DFO Pacific Shorekeepers Intertidal Survey – a community based project

The Shorekeepers survey is a citizen science protocol based project that enables community groups to collect scientifically defensible information about the intertidal and sub-tidal habitats and their biota in British Columbia.

Shorekeepers is a rigorous monitoring methodology. The key to getting reliable scientific data is to use standard survey methods so that everyone is collecting data in the same way over time at all sites. A monitoring guide developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada presents an intertidal surveying methodology. The method is presented in a logical step-by-step manner starting from selecting a study area through each type of measurement to entering the field data into the database, and finally, reporting the results. After a few days of training in habitat mapping and species identification, community members can use these step-by-step protocols to routinely monitor their site of interest or concern. The challenge is to distinguish natural changes from human-induced ones over time. Nevertheless, the resulting data will help us all to gain a better understanding of these dynamic ecosystems, and to make wiser decisions about coastal development and marine conservation.

To detect gradual changes to habitats and local biodiversity, we need long-term data sets. Shorekeepers is about collecting detailed data annually at the same site(s) for three or more years.

As our population grows in coastal areas, so may our impacts on marine habitats. Protection of this fragile environment requires active participation and monitoring by local people and communities. Does there appear to be less marine life on a particular beach in recent years? Do you suspect that a nearby activity or industry is affecting the plants and animals of a particular shoreline?

Shorekeepers is stewardship of coastal marine habitats by people who live near them. It is a monitoring methodology designed specifically for community groups and for people who may not have a strong science background to be able to contribute to scientific data collection. Having local community groups and individuals take an active role in looking after their coastline fosters \"local ownership\" and interest.

DFO maintains the central database with the complete dataset from all shorekeeper surveys on the BC coast. The OBIS dataset is a subset of this larger collection and includes the date, location and percentage coverage of the intertidal area by various taxa. Quantitative abundance and biomass values are not included in this dataset. Information on the tidal cycle and the slope of the intertidal area is included in the notes.

The OBIS dataset is a subset of the Shorekeepers collection and contains presence information for intertidal zone taxa. For the full dataset users should contact DFO.

'海岸守护者'（Shorekeepers）调查是一项基于公民科学（citizen science）规程的项目，旨在支持不列颠哥伦比亚省（British Columbia）的社区团队收集关于潮间带（intertidal）与潮下带（sub-tidal）栖息地及其生物群落的科学可信数据。

海岸守护者采用严谨的监测方法学。获取可靠科学数据的核心在于使用标准化调查方法，确保所有监测站点在长期监测中均以统一方式开展数据采集。加拿大渔业与海洋部（Fisheries and Oceans Canada, DFO）编制的监测指南中收录了潮间带调查方法，该方法以逻辑清晰的分步流程呈现，从研究区域选定、各类测量操作，到野外数据录入数据库，最终完成结果报告。经过为期数日的栖息地制图与物种识别培训后，社区成员即可依托这些分步规程，定期对其关注或担忧的监测站点开展监测。长期监测的核心挑战在于区分栖息地的自然变化与人类活动诱导的变化。不过，所获取的数据将助力我们更深入地理解这些动态生态系统，并为沿海开发与海洋保护制定更明智的决策。

若要检测栖息地与本地生物多样性的渐进式变化，我们需要长期数据集。海岸守护者项目要求连续三年及以上，每年在同一（些）站点收集详细数据。

随着沿海地区人口增长，人类对海洋栖息地的影响也可能随之加剧。保护这一脆弱的生态环境，需要当地民众与社区的积极参与与监测。近年来，某一海滩的海洋生物数量是否有所减少？你是否怀疑附近的某项活动或产业正影响着某一岸线的动植物？

海岸守护者是居住在沿海地区的民众对近岸海洋栖息地的管护工作。该监测方法专为社区团队及不具备深厚科学背景、仍可参与科学数据采集的人群设计。由本地社区团队与个人主动管护其海岸线，有助于培养'本地主人翁意识'与参与兴趣。

加拿大渔业与海洋部（DFO）维护着集中式数据库，存储不列颠哥伦比亚省海岸所有海岸守护者调查的完整数据集。海洋生物地理信息系统（Ocean Biogeographic Information System, OBIS）数据集是该大型集合的子集，包含各分类群覆盖潮间带区域的日期、位置与覆盖百分比。本数据集未包含定量丰度与生物量数据，备注字段中收录了潮汐周期与潮间带坡度相关信息。

海洋生物地理信息系统（OBIS）数据集是海岸守护者项目数据集的子集，仅收录潮间带分类群的存在信息。如需获取完整数据集，用户可联系加拿大渔业与海洋部（DFO）。