Developing multimetric indices for monitoring ecological restoration progress in salt marshes

Waterfowl use of wetland habitats informs wetland restoration designs for multi‐species benefits

“…Given the amount of wetland loss, wetland restoration is an increasingly common environmental management practice (Langman et al, 2012;Palmer et al, 1997). For example, substantial historic wetland losses in the largest wetlands on the Pacific Coast of the United States (90%-95%; Brophy et al, 2019;Moser et al, 1996), in and around the San Francisco Bay Estuary (SFBE), mandated prioritization of increasing habitats, protecting species, improving water quality, protecting against flooding and providing recreational opportunities (Central Valley Joint Venture, 2006;Goals Project, 1999).…”

Assessment of coastal salt marsh plants on the Arabian Gulf region

“…Finally, reports of management/ monitoring/ conservation ranged from sustainable modifications of an artificial coastline in Kuwait to developing multi-metric indices (MMIs) for restoration process and using Seawater to irrigate salt-tolerant landscapes in Saudi Arabia ( Jones et al, 2012 , Langman et al, 2012 , El-Keblawy et al, 2015 ) respectively.…”

Analytic methods for establishing restoration trajectories

“…Many conceptual models of the progression of a restoration site through time, or restoration trajectory, have been proposed (Dobson, Bradshaw, and Baker 1997;Hobbs and Mooney 1993;Hughes, Colston, and Mountford 2005;Langman et al 2012;Magnuson et al 1980). Given that interpretations of restoration trajectories are based on which ecosystem attributes are being tracked (for example, ecosystem health, structure, and function), the trajectories are themselves a simplified model, indicating a general direction and approximate endpoint of the restoration effort (Langman et al 2012). Applying the restoration trajectory concept often involves evaluating multiple trajectories for individual parameters and often incorporates indicator species' presence or abundance as a primary metric.…”

“…Alternatively, aggregating parameters to create one trajectory has also had mixed results (SER 2004). Langman et al (2012) suggest that an ideal trajectory would integrate disparate data that describe site condition and provide information to guide adaptive management of the restoration project.…”

“…High variability in the data of natural systems, both spatially and temporally, can burden monitoring programs by requiring numerous metrics to be regularly collected (Odum, Odum, and Odum 1995;Zedler and Callaway 1999). Given the need to effectively monitor with limited resources, multimetric indices have been proposed to improve efficiency in data collection (Karr 1981;Langman et al 2012). These indices aim to categorize metrics and encompass a wide range of ecosystem functions by proposing a limited set of disparate yet comprehensive attributes.…”