how will we know when we get there? evaluating …...silas ellison staff scientist, save the bay how...
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Silas EllisonStaff Scientist, Save The Bay
How will we know when we get there?Evaluating metrics of success in transition zone restoration
Wetland Loss in the San Francisco Bay
~90%Tidal marsh lost since
the mid 1800’s
Endangered and endemic tidal marsh species
Salt Marsh Harvest MouseReithrodontomys raviventris
Ridgway’s RailRallus obsoletus
Upland Transition Zone (“UTZ”)
Pickleweed, marsh gumplant, and other native vegetation
Transition Zone
2014 2017
But what is the best way to measure and quantify success in an UTZ restoration project?
Metrics of Success
% Native Cover
The percentage of the site occupied by native
vegetation
Biodiversity
Species richness, species evenness, and overall
biodiversity
Plant Vigor
The maximum height of individuals from each plant species present
Work Performed
# native plants installed; pounds of non-native
plants removed
Volunteer Hours
Volunteers engaged at each site
Work PerformedSince 2006, Save The Bay’s community-based restoration programs have accomplished…
380,000Native plants
installed
500,000Pounds of non-native weeds
removed
25Acres of upland transition zone
restored
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
FY 11-12 FY 12-13 FY 13-14 FY 14-15 FY 15-16 FY 16-17 FY 17-18
Students Served since 2011
Total Students % of Underserved Students
Volunteers Engaged
Metrics of Success
% Native Cover
The percentage of the site occupied by native
vegetation
Biodiversity
Species richness, species evenness, and overall
biodiversity
Plant Vigor
The maximum height of individuals from each plant species present
Work Performed
# native plants installed; pounds of non-native
plants removed
Volunteer Hours
Volunteers engaged at each site
Annual Vegetation Monitoring
Setting up a monitoring transect
Intertidal
Low MidHigh
4 “strata” in the transition zone
Intertidal
Low MidHigh
6+ quadrats per stratum
40% native cover goal
% Native Cover
% Native Covervs.
Plants Installed
% Native Cover
# Plants Installed
Metrics of Success
% Native Cover
The percentage of the site occupied by native
vegetation
Biodiversity
Species richness, species evenness, and overall
biodiversity
Plant Vigor
The maximum height of individuals from each plant species present
Work Performed
# native plants installed; pounds of non-native
plants removed
Volunteer Hours
Volunteers engaged at each site
Plant Vigor (Max Height)Large, bushy perennials Rhizomatous perennials Perennials with partial
annual dieback
18
Metrics of Success
% Native Cover
The percentage of the site occupied by native
vegetation
Biodiversity
Species richness, species evenness, and overall
biodiversity
Plant Vigor
The maximum height of individuals from each plant species present
Work Performed
# native plants installed; pounds of non-native
plants removed
Volunteer Hours
Volunteers engaged at each site
Species Richness
Low Species Richness High Species Richness
2 5
Species Richness
Native species encountered more frequently
Non-native species begin to drop out
Species Richnessvs.
% Native Cover
Species Richness
Low Species Richness High Species Richness
2 5
Species Evenness (Dominance)
Low Species Evenness High Species Evenness
0 10.5
Species Evenness (Dominance)
Eden E9/E14 Levee- Mid ZoneNative speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018ACMI Achillea millefolium Yarrow 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00BAGL Baccharis glutinosa Marsh baccharis 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00DISP Distichlis spicata Saltgrass 0.50 0.19 0.21 1.75 1.10ELTR Elymus triticoides Creeping wild rye 0.00 0.10 0.15 0.03 0.41EPCI Epilobium ciliatum Northern fireweed 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00EUOC Euthamia occidentalis Western goldenrod 0.00 0.00 0.10 1.42 0.07FRSA Frankenia salina Alkali heath 1.67 1.86 10.56 29.11 37.66GRST Grindelia stricta Marsh gumplant 0.00 0.00 0.46 2.97 2.10HOBR Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow barley 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00MASA Madia sativa Coast tarweed 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00SAPA Salicornia pacifica Pickleweed 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.61 0.59SPMA Spergularia marina Salt marsh sand spurry 0.00 0.00 5.31 14.31 2.45Sperg_sp Spergularia sp. Sand spurry sp. 0.00 0.95 0.00 0.00 0.00
Non-native speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018ATSE Atriplex semibaccata Australian saltbush 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.00BRNI Brassica nigra Black mustard 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.03CAPY Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03CESO Centaurea solstitialis Yellow star thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00COCO Cotula coronopifolia Brass buttons 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.00MAsp Malva sp. Mallow sp. 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00MENO Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Slenderleaf iceplant 0.00 61.00 41.15 18.89 15.38NNAG Non-native annual grasses Non-native annual grasses 0.00 0.05 0.15 2.19 1.17SOAS Sonchus asper Prickly sow thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03
Eden E9/E14 Levee- Mid ZoneNative speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018ACMI Achillea millefolium Yarrow 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00BAGL Baccharis glutinosa Marsh baccharis 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00DISP Distichlis spicata Saltgrass 0.50 0.19 0.21 1.75 1.10ELTR Elymus triticoides Creeping wild rye 0.00 0.10 0.15 0.03 0.41EPCI Epilobium ciliatum Northern fireweed 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00EUOC Euthamia occidentalis Western goldenrod 0.00 0.00 0.10 1.42 0.07FRSA Frankenia salina Alkali heath 1.67 1.86 10.56 29.11 37.66GRST Grindelia stricta Marsh gumplant 0.00 0.00 0.46 2.97 2.10HOBR Hordeum brachyantherum Meadow barley 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00MASA Madia sativa Coast tarweed 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00SAPA Salicornia pacifica Pickleweed 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.61 0.59SPMA Spergularia marina Salt marsh sand spurry 0.00 0.00 5.31 14.31 2.45Sperg_sp Spergularia sp. Sand spurry sp. 0.00 0.95 0.00 0.00 0.00
Non-native speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018ATSE Atriplex semibaccata Australian saltbush 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.00BRNI Brassica nigra Black mustard 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.03CAPY Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03CESO Centaurea solstitialis Yellow star thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00COCO Cotula coronopifolia Brass buttons 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.00MAsp Malva sp. Mallow sp. 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.00MENO Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum Slenderleaf iceplant 0.00 61.00 41.15 18.89 15.38NNAG Non-native annual grasses Non-native annual grasses 0.00 0.05 0.15 2.19 1.17SOAS Sonchus asper Prickly sow thistle 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03
MLK Jr. Shoreline, Damon Marsh Trail, Mid ZoneNative speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018ARCA Artemisia californica California sagebrush 0.00 1.00 0.10 7.14 2.00 0.00 10.67BAGL Baccharis glutinosa Marsh baccharis 0.00 0.06 0.10 4.29 8.00 11.67 0.00BAPI Baccharis pilularis Coyote bush 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.50 7.78 17.78DISP Distichlis spicata Saltgrass 11.83 7.88 12.60 34.29 22.60 38.33 1.22ELTR Elymus triticoides Creeping wild rye 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 7.22EPBR Epilobium brachycarpum Annual fireweed 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00ERCA Erigeron canadensis Canada horseweed 0.00 0.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00ERFA Eriogonum californicum California buckwheat 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.33ERNU Eriogonum nudum Naked buckwheat 0.00 0.06 0.10 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00EUOC Euthamia occidentalis Western goldenrod 0.00 0.38 0.80 0.00 1.10 0.00 1.33FERU Festuca rubra Red fescue 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00FRSA Frankenia salina Alkali heath 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.67 7.22GRST Grindelia stricta Marsh gumplant 1.83 1.31 0.10 1.57 3.00 11.67 1.22MALE Malva leprosa Alkali mallow 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00SAPA Salicornia pacifica Pickleweed 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.44 1.11SCCA Scrophularia californica Beeplant 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11
Non-native speciesSpecies Code Scientific Name Common Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018ACsp Acacia sp. Acacia sp. 10.83 0.06 0.10 0.14 2.50 0.00 0.00ATPR Atriplex prostrata Fat hen 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.22 0.00BRNI Brassica nigra Black mustard 0.00 1.19 0.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00CAED Carpobrotus edulis Ice plant 10.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00CAPY Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle 0.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00CYDA Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass 25.83 12.44 0.00 4.29 0.00 0.00 0.00CYSC Cytisus scoparius Scotch broom 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.71 0.00 0.00 0.00FOVU Foeniculum vulgare Fennel 0.00 0.44 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00GECO Geranium columbium Longstalk cranesbill 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00GEMO Genista monspessulana French broom 0.00 0.63 0.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00HEEC Helminthotheca echioides bristly oxtongue 0.00 0.31 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00LASE Lactuca serriola Prickly lettuce 0.00 0.00 8.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00LOCO Lotus corniculatus Birds foot trefoil 0.00 10.31 6.00 0.00 0.20 7.22 0.00LYAR Lysimachia arvensis Scarlet pimpernel 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00MAPA Malva parviflora Cheeseweed mallow 0.00 0.00 0.70 0.71 0.00 0.00 0.00MAVU Marrubium vulgare Horehound 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.29 0.00 0.00 0.00MECR Mesembryanthemum crystallinum Crystalline iceplant 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11MEPO Medicago polymorpha Bur clover 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00NNAG Non-native annual grasses Non-native annual grasses 39.17 33.81 38.60 37.14 32.10 11.22 26.67OLEU Olea europaea Olive 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.60 0.00 0.00PLLA Plantago lanceolata English plantain 0.00 0.38 0.00 0.00 0.60 0.00 0.00RASA Raphanus sativus Radish 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00SASO Salsola soda Russian thistle 0.17 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.11 0.00SOAS Sonchus asper Prickly sow thistle 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00VISA Vicia sativa Spring vetch 0.00 0.00 0.60 8.00 3.60 2.22 0.00
MLK Jr. Shoreline, Damon Marsh Trail, Mid Zone
Native speciesSpecies Scientific Name Common Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018ARCA Artemisia californica California sagebrush 0.00 1.00 0.10 7.14 2.00 0.00 10.67BAGL Baccharis glutinosa Marsh baccharis 0.00 0.06 0.10 4.29 8.00 11.67 0.00BAPI Baccharis pilularis Coyote bush 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.50 7.78 17.78DISP Distichlis spicata Saltgrass 11.83 7.88 12.60 34.29 22.60 38.33 1.22ELTR Elymus triticoides Creeping wild rye 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00 7.22FRSA Frankenia salina Alkali heath 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.67 7.22GRST Grindelia stricta Marsh gumplant 1.83 1.31 0.10 1.57 3.00 11.67 1.22
Non-native speciesSpecies Scientific Name Common Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018ACsp Acacia sp. Acacia sp. 10.83 0.06 0.10 0.14 2.50 0.00 0.00CAED Carpobrotus edulis Ice plant 10.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00CYDA Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass 25.83 12.44 0.00 4.29 0.00 0.00 0.00LOCO Lotus corniculatus Birds foot trefoil 0.00 10.31 6.00 0.00 0.20 7.22 0.00NNAG Non-native annual grasses Non-native annual grasses 39.17 33.81 38.60 37.14 32.10 11.22 26.67
Species Evennessvs.
% Native Cover
Increase in % native cover
Increase in species evenness
Species Evenness (Dominance)
Low Species Evenness High Species Evenness
0 10.5
Conclusions
• In our restoration projects, volunteer hours and work performed are positively correlated with % native cover (after a 2-3 year lag)
• Plant vigor is more strongly correlated with growth habits than restoration practice
• Species richness increases after restoration begins, but tends to flatten out or decrease after 4-5 years
• Species evenness is mostly unaffected by our restoration projects
Photo: Rick Lewis
• Many metrics are needed to best quantify the success of a restoration project
• An increase in one metric of success does not necessarily entail an increase in others
• Strategic, targeted intervention may be necessary to increase some metrics (e.g. species evenness)
Management Implications
NAME OR LOGOAcknowledgements
Photo: Rick Lewis
