Santa Cruz Island Reserve

30 Jan, 05 AM - 03 Feb, 04 AM

The purpose of the comprehensive rocky intertidal surveys is to 1) monitor overall diversity, 2) determine site-wide abundance of different species, and 3) assess the vertical distribution of species within each site. Four to eight bolts are placed in the intertidal in order to resample the sites in the future. These surveys will be resurveyed every 3-5 years if funding permits. We have 50 mainland sites from Washington to Baja Ca and 20 Channel Island Sites Here is a quick synopsis of or sampling methods. Vertical transects will be sampled using the point intercept method, with at least 100 points sampled per transect (11 transects per site). For each point the species that falls directly under it is recorded; this includes rock, sand, and tar. These data will be used to determine % cover. The second and third closest species are also recorded. Although the point-contact survey is good at determining the abundance of spatially common species, it does not sample rare or spatially uncommon species very well. Because most mobile species fall into this second category, the abundance of these species along each transect is determined using 50 x 50 cm quadrats. Quadrats placed in the high, mid, and low zone along each transect will be used to get an estimate of mobile species at each site. The vertical range of Pisaster ochraceus are also recorded at each site. Tidal height data is taken as well in order to create a detailed topographic map of the intertidal area.

Visit #1127 @Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 956 | Research

Comprehensive Rocky Intertidal Surveys

research_assistant - University of California, Santa Cruz

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 3 Research Assistant (non-student/faculty/postdoc) Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2003 (5 days)
Rani Gaddam Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2003 (5 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Dorm 4 Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2003
Pickup Truck 4 Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2003