RESEARCH ARTICLE Optimization of an ecological integrity monitoring program for protected areas: Case study for a network of national parks JeÂroà me TheÂau1*, Simon Trottier1¤, Patrick Graillon2 1 Department of Applied Geomatics, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QueÂbec, Canada, 2 SocieÂte des eÂtablissements de plein air du QueÂbec (SeÂpaq), QueÂbec city, QueÂbec, Canada ¤ Current address: Renewable Resources, Environment, Lands and Parks Department, Kativik Regional a1111111111 Government, Kuujjuaq, QueÂbec, Canada a1111111111 *
[email protected] a1111111111 a1111111111 a1111111111 Abstract Over the last few years, several of the world's national park networks have implemented ecological integrity monitoring programs. These programs are based on a series of indica- tors to detect changes in ecosystem integrity. There are many scientific and logistical chal- OPEN ACCESS lenges in developing these programs due to limits in both our knowledge of ecosystems Citation: TheÂau J, Trottier S, Graillon P (2018) functioning and the resources for implementing such programs. Thus, the relatively quick Optimization of an ecological integrity monitoring program for protected areas: Case study for a and simple implementation of many monitoring programs has been to the detriment of their network of national parks. PLoS ONE 13(9): scientific validity. Few studies have focused on evaluating an entire monitoring program. e0202902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. This project presents an approach to evaluate the ecological and statistical