Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network's Proposed Core Monitoring Variables: An Early Warning of Environmental Change

This article reports on the evaluation of existing ecologicalmonitoring variables from a variety of sources to select a suiteof core variables suitable for monitoring at the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) sites located acrossCanada. The purpose of EMAN is to promote the acquisition of relevant and consistent data that can be used to report on national trends and provide an early warning of ecosystem change. Existing monitoring variables were evaluated in twosteps. In the first step, three primary criteria were used to pre-screen preliminary variables. In the second step, a moredetailed evaluation considered twenty criteria based on dataquality, applicability, data collection methods, data analysisand interpretation, existing data and programs, and cost effectiveness to select a draft set of core monitoring variables(CMV). An ecological framework was developed to organize the CMVin a manner that permitted a gap analysis to confirm the CMV assessed a wide range of relevant environment components. Thesuite of CMV were then tested to determine their effectiveness in detecting ecosystem change caused by stressors with ecosystemresponses that have been well documented in the literature. Thisproject is part of a process lead by Environment Canada to select CMV to detect and track ecosystem change at EMAN sites. It is anticipated that the proposed CMV will undergo future discussion and development leading to the final selection of asuite of CMV for use at EMAN sites.     

Canada's Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: Where we are at and Where we are Going

Canada has established a National Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN). The Network's operating objective is to understand what changes are occurring in the ecosystems and why. Each site is designed to have long-term multidisciplinary monitoring programs in place with supporting research and manipulation experiments. About 85 sites have been incorporated into the network. A Directory of EMAN Sites is available and a list of the Goals, Objectives and Deliverables (GODs) for many sites is also available. Information can be obtained on the EMAN's website at http://www.cciw.ca/eman/. The network is operated in conjunction with a program of developing national environmental indicators, with increasing emphasis on indicators of sustainable development. A series of environmental assessments are being produced that are issue and/or area focused. The assessment are designed as support for policy decisions. The national coordinating office supports the overall program of data gathering, reporting environmental indicators and produce assessments.     

Linking Ecological Science to Decision-Making: Delivering Environmental Monitoring Information as Societal Feedback

The paper describes the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network's (EMAN) operational and program response to certain challenges of environmental monitoring in Canada, in particular, efforts to improve the ability of the network to deliver relevant information to decision makers. In addition to its familiar roles, environmental monitoring should deliver feedback to society on environmental changes associated with development patterns, trends, processes and interventions. In order for such feedback to be effective, it must be relevant, timely, useful and accessible: all characteristics that are defined by the user, not the provider. Demand driven environmental monitoring is explored through EMAN's experiences with Canada's Biosphere Reserves, the NatureWatch Program and the Canadian Community Monitoring Network.     

Establishing the Canadian Community Monitoring Network

Community-based ecosystem monitoring activities in Canada are increasing in response to a number of factors including: (i) the needs of decision-makers for timely information on local environmental changes; (ii) limited use of government monitoring data and information by decision makers; (iii) government cuts to monitoring programs; (iv) the increasingly recognized need to include stakeholders in planning and management processes; and (v) the desire of citizens to contribute to environmental protection. To date there has been no network coordination of community based monitoring in Canada. This paper reports on the establishment of the Canadian Community Monitoring Network by Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network Coordinating Office and the Canadian Nature Federation. Information on research prepared in support of network establishment is presented along with a discussion of the potential of the network.     

生态监测指标选择的探讨

为了维持自然生态环境与人类社会协调、可持续发展,需要对生态系统的状态、演化趋势等进行生态监测。该文以水生态系统为例,从生态系统的组成、结构和功能角度出发,分析比较了不同类型的生态监测指标,提出从生态完整性角度对来描述和评估生态系统状况,开展生态监测和生态评价工作。以水源地水库生态监测为例,阐述了生物完整性指数的应用效果,表明基于生态完整性的生态监测工作是可行有效的。国内外的相关应用与研究均表明,我国推广开展基于生态完整性的生态监测评价工作是完全可行的,具有广阔的应用前景,将极大地推动我国监测工作的发展。     

The Need for Integrated Linkages and Long-Term Monitoring of Mercury in Canada

A nation-wide ecosystem science network for Canada was formed in 1994. At that time, mercury was a re-emerging issue in Canada and the Coordinating Office for the networksought collaboration to assess the issue. The key mechanismsby which the network has added value in addressing this issue are: 1) Information Dissemination, the network has organised, facilitated and co-hosted a number of regional,national and international mercury events (meetings, conferences and workshops) which have served to bring theexpertise together, the network also disseminates informationon it's web page, and the Coordinating Office hosts an annualNational Science Conference; 2) Collaborative Mercury Monitoring, network partners advocated the need for a singlehemispheric mercury network which resulted in the developmentof a compatible Canada–U.S. mercury deposition network, whichmay also be expanded into Mexico, and 3) Environmental Reporting, the network has collaborated with others to reporton current mercury findings through initiatives such as the 1998 Northeast States and Eastern Canadian Mercury Study, a 1999 Mercury Case Study and is presently a partner in the University of Quebec's proposal to form a Collaborative Mercury Ecosystem Research Network in Canada.     

中国生态监测存在问题及发展趋势

在生态学的基本理论基础上,探讨了生态监测的科学内涵,明确了生态监测对象就是生态系统,目标是认识反映生态系统的状态和演变趋势,为管理和决策提供科学依据。深入分析了中国生态监测存在的5个问题:生态监测缺乏统一管理,部门间任务存在交叉和重复;生态监测技术不够规范,信息整合与利用困难;生态监测网络松散,国家级生态监测网络建立缓慢;环境监测法律依据不足,法制保障力度亟待加强;生态监测能力水平普遍较低,亟待建设。最后,从国家现实需求、生态监测现状以及监测技术发展的历史规律,探讨了未来中国生态监测的总体发展趋势。     

粤港澳大湾区生态环境监测发展现状与展望

"十四五"期间,粤港澳大湾区将会迎来新一轮大开发、大建设、大发展,绿色发展与山水林田湖草一体化保护将面临更大的机遇与挑战。生态环境监测作为生态环境保护的重要基础,亟需强化支撑、引领、服务作用。文章对粤港澳大湾区生态环境监测发展现状进行了梳理,从环境质量状况、生态环境管理、环境监测网络等方面将粤港澳大湾区与东京、纽约、旧金山三大世界级湾区进行系统比较,对标查找差距与不足,并对面临的机遇与挑战进行了深入剖析。在此基础上,针对生态环境监测区域布局、现代感知网络、智慧应用与"美丽湾区"综合评价、联合监测与信息发布、产学研用一体化等方面,提出了粤港澳大湾区当前及今后一个时期生态环境监测发展的相关建议。     

Effective Long-term Ecological Monitoring Using Spatially and Temporally Nested Sampling

Effective environmental management requires documentation of ecosystem status and changes to that status. Without long-term data, short-term natural variability can mask chronic and/or cumulative impacts, often until critical levels are reached. However, a trade-off generally occurs between sampling in space and time. This study analyses a spatially and temporally nested long-term (12 years) monitoring programme conducted on benthic macrofauna in a large harbour. Sampling was carried out at six sites for 5.5 years, after which only two sites were sampled for the next 5 years. After this period, all six sites were sampled for another 2 years. While ecology is frequently thought of being highly variable, this design was able to detect trends, and cycles, in abundance, with only around 10% of species at each site exhibiting unpredictable temporal variability. Sites exhibiting similar trends in the abundance of a species over the 12.5-year period were generally spatially contiguous, and the spatial scale of change could be assessed. Continuous sampling at two sites identified whether changes in unsampled sites were related to long-term cycles. Moreover, this sampling provided a long-term background of temporal fluctuations against which to assess the ecological significance of observed changes.     

山东省生态环境监测网络建设发展建议

介绍了山东省生态环境监测网络建设状况,“十三五”期间全省基本实现大气、水、土壤、噪声、生态、污染源等全覆盖,“十四五”初期优化调整了地表水、地下水、海洋、土壤等环境质量监测点位,加大了自动监测力度。通过分析当前全省监测网络建设中存在的覆盖不全面、技术不完善、服务不深入等问题,提出了环境质量监测、生态质量监测、污染源监测、应急监测等各要素的发展建议。     

面向生态监管的国家生态质量监测网络构建框架

从生态监管对生态质量评价的需求角度梳理了我国生态监测的现状及存在问题，分析了我国构建生态质量监测网络的必要性，并从网络建设目的、原则、空间布局、监测内容和工作机制等5个方面提出了国家生态质量监测网络的构建思路，最后指出"十四五"期间国家生态质量监测网络的重点任务，即开展生态质量综合观测站建设并进行生态功能相关监测和评估研究，开展生态质量监测样地系统建设并进行生态系统结构组成监测，从引导生态保护修复的科学性和提高自然生态用地利用效率出发开展生态质量监测和评价的尝试，建成天-空-地一体化的生态质量监测与预警体系。     

Ecological assessments of surface water bodies at the river basin level: a case study from England

Ecological assessments of surface water bodies are essential in order to evaluate the level of degradation in freshwater ecosystems and to address the subsequent decline in services they provide. These assessments cover multiple aspects of the aquatic environment, particularly biological elements due to their ability to respond to all pressures within an ecosystem. Such assessments can enable the identification of the multiple pressures which threaten water bodies, facilitating sustainable decisions regarding their management to be identified. Here, the design requirements of the networks which facilitate ecological assessments are presented. A river basin district in England is used as a case study to investigate the number of elements monitored, the number of failing elements and the relationship between failing elements. Findings demonstrate the value of ensuring that monitoring networks are risk based and appropriately designed to meet their objectives. This therefore requires that monitoring is not only for the communicating of compliance but also for use iteratively so that the design of monitoring networks and ultimately management can be continually improved.     

我国生态环境监测网络建设成效与展望

2015年中央全面深化改革领导小组审议通过《生态环境监测网络建设方案》,推动全国生态环境监测网络建设取得重大成就。对照《生态环境监测网络建设方案》提出的"全面设点,完善生态环境监测网络"方面的任务与要求,对生态环境监测网络建设成效进行客观评估,并对生态环境监测面临的形势与不足进行了深入剖析。针对加强生态环境监测网络建设、探索生态环境监测多手段融合应用模式、强化生态环境监测数据智慧应用等方面提出了当前及今后中长期生态环境监测发展的相关建议。     

Development of a New Approach to Cumulative Effects Assessment: A Northern River Ecosystem Example

If sustainable development of Canadian waters is to be achieved, a realistic and manageable framework is required for assessing cumulative effects. The objective of this paper is to describe an approach for aquatic cumulative effects assessment that was developed under the Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative. The approach is based on a review of existing monitoring practices in Canada and the presence of existing thresholds for aquatic ecosystem health assessments. It suggests that a sustainable framework is possible for cumulative effects assessment of Canadian waters that would result in integration of national indicators of aquatic health, integration of national initiatives (e.g., water quality index, environmental effects monitoring), and provide an avenue where long-term monitoring programs could be integrated with baseline and follow-up monitoring conducted under the environmental assessment process.     

深入推进新时代生态环境质量综合分析工作

生态环境质量综合分析是生态环境监测业务流程的重要环节,直接反映生态环境监测服务支撑能力水平。回顾了生态环境质量综合分析的历史沿革与主要成绩,并分析了新时代面临的新形势,如生态系统理论的引领、生态环境考核的要求、信息公开的深化、信息化与大数据的发展等,提出需要在系统化、精细化、信息化和形象化等方向上不断强化,实现新时代生态环境质量综合分析服务生态环境管理和社会公众能力水平的新飞跃。     

关于近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系的探讨

在近岸海域环境管理从污染控制管理发展为生态环境综合管理的情况下,厘清近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系并加以完善十分必要。通过对中国环境监测和管理发展的梳理得出,中国近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系在生态环境、污染和损害等方面已有一定的基础;研究国内外环境监测和管理的发展趋势发现,中国近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系在河口区域、生态恢复力、风险源、灾害、海域使用影响、湿地损害、生物入侵、环境风险源方面需要不断完善,质量保证和质量控制方面也需要加强。     

环境一号卫星CCD数据在生态环境监测和评价工作中的应用价值研究

基于环境一号卫星CCD传感器性能,从生态景观角度入手,针对江苏省地形地貌特征,开展了环境一号卫星CCD数据在生态环境监测和评价工作中的应用可行性研究,结果表明环境一号卫星CCD数据可以满足江苏省生态环境监测和评价工作需要,其时间分辨率和幅宽是开展生态监控和预警的重要优势。     

An argument for ecosystem level monitoring

One objective of environmental monitoring programs is documentation of qualitative and quantitative environmental changes in response to external stresses, including chemical contamination. Chemical contaminant, biological, and ecological measurements have been used as environmental monitors. Contaminant monitoring allows estimation of exposures; biological and ecological monitoring allow estimation of uptake and effects.Measurements of ecosystem homeostasis such as nutrient cycling processes have been shown to be good ecosystem level monitors. The rate of dissolved nutrient loss from ecosystems has been conclusively shown to increase as a function of chemical contamination until a new equilibrium is reached, the pollutant input has become negligible, or until nutrient pools have been depleted. Consequently, nutrient pools in environmental strata and in biota are altered and eventually depleted by chemical stress.The use of nutrient cycling to determine sensitive responses to and long-term changes for chemical contamination is an essential monitoring strategy for environmental management and compliance purposes. Measurements of export (rapid response) and pools (long-term consequences) are within current technology, are cost-effective, and allow rapid implementation of remedial measures or environmental controls.Paper presented at a Symposium held on 20–21 April 1982, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.     

Determining Ecoregions for Environmental and GMO Monitoring Networks

A representative environmental monitoring network at the regional scale cannot use raster-based or random sampling designs, but requires a stratified sampling procedure integrating different information layers, and it has to occur in ecologically differing homogeneous regions (ecoregions). These we have determined using a set of spatial strata with ecological variables which we analysed with classification and regression trees (CART). We present a framework for environmental monitoring, that covers different scales, and we transfer the framework to a potential GMO (genetically modified organisms) monitoring network. We use ecoregion and other environmental strata together with existing environmental monitoring networks to determine GMO monitoring sites more precisely.     

Canadian Environmental Effects Monitoring: Experiences with Pulp and Paper and Metal Mining Regulatory Programs

In Canada, Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) programs exist within two regulations: the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and the newMetal Mining Effluent Regulations under the Canadian Fisheries Act. EEM provides a biological, effects-based feedback loop to assess the effectiveness of technology-based regulations in protecting receiving environments. The promulgation of the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations, in 1992, represented a significant step forward in the Canadian regulatory approach by incorporating directly into a regulation a requirement to assess the effects of effluent discharges on receiving environments using proven scientific monitoring methodologies. Similarly, an assessment of the aquatic impacts of mines resulted in recommendations to amend the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations, recently promulgated in 2002, and includes an EEM program as a science-based feedback loop. As such, these regulations recognize the possibility that national, technology-based standards may not necessarily protect all receiving environments because of the diversity and variability of both discharges and receiving sites across the country. Since that time, EEM has improved its flexibility by considering both advances in science and the uniqueness of monitoring sites across Canada to allow the most appropriate and cost-effective monitoring approaches at each site while maintaining national consistency. This paper discusses the use of monitoring under two Canadian regulations to assess effects on aquatic ecosystems. As well, the National EEM approach to maintaining up-to-date scientific practices in a national regulatory program is discussed using examples.