A Little Context
Cape Cod National Seashore preserves approximately 17,442 hectares of uplands, wetlands, and tidal lands along Massachusetts’ outer Cape Cod. Shaped by natural processes and a millennia of human activity, Cape Cod is a mosaic of both natural and cultural resources.
The park encompasses pitch pine-oak forests, heathlands of low-growing shrubs, dunes, coastal plain pond shores, vernal pools, kettle ponds, salt marshes, barrier spits, and mudflats. These habitats are home to many rare, threatened, and endangered plants, vertebrates, and invertebrates. Cape Cod’s ecosystems, however, have been heavily impacted by human activities, particularly from the last 300 years. The park faces challenges from construction, shoreline dredging, recreational activities that trample vegetation, and pollution from landfills, septic systems, and golf courses. These activities have all led to declines in water quality, biodiversity, and habitat availability at Cape Cod.
Our Work with Cape Cod
The health of Cape Cod’s natural resources is significant not only to wildlife, but also park visitors and local communities. To ensure these resources are well-managed, the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network, along with Cape Cod staff, collects ecological monitoring data on a number of ecosystem vital signs. This data helps inform park management decisions that protect Cape Cod into the future. Learn about our work below.
What We Monitor
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Salt MarshVegetationMonitoring plants can reveal signs of habitat change and overall salt marsh health
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Salt MarshTidal Wetland ElevationSalt marshes need to maintain their surface elevation above water, especially when sea levels are rising
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Salt MarshNektonNekton (free-swimming fishes and crustaceans) are abundant and key vital signs of estuarine health
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Coastal ShoresCoastal TopographyAs storms approach our shores, coastal landforms are our first lines of defense
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EstuariesSeagrassSeagrass aren't related to land grass, but they are key indicators of estuarine health
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EstuariesEstuarine Water QualityNutrient enrichment along coastal shores is a worldwide consequence of human population growth
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What We MonitorWeather & ClimateUnderstanding patterns and trends in weather and climate means being prepared to better manage park natural resources.
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What We MonitorAir QualityClean air, the thing we can't see yet need. Monitoring it is essential to the health of our visitors and communities.
Science Stories & Multimedia
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Science StoriesPodcast: Stewardship SavvyOur pilot episode features Mark Adams, a GIS specialist at Cape Cod National Seashore.
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Photos & MultimediaPhotos from Cape Cod NSSnapshots of fieldwork at Cape Cod National Seashore
Last updated: January 11, 2022