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Wetland Health Assessment Toolbox
(WHAT)
Training in seven different
biological and chemical parameters!
1) Avifauna
Learn how to use birds as bioindicators and how birds use the salt marsh
habitat. Explore how the presence/absence of certain bird species may
provide clues about the fish and invertebrate populations in the salt
marsh. Jan Smith, Director of Mass Bays Program, will lead the outings
and assist with field identification.
2) Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Learn invertebrate field sampling, the transportation and preservation
of samples, habitat assessment, and the use of invertebrates as bioindicators.
Learn organism identification during a one day workshop with Anna Hicks,
Aquatic Entomologist. Discover how the presence/absence of particular
species as well as population size can be used to assess the health
of a wetland.
3) Vegetation
Learn field identification, the use of taxonomic keys and how to use
plants as bioindicators. See how plant diversity and the presence or
absence of invasive species can help measure the overall health of a
wetland.
4) Salinity
Learn the design and installation of shallow ground water wells and
how to use refractometers and/or water quality meters to take salinity
measurements. This parameter is important in explaining the dynamics
of wetland water chemistry.
5) Tidal Influence
Learn how to measure a tidal restriction using staff gauges and tape
measures as well as how the patterns of tidal range and water depth
affect the viability of a wetland
6) Land Use
Use maps and aerial photography along with field techniques to describe
land use and the environmental characteristics of the landscape to gain
an overall measure of human disturbance at a particular wetland site.
7) Fish
Help be a part of an exciting study to help figure out what fish can
tell us about the health of a salt marsh. Learn how to identify typical
salt marsh fish species as we set out minnow traps at our wetland sites
along the North Shore. Tony Wilbur, Marine Ecologist, will lend his
hand and knowledge during the first fish sampling of the season.
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