A data package consisting of diatom, total phosphorus, vegetation, and related data collected in Big Cypress National Preserve as part of the SFCN Periphyton Vital Signs protocol. This hydrologic year was collected before the 2019 publication of the protocol so it represents pilot data, but the methods were largely consistent with what was published. Periphyton is a microbial mat community that forms the base of the aquatic food web in South Florida wetlands such as the marshes in Everglades National Park (EVER) and the Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY). It is a vital component of these wetlands, contributing to critical functions such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and soil production and stabilization. Periphyton is sensitive to changes in hydropattern (water quantity and duration) and water quality. Changes to these ecosystem processes can quickly alter periphyton community structure (species composition and relative abundance), which in turn can create cascading effects through higher trophic levels. Thus, periphyton is an early and integrative indicator of local and regional changes to hydrology. The South Florida/Caribbean Network has implemented the monitoring of periphyton communities in Big Cypress National Preserve to assess the impact of hydrologic and water quality changes on the diatom community structure and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations of the periphyton mats. The specific monitoring objectives are: 1) Identify any basins in the northwest section of Big Cypress National Preserve where periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content are different from an oligotrophic (low-nutrient) and unimpacted community signal. 2) Document any temporal and/or spatial changes in the periphyton community structure and periphyton TP content showing progression towards an oligotrophic, unimpacted condition or a eutrophic (high-nutrient), impacted condition.

Data are part of the GULN Inventory and Monitoring Program Landbird monitoring project for BITH Turkey Creek Unit. Data were collected by Dr. Felipe Chavez-Ramirez through a contract with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in 2016. Data were entered into the Pointblue.org AKN database and exported to Excel 2010 format by GULN data manager, Whitney Granger. A separate reference is available for the Field Sheets that accompanies this data set.

This data was collected as part of a sampling protocol to monitor ecotonal movement of mangroves and upslope freshwater marshes in Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Remote sensing approaches are used to delineate the physical location of the ecotone (boundaries) between mangroves and freshwater marsh. Fourteen 3 kilometer (1.9 mile [mi]) segments are systematically placed along the ecotone within the two parks. Aerial imagery is used to digitize the mangrove-marsh ecotone in each segment and must be 1 meter (3.3 feet [ft]) or better resolution and have positional accuracy of ± 3 meters (9.8 feet [ft]) or better. Four ground-truth field point locations (marker points) are established approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 miles [mi]) apart along the ecotone of each segment to provide field-based measurements and ground-truthing of the digitized line. Vegetation data is collected at each sampling point, with this vegetation coverage determining where the placement of the ecotone should be. generally, this is where mangrove cover drops below 50% cover. The vegetation data also verifies if it is mangroves (typical Red) that is the dominant tree on the tress side of the ecotonal edge. The vegetation data also indicated the dominant graminoid on the more inland side of the ecotone. We have found 3 major groups for the marsh dominant vegetation type. This could be important mitigating factor or a indicator of future conditions. NOTE - Data for this data release was pulled from the mangrove marsh ecotone database and preliminarily cleaned and organized in May 2025. The data should undergo further QAQC before being used in analysis.

As part of the Northeast Coastal & Barrier Network's Salt Marsh Monitoring program, Network staff continues to sample vegetation and nekton at several park units. This file contains all data collected through the 2019 field season. Data are collected at the following park units: Assateague Island NS, Cape Cod NS, Colonial NHP, Fire Island NS, Gateway NRA, George Washington Birthplace NM, Sagamore Hill NHS.

This geospatial dataset contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) prairie vegetation monitoring spatial data collected during 2007-2017 at in San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the project reference NCCN Monitoring Prairie Vegetation: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193720 Geodatabase feature classes include the original Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) transects, modified active transects selected from the GRTS feature class, and annual segments with associated vegetation data 2007-2009, 2012-2015, and 2017. The goal of the NCCN prairie monitoring program is to detect and describe changes in the extent and quality of prairie communities in San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). SAJH protects some of the last remaining prairies in Washington state. Over 60% of the American Camp unit is dominated by grasslands that have persisted since the end of the Pleistocene. In 2007, the National Park Service initiated monitoring to document status and trends in cover and ecological condition of vegetation communities using repeatable, rapid assessment of physiognomic class and vegetation quality along line-intercept belt transects. Transect-based sampling was designed to address a hierarchy of monitoring questions linked to management objectives, including the maintenance of broad landscape structure (e.g., forest versus herbaceous) associated with the cultural landscape and the continued ecological integrity of plant communities. While physiognomic cover is similar today to the historic time period (36% forest:61% non-forest), the ecological condition of grasslands or prairies is threatened by persistent, introduced grasses and exotic shrubs. Monitoring objectives included: 1) detect change in the extent of physiognomic cover types, 2) detect change in the proportion of areas dominated by exotic plant species, 3) detect change in the quality of herbaceous cover types, and 4) detect changes in composition and diversity of herbaceous cover types. Monitoring was implemented at the American Camp unit of SAJH, since 90% of all prairies are located within this section of the park.

Geodatabase representing the sample design for the North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) elk monitoring project at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI). The goal for the elk monitoring project is to detect changes in the magnitude and spatial patterns of elk use of landscapes at several spatial and temporal scales within, and adjacent to, the Fort Clastop unit of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (LEWI). The geodatabase is the spatial representation of elk pellet survey plot locations and standard road driving routes, with tenth mile reference markers, used to conduct elk surveys. Changes in elk relative use and the proportion of area occupied (PAO) by elk will be based on pellet group surveys conducted in the Fort Clatsop unit of LEWI. We will monitor trends in the relative use by elk in winter through the estimation of pellet group density as measured during late winter surveys each year. We will infer trends in elk viewing opportunities in selected areas adjacent to the Fort Clatsop unit by monitoring the rate at which elk are sighted in roadside surveys on specified routes. The road survey sighting rate is a direct index to the rate that park visitors driving the selected set of roads would be expected to see elk. By recording the seasonal patterns of elk herd sightings we will document trends in elk viewing opportunities for visitors during different seasons.

This data package contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) Inventory and Monitoring Program prairie vegetation monitoring tabular data collected during 2007-2017 at the American Camp Unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the NCCN Monitoring Prairie Vegetation project reference at: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193720 San Juan Island National Historical Park protects some of the last remaining prairies in Washington state. Over 60% of the American Camp unit is dominated by grasslands that have persisted since the end of the Pleistocene. In 2007, the National Park Service initiated monitoring to document status and trends in cover and ecological condition of vegetation communities using repeatable, rapid assessment of physiognomic class and vegetation quality along line-intercept belt transects. Transect-based sampling was designed to address a hierarchy of monitoring questions linked to management objectives, including the maintenance of the vegetation structure (e.g., forest versus herbaceous) associated with the cultural landscape and the continued ecological integrity of plant communities. The ecological condition of prairies is threatened by persistent, introduced grasses and exotic shrubs. Monitoring objectives included: 1) detect change in the extent of physiognomic cover types, 2) detect change in the proportion of areas dominated by exotic plant species, 3) detect change in the quality of herbaceous cover types, and 4) detect changes in composition and diversity of herbaceous cover types. Monitoring was implemented at the American Camp unit of SAJH, since 90% of all prairies are located within this section of the park. Transects proved to be an economical and reliable method for monitoring long-term trends in landscape cover with transient crews, but detailed vegetation monitoring (i.e., species frequency and relative abundance) is needed to better assess prairie condition over time. Data within this package include point sampling locations, sampling effort and conditions, transect vegetation structure data, and phenological observations. The associated spatial transect lines and segments can be found at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2305031.

This data package contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) Inventory and Monitoring Program prairie vegetation monitoring tabular data collected during 2007-2017 at the American Camp Unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park (SAJH). The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the NCCN Monitoring Prairie Vegetation project reference at: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193720 San Juan Island National Historical Park protects some of the last remaining prairies in Washington state. Over 60% of the American Camp unit is dominated by grasslands that have persisted since the end of the Pleistocene. In 2007, the National Park Service initiated monitoring to document status and trends in cover and ecological condition of vegetation communities using repeatable, rapid assessment of physiognomic class and vegetation quality along line-intercept belt transects. Transect-based sampling was designed to address a hierarchy of monitoring questions linked to management objectives, including the maintenance of the vegetation structure (e.g., forest versus herbaceous) associated with the cultural landscape and the continued ecological integrity of plant communities. The ecological condition of prairies is threatened by persistent, introduced grasses and exotic shrubs. Monitoring objectives included: 1) detect change in the extent of physiognomic cover types, 2) detect change in the proportion of areas dominated by exotic plant species, 3) detect change in the quality of herbaceous cover types, and 4) detect changes in composition and diversity of herbaceous cover types. Monitoring was implemented at the American Camp unit of SAJH, since 90% of all prairies are located within this section of the park. Transects proved to be an economical and reliable method for monitoring long-term trends in landscape cover with transient crews, but detailed vegetation monitoring (i.e., species frequency and relative abundance) is needed to better assess prairie condition over time. Data within this package include point sampling locations, sampling effort and conditions, transect vegetation structure data, and phenological observations. The associated spatial transect lines and segments can be found at https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2305031.

Data are part of the GULN Inventory and Monitoring Program Landbird monitoring project for BITH Turkey Creek Unit. Data were collected by Dr. Lijin Zeng through a contract with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in 2015. Data were entered into the Pointblue.org AKN database and exported to Excel 2010 format by GULN data manager, Whitney Granger. A separate reference is available for the Field Sheets that accompanies this data set.

This release consists of vegetation data collected across an environmental gradient at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (TTI NWR) near Naples, Florida, USA. The refuge is within the impact area of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP), a large-scale hydrologic restoration project in southwest Florida that was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 2007. Vegetation transects were located in the following wetland types on the refuge: brackish marsh, salt marsh, and transition marsh. Data from vegetation transects established in nearby areas outside of the PSRP impact area, in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) and Big Cypress National Preserve (BICY), are also included. The study spanned nine years, from 2007 to 2016. A collection of photographs taken over time at each vegetation transect is included with this Data Release. Information provided with each photograph includes the transect name and the date the image was obtained. Five separate directories of photographs are organized by identified wetland types and are designated: Control Saline Marsh sites, Ten Thousand Islands Brackish Marsh sites, Ten Thousand Islands Salt Marsh sites, Ten Thousand Islands Transition Marsh sites, and Ten Thousand Islands Burn Marsh sites.