an integrated habitat classification and map of the lake...

An Integrated Habitat Classification and An Integrated Habitat Classification and Map of the Lake Erie BasinMap of the Lake Erie Basin

Building Expertise and CooperationBuilding Expertise and Cooperation

L.B. Johnson, S.D. Mackey, T. Hollenhorst, J.J.H. L.B. Johnson, S.D. Mackey, T. Hollenhorst, J.J.H. Ciborowski, D.T. Button, R. GauthierCiborowski, D.T. Button, R. Gauthier

Project Funded by the Project Funded by the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program OfficeU.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office

ObjectivesObjectives

Provide a framework for mapping and tracking Provide a framework for mapping and tracking habitat changes in the Lake Erie basin.habitat changes in the Lake Erie basin.Develop a unified, integrated habitat Develop a unified, integrated habitat classification system for Lake Erie.classification system for Lake Erie.Apply a common set of geospatial tools that Apply a common set of geospatial tools that integrate physical, chemical, and biological integrate physical, chemical, and biological environmental characteristics at multiple scales.environmental characteristics at multiple scales.Produce dynamic habitat maps as a function of Produce dynamic habitat maps as a function of the species, community, of ecological processes the species, community, of ecological processes of interest.of interest.

StrategyStrategy

Bring together a group of Experts with a diverse Bring together a group of Experts with a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise from range of backgrounds and expertise from agencies, academia, NGO’s, and private sector to:agencies, academia, NGO’s, and private sector to:

Identify and reach consensus on environmental zonesIdentify and reach consensus on environmental zonesIdentify critical “super variables” that are applicable Identify critical “super variables” that are applicable across multiple environmental zones.across multiple environmental zones.Identify and reach consensus on existing classification Identify and reach consensus on existing classification schemes and associated datasets that can be integrated schemes and associated datasets that can be integrated into a unified classification scheme for the basin.into a unified classification scheme for the basin.Assist with the development of geospatial tools that can Assist with the development of geospatial tools that can be applied to document ecosystem changes in the basinbe applied to document ecosystem changes in the basin

Environmental ZonesEnvironmental ZonesLand Data LayersLand Data Layers Water Data LayersWater Data Layers

••Terrestrial Terrestrial (forests, woodlots, (forests, woodlots, grasslands, palustrine grasslands, palustrine wetlands, and agricultural wetlands, and agricultural fields)fields)

••Coastal MarginCoastal Margin (shoreline, (shoreline, water column and substrate in water column and substrate in embayments embayments -- water depths 3 water depths 3 m or less)m or less)

••Inland Lakes and TributariesInland Lakes and Tributaries (streams, rivers, palustrine (streams, rivers, palustrine wetlands, and inland lakes)wetlands, and inland lakes)

••Nearshore OpenNearshore Open--WaterWater (water (water column and substrate column and substrate -- water water depths 3 m to 15 m)depths 3 m to 15 m)

••Wetlands Wetlands (coastal, riparian, (coastal, riparian, and palustrine wetlands)and palustrine wetlands)

••OpenOpen--Lake OffshoreLake Offshore (water (water column and substrate column and substrate -- water water depths 15 m and greater) depths 15 m and greater)

Hydrogeomorphic Characteristics and Dominant Physical ProcessesHydrogeomorphic Characteristics and Dominant Physical Processes

Land Data LayersLand Data Layers Water Data LayersWater Data Layers

““Super VariablesSuper Variables”” TerrestrialTerrestrial Inland Lakes &Inland Lakes &TribsTribs WetlandsWetlands Coastal MarginCoastal Margin NearshoreNearshore OffshoreOffshore

ElevationElevation TopographyTopography BathymetryBathymetry BathymetryBathymetry BathymetryBathymetry BathymetryBathymetry BathymetryBathymetry

SlopeSlope Land SurfaceLand Surface Water SurfaceWater Surface Bottom SlopeBottom Slope Bottom SlopeBottom Slope Bottom SlopeBottom Slope Bottom SlopeBottom Slope

EnergyEnergy Stream PowerStream Power Wave/CurrentsWave/Currents Wave/CurrentsWave/Currents Wave/CurrentsWave/Currents Wave/CurrentsWave/Currents

ClimateClimate Degree DaysDegree Days TemperatureTemperature TemperatureTemperature ThermalThermalStratificationStratification

ThermalThermalStratificationStratification

ThermalThermalStratificationStratification

Hydrography/Hydrography/GeomorphologyGeomorphology Drainage NetworkDrainage Network Drainage NetworkDrainage Network Wetland/Wetland/

ShorelineShoreline ShorelineShoreline LakebedLakebedStructureStructure

LakebedLakebedStructureStructure

Hydrology/Hydrology/HydraulicsHydraulics

PrecipitationPrecipitationRunoffRunoff

InfiltrationInfiltration

Flow Regime/Flow Regime/Water SourceWater Source

Water Levels/ Water Levels/ FlowFlow

Regime/ WaterRegime/ WaterSourceSource

Water Levels/Water Levels/Circulation/Circulation/OutwellingOutwelling



GeologyGeologySoils/SurficialSoils/Surficial

Materials/Materials/BedrockBedrock

Substrate/Substrate/Stability/Stability/BedrockBedrock

Substrate/Substrate/BedrockBedrock



Substrate/ Substrate/ Stability/Stability/BedrockBedrock

TurbidityTurbidityPoint and Point and NonNon--PointPointSourcesSources

SuspendedSuspendedSediment Load/Sediment Load/

TurbidityTurbidity

Turbidity/LightTurbidity/LightAttenuationAttenuation




Water ChemistryWater ChemistryPoint and Point and NonNon--PointPointSourcesSources

Nutrients/Nutrients/ContaminantsContaminants





VegetationVegetation Land CoverLand Cover Submergent/Submergent/EmergentEmergent

Submergent/Submergent/EmergentEmergent

Submergent/Submergent/EmergentEmergent SubmergentSubmergent SubmergentSubmergent

Land CoverLand Cover AllAll Riparian/Riparian/UpstreamUpstream

Riparian/Riparian/UpstreamUpstream

Riparian/Riparian/Shoreline TypeShoreline Type

Common Environmental AttributesCommon Environmental Attributes

Lake Erie Basin

TerrestrialInland Lakes and TributariesWetlands

Offshore

Complexity within Environmental ZonesComplexity within Environmental Zones (Contentious Environmental Zones)(Contentious Environmental Zones)

EnvironmentalEnvironmentalZoneZone

Low Energy AreaLow Energy Area High Energy AreaHigh Energy Area

Coastal MarginCoastal Margin< 3 m< 3 m

Embayments, tributary Embayments, tributary mouths, coastal wetland mouths, coastal wetland

habitatshabitats

Open Coasts, island Open Coasts, island fringesfringes

Nearshore Open Nearshore Open WaterWater

3m 3m –– 15 m15 m

Open water area Open water area -- water water depths greater than 10 mdepths greater than 10 m

Open water area Open water area -- water water depth less than 10 m, depth less than 10 m,

shallow reef complexesshallow reef complexes

Limited ExposureLimited ExposureShort Fetch DistanceShort Fetch Distance

FineFine--grained, soft grained, soft substratessubstrates

Open ExposureOpen ExposureLong Fetch DistanceLong Fetch DistanceCoarseCoarse--grained, hard grained, hard substrates, bedrocksubstrates, bedrock

Hydrogeomorphic Characteristics and Dominant Physical ProcessesHydrogeomorphic Characteristics and Dominant Physical Processes

Dynamic Habitat Classification applied to Dynamic Habitat Classification applied to Environmental ZonesEnvironmental Zones

SpeciesSpecies--specific habitatsspecific habitatsare identified and delimited are identified and delimited by the intersection of by the intersection of particular range of physical, particular range of physical, chemical and biological chemical and biological attributes.attributes.

Considers both the Considers both the threethree--dimensional and dynamicdimensional and dynamicnature of aquatic habitats.nature of aquatic habitats.

PPreserves the original reserves the original geospatial data layersgeospatial data layers and and allows for periodic updates allows for periodic updates as new data become as new data become available. available.

EnergyEnergy

SubstrateSubstrate WaterWater MassMass

““HabitatHabitat””

((ClimateClimate))

((GeologyGeology)) ((HydrologyHydrology))

PhysicalPhysicalHabitatHabitat

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

ChemicalChemicalHabitatHabitat

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

““Potential Habitat”Potential Habitat”SpeciesSpecies

CommunitiesCommunitiesProcessesProcesses

Dynamic Habitat ClassificationDynamic Habitat Classification•• Biological Biological AffinitiesAffinities•• CorrelationCorrelation•• PatternPattern

Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data

Geospatial Data

OverlayBiologicalData

Query Results

Integrated Land Cover Integrated Land Cover –– Lake ErieLake Erie

Integrated Wetlands Integrated Wetlands –– Lake ErieLake Erie

Integrated Substrate Integrated Substrate –– Lake ErieLake Erie

Fish Habitat Characteristics Fish Habitat Characteristics –– Lake ErieLake ErieWater DepthSlopeSubstrateCirculationTemperature (warm, cool)Proximity to Tributary Mouth

SummarySummaryInitial classification based on physical and chemical Initial classification based on physical and chemical attributes that regulate habitatattributes that regulate habitatSix major environmental zones with key environmental Six major environmental zones with key environmental attributesattributesIdentified “Super Variables” that are applicable to more Identified “Super Variables” that are applicable to more than one environmental zonethan one environmental zoneIdentified data gaps, dataset integration, and crossIdentified data gaps, dataset integration, and cross--walking needswalking needsDiscovered that data sharing policies need to be revised Discovered that data sharing policies need to be revised –– open source data access is requiredopen source data access is requiredUtilized a dynamic habitat classification approachUtilized a dynamic habitat classification approachProducts Products -- geospatially based dynamic classification geospatially based dynamic classification system, crosswalk tables, suite of derivative map system, crosswalk tables, suite of derivative map products to illustrate power of dynamic classification products to illustrate power of dynamic classification system approach system approach –– Maumee River, Ohio and Grand Maumee River, Ohio and Grand River OntarioRiver Ontario

Collaborative EffortCollaborative Effort30+ experts reached consensus on habitat 30+ experts reached consensus on habitat framework and classification for Lake Erie framework and classification for Lake Erie habitats.habitats.Avoided major conflicts by developing habitat Avoided major conflicts by developing habitat framework based on fundamental integrity framework based on fundamental integrity elements in the GLWQA.elements in the GLWQA.Minimized speciesMinimized species--specific competition by specific competition by developing dynamic classification scheme based developing dynamic classification scheme based on species, community, or ecological function of on species, community, or ecological function of interest interest –– made all species “equal”.made all species “equal”.Participants had equal standing, rank left at the Participants had equal standing, rank left at the door.door.Sharp objects not allowed into the conference Sharp objects not allowed into the conference room. room.

The Names have been Removed to The Names have been Removed to Protect the Innocent!Protect the Innocent!

http://http://www.lemn.orgwww.lemn.orghttp://http://www.glc.org/eriehabitatwww.glc.org/eriehabitat//

an integrated habitat classification and map of the lake...

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