Cover • Principle Findings • Introduction • Methods & Results • Data Summry •
Discussion/Conclusion • Glossary • Literature Cited
Figures & Tables • 1999/2000 Kelp Bed Maps
Discussion and Conclusion
Discussion The data acquisition methodology utilized in
this survey was established for the 1989 California
state-wide inventory, and, with limited exception,
has remained consistent in this current effort. The
only change in data acquisition parameters has
involved changing the camera/film format from 35mm
in 1989 to 70mm in 1999, and the flight altitude
from 7,500' MSL in 1989 to 9,500' MSL in 1999. The
larger film format utilized in 1999 allowed this
increase in altitude without sacrificing resolution
on the imagery, and permitted the kelp canopies to
be more quickly imaged on the few optimum survey
days. Imagery for the 2000 inventory was also
collected from 9,500' MSL using a 75mm lens (scale
1:3,217), except within the range from Pt. Sur to
Pt. Piedras Blancas. Within this range a mid-level
cloud layer at 4,000' MSL forced the imagery to be
collect from 35,000' MSL, using a 35mm lens (scale
1:2,540). Although a lower altitude was required
for imagery acquisition, optimum associated
environmental conditions were present. The slight
difference in photographic scale was judged
insignificant with regard to the utility of the
imagery for mapping the current resource and for
multi-year comparative purposes. An additional difference in methodology involved
the timing of imagery of acquisition for the 1999
and 2000 inventories. Persistent coastal fog during
August and September 1999 delayed imagery
acquisition until early October and may have
underrepresented the kelp located in Monterey Bay
proper (canopies 222, 221, and 220). In recent
years, these surface kelp canopies have been
observed to reach their summer mazimum in June
through August and begin to lose surface extent
through canopy senescence due to elevated
temperatres and reduced nutrients present in
September and October each year. The outer coast
has not meeb observed to experience this early loss
of surface canopy, presumbaly due to increased
nutrient availabiltiy in the late summer months.
Favorable weather permitted all of the imagery for
the 2000 inventory to be completed within the month
of August, and likely better represented the
maximum summer canopy present within the Monterey
Bay proper. With limited noted exception, all other data
processing, mapping and anaiysis methodology, in
addition to computation, tabulation, and
presentation formats have remained consistent in
this 2000 inventory, when compared to the previous
1999 effort. This should allow valid future
quantitative comparisons of trends in kelp resource
abundance as this inventory is continued. Conclusion In response to the stated resource monitoring
and research mandate of the sanctuary program; this
survey provided important data regarding the status
of current kelp canopy abundance, in addition to
comparisons with the 1999 inventory. We acknowledge
the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary for
their encouragement and support of this work, and
for their commitment to a better understanding of
the complex processes structuring the nearshore
marine environment.
This scope of this inventory was established to
provide a current, accurate measurement of the
coastal kelp resource located within the Monterey
Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In addition, future
inventories may expand on this analysis in an
effort to promote a better understanding of the
seasonal dynamics of this important resource. In
this regard, discussion will be limited to
comparative methodology and sources of error that
may affect the accuracy of this current inventory,
and its subsequent utility for multi-year
comparative purposes.
This coastal kelp resource inventory was
established to be a tool in the hands of
researchers, and agency management professionals,
leading toward a better understanding of the marine
environment within the Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary.
 |
 |
Home | Introduction | Visitors | Education | Research | Protection | Calendar | Foundation | Search
Credits
For comments or question please refer to the Webmaster
Last modified on: Jan 8,
2000