Cape Cod Ecosystem Monitoring

Monitoring allows us to understand the health of the ecosystems within Cape Cod National Seashore and track any changes to make informed decisions that protect and preserve our natural and cultural resources as well as park infrastructure and surrounding communities.

 

Cape Cod Ecosystem Monitoring in Action

NPS / Katy Perrault and Caitlin Sughrue

 

As part of the National Park Service's effort to, "improve park management through greater reliance on scientific knowledge," the Cape Cod Ecosystem Monitoring (CCEM) program was established to develop and implement a long-term monitoring program that will serve to aid park managers in making sound stewardship decisions. The CCEM program utilizes a long-term approach to data collection and analysis to deepen the understanding of the ecosystems within the park. Towards this end, the CCEM program has adopted an ecosystem-based, issue-oriented approach for monitoring ecosystem integrity, and worked in close partnership with USGS-Biological Resources Division to develop a scientifically sound monitoring program. It is also one of the goals of the program to design and implement resource-specific monitoring protocols not only for Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) but for other National Park Service lands sharing similar resources and ecological communities. Protocols are designed to be park-specific but adaptable to other parks along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. You can learn more about this unique relationship by visiting the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network website.

 

NPS / Katy Perrault

The Cape Cod Ecosystem Monitoring (CCEM) program maintains a variety of responsibilities including:

• developing an ecosystem monitoring program that is scientifically sound and relevant to management of park resources;
• testing inventory and monitoring methods;
• developing and implementing long-term monitoring protocols;
• conducting studies to help refine monitoring questions and to interpret monitoring results;
• and sharing our experience and technical expertise with other parks and monitoring networks along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts

Long term monitoring allows Seashore scientists and Natural Resource Managers to understand the current status of resources, long-term changes, and the potential future trajectory. Each issue monitored in each ecosystem serves as a health indicator, like a Vital Sign.

In addition to monitoring, research - done by park scientists as well as partners and collaborators - plays an important role in understanding and managing the natural resources of Cape Cod National Seashore. If you're interested in collaborating with the Seashore to conduct research, check out our Research Permits page.