Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve: Bank erosion and rapid mudflat biomonitoring

Scientists from the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and
the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary conducted surveys in Elkhorn
Slough, California, USA every other year from 2001-2023 to assess bank
erosion, mudflat erosion, and to conduct rapid biomonitoring surveys of
the mudflats.  There are thus three components associated with
this dataset: Bank Erosion: The purpose of this monitoring program was to
track erosion rates of banks along the main Elkhorn Slough channel and at
various sites on the Reserve, as a component of overall habitat change
analysis (bathymetry data, remote sensing of marshes and tidal creeks)
shedding light on tidal scour.  Erosion rates can be correlated
to other measured variables, such as cliff height or crab hole density.
Mudflat Erosion: The purpose of this monitoring program was to track
erosion or deposition rates in intertidal mudflats at sites throughout the
estuary. Rapid Mudflat Biomonitoring: One purpose of this program was to
detect new invasions, potentially early enough to attempt eradication, and
to track changes in distribution and abundance of a set of conspicuous
existing invaders.  We also were interested in detecting major
changes in bivalve populations or other native ecological dominants.

来自埃尔克霍恩斯劳国家河口研究保护区（Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve）与蒙特雷湾国家海洋保护区（Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary）的科研人员，于2001年至2023年间每隔一年，在美国加利福尼亚州埃尔克霍恩斯劳开展调查工作，以评估岸滩侵蚀、潮滩侵蚀状况，并对潮滩实施快速生物监测。本数据集包含三个核心组成部分：
1. 岸滩侵蚀监测：本监测项目旨在追踪埃尔克霍恩斯劳主航道及保护区内多个点位的岸滩侵蚀速率，作为整体生境变化分析（涵盖水深地形数据、沼泽与潮汐溪遥感监测）的组成部分，以阐明潮汐冲刷作用的影响机制。侵蚀速率可与崖壁高度、蟹洞密度等其他实测变量开展关联分析。
2. 潮滩侵蚀监测：本监测项目旨在追踪河口全域各点位潮间带潮滩的侵蚀或沉积速率。
3. 潮滩快速生物监测：本项目的目标包括检测潜在可开展根除干预的早期新入侵物种，追踪已存在的显著入侵物种的分布与丰度变化；同时也关注双壳类种群或其他本土生态优势种的重大变化。