Research Technical Report

Patterns in the Movement of Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) Across its Range: Channel Islands and Carmel Bay, California

Hess, J. (May 2009)

A Capstone Project at California State University, Monterey Bay, 29pp.

ABSTRACT

Marine protected areas (MPAs), and the more restrictive subset known as marine reserves (MRs), represent one of the many ways to manage anthropogenic effects on the marine environment. One of the primary applications of no-take marine reserves is to protect adult reproductive stock, which may serve to supply larvae and juveniles to adjacent unprotected areas, reserves for non-migratory species must be large enough to encompass the average daily movements of adult fishes. The movements of cabezon (Scorpaenichthys marmoratus) were monitored using passive acoustic telemetry at the Anacapa Island State Marine Reserve (ASMR) and Carmel Bay State Marine Conservation Area (CBSMCA). Monitoring data was collected from both receiver arrays and analyzed on the scale of hourly detections and position of fish in relation to the reserve boundaries. General movement patterns were compared between Anacapa Island and Carmel bay. Movement of individual cabezon at both sites exhibited high fidelity to a single receiver while maintaining detections on 2-4 proximate receivers during their study period. At Anacapa Island 94% of receiver detections occurred within the reserve. The limited spillover activity varied among individuals. While some individuals made repeated forays across the reserve boundary others settled either inside the reserve or outside, never crossing the border once a home site was established. The limited spillover from the reserve suggests cabezon exhibit a home range conducive to extensive protection by a marine reserve.