Building a Geographic Context: Comparing the Rocky Shores of Monterey Bay to Other Sites Along the West Coast of the United States

Maria Kavanaugh1, Sheri Sohlstrom1, Gary Allison2, Spencer Wood3, Carl Schoch4, Bruce Menge1, and Jane Lubchenco1 1 PISCO, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University; 2 Aquatic Ecology Lab, The Ohio State University; 3 Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; 4 Kachemak Bay (AK) National Estuarine Research Reserve

INTRODUCTION OUR STUDY AREA: THE U.S. WEST COAST SCALE

Scientists at Oregon State University * Not all species or species groups “behave” in the same manner at are taking the lead on a very large- Cape Flattery different scales. Many other factors (species interactions, physiological stresses, oceanographic or physical factors, human scale survey of the marine La Push impacts) can contribute to how well a species fares within its communities on the rocky shores of WA P. arborescens range. Washington, Oregon, and Tillamook Head California. Some of our primary research questions include: Cape Foulweather * Some transects may be “hotspots” for abundance. However, they may not correspond to the Area where maximum mean Cape Perpetua * What are the geographic patterns OR abundance may occur. of abundance and distribution of Cape Arago * The nested design and the large geographical scope of our study species over space and time? P. limitata allow us to scale up or down depending on specific management goals or scope of basic scientific study to answer ecological * What are the relationships Trinidad Head between intertidal communities of questions in the context of their functional scale. CA organisms and nearshore oceanographic patterns? Fort Bragg TAXONOMIC RESOURCE * How are these biological communities structured along Bodega Head S. fastigata As a training and organizational tool, we have compiled an algal our shores? and invertebrate database that includes the species we observe in the Monterey Bay Monterey field. This web-based resource contains pictures and descriptions of National Evolutionary Ecology: Pelvetiopsis arborescens The West Coast Hosts an Incredible Diversity of Organisms Marine Piedras Blancas approximately 600 different species. We use this resource to help Sanctuary Often, taxonomists and evolutionary ecologists will use information identify species we see in the field, to teach identification skills to Annual surveys of sites located in the Monterey Bay area allow us Santa Barbara aboutOften speciestaxonomists ranges and and evolutionary abundances ecologiststo shed light use oninformation their about interns, and to resolve differences between scientists in species to compare sites within the National Marine Sanctuary to the rest of Palos phylogenyspecies’ ranges (evolutionary and abundances history). to Shownshed light above on theiris a table phylogeny showing (or identification. This resource is available to the public at http:// the coastline and to detect shifts in the composition of the intertidal Santa Cruz Is. Verdes theevolutionary distribution history). and abundance Shown above of the is fucoid the distribution algae within and our abundance study www.piscoweb.org/research/community/products/ communities in both space and time. In 2000 and 2001, we Santa Catalina Is. area.of a fucoidNote thealga occurrence within our of study P. arborescens area. Note only the in occurrence the Monterey of P. Area. taxonfront.html. observed over 125 species or groups of species within the San Diego Itsarborescens nearest relative, only in P. the limitata Montery peaks area. further Its nearest north inrelative, central P. Oregon limitata, Sanctuary. Several species were found only in the Monterey andpeaks is invirtually abundance absent further in Monterey. north in WhenOregon distribution and is virtually and absent in surveys, and many others peaked in abundance here. These surveys phylogenyMonterey. Byare coupling coupled thiswith information morphology, with life-history characteristics variation, such and as help us to both document the unique qualities of the ecological geneticlife history, analysis, scientists this enablescan uncover scientists answers to better to such understand questions why as whynew communities in the MBNMS region and begin to understand the speciesnew species occur, occur, why whysome other fare betterspecies than go extinct,others, andwhy whatspecies effect go interconnectedness of this area with the rest of the coast. The largest scale (above) extinct,introduced and speciesthe potential may haveeffects on of rocky-shore introduced communities.species. represents major areas of rocky bench habitat across We found the following intertidal organisms in the Monterey the West Coast. In each of Mean Higher High Water Mean Sea Level Bay NMS: these major areas, we select Average Abundance by Area Average Abundances by Area 3 sites. These sites are 25 16 Abalone Limpets Tubes (Polychaetes) Petrospongium rugosum 14 quadrat) Haliotis sp. Calcareous Tubes quadrat) Acmea mitra Scytosiphon sp. spread across the area to 2 20 2 Amphipods Diodora aspera Dodecaceria fewkesi Diatoms Monterey 12 Amphipod Complex Discurra insessa Comp. Phragmatepoma californica Phyllospadix sp. represent geographic 10 Caprella sp. Fissurella volcano Pista elongata Red Algae - Blades variability within that area. 15 Anemones Lottia Complex Sandy Tubes Chondrocanthus canaliculatus 8 Anthopleura sola Lottia gigantea Urchins Cryptopleura Complex For example, two of our 16 (percent cover/0.25m (percent (percent cover/0.25m 10 A. xanthogrammica Lottia instabilis Comp. Strongylocentrotus pupuratus Dilsea Complex 6 A. elegantissima Macclintockia scabra S. franciscanus Erythrophyllum sp. areas are within the A. artemesia Complex Whelks 4 HOW DO WE KEEP TRACK OF ALL THESE DATA? Megatebanus bimaculatus Gigartina Complex MBNMS. In the Monterey 5 Corynactis californica Onchidella sp. Acanthina sp. Mazzaella cornucopia 2 Epiactis prolifera Tectura palacea Nucella canaliculata Mazzaella flaccida area, our three sites are Endocladia muricata muricata Endocladia Endocladia muricata Endocladia Barnacles Sea Mites Nucella emarginata Mazzaella heterocarpa 0 0 Because this project generates such large amounts of data, it is Balanus glandula Mussels Ocenebra sp. Mazzaella linearis Point Lobos, Malpaso 0 10203040506070 0 20406080 Balanus nubilus Searlesia dira 2 2 critical that we pay close attention to long-term data storage and Mytilus californianus Mazzaella splendens Creek, and Soberanes Point Mytilus californianus (percent cover/0.25m quadrat) Mytilus californianus (percent cover/0.25m quadrat) Chthamalus sp. M. trossulus Complex Worms Porphyra sp. accessibility. Our strategy has been to store the data in a relational Pollicipes polymerus Septifer bifurcatus Nemertean Complex Rhodoglossum affine (below). Likewise we have Semibalanus cariosus Nudibranchs Nereids Rhodymenia sp. Expanding Ecological Assumptions database. This format allows us to query the raw data in a format Tetraclita rubescens Anisodoris nobilis Peanut Worms Schizymenia Complex three sites at Piedras Bryozoan Complex Hermissenda crassicornis Platyhelminthes Complex Red Algae - Branched Blancas: Piedras Blancas The presence of one species may influence the presence or abundance that is appropriate for the scale of the question. It also allows us to Chitons Nudibranch Complex Green Algae Callithamnion sp. Piedras link our physical data with the biological data in a meaningful Cryptochiton stellerii Rostanga pulchra Acrosiphonia sp. Delesseria sp. Blancas Point, San Simeon, and Pico of another species. In Washington and Oregon, ecologists have Katharina tunicata Snails Bryopsis sp. Endocladia Complex manner. Lepidochiton Complex Amphissa sp. Chaetomorpha sp. Gastroclonium coulteri Creek. noticed positive correlations between the abundance of the mussel, Mopalia Complex Calliostoma sp. Cladophora sp. Gelidium coulteri Mytilus californianus, and the red alga, Endocladia muricata. How does Tonicella lineata Crepidula sp. Codium fragile Laurencia pacifica Clam Complex Flat Tegula Halicystis ovalis Mastocarpus Complex the strength of this species interaction vary over larger geographical Crabs Littorina Complex Ulva Complex Mazzaella leptorhynchos Cancer sp. Margarites Complex Brown Algae Microcladia borealis areas? Scaling out from a single area to the entire Pacific coast shows Pachycheles Complex Norrisia norrisi Cystoseira osmundea Neorhodomela Complex that these correlations weaken or even reverse, indicating that other Pachygrapsus crassipes Tegula brunnaea Fucus sp. Odonthalia Complex Pagurus granosimanus Tegula funebralis Pelvetiopsis arborescens Osmundea spectabilis factors, such as wave force or oceanographic patterns, may shape Pagurus hirsutiusculus Pycnogonid sp. Pelvetiopsis limitata Plocamium sp. Pagurus samuelis Sponge Complex Silvetia sp. Polysiphonia Complex Within each site, we sample three communities at larger scales. Petrolisthes sp. Stars Alaria marginata Prionitis/Farlowia sets of transects. Each set consists of Pugettia sp. Asterina miniata Costaria costata Pterocladia Complex Cucumber Brittle Star Complex Egregia menziesii Ptilota Complex 50-meter transects at Mean Lower Cucumaria sp. Henricia leviuscula Eisenia arborea Red Algae - Other Low Water, Mean Sea Level, and Alaria marginata is a common Fish Leptasterias hexactis Laminaria sp. Crustose Corallines low intertidal kelp that is Gunnel Complex Pisaster ochraceus Lessoniopsis littoralis Erect Corallines Mean Higher High Water. At each Sculpin Complex Tunicates Postelsis palmaeformis Fleshy Crusts ubiquitous in Oregon and Isopods Colonial Tunicates Analipus Complex Hildenbrandia sp. site, we collect physical data such as Washington. However, in Cirolana sp. Solitary Tunicates Desmarestia sp. Melobesia Complex California, its range is limited to Idotea sp. Styela montereyensis Leathesia/Colpomenia Smithora sp. aspect and slope of the shore, degree Petalonia Complex Halosaccion glandiforme of sandiness, water temperature, Monterey County northward. Note that our data show A. and substrate roughness. marginata peaking in Monterey, the southernmost OVERVIEW OF OUR METHODS extent of its range.

To document the patterns of diversity and abundance, we employ a FUTURE DIRECTIONS “nested” sampling scheme. First, at the largest scale, we pick In 10 quadrats along each stretches of rocky habitat that are spaced across the U.S. West Coast transect, we measure the We will continue to sample these sites on an annual basis to monitor The limpet, Fissurella to represent the major areas that are relatively similar in physical abundance of all for changes in the biological communities. As we collect more data on volcano, is a common the physical characteristics, such as water temperature, nutrient factors. Nested within each of these major areas we selected three macroscopic plants and intertidal gastropod that ‘sites,’ and nested within each of these sites are three sets of sampled animals. During the 2000 has a distinctive “keyhole” availability, and climatic extremes at the various sites, we will be able areas. In each sampled area, we place a transect tape at three specific field season, we sampled on the top of its shell in to evaluate the likely importance of such factors in structuring order to facilitate waste elevations and measure the abundance of all macroscopic plants and nearly 3000 quadrats. We biological communities. Because our data set provides a rich picture of removal. Our data show Fissurella having diversity at numerous sites, we hope to use the data to inform animals in 10 quadrats on each transect. Sampling in this nested plan to sample each transect relatively high abundance in southern fashion allows us to examine correlations between the diversity and once per year to document California, peaking in Monterey, then all but decisions concerning a variety of issues of interest to the public. abundance of rocky shore organisms and local-scale versus very how diversity and disappearing further north. Examples include long-term changes due to climatic shifts, the large-scale factors. abundance change over time. influence of exotic species, and the placement of marine reserves.