Remote sensing and ecological models: an integrated approach to analysis of wetlands

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Our research program has developed a series of ecological indicators to help determine quality of coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes basin because these are critical habitats for fish and migratory birds and their quality has been degraded by human activities, especially in southern Ontario. The suite of indicators include the Water Quality Index (WQI), an indicator of water quality impairment and which was found to be directly related to watershed land-use alteration. Since the WQI may be too costly and labour-intensive to be used routinely by environmental agencies, we have also developed two ecological indices, the Wetland Fish Index, and the Wetland Macrophyte Index, which are statistically related to the WQI, and which can be calculated based on presence/absence of fish or macrophyte species. We have also contributed numerous papers on the controlling effect of water level fluctuations on emergent vegetation in coastal wetlands, particularly as it pertains to degraded marshes. In 2005, we used a new approach to predict the effect of water levels, which involved the calculation of a new term called "inundated area". We have since confirmed that the marsh inundation model can be applied to many marshes in other Great Lakes areas, and that this method can also be used to assess the effects of multiple stressors (e.g. water level, human disturbance and exotic invasions) at the landscape level. We now propose to use an integrated approach involving Geographical Information Systems, remote sensing technology and field observations using SCUBA to quantify fish and bird habitat in coastal wetlands. Remote sensing is chosen to develop a cost-effective way to map aquatic vegetation (different habitat classes) at the scale of an entire Great Lake. My long term goal is to advance the use of ecological indicators and remote sensing to meaure how fish and bird habitat change through time. This research is expected to have an impact on the ability of Canadian governments to anticipate major changes in our natural heritage in response to climate change and land-use alterations in the most heavily populated region of Canada.