{ "culture": "en-NZ", "name": "", "guid": "", "catalogPath": "", "snippet": "Bay of Plenty Regional Council is monitoring estuarine wetlands throughout the Bay \nof Plenty Region to determine what changes in condition and vegetation are occurring \nover time.", "description": "

Objective Reference - zA304706<\/SPAN><\/P>

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Thirty-three permanent monitoring plots were established in Tauranga Harbour and <\/SPAN><\/P>

17 were established in Whakatāne Harbour at locations identified in Fitzgerald et al.<\/SPAN><\/P>

(2019) based on vegetation and habitat mapping completed by Wildland Consultants <\/SPAN><\/P>

2013 and Beadel et al. 1992. Whakatāne Harbour plots were surveyed between 2 and <\/SPAN><\/P>

25 June 2020, Tauranga Harbour plots were surveyed between 8 and 29 June 2020 <\/SPAN><\/P>

with the exception of one plot (Plot TAU10) which was surveyed on 19 March 2020. <\/SPAN><\/P>

The location of all plots monitored is provided in Table 1 and 2. Each plot was 5 <\/SPAN><\/P>

5 metres and marked with either metal poles (c.10 millimetres diameter, 2 metre<\/SPAN><\/P>

length - tops bent over) wooden posts (c.40 millimetres diameter, c.445 millimetres<\/SPAN><\/P>

length).<\/SPAN><\/P>

Back-up plots were identified by Fitzgerald et al. (2019), these were utilised when the <\/SPAN><\/P>

original plot was either inaccessible, no permission was provided, or the plot was <\/SPAN><\/P>

dominated by exotic pest plant species (such as pampas (Cortaderia selloana) at plots <\/SPAN><\/P>

WHK 2 and 4). Replacement plots were chosen based on similar vegetation structure, <\/SPAN><\/P>

relative proximity to the original plot, and accessibility. There were relatively fewer <\/SPAN><\/P>

back-up plots for Tauranga Harbour, therefore the replacement plots used were not in <\/SPAN><\/P>

the same wetland as the original plots, and were chosen based on similar vegetation <\/SPAN><\/P>

structure and accessibility. As per the client\u2019s request back-up plots were not <\/SPAN><\/P>

established for Te Hopai Island (Plots TAU2, 3, 4, and 6) and Opureora plots <\/SPAN><\/P>

(Plot TAU15) for which access was denied.<\/SPAN><\/P>

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Within each plot the following measurements were undertaken:<\/SPAN><\/P>

 A five minute bird count as per Hartley (2012). Birds were recorded to a <\/SPAN><\/P>

maximum of 100 metres from the observer. In most instances, records were added <\/SPAN><\/P>

to ebird (www.ebird.org).<\/SPAN><\/P>

 At least two photographs were taken as per Clarkson et al. (2004). An additional <\/SPAN><\/P>

two photographs were taken at the majority of plots to provide a better visual <\/SPAN><\/P>

representation of the plot. These were of the south west corner facing northeastern and of the northern edge of the plot. <\/SPAN><\/P>

 Two soil samples were collected (using a 5 cm diameter and 7.5 cm deep corer) <\/SPAN><\/P>

from just outside the south-western corner (to reduce damage to the plot) <\/SPAN><\/P>

following the methods of Clarkson et al. (2004). These were analysed by Hill <\/SPAN><\/P>

Laboratories for water content, bulk density, pH, conductivity, total carbon, total <\/SPAN><\/P>

nitrogen, and total phosphorus. <\/SPAN><\/P>

 Foliage samples (five grams of foliage, from the tips of vegetation) were<\/SPAN><\/P>

collected for a common species in each plot. These were analysed by Hill <\/SPAN><\/P>

Laboratories for total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content. <\/SPAN><\/P>

 Vegetation monitoring followed the methods of Clarkson et al. (2004):<\/SPAN><\/P>

- All vascular plant species were identified and recorded. Usnea and other <\/SPAN><\/P>

lichens and epiphytes were recorded to the lowest possible taxonomic level.<\/SPAN><\/P>

- The percentage cover for each canopy species within the plot regardless of <\/SPAN><\/P>

whether rooted in the plot or not was estimated.<\/SPAN><\/P>

- The percentage cover of each species in the remaining vegetation layers was <\/SPAN><\/P>

estimated. <\/SPAN><\/P>

- Any species in the vicinity that were growing in the same vegetation type and <\/SPAN><\/P>

were not encountered in the plot were listed. <\/SPAN><\/P>

- The maximum and average height of each species in the plot was recorded. <\/SPAN><\/P>

 Vegetation-based plot indicator scores and condition index as per Clarkson et al.<\/SPAN><\/P>

(2004) were calculated. <\/SPAN><\/P>

 The following physical parameters were measured in each plot from the southwestern (origin) corner:<\/SPAN><\/P>

- Redox (ORP) measurements, taken at 5 cm and 15 cm depths with a YSI <\/SPAN><\/P>

dissolved oxygen meter (in tidal environments the water table was often too <\/SPAN><\/P>

low to measure Redox). <\/SPAN><\/P>

- The water table depth was measured (if <30 cm). Note that in tidal <\/SPAN><\/P>

environments this only represented the lower tide conditions.<\/SPAN><\/P>

- Water temperature, pH, and conductivity. <\/SPAN><\/P>

- In 2020-21 a total of 57 additional permanent monitoring plots were established in the 2021 monitoring round, across the following locations: Maketū Estuary (6), Waihī Estuary (10), Ōhiwa Harbour (18), Waiōtahe Estuary (13), and Ōpōtiki Estuary (10).<\/SPAN><\/P>

- In 2021-22 a total of 31 additional permanent monitoring plots were established in the 2022 monitoring round across the following locations: Waihī Estuary (11 plots), Ōhiwa Estuary (14 plots), Waiōtahe Estuary (4 plots), and Tauranga Estuary (2 plots).<\/SPAN><\/P>

- 7 plots were established within the Waihi Estuary in February 2023 (A4354815).<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "summary": "Bay of Plenty Regional Council is monitoring estuarine wetlands throughout the Bay \nof Plenty Region to determine what changes in condition and vegetation are occurring \nover time.", "title": "Monitoring Site NERMN - Estuarine Wetland Vegetation", "tags": [ "NERMN", "Monitoring Site", "Estuarine Wetland", "Vegetation" ], "type": "", "typeKeywords": [], "thumbnail": "", "url": "", "minScale": 150000000, "maxScale": 5000, "spatialReference": "", "accessInformation": "Wildlands Consultants on behalf of BOPRC", "licenseInfo": "

Please check with Shay Dean before sharing externally<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "portalUrl": "" }