Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 6
Objective 1.6 – Protect Habitat to Benefit List and Other Species of Concern
(continued)
Comparison by Alternative
Alternative
A B C
Strategy
By 2014, implement directed searches for tiger beetles on the Refuge.
If direct searches identify the presence of sensitive tiger beetle
populations on the Refuge, by 2015, prepare and implement a stepdown
tiger beetle management and monitoring plan for the Refuge.
Goal 2: Protect, manage, enhance, and restore coastal wetland and upland habitats to
benefit migratory birds, as well as other native fish, wildlife, and plant species.
Objective 2.1: Baseline Data for Species Presence and Relative Abundance on the Refuge
Obtain baseline data on species composition and relative abundance for fish, bird, wildlife,
and plant species supported within the Refuge’s various coastal habitats within two years of
the CCP’s approval. Data will meet the minimum statistical standard of being within 20
percent of the mean at the 80 percent confidence level.
Rationale: To effectively manage the diversity of resources present within the Refuge’s coastal
wetland habitats, it is important to update our existing knowledge of refuge species. Once the
baseline data has been compiled, habitat monitoring can be implemented to detect changes over
time (e.g., changes in vegetative structure and/or composition, changes in bird species composition
and/or abundance) due to factors such as sea level rise, climate change, and/or invasion by exotic
species.
Objective 2.1 - Baseline Data of Species Presence and Relative Abundance
Comparison by Alternative
Alternative
A B C
Strategy
By 2012, compile all existing survey data for Refuge species composition
and relative abundance; identify data gaps, and develop survey plans to
obtain data for those species that are not adequately addressed in the
existing database.
By 2013, complete all additional surveys deem necessary to supplement the
existing species data available for the Refuge.
Objective 2.2: Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Within ten years of CCP approval, complete a general assessment of the anticipated changes
over the next 25 years in the current distribution and structure (canopy cover and height) of
the intertidal habitats within Anaheim Bay, and identify the potential impacts to the wildlife
species supported by these habitats as a result of anticipated changes.
Rationale: Scientific evidence acknowledges that world climate is changing (Bierbaum et al. 2007)
as indicated by increases in global surface temperature, altered precipitation patterns, warming of
the oceans, sea level rise, increases in storm intensity, and changes in ocean pH. This is significant
because “climate is a dominant factor influencing the distributions, structures, functions and
services of ecosystems” (CCSP 2008). Climate change (defined as any change in climate over time,
whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity (CCSP 2008)) can interact with
6-8 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge