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Fall 1998 |
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Inside |
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Intertidal Monitoring Program |
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About The MBNMS |
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The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), established in 1992, is one of twelve Marine Sanctuaries nationwide managed by the Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Encompassing over 5,300 square miles of water, MBNMS stretches along the Central California Coast from Marin County near San Francisco southward to Cambria in San Luis Obispo County. The Sanctuary protects many habitats, ranging from sandy beaches and kelp forests to one of the largest underwater canyons on the west coast. Nutrient-rich currents nourish the area, supporting a productive and diverse marine ecosystem where countless species, many of them threatened or endangered, make their homes. The mission of the National Marine Sanctuaries Program is to manage marine areas of national significance to protect their ecological and cultural integrity for the benefit of current and future generations. For more information on the Sanctuary, contact the Sanctuary office: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940. (831) 647-4201. |
The results of an intertidal monitoring program in the northern part of the Monterey Bay bring good news: the diversity in the rocky intertidal sites surveyed is as high as it was in the early 1970s. This indicates that the Monterey Bay Sanctuary's intertidal zones appear to be healthy.
Under the leadership of John Pearse, Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), ten rocky intertidal platforms along the coast of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties were initially surveyed for biotic richness in 1971-73 by UCSC students, providing a baseline that could be used for evaluating future changes. In 1996-97, UCSC students re-surveyed these ten sites. The data from the two studies were compared to assess how the coast's living resources had changed over the past twenty-four years after experiencing droughts, floods, a major El Niño, a severe earthquake, and increasing human disturbance. Funding for the study came from the UC Sea Grant Extension Program (1970s and 1990s), the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (1970s), and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (1990s).
"This study was very encouraging to me, because it showed that the species richness and biodiversity has hardly changed over the last thirty years," says Pearse. "In fact, in some places richness has increased, especially in certain Santa Cruz areas where there had been sewer outfalls at the time of the first study."
The students surveyed most groups of macroscopic algae and invertebrates that could be found without destroying the habitat; fishes were also sampled in 1996-97, but not in the 1970s. In addition to the species richness surveys, quantitative surveys were done at five of the ten sites beginning in the early 1970s continuing intermittently to the present. Relatively flat uniform areas covered with characteristic, visually-dominant species (mussels, anemones, rockweeds, surfgrasses) were selected and served as large permanent plots that could be randomly sampled.
These surveys provide an excellent picture of the health of certain rocky intertidal habitat zones in southern San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. While the researchers found considerable flux in species composition in the survey area, the data highlight a remarkable stability over the past two-plus decades.
Highlights of the survey results include:
- Species richness was similar between 1971-73 and 1996-97 for both algae and invertebrates.
- Visually-dominant species remained stable at most sites. Examples include mussels at Natural Bridges and Davenport Landing; red algal cover at Año Nuevo and Pigeon Point; and mussels, anemones, and red algae at Scott Creek.
- Between 1971-73 and 1996-97 the sites in the northern portion of the survey area remained distinct and separate from the more southern sites, indicating long-term, site-specific stability within these different zones.
"This study provides a valuable data set for rocky shores and helps us understand the Sanctuary's overall health," explains MBNMS Senior Scientist and Research Coordinator Andrew DeVogelaere. "This sort of information is essential in making good long-term resource management plans." The study also says something about local residents, according to Pearse. "I think it shows that people are much more protective of the Bay," he explains. "People have become more aware of trampling sensitive habitats, dumping sewage, and similar problems. Part of that awareness is also expressed in supporting the Sanctuary, and making the Sanctuary possible."
Principal researchers for this project include John Pearse, Eric Danner, Lani Watson, and Chela Zabin, all at UCSC. Nudibranchs are among the creatures found in the intertidal zone.
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