Climate Change 
By monitoring a suite of vital signs indicator, we will be able to track ecological changes occuring in and around the parks as a result of cliamte change. Physical indicators that are strongly correlated with climate change and are monitored in the parks include air and water temperature, precipitation, and streamflow. The network also monitors a variety fo biological indicators that may respond to climate change by showing changes in abundance or reproductive success. Biological indicators include: landbirds, coho salmon, prairie falcons, spotted owl, or vegetation communities. Marine indicators include Harbor Seals and invertebrates of the rocky intertidal zone.
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Monitoring ObjectivesDetermine the trends in physical indicators monitored by the network including water temperature, stream flow, and precipitation. Determine changes in abundance and/or productivity of biological indicators including landbirds, coho salmon, pairie falcons, spotted owls, red-legged frogs, vegetation communities.
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Reports and Resources
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Monitoring ProtocolAlthough there is no protocol specific to climate change, the suite of indicators monitored by the network will help us evaluate ecological changes that are the result of climate change. Analyses that synthesize existing data are already underway through a joint project with USGS. Scientists from USGS are analyzing trends in streamflow along coast of Northern California and are planning to correlate data to changes in vegetation communities as documented through historic aerial and satellite imagery.
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