
Chemistry, Amphibians
Rivers and Streams
Vital Signs: Surface water dynamics, water chemistry, amphibians.
Justification: Sierra Nevada Network parks protect over 4,500 lakes and
ponds and thousands of kilometers of rivers and streams that have some of the
bestt water quality in the Sierra Nevada. High-elevation lakes are critical components
of the parks’ ecosystems, popular visitor destinations, and habitat for
declining amphibian species. We will be monitoring three indicators in high-elevation
lake ecosystems: water chemistry, hydrology, and amphibians. Hydrological and
water chemistry measures are good indicators of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem
condition and trend because they reflect changes within the larger watershed.
High-elevation lakes of the Sierra Nevada are especially sensitive to change
because the waters are oligotrophic and have very low buffering capacities. It
is well documented that amphibians are sensitive to ecosystem changes, are easy
and relatively inexpensive to monitor, and measurements are highly repeatable.
The main stressors that impact Sierra Nevada lake ecosystems include anthropogenic
nitrogen deposition, pesticide deposition, climate change, non-native fish, visitor
use, and pathogens (i.e., chytridiomycosis—an infectious disease
that affects amphibians). Changes in nutrient cycles and shifts in phytoplankton
communities in Sierra Nevada lakes have already been detected and attributed
to increased nitrogen and phosphorous inputs. Mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana
muscosa) and Yosemite toad (Bufo canorus) populations are rapidly
declining—they are candidates for listing as ‘endangered’.
Change detected in high-elevation lakes can be an early warning indication of
change that may eventually occur at other elevations and ecosystem types.
Parks: SEKI, YOSE
Monitoring Objectives:
Survey Sites:
- Detect long-term trends in lake water chemistry for Sierra Nevada Network lakes.
- Temp, pH, sp. conductance, dissolved oxygen, acid neutralizing capacity
- Major ions: Ca, Na, Mg, K, Cl, SO4
- Nitrate, dissolved organic nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen
- Total dissolved phosphorus
- Particulate nitrogen, particulate phosphorus, particulate carbon
- Characterize Sierra Nevada Network lakes.
- Determine the proportion of Sierra Nevada Network lakes above threshold values for selected constituents.
Detect long-term trends and abundance of high-elevation anurans, particularly mountain yellow-legged frog, Yosemite toad, and Pacific tree frog for Sierra Nevada Network lakes.
Rivers and Streams
Vital Signs: Surface water dynamics, water chemistry.
Justification: Sierra Nevada Network parks protect over
4,500 lakes and ponds and thousands of kilometers of rivers and streams
that have some of the highest water quality in the Sierra Nevada.
Water resources are critical components of the parks’ ecosystems
and popular visitor recreation and camping destinations. Hydrological
and water chemistry measures are good indicators of aquatic and terrestrial
ecosystem condition and trends because they reflect changes within
the larger watershed. The stressors of greatest concern to the parks’ flow
regimes and water quality are climate change, altered fire regimes,
air pollution (i.e. nitrogen and pesticide deposition), and local
impacts from visitor use and park operations.
Park: DEPO, SEKI, YOSE
Monitoring Objectives:
The Network will identify specific monitoring objectives in fall of
2007 when the Rivers and Streams protocol development begins.
Current planning status is found in theSierra Nevada Network: Vital Signs Monitoring Plan (2007).
Learn More
Climate Change
Habitat Fragmentation and Human Use
Altered Fire Regime
Air Contaminants and Atmospheric Deposition
Non-native Species
New Climate Monitoring Station at Devils
Postpile National Monument