Rocky Intertidal Monitoring 2004–2013 Trends and Synthesis Report for Redwood National and State Parks

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rocky Intertidal Monitoring 2004–2013 Trends and Synthesis Report for Redwood National and State Parks National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Rocky Intertidal Monitoring 2004–2013 Trends and Synthesis Report for Redwood National and State Parks Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2017/1469 ON THE COVER Ochre sea star (top left), Whelks (top right), Researchers sampling the intertidal community at Damnation Creek, Redwood National and State Parks (bottom). Photographs by: D. Lohse. Rocky Intertidal Monitoring 2004–2013 Trends and Synthesis Report for Redwood National and State Parks Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2017/1469 Karah Ammann (Research Specialist), Dr. Peter Raimondi (Principal Investigator), Dr. David Lohse (Research Scientist), Nathaniel Fletcher (Research Specialist) Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Center for Ocean Health/Long Marine Lab University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95060 June 2017 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. Data in this report were collected and analyzed using methods based on established, peer-reviewed protocols and were analyzed and interpreted within the guidelines of the protocols. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Klamath Network website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. To receive this report in a format that is optimized to be accessible using screen readers for the visually or cognitively impaired, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Ammann, K. N., P. T. Raimondi, D. P. Lohse, and N. Fletcher. 2017. Rocky intertidal monitoring: 2004–2013 Trends and synthesis report for Redwood National and State Parks. Natural Resource Report NPS/KLMN/NRR—2017/1469. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 167/138850, June 2017 ii Contents Page Figures.................................................................................................................................................... v Tables ..................................................................................................................................................viii Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ ix Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................... x Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ xii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Rocky Intertidal Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 1 Rocky Intertidal Biodiversity Surveys ........................................................................................... 2 Study Area ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Methods .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Long-Term Monitoring Sample Design ......................................................................................... 8 Field Log ................................................................................................................................... 8 Photoplots .................................................................................................................................. 8 Mobile Invertebrates .................................................................................................................. 9 Barnacle Clearings................................................................................................................... 10 Sea Star Counts and Sizes ....................................................................................................... 10 Surfgrass and Postelsia Transects ............................................................................................ 11 Mussel Measurement ............................................................................................................... 11 Sea Surface Temperature ......................................................................................................... 11 Biodiversity Survey ................................................................................................................. 11 Data Collection and Entry ............................................................................................................ 12 Data Analysis................................................................................................................................ 12 Results and Interpretation .................................................................................................................... 14 Field Log ...................................................................................................................................... 14 Species List and Physical Conditions ...................................................................................... 14 Shorebirds and Mammals ........................................................................................................ 16 Sea Surface Temperature .............................................................................................................. 22 Photoplots ..................................................................................................................................... 22 iii Contents (continued) Page Barnacle (Chthamalus dalli and Balanus glandula) photoplots ............................................... 29 Turfweed (Endocladia muricata) photoplots ........................................................................... 33 Rockweed (Fucus gardneri) and Dwarf Rockweed (Pelvetiopsis limitata) photoplots ................................................................................................................................ 33 California Mussel (Mytilus californianus) photoplots............................................................. 33 Power Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 38 Mobile Invertebrates ..................................................................................................................... 40 Barnacle Clearings........................................................................................................................ 57 Sea Star Plots ................................................................................................................................ 59 Black Katy Chiton ........................................................................................................................ 65 Mussel Measurements .................................................................................................................. 65 Surfgrass and Sea Palm Transects ................................................................................................ 68 Regional Comparisons.................................................................................................................. 69 Biodiversity Surveys .................................................................................................................... 69 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 73 Sea Star Wasting Disease ............................................................................................................. 75 References ............................................................................................................................................ 77 iv Figures Page Figure 1. Map of northern California showing
Recommended publications
  • Lobsters-Identification, World Distribution, and U.S. Trade
    Lobsters-Identification, World Distribution, and U.S. Trade AUSTIN B. WILLIAMS Introduction tons to pounds to conform with US. tinents and islands, shoal platforms, and fishery statistics). This total includes certain seamounts (Fig. 1 and 2). More­ Lobsters are valued throughout the clawed lobsters, spiny and flat lobsters, over, the world distribution of these world as prime seafood items wherever and squat lobsters or langostinos (Tables animals can also be divided rougWy into they are caught, sold, or consumed. 1 and 2). temperate, subtropical, and tropical Basically, three kinds are marketed for Fisheries for these animals are de­ temperature zones. From such partition­ food, the clawed lobsters (superfamily cidedly concentrated in certain areas of ing, the following facts regarding lob­ Nephropoidea), the squat lobsters the world because of species distribu­ ster fisheries emerge. (family Galatheidae), and the spiny or tion, and this can be recognized by Clawed lobster fisheries (superfamily nonclawed lobsters (superfamily noting regional and species catches. The Nephropoidea) are concentrated in the Palinuroidea) . Food and Agriculture Organization of temperate North Atlantic region, al­ The US. market in clawed lobsters is the United Nations (FAO) has divided though there is minor fishing for them dominated by whole living American the world into 27 major fishing areas for in cooler waters at the edge of the con­ lobsters, Homarus americanus, caught the purpose of reporting fishery statis­ tinental platform in the Gul f of Mexico, off the northeastern United States and tics. Nineteen of these are marine fish­ Caribbean Sea (Roe, 1966), western southeastern Canada, but certain ing areas, but lobster distribution is South Atlantic along the coast of Brazil, smaller species of clawed lobsters from restricted to only 14 of them, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • A Time Series of California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Interruptus) Phyllosoma from 1951 to 2008 Links Abundance to Warm Oceanogr
    KOSLOW ET AL.: LOBSTER PHYLLOSOMA ABUNDANCE LINKED TO WARM CONDITIONS CalCOFI Rep., Vol. 53, 2012 A TIME SERIES OF CALIFORNIA SPINY LOBSTER (PANULIRUS INTERRUPTUS) PHYLLOSOMA FROM 1951 TO 2008 LINKS ABUNDANCE TO WARM OCEANOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA J. ANTHONY KOSLOW LauRA ROGERS-BENNETT DOUGLAS J. NEILSON Scripps Institution of Oceanography California Department of Fish and Game California Department of Fish and Game University of California, S.D. Bodega Marine Laboratory 4949 Viewridge Avenue La Jolla, CA 92093-0218 UC Davis, 2099 Westside Rd. San Diego, CA 92123 ph: (858) 534-7284 Bodega Bay, CA 94923-0247 [email protected] ABSTRACT The California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) population is the basis for a valuable commercial and recreational fishery off southern California, yet little is known about its population dynamics. Studies based on CalCOFI sampling in the 1950s indicated that the abun- dance of phyllosoma larvae may be sensitive to ocean- ographic conditions such as El Niño events. To further study the potential influence of environmental variabil- ity and the fishery on lobster productivity, we developed a 60-year time series of the abundance of lobster phyl- losoma from the historical CalCOFI sample collection. Phyllosoma were removed from the midsummer cruises when the early-stage larvae are most abundant in the plankton nearshore. We found that the abundance of the early-stage phyllosoma displayed considerable inter- annual variability but was significantly positively corre- Figure 1. Commercial (solid circles), recreational (open triangles), and total lated with El Niño events, mean sea-surface temperature, landings (solid line) of spiny lobster off southern California.
    [Show full text]
  • JMS 70 1 031-041 Eyh003 FINAL
    PHYLOGENY AND HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY OF LIMPETS OF THE ORDER PATELLOGASTROPODA BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL DNA SEQUENCES TOMOYUKI NAKANO AND TOMOWO OZAWA Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602,Japan (Received 29 March 2003; accepted 6June 2003) ABSTRACT Using new and previously published sequences of two mitochondrial genes (fragments of 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA; total 700 sites), we constructed a molecular phylogeny for 86 extant species, covering a major part of the order Patellogastropoda. There were 35 lottiid, one acmaeid, five nacellid and two patellid species from the western and northern Pacific; and 34 patellid, six nacellid and three lottiid species from the Atlantic, southern Africa, Antarctica and Australia. Emarginula foveolata fujitai (Fissurellidae) was used as the outgroup. In the resulting phylogenetic trees, the species fall into two major clades with high bootstrap support, designated here as (A) a clade of southern Tethyan origin consisting of superfamily Patelloidea and (B) a clade of tropical Tethyan origin consisting of the Acmaeoidea. Clades A and B were further divided into three and six subclades, respectively, which correspond with geographical distributions of species in the following genus or genera: (AÍ) north­ eastern Atlantic (Patella ); (A2) southern Africa and Australasia ( Scutellastra , Cymbula-and Helcion)', (A3) Antarctic, western Pacific, Australasia ( Nacella and Cellana); (BÍ) western to northwestern Pacific (.Patelloida); (B2) northern Pacific and northeastern Atlantic ( Lottia); (B3) northern Pacific (Lottia and Yayoiacmea); (B4) northwestern Pacific ( Nipponacmea); (B5) northern Pacific (Acmaea-’ânà Niveotectura) and (B6) northeastern Atlantic ( Tectura). Approximate divergence times were estimated using geo­ logical events and the fossil record to determine a reference date.
    [Show full text]
  • Shorezone Coastal Habitat Mapping Data Summary Report Northwest
    CORI Project: 12-27 September 2013 ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping Data Summary Report Northwest Alaska Survey Area Prepared for: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region Prepared by: COASTAL & OCEAN RESOURCES ARCHIPELAGO MARINE RESEARCH LTD 759A Vanalman Ave., Victoria BC V8Z 3B8 Canada 525 Head Street, Victoria BC V9A 5S1 Canada (250) 658-4050 (250) 383-4535 www.coastalandoceans.com www.archipelago.ca September 2013 Northwest Alaska Summary (NOAA) 2 SUMMARY ShoreZone is a coastal habitat mapping and classification system in which georeferenced aerial imagery is collected specifically for the interpretation and integration of geological and biological features of the intertidal zone and nearshore environment. The mapping methodology is summarized in Harney et al (2008). This data summary report provides information on geomorphic and biological features of 4,694 km of shoreline mapped for the 2012 survey of Northwest Alaska. The habitat inventory is comprised of 3,469 along-shore segments (units), averaging 1,353 m in length (note that the AK Coast 1:63,360 digital shoreline shows this mapping area encompassing 3,095 km, but mapping data based on better digital shorelines represent the same area with 4,694 km stretching along the coast). Organic/estuary shorelines (such as estuaries) are mapped along 744.4 km (15.9%) of the study area. Bedrock shorelines (Shore Types 1-5) are extremely limited along the shoreline with only 0.2% mapped. Close to half of the shoreline is classified as Tundra (44.3%) with low, vegetated peat the most commonly occurring tundra shore type. Approximately a third (34.1%) of the mapped coastal environment is characterized as sediment-dominated shorelines (Shore Types 21-30).
    [Show full text]
  • Malacofauna Marina Del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba
    Tesis de Diploma Malacofauna Marina del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba. Autora: Liliana Olga Quesada Pérez Junio, 2011 Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas Facultad Ciencias Agropecuaria TESIS DE DIPLOMA Malacofauna marina del Parque Nacional “Los Caimanes”, Villa Clara, Cuba. Autora: Liliana Olga Quesada Pérez Tutor: M. C. Ángel Quirós Espinosa Investigador Auxiliar y Profesor Auxiliar [email protected] Centro de Estudios y Servicios Ambientales, CITMA-Villa Clara Carretera Central 716, Santa Clara Consultante: Dr.C. José Espinosa Sáez Investigador Titular Instituto de Oceanología Junio, 2011 Pensamiento “La diferencia entre una mala observación y una buena, es que la primera es errónea y la segunda es incompleta.” Van Hise Dedicatoria Dedicatoria: A mis padres, a Yandy y a mi familia: por las innumerables razones que me dan para vivir, y por ser fuente de inspiración para mis metas. Agradecimientos Agradecimientos: Muchos son los que de alguna forma contribuyeron a la realización de este trabajo, todos saben cuánto les agradezco: Primero quiero agradecer a mis padres, que aunque no estén presentes sé que de una forma u otra siempre estuvieron allí para darme todo su amor y apoyo. A mi familia en general: a mi abuela, hermano, a mis tíos por toda su ayuda y comprensión. A Yandy y a su familia que han estado allí frente a mis dificultades. Agradecer a mi tutor el M.Sc. Ángel Quirós, a mi consultante el Dr.C. José Espinosa y a la Dra.C. María Elena, por su dedicación para el logro de esta tesis. A mis compañeros de grupo por estos cinco años que hemos compartidos juntos, que para mí fueron inolvidables.
    [Show full text]
  • Large Spiny Lobsters Reduce the Catchability of Small Conspecifics
    Vol. 666: 99–113, 2021 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published May 20 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13695 Mar Ecol Prog Ser OPEN ACCESS Size matters: large spiny lobsters reduce the catchability of small conspecifics Emma-Jade Tuffley1,2,3,*, Simon de Lestang2, Jason How2, Tim Langlois1,3 1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia 2Aquatic Science and Assessment, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 39 Northside Drive, Hillarys, WA 6025, Australia 3The UWA Oceans Institute, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Cnr. of Fairway and Service Road 4, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia ABSTRACT: Indices of lobster abundance and population demography are often derived from pot catch rate data and rely upon constant catchability. However, there is evidence in clawed lobsters, and some spiny lobsters, that catchability is affected by conspecifics present in pots, and that this effect is sex- and size-dependent. For the first time, this study investigated this effect in Panulirus cyg nus, an economically important spiny lobster species endemic to Western Australia. Three studies: (1) aquaria trials, (2) pot seeding experiments, and (3) field surveys, were used to investi- gate how the presence of large male and female conspecifics influence catchability in smaller, immature P. cygnus. Large P. cygnus generally reduced the catchability of small conspecifics; large males by 26−33% and large females by 14−27%. The effect of large females was complex and varied seasonally, dependent on the sex of the small lobster. Conspecific-related catchability should be a vital consideration when interpreting the results of pot-based surveys, especially if population demo graphy changes.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Pathogenic Virus in the Caribbean Spiny Lobster Panulirus Argus from the Florida Keys
    DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS Vol. 59: 109–118, 2004 Published May 5 Dis Aquat Org A new pathogenic virus in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus from the Florida Keys Jeffrey D. Shields1,*, Donald C. Behringer Jr2 1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062, USA 2Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, USA ABSTRACT: A pathogenic virus was diagnosed from juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters Panulirus argus from the Florida Keys. Moribund lobsters had characteristically milky hemolymph that did not clot. Altered hyalinocytes and semigranulocytes, but not granulocytes, were observed with light microscopy. Infected hemocytes had emarginated, condensed chromatin, hypertrophied nuclei and faint eosinophilic Cowdry-type-A inclusions. In some cases, infected cells were observed in soft con- nective tissues. With electron microscopy, unenveloped, nonoccluded, icosahedral virions (182 ± 9 nm SD) were diffusely spread around the inner periphery of the nuclear envelope. Virions also occurred in loose aggregates in the cytoplasm or were free in the hemolymph. Assembly of the nucleocapsid occurred entirely within the nucleus of the infected cells. Within the virogenic stroma, blunt rod-like structures or whorls of electron-dense granular material were apparently associated with viral assembly. The prevalence of overt infections, defined as lethargic animals with milky hemolymph, ranged from 6 to 8% with certain foci reaching prevalences of 37%. The disease was transmissible to uninfected lobsters using inoculations of raw hemolymph from infected animals. Inoculated animals became moribund 5 to 7 d before dying and they began dying after 30 to 80 d post-exposure.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Region 2016 Year in Review
    MARINE REGION 2016 YEAR IN REVIEW Cavanaugh Gulch, near Elk in northern California photo by K. Joe A Message From Craig Shuman, Marine Region Manager Most of us have experienced déjà vu – that strong feeling on the beach by the hundreds of thousands and reports of familiarity with an experience or event, as though we of sea turtles more at home off the Galapagos. State have already experienced it in the past. For Marine Region record-sized tuna continued to be logged into the books staff, many of the events in 2016 had that same strong by anglers and spear fishermen, besting old records by as feeling of familiarity. much as 80 pounds or more. Elevated levels of domoic acid As the offshore environment continued to impact California’s continued to experience rapid wildlife and fisheries, keeping Marine Region Mission: change, Marine Region staff were commercial crabbers tied to the To protect, maintain, enhance, there monitoring, meeting with the dock for part of the season and public, and developing strategies recreational razor clammers off the and restore California’s to help better understand how beaches of northern California for marine ecosystems for their the changes would affect the much of the year. The commercial ecological values and their marine environment and our sardine fishery remained closed fisheries. Statewide, our biologists for its second year and the use and enjoyment by the and analysts were busy studying, combined effects of drought and public through good science monitoring, and assessing fish and poor ocean conditions impacted and effective communication. shellfish populations, including recreational and commercial abalone, halibut (California and salmon catches.
    [Show full text]
  • UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Previously Published Works
    UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Previously Published Works Title Twelve thousand recent patellogastropods from a northeastern Pacific latitudinal gradient. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/21h48289 Authors Kahanamoku, Sara Hull, Pincelli Lindberg, David et al. Publication Date 2018-01-09 DOI 10.1038/sdata.2017.197 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California www.nature.com/scientificdata OPEN Data Descriptor: Twelve thousand recent patellogastropods from a northeastern Pacific latitudinal gradient 13 2017 Received: June 1 2 1 2 1 3 Sara S. Kahanamoku , , Pincelli M. Hull , David R. Lindberg , Allison Y. Hsiang , , Accepted: 17 October 2017 4 2 Erica C. Clites & Seth Finnegan Published: 9 January 2018 Body size distributions can vary widely among communities, with important implications for ecological dynamics, energetics, and evolutionary history. Here we present a dataset of body size and shape for 12,035 extant Patellogastropoda (true limpet) specimens from the collections of the University of California Museum of Paleontology, compiled using a novel high-throughput morphometric imaging method. These specimens were collected over the past 150 years at 355 localities along a latitudinal gradient ranging from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico and are presented here with individual images, 2D outline coordinates, and 2D measurements of body size and shape. This dataset provides a resource for assemblage-scale macroecological questions and documents the size and diversity of recent patellogastropods in the northeastern Pacific. Design Type(s) observation design • image analysis objective Measurement Type(s) morphology Technology Type(s) digital camera Factor Type(s) geographic location Patellogastropoda • State of California • State of Baja California • State of Sample Characteristic(s) Washington • Mexico • State of Alaska • State of Oregon • Province of British Columbia 1 2 Yale University, Department of Geology & Geophysics, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
    [Show full text]
  • ESLO2014-002, "NPDES Receiving Water Monitoring Program: 2013
    Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant NPDES RECEIVING WATER MONITORING PROGRAM: 2013 ANNUAL REPORT March 31, 2014 Submitted to: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Power Plant Avila Beach, CA 93424 Preparedby: 0 TiNiR Environmental 141 Suburban Rd., Suite A2 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 ESL02014-002 Table of Contents Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 TEMPERATURE M ONITORING ............................................................................................. 4 3.0 INTERTIDAL ALGAE AND INVERTEBRATES .................................................................... 9 4.0, INTERTIDAL FISHES ........................................................... 11 5.0 SUBTIDAL ALGAE AND INVERTEBRATES ..................................................................... 12 6.0 SURFACE CANOPY K ELPS ................................................................................................. 14 7.0 SUBTIDAL FISHES ......................................................................................................... 15 8.0 RWMP PROJECT PERSONNEL ...................................................................................... 17 9.0 LITERATURE CITED ...................................................................................................... 18 APPENDIX A. Intertidal Temperatures APPENDIX B. Subtidal Temperatures APPENDIX C. Intertidal Algae, Invertebrates and Substrates
    [Show full text]
  • Genetic Evidence for the Cryptic Species Pair, Lottia Digitalis and Lottia Austrodigitalis and Microhabitat Partitioning in Sympatry
    Mar Biol (2007) 152:1–13 DOI 10.1007/s00227-007-0621-4 RESEARCH ARTICLE Genetic evidence for the cryptic species pair, Lottia digitalis and Lottia austrodigitalis and microhabitat partitioning in sympatry Lisa T. Crummett · Douglas J. Eernisse Received: 8 June 2005 / Accepted: 3 January 2007 / Published online: 14 April 2007 © Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract It has been proposed that the common West rey Peninsula, CA to near Pigeon Point, CA, where L. digi- Coast limpet, Lottia digitalis, is actually the northern coun- talis previously dominated. terpart of a cryptic species duo including, Lottia austrodigi- talis. Allele frequency diVerences between southern and northern populations at two polymorphic enzyme loci pro- Introduction vided the basis for this claim. Due to lack of further evi- dence, L. austrodigitalis is still largely unrecognized in the Sibling species are deWned as sister species that are impos- literature. Seven additional enzyme loci were examined sible or extremely diYcult to distinguish based on morpho- from populations in proposed zones of allopatry and symp- logical characters alone (Mayr and Ashlock 1991). Marine atry to determine the existence of L. austrodigitalis as a sibling species are ubiquitous, found from the poles to the sibling species to L. digitalis. SigniWcant allele frequency tropics, in most known habitats, and at depths ranging from diVerences were found at Wve enzyme loci between popula- intertidal to abyssal (Knowlton 1993). We will refer to spe- tions in Laguna Beach, southern California, and Bodega cies that are indistinguishable morphologically, whether or Bay, northern California; strongly supporting the existence not they are sister species, as “cryptic species” and will of separate species.
    [Show full text]
  • A Comparative Intertidal Study and User Survey, Point Pinos, California
    Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary A Comparative Intertidal Study and User Survey, Point Pinos, California July 31, 2003 Submitted to: Mr. Dennis Long, Executive Director Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation 299 Foam Street Monterey, CA 93940 Prepared and Submitted by: Environmental 225 Prado Rd., Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.541.0310, FAX: 805.541.0421 Preface In April 2000, the City of Pacific Grove contracted with the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation (MBSF) to serve as the neutral fiscal sponsor for a project to study the impacts of human activities on the rocky intertidal shore and tidepools at Point Pinos. The City created a Point Pinos Tidepool Task Force Subcommittee on Research to develop and oversee the research project and interface with the MBSF. The Subcommittee members were appointed from numerous interested parties with differing views on potential impacts resulting from visitor use. The Subcommittee was responsible for: developing a Request for Proposals (RFP), distributing the RFP to solicit research proposals, and selecting a contractor based on proposed methods and qualifications. The Subcommittee was also responsible for approving the final and more detailed study plan submitted by the selected contractor, reviewing quarterly progress reports, and approving the final report on the project. The RFP, designed to address four primary questions concerning patterns of visitor use, activities, impacts, and past changes at Point Pinos, was circulated to the coastal and marine science communities for solicitation of proposals. Throughout the entire process of proposal review and contractor selection, including project implementation, the Subcommittee required that rigorous science be incorporated into the project plans.
    [Show full text]