Long term monitoring of actions and outcomes: Improving and streamlining learning from Longleaf pine restorations at Morningside Nature Center

Abstract

The restoration of natural ecosystems relies on the feedback received from monitoring programs which take long-term data on the health of an ecosystem. In this study, the monitoring program of a longleaf pine ecosystem in north central Florida is reviewed and revised. This revision was based on contact with park managers and the analysis of existing data with the goal of improving the restoration program’s effectiveness. Analysis of existing data revealed the present limited ability to draw conclusions due to the temporal limitations of the data set. To address this shortcoming, photo point data from prior years was converted into a data set that is complementary to the monitoring protocol. As part of the protocol revision, the photo point data collection was also added to the monitoring protocol. The findings illustrate the importance of maintaining and continuing monitoring programs due to the value of long-term data for assessing changes in an ecosystem over time. In addition, future data collections will yield more useful feedback as a result of improvements made to the protocol. The design of a monitoring program must be closely linked to the specifics of the restoration program intended to be studied. This study provides an account of this process to be referenced during the revision of similar monitoring programs.