Tracking Changes Over Time

Identifying the patterns and fluctuations of Elkhorn Slough

Understanding algae blooms

Biometric monitoring allows for longitudinal studies to look at changes in community composition over time. Quantifying these relationships allow managers to better understand threats and benefits to plant health and assess the urgency for intervention. The Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR) was interested in quantifying the changes in algae blooms over a 7 year period At Elkhorn Slough.

The Slough acts as the nursery habitat for critically endangered species, such as the sea otter, and hold great importance to the biodiversity of the iconic Monterey Bay. Spurred by non-point source runoff from surrounding agricultural areas, excessive algae growth threatens much of the native populations within the estuary. Researchers at ESNERR were interested to learn what factors, such as temperature, salinity, residence time, and nutrient loads, compound these effects to support strategy for site managers improve controls on the affected ecosystems.

The results will help inform ESNERR research and might eventually be used to inform algae bloom mitigation strategies, such as creating triggers based on salinity and temperature to close the tidal gates and prevent further algae growth.