Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

06 Feb, 05 AM - 07 Feb, 05 AM

This study will characterize the distribution of the two distinct forms (based on the rachis and lateral morphologies) of Egregia at six of the University of California Natural Reserves spanning from Bodega Bay (north of Piedras Blancas) to the Scripps Coastal Reserve (far south of Mussel Shoals). The relative abundances of the two morphs will be quantified and correlated with environmental features of the site such as temperatures and wave exposure. Intraspecific differences in morphology (Chapman 1974) and temperature tolerance (Gerard and DuBois 1988) may be the result of genetic and/or phenotypic variability. In order to determine if rachis morphology in Egregia is environmentally or genetically determined, juvenile outplant experiments and population level genetic analyses will be carried out. Additionally, since variations in morphology may have ecological implications (Littler 1980, Littler and Littler 1980), the response of the different ecotypes to temperature will be investigated by the analysis of heat shock protein synthesis. The population genetics and physiological work, however, is not included as part of this proposal and will be conducted after the first year of field sampling. In order to determine the relative abundance of the two morphotypes, field sampling will be conducted at each site on each of two visits. Band transects 1 m wide and 8 m long will be surveyed and all Egregia within the band will be categorized as the ?northern? or ?southern? form. Additionally, the developmental stage (recruit, immature, or adult) of each encountered Egregia will be determined to estimate the timing of natural recruitment at the seven sites (Henkel 2003). Each of the Egregia recruits will be tagged and the morphotype and length recorded. On the subsequent visit, these tagged individuals will be reexamined to determine survivorship, growth rate, and to see if the morphotype remained constant. Wave force meters will be set up on the first visit and retrieved on the second in order to estimate the maximum wave forces experienced by the Egregia. Additionally, temperature loggers will be deployed at each site on the first visit, and temperatures will be recorded every eight hours over the course of the study. Maximum wave force and temperature will be measured because it has been hypothesized that the thicker, papillated rachis is an adaptation to deal with higher mechanical stress (Kraemer and Chapman 1991), while the less robust rachis form is better adapted to uptake nutrients in areas of low flow and warmer, less nutrient-rich water (Blanchette, et al. 2002).

Visit #2421 @Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 1675 | Research

University of California Santa Barbara - Marine Science Institute

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Feb 6 - 7, 2004 (2 days)

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