Metric and power analysis for a biomonitoring program in Banff National Park, Alberta

The purpose of this thesis is to inform a biomonitoring study in Banff National Park, Alberta, that will use benthic macroinvertebrates as a biological indicator of aquatic ecosystem condition in response to the re-introduction of bison. To inform the biomonitoring program, macroinvertebrate metrics were evaluated for biological relevance to the study design. Existing data from a surrogate flooding disturbance in Banff National Park was used to evaluate the effects of different sampling scenarios on the power to detect effects from a bison reintroduction and prescribed burn program. Power analysis highlighted that four metrics would provide >80% chance to detect an effect within two to five years of the beginning of the monitoring program. The metrics were richness, true diversity, % shredders and % shredders all of which have both biological importance to the productivity of fishery resources and are easily communicated to the general public.

Author dc:creator

• Penno, Jessica

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Taylor, Mark

• benthic macroinvertebrates
• biomonitoring
• disturbance
• power

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10170/868

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.viurrspace.ca/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Anull%3A10170%2F868