Monitoring and Evaluation - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 204

Data Collection Methods
Numerous sampling techniques are available to use. Depending on the frequency and level of involve-
ment required, you should try to select methods that are simple and direct and that can be done with a
minimum of cost. Physical and biological resources will use different methods, adding to the complex-
ity of the monitoring regime. Select carefully the parameters you need to monitor to meet your goals.
Physical Environment
Various wetland and riverine systems may benefit from collecting topographic data. The slope of
channels, the length and shape of cross sections, and the presence and location of point bars and
riffles are all features that affect the functioning of a watercourse. In an example from drier lands,
Tongway and Ludwig (2011) conduct monitoring of elevations in Australian grasslands to control
the distribution of water to maximize the goals of their restoration projects.
In wetlands, monitoring water chemistry is emphasized because it is a primary driver of the
ecosystem. Data collection may include temperature, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, elec-
troconductivity, and nutrient levels (Howell, Harrington, and Glass 2012). The use of piezometer
wells and gauges will provide the variability of water levels over time.
Biological Resources
Common plant and animal sampling methods include visual, transect, plot, point count, and
territory mapping, to name a few. Detailed descriptions of these techniques have been published
in various texts, field manuals, and ecology references (Bonham 1989; Elzinga, Salzer, and Wil-
loughby 1998; Elzinga et al. 2001; Morrison 2009; Sutherland 1996; Southwood and Henderson
2000; Krebs 1989). Regardless of the method you choose to collect data, it is very important that the
data collection be conducted as described for the method and that all the assumptions are met. In
doing this, you will be able to apply statistical analysis to those techniques with quantifiable data.
Visual documentation is the simplest form of data collection. If the goal is simply to document
presence or absence, then this method may be sufficient. A series of precisely located photo sta-
tions around the project site, with specific fields of view, can document not only the start of project
installation prior to restoration but also the maturation of the vegetation over time. This method
has limited potential for statistical analysis but has substantial value in preparing reports, presen-
tations, and publications. Monitoring wildlife can be done with various photographic methods,
including motion-activated cameras, infrared cameras, and timed-shutter cameras.
Sound recorders have been used to capture the sonar signature of bats as they fly overhead.
These devices can also be sound activated, and with various electronic components, the data can
be collected and downloaded after extended time periods.
Transects are a common method for data collection and can be applied to animals and vegeta-
tion communities. The data collected has the potential for use in a number of different statistical
applications. A similar technique to transects is the line intercept method, in which plants are re-