An Intertidal Biodiversity Monitoring Framework to Support Climate Adaptation in the Boston Harbor I

Overview: This presentation was given as part of the NE CASC Webinar Series (necasc.umass.edu) by Aly Putnam (UMass Amherst) and Marc Albert (National Park Service).
Description: The Boston Harbor Islands make up the only coastal drumlin archipelago in the United States. This area features a distinctive geological intertidal habitat known as mixed coarse substrate, which supports a diverse range of coastal species and ecological processes. But it also faces significant challenges from the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, erosion, increased storm frequency, and non-indigenous species. Due to these growing threats, the islands were recently designated as one of America’s 11 most endangered historic places.
This webinar will present a comprehensive intertidal biodiversity monitoring framework developed to support future climate adaptation and restoration efforts for the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park. The framework, which was developed in collaboration with National Park Service staff, was field tested and refined across multiple islands and sites, and integrates traditional (e.g. visual surveys) and modern (e.g. eDNA) methods to provide robust baseline data on intertidal communities. The speakers will discuss the development of this novel framework and study results, highlighting unique biodiversity captured by these methods, including the presence and abundance of keystone, protected, and non-indigenous species. This research addresses the need for standardized monitoring in intertidal habitats and offers a framework for coastal managers to protect both the ecological and cultural integrity of these historic islands as they face rapid environmental change.