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A Recent Sound Science Project:
As part of Sound Science's courses on monitoring and assessment, we have developed a set of Excel-based tools for calculating necessary sample sizes. They are available for download to the right.
Torres del Paine, Chile (photo by David Maddox)
Masa Mara, Kenya (photo by David Maddox)
Resources for Action
This page includes a variety of resources related to monitoring, land management and ecological resource management that have been produced by Sound Science solely or in collaboration with others. They are free for download and use. If you use them we ask that you cite their use as indicated below.
This page is updated periodically with new content. Please check back again.
Currently on this page:
• An Excel-based sample size calculator, including two-stage designs
• An Excel-based set of statistics routines, including ANOVA for two-stage designs
• Papers on planning and implementing successful conservation projects.
• A new "Framework for Assessing Ecological Integrity".
• The use of conceptual models in the creation of monitoring programs
• Technical manuscripts from the Sound Science White Paper Series
Training in Monitoring and Assessment
For information on Sound Science's various training workshops, see here.
Land Management and Conservation Information for Land Trusts and other Organizations
Land Scope America is an extensive collaboration between NatureServe and National Geographic that is designed to provide comprehensive information on planning, conservation, and land management to Land Trusts and other small organizations. Sound Science LLC has contributed a variety of content to Landscope America and Dr. David Maddox, Sound Science Chief Scientist, serves on its Editorial Review Board. Current Sound Science content on Landscope America is "Plan for Successful Conservation Projects", "Adaptive Management", and "Measure Success".
A Framework for Assessing the Ecological Integrity of Biological and Ecological Resources of the National Park System
Produced by Sound Science, the National Park Service, Nature Serve and the Nature Conservancy and written by Bob Unnasch, David Braun, Pat Comer and Greg Eckert, this document provides an overview of the Ecological Integrity Assessment Framework, a methodology to guide planning for the conservation of biological and ecological resources in U.S. National Parks. Click here to download a PDF of the framework.
Citation: Unnasch, R.S., D. P. Braun, P. J. Comer, G. E. Eckert. 2008. The Ecological Integrity Assessment Framework: A Framework for Assessing the Ecological Integrity of Biological and Ecological Resources of the National Park System. Report to the National Park Service.
Information on the use of conceptual models in the creation of monitoring programs
Sound Science Chief Scientists David Maddox and Bob Unnasch, along with Dr. Karen Poiani, were contributors to the three volume book "Ecological Stewardship". Their chapter, entitled "Asking the Right Monitoring Questions" discusses how to conceptualize and organize monitoring problems into effective monitoring plans using conceptual ecological models. The ideas in the paper also form the conceptual basis of Sound Science workshops on monitoring. Click here to download a PDF of the chapter.
Excel-based sample size calculator
As part of its development of extensive training materials for the development of monitoring projects, Sound Science created an Excel-based calculator for recommended sample sizes (©2009 Sound Science) in monitoring projects. The calculator takes user input of preliminary information on the context of the monitoring problem and uses standard equations to recommend sufficient sample sizes for continued sampling. The Calculator includes sample size estimates for two-stage sampling designs and a paper describes its use. Please cite the use of this calculator as: "Unnasch, Robert S. 2009. Sample Size Calculator. Sound Science LLC. http://www.sound-science.org". Note: to use this tool you must have Excel's Stat ToolPak installed and Macros enabled. Click here to download this Calculator for free.
Excel-based statistics calculator
As part of its development of extensive training materials for the development of monitoring projects, Sound Science created an Excel-based calculator for a variety of basic statistical procedures, including basic descriptive statistics, t-tests, and simple ANOVA (©2009 Sound Science). The Calculator includes ANOVA for two-stage and repeated measures designs and a paper describes its use. Please cite the use of this calculator as: "Unnasch, Robert S. 2009. Statistics Calculator. Sound Science LLC. http://www.sound-science.org". Note: to use this tool you must have Excel's Stat ToolPak installed and Macros enabled. Click here to download this Calculator for free.
Sound Science White Paper Series: Information Papers on a Variety of Monitoring Topics
Sound Science has produced a variety of information papers ("White Papers") on techniques in monitoring. These papers can be downloaded here for free. Please cite the paper as indicated in the document. The Sound Science Information Paper series includes papers on the following topics:
(1) White Paper #01: Contingency Tables in Land Stewardship
(2) White Paper #02: Digital Phography Techniques for Estimating Vegetative Cover
(3) White Paper #03: Line-Point Intercept Methodology
(4) White Paper #04: Monitoring Large Areas with Two-Stage Sampling
(5) White Paper #05: GIS Tools for Land Managers
(6) White Paper #06: Using Categorical Assessments in Land Management
New papers are occasionally added, so check back here for new papers.
Recent and Representative Publications from Sound Science Staff
Maddox, G.David and R.S. Unnasch. Floristic Quality Index and the detection of change in plant communities:
Results from field and simulation studies. In preparation.
Unnasch, R.S., D.P. Braun, P. J. Comer, G. E. Eckert. 2008. The Ecological Integrity Assessment
Framework: A Framework for Assessing the Ecological Integrity of Biological and Ecological Resources of
the National Park System. Report to the National Park Service.
Braun, D.P. 2006. Measuring Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Success. In N. Silk and K. Ciruna, editors, A Practitioner’s Guide to Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation. Island Press and The Nature Conservancy: Washington, D.C.
Pilliod, D.S., C.L. Aldridge, R.S. Arkle, J.L. Downs, C.G. Homer, D.A. Pyke, D.A., L.F. Salo, J.D. Tagestad. 2009. In review. Landscape-level monitoring of Greater Sage-grouse habitats using remote sensing information. Studies in Avian Biology.
Unnasch, R.S., T Korves, E Cupp, G Hill and T.R. Unnasch. 2009. An ecological systems model for Eastern
Equine Encephalomyelitis in the Southeastern United States. In press.
Kress, W.J., G David Maddox and R.L. Bartgis 2009. Genetic relationships and the taxonomic status of
Harperella, Ptilimnium nodosum (Apiaceae), and endangered plant of the eastern United States. 24pp.
Submitted to American Journal of Botany.
Karl, J.W., and M. Porter. 2006. Digital aerial sketch-mapping for early detection and mapping of invasive species. In Invasive Plant Inventory Methods. Center for Invasive Plant Management, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
Batcher, M. 2008. Site fire management plan for Maple Hill Savanna. Prepared for The Nature Conservancy, North Carolina Chapter, Durham, NC.Batcher, M. 2006. Ecological management plan for Ossipee Pine Barrens. Report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, New Hampshire Chapter, Concord, NH.Washington-Allen, R.A. and L.F. Salo. 2007. Symposium Review: Icons and Upstarts and the Detection of Thresholds: Definitions, Perspectives, and Methods. Ecological Society of America Bulletin April, pp. 219-225.
Salo, L.F. 2005. Red brome (Bromus rubens subsp. madritensis) in North America: possible modes for early introductions, subsequent spread. Biological Invasions 7:165 - 180.
Salo, L.F., G.R. McPherson, and D.G. Williams. 2005. Sonoran Desert winter annuals affected by density of red brome and soil nitrogen. The American Midland Naturalist 153:102-116.
Salo, L.F. 2004. Population dynamics of red brome (Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens): times for concern, opportunities for management. Journal of Arid Environments 57:291-296.
Unnasch, R.S., S.K. Rust, D. Leptick, R.C. Martin, G. Servheen, M. Terra-Berns. 2003. Monitoring and
Evaluation Plan for Idaho Wildlife Mitigation Projects. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game.
Parrish, J.D, D.P. Braun and R.S. Unnasch. 2003. Are we conserving what we say we are? Measuring
ecological integrity within protected areas. Bioscience 53:851-860.
Muchoney, D. and R.S. Unnasch. 2001. Speaking the Language of Remote Sensing: How to use change
detection techniques for monitoring. Conservation Biology in Practice 2: 35-38.
Ottke, C., P. Kristensen, G David Maddox, and E. Rodenburg 2000. Monitoring for Impact: A Handbook
on Natural Resources Monitoring based on Lessons from 13 NGO's, Volume 1. World Resources Institute, 90pp.
models to ask the right monitoring questions. IN N. Johnson (Ed.) The Ecological Stewardship Project:
A common reference for Ecosystem Management (3 Volumes) Elsvier Science: Oxford.
Salo, L.F., J.F. Artiola, and J.W. Goodrich-Mahoney. 1999. Revegetation of a saline flue gas desulfurization sludge pond. Journal of Environmental Quality 28:218-225.
Salo, L.F., J.F. Artiola, and J W. Goodrich-Mahoney. 1997. Selected species and amendments for revegetating saline flue gas desulfurization sludge: Greenhouse study. Journal of Environmental Quality 26:1176-1181.
Salo, L.F., J.F. Artiola, and J.W. Goodrich-Mahoney. 1996. Plants for revegetation of a saline flue gas desulfurization sludge pond. Journal of Environmental Quality 25:802-808.
Kress, W.J., G David Maddox and S. Roesel 1993 Population genetics of the endangered semi-aquatic plant,
Ptilimnium nodosum. Conservation Biology 22: 225-230.
Bartgis, R.L. and G David Maddox 1991. Designing and implementing a riverine preserve for the endangered
plant Ptilimnium nodosum: Sideling Hill Creek as a case study. IN A.E. Schuyler (Ed.) Symposium on rare
plants of Pennsylvania. Bartonia 57: 49-52.
G David Maddox and R.L. Bartgis 1990 Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum) recovery plan. US Fish and Wildlife
Service, Newton, MA, 60pp.
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