Metric and power analysis for a biomonitoring program in Banff National Park, Alberta

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to inform a biomonitoring study in Banff National Park, Alberta, that will use benthic macroinvertebrates as a biological indicator of aquatic ecosystem condition in response to the re-introduction of bison. To inform the biomonitoring program, macroinvertebrate metrics were evaluated for biological relevance to the study design. Existing data from a surrogate flooding disturbance in Banff National Park was used to evaluate the effects of different sampling scenarios on the power to detect effects from a bison reintroduction and prescribed burn program. Power analysis highlighted that four metrics would provide >80% chance to detect an effect within two to five years of the beginning of the monitoring program. The metrics were richness, true diversity, % shredders and % shredders all of which have both biological importance to the productivity of fishery resources and are easily communicated to the general public.