Status and Trends of the Rocky Intertidal Community of the Farallon

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Status and Trends of the Rocky Intertidal Community of the Farallon Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist 7, © 2014, pp. 260–275 STATUS AND TRENDS OF THE ROCKY INTERTIDAL COMMUNITY ON THE FARALLON ISLANDS Jan Roletto1, Scott Kimura2, Natalie Cosentino-Manning3, Ryan Berger4, and Russell Bradley4 ABSTRACT.—The Farallon Islands in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) is a 7-island chain located 48 km west of San Francisco, California. Since 1993, GFNMS biologists and associates have monitored algal and invertebrate species abundances on the intertidal shores of the 2 South Farallon Islands. The monitoring occurred 1–3 times yearly in 6 study areas. In each study area, 3–4 permanent, 0.15-m2 quadrats located between the upper and midintertidal zones were sampled for algal and sessile invertebrate cover and invertebrate counts. Taxonomic surveys were also completed to document other species in the vicinity of the sampling quadrats and to further charac- terize the sampling areas. Here we report monitoring results for the period 1993 to 2011. While species richness has remained relatively stable and high compared to the nearest mainland sites (Sonoma County through San Mateo County), there has been a slow, long-term net decline in the abundance of algal species and mussels at various sites on the islands. Causes for the declines remain unknown, but increased trampling from rising numbers of pinnipeds and increased waste from pinnipeds and seabirds are among the influences suspected to be important. RESUMEN.—Las Islas Farallon en el Santuario Nacional Marino Golfo de Farallones (SNMGF) es un archipiélago de siete islas situado a 48 km al oeste de San Francisco, California. Desde 1993, los biólogos y asociados del SNMGF han monitoreado la abundancia de especies de algas e invertebrados en las costas intermareales de las dos Islas Farallon del sur. El seguimiento se produjo una a tres veces al año en seis áreas de estudio, en los que se estudiaron de tres a cuatro cuadrantes permanentes de 0.15 m2 situados entre las zonas intermareales superior y media donde se muestrearon la cubierta de algas y el número de invertebrados sésiles. Adicionalmente, se realizaron estudios taxonómicos para docu- mentar otras especies y caracterizar las áreas de muestreo en las proximidades de los cuadrantes. Aquí incluimos los resultados del monitoreo para el período entre 1993 y 2011. Mientras que la riqueza de especies se ha mantenido relati- vamente estable y elevada en comparación con otros sitios de muestreo cercanos en el continente (Condado de Sonoma a al Condado de San Mateo), se ha observado un lento descenso neto a largo plazo en la abundancia de especies de algas y mejillones en varios sitios en las islas. Las causas de este descenso siguen siendo desconocidas, pero se sospecha que la influencia del aumentó en el pisoteo del creciente número de pinnípedos y el aumento de los residuos de pinnípedos y aves marinas son importantes. The Farallon Islands in the Gulf of the Far- the islands are within the Farallon National allones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) Wildlife Refuge. Below the mean high-tide is a chain of 7 islands and emergent rocky level, the intertidal and subtidal areas are pinnacles located 48 km (30 mi) west of San within GFNMS and are recognized and Francisco, California, 37°42፱N and 123°00፱W designated by the State Water Resources (Fig. 1). The islands and pinnacles are part of Control Board as an Area of Special Biological a granitic submarine ridge flanking the con - Significance (ASBS). Furthermore, portions of tinental shelf (Blankinship and Keeler 1892, the islands’ intertidal and subtidal are desig- Hanna 1951). They are recognized as an nated as State Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), ecosystem unique for its location and diver - which were created by the Marine Life Pro- sity of species across a broad range of bio - tection Act passed by the California State logical communities. For these reasons, the Legislature in 1999. At the Farallon Islands habitats and natural resources at the islands are 2 state marine reserves, 2 special closure and emergent pinnacles are afforded many areas, and one state marine conservation levels of resource management, protection, area. Also, the islands are not open to public conservation, and oversight. Above the mean visitation, and access is by permit and for high-tide level, the terrestrial portions of scientific purposes only. 1Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, 991 Marine Dr., San Francisco, CA 94129. E-mail: [email protected] 2Tenera Environmental, 141 Suburban Rd., Suite A2, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. 3National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fisheries Restoration Center, 777 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95404. 4Point Blue (formerly PRBO) Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive #11, Petaluma, CA 94954. 260 2014] INTERTIDAL FARALLON 261 Fig. 1. Sanctuary Ecosystem Assessment Surveys (SEAS) rocky intertidal study areas on the South Farallon Islands, California (37°42፱ N, 123°00፱ W). Dots indicate locations of the 6 study areas. Map data (left panel): ©2012 Google, LDEO-Columbia, NSF, NOAA, SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO, MBARI, Image Landsat. Map data (right panel): ©2008 Google, SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCO, CSUMB SFML, CA OPC. Blankinship and Keeler (1892) completed Islands), which are the 2 largest of the 7 the first survey of the intertidal community islands (Fig. 1). Together these islands are 44 on the Farallon Islands. Their work provided ha in size and are separated by a narrow surge a general description of the island’s geology channel. A narrow and discontinuous reef and biota and a temporal snapshot of the inter- characterizes the intertidal zone, exposed only tidal community. The next intertidal survey on minus tides. The landward rise is often was 87 years later, completed by the California steep, highly worn, and characterized by cracks State Water Resources Control Board as a and crevices, surge channels, and sea caves reconnaissance survey to consider designation (Hanna 1951). No rocks or boulder fields are of the islands as an ASBS (CSWRCB 1979). found in the upper intertidal, and the only The only other published investigations in - sand is coarse grained, with cobbles deposited volving assessment or documentation of the at the heads of surge channels. Intertidal zones intertidal habitat on the islands focused on were categorized based on species composi- the distribution of Foraminifera (Grivetti 1962) tion. Many locations on the islands are used as and the systematics of Porifera (Klontz 1989). seasonal and year-round haul-outs for pin- Since 1993 and as part of the Sanctuary nipeds. As such, the study areas selected were Eco system Assessment Surveys (SEAS), the accessible and disturbance to pinnipeds (and GFNMS has monitored intertidal algal and seabirds) was minimized, as required by the invertebrate species abundances on the rocky Sanctuary and Refuge permits. The number shores of the 2 South Farallon Islands (Southeast of study areas and number of quadrats in Farallon and Maintop Islands). The long-term each study area were also selected based on monitoring program was created to characterize logistics and funding. See Appendix 1 for the the intertidal habitat and to maintain an ongoing physical descriptions of each study area and database of species abundances in the event of quadrat. oil spills. Here we present data spanning August Sampling Design 1993–February 2011 summarizing macroalgal and invertebrate changes on the Farallon Islands. Three to four permanent, 30 × 50-cm quadrats (0.15 m2) between the upper and METHODS midintertidal zones (Ricketts et al. 1985) were sampled in each of the 6 study areas (Fig. 1). Study Areas The quadrat locations were marked with There are 6 study areas on the 2 South Far- marine epoxy on the rock substrate. Sampling allon Islands (Southeast Farallon and Maintop was completed up to 3 times annually (August, 262 MONOGRAPHS OF THE WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN NATURALIST [Volume 7 November, February), beginning in 1993. three are presently considered to be rare in Sampling was not scheduled to occur during the sampling region or outside their normal the peak algal growth season (May–July) to range: Branchioglossum undulatum and Myri- minimize and avoid disturbance to breeding ogramme variegata have not been previously seabirds and pinnipeds that typically use the documented north of Carmel Bay, California, sampling areas. and Ulva conglobata is considered an intro- All surveys included taking photographs of duced species. each quadrat followed by point-intercept sam- Species abundances, averaged across all 6 pling, which consisted of sampling 50 random study areas for 2010 and 2011 (the most recent points for algal and sessile invertebrate cover. sampling years), revealed that the top 10 All algal and sessile invertebrate species under species comprised >90% of the total upright each sampling point were identified and re - algal cover for those 2 years combined. Species corded to the lowest taxonomic level practical abundance was variable across the 6 study (Foster et al. 1991, Dethier et al. 1993). Multiple areas, except for the articulated coralline algal layers of the same species (taxon) at a single species Corallina vancouveriensis, which was sampling point were tallied as a single occur- either the first or second most abundant rence, but layers of multiple species under a species (>20% mean cover) in the study areas single point resulted in multiple tallies (con- (Table 1). The Mazzaella flaccida-complex, a tacts) per sampling point. As such, total algal foliose red algal assemblage, was also abun- cover (all species tallies combined for a quadrat) dant, except in the quadrats at Mussel Flat, could exceed 100% cover for highly layered where Anthopleura elegantissima covered large quadrats. Point-intercept assessments in each amounts of the substrate. The Mazzaella flac- quadrat also included a tally of dead animals cida-complex consisted of several species of (i.e., empty barnacle tests or shells and per- Mazzaella, with M.
Recommended publications
  • GASTROPOD CARE SOP# = Moll3 PURPOSE: to Describe Methods Of
    GASTROPOD CARE SOP# = Moll3 PURPOSE: To describe methods of care for gastropods. POLICY: To provide optimum care for all animals. RESPONSIBILITY: Collector and user of the animals. If these are not the same person, the user takes over responsibility of the animals as soon as the animals have arrived on station. IDENTIFICATION: Common Name Scientific Name Identifying Characteristics Blue topsnail Calliostoma - Whorls are sculptured spirally with alternating ligatum light ridges and pinkish-brown furrows - Height reaches a little more than 2cm and is a bit greater than the width -There is no opening in the base of the shell near its center (umbilicus) Purple-ringed Calliostoma - Alternating whorls of orange and fluorescent topsnail annulatum purple make for spectacular colouration - The apex is sharply pointed - The foot is bright orange - They are often found amongst hydroids which are one of their food sources - These snails are up to 4cm across Leafy Ceratostoma - Spiral ridges on shell hornmouth foliatum - Three lengthwise frills - Frills vary, but are generally discontinuous and look unfinished - They reach a length of about 8cm Rough keyhole Diodora aspera - Likely to be found in the intertidal region limpet - Have a single apical aperture to allow water to exit - Reach a length of about 5 cm Limpet Lottia sp - This genus covers quite a few species of limpets, at least 4 of them are commonly found near BMSC - Different Lottia species vary greatly in appearance - See Eugene N. Kozloff’s book, “Seashore Life of the Northern Pacific Coast” for in depth descriptions of individual species Limpet Tectura sp. - This genus covers quite a few species of limpets, at least 6 of them are commonly found near BMSC - Different Tectura species vary greatly in appearance - See Eugene N.
    [Show full text]
  • Black Oystercatcher Diet and Provisioning 2014 Annual Report
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Black Oystercatcher Chick Diet and Provisioning 2014 Annual Report Natural Resource Data Series NPS/KEFJ/NRDS—2015/749 ON THIS PAGE Nest camera captures a black oystercatcher provisioning chick on Natoa Island. Photograph Courtesy: NPS/Kenai Fjords National Park ON THE COVER Black oystercatchers at nest in Aialik Bay, Kenai Fjords National Park Photograph by: NPS/Katie Thoresen Black Oystercatcher Diet and Provisioning 2014 Annual Report Natural Resource Data Series NPS/KEFJ/NRDS—2015/749 Sam Stark1, Brian Robinson2 and Laura M. Phillips1 1National Park Service Kenai Fjords National Park PO Box 1727 Seward, AK 99664 2 University of Alaska, Fairbanks Department of Biology and Wildlife PO Box 756100 Fairbanks, AK 99775 January 2015 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 Data Series is intended for the timely release of basic data sets and data summaries. Care has been taken to assure accuracy of raw data values, but a thorough analysis and interpretation of the data has not been completed. Consequently, the initial analyses of data in this report are provisional and subject to change. 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Journal, 2021, 12 (1): 225–228
    Biodiversity Journal, 2021, 12 (1): 225–228 https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.4.225.228 First record of Calliostoma lusitanicum F. Nordsieck et García- Talavera, 1979 (Gastropoda Calliostomatiidae) in the Mediter- ranean Sea and remarks on C. alexandrinum Pallary, 1912 Andrea Nappo1*, Daniel Pellegrini2 & Attilio Pagli3 1Via S’Arrulloni 25, 09045 Quartu Sant’Elena, Cagliari, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] 2Via Colle Morello 2, 00038 Valmontone, Roma, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] 3Via Valdorme 55, 50053 Empoli, Firenze, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author ABSTRACT In this work is reported for the first time the presence of Calliostoma lusitanicum F. Nordsieck et García-Talavera, 1979 (Gastropoda Calliostomatiidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Present sightings widen the known distribution of this species, found in the Madeira Archipelago and Canary Islands. The relationship between C. lusitanicum and C. alexandrinum Pallary, 1912 is discussed. KEY WORDS Calliostoma lusitanicum; Calliostomatiidae; Mollusca; Mediterranean Sea. Received 08.11.2020; accepted 26.02.2021; published online 15.03.2021 INTRODUCTION as shell height. Photos are obtained with a Nikon D90 and processed with Adobe Photoshop CC®. According to WoRMS (accessed on ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. The 14.10.2020), 291 re cent species are currently placed following abbreviations and acronyms are used: in the genus Calliostoma Swainson, 1840 (Gas- AN: Andrea Nappo collection (Quartu Sant’Elena, tropoda Calliostomatiidae) with a worldwide distri- Cagliari, Italy); AP: Attilio Pagli collection (Em- bution. In the Medi terranean Sea, according to the poli, Firenze, Italy); DP: Daniel Pellegrini collec- systematic list of the SIM (Italian Society of Mala- tion (Valmontone, Roma, Italy); MNHN: Muséum cology) (accessed 14.10.2020), 11 species are pres- National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France); SIM: ent.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1 Table A1
    OIK-00806 Kordas, R. L., Dudgeon, S., Storey, S., and Harley, C. D. G. 2014. Intertidal community responses to field-based experimental warming. – Oikos doi: 10.1111/oik.00806 Appendix 1 Table A1. Thermal information for invertebrate species observed on Salt Spring Island, BC. Species name refers to the species identified in Salt Spring plots. If thermal information was unavailable for that species, information for a congeneric from same region is provided (species in parentheses). Response types were defined as; optimum - the temperature where a functional trait is maximized; critical - the mean temperature at which individuals lose some essential function (e.g. growth); lethal - temperature where a predefined percentage of individuals die after a fixed duration of exposure (e.g., LT50). Population refers to the location where individuals were collected for temperature experiments in the referenced study. Distribution and zonation information retrieved from (Invertebrates of the Salish Sea, EOL) or reference listed in entry below. Other abbreviations are: n/g - not given in paper, n/d - no data for this species (or congeneric from the same geographic region). Invertebrate species Response Type Temp. Medium Exposure Population Zone NE Pacific Distribution Reference (°C) time Amphipods n/d for NE low- many spp. worldwide (Gammaridea) Pacific spp high Balanus glandula max HSP critical 33 air 8.5 hrs Charleston, OR high N. Baja – Aleutian Is, Berger and Emlet 2007 production AK survival lethal 44 air 3 hrs Vancouver, BC Liao & Harley unpub Chthamalus dalli cirri beating optimum 28 water 1hr/ 5°C Puget Sound, WA high S. CA – S. Alaska Southward and Southward 1967 cirri beating lethal 35 water 1hr/ 5°C survival lethal 46 air 3 hrs Vancouver, BC Liao & Harley unpub Emplectonema gracile n/d low- Chile – Aleutian Islands, mid AK Littorina plena n/d high Baja – S.
    [Show full text]
  • Metagenetic Analysis of 2017 Plankton Samples from Prince William Sound, Alaska
    Metagenetic Analysis of 2017 Plankton Samples from Prince William Sound, Alaska. Report to Prince William Sound Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) From Molecular Ecology Laboratory Moss Landing Marine Laboratory Dr. Jonathan Geller Melinda Wheelock Martin Guo Any opinions expressed in this PWSRCAC-commissioned report are not necessarily those of PWSRCAC. December 1, 2018 Revised August 15, 2019 Abstract This report describes the methods and findings of the metagenetic analysis of plankton samples from the waters of Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska. The study was done to identify zooplankton, in particular the larvae of invasive benthic species. Plankton samples, collected by the Prince William Sound Science Center (PWSSC), were analyzed by the Molecular Ecology Laboratory at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories. The samples were taken from five stations in May of 2017 in Port Valdez and elsewhere in PWS. DNA was extracted from bulk plankton and a portion of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene, the most commonly used DNA barcode for animals, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Products of PCR were sequenced using Illumina reagents and MiSeq instrument. 211 operational taxonomic units (an approximation of biological species) were found and 52 were identified to species. Most species were crustaceans and molluscs, and none were non-native. We also compared PWSRCAC samples taken in 2016 to the current set of samples. Fewer species were identified in 2017 than in 2016, but sampling methods varied across years. Standardization of methods and a longer time series are necessary to investigate temporal trends. Page 1 of 17 952.431.190815.MLMetagenetic Introduction Monitoring marine habitat for species of concern, including invasive species, can be costly and time-consuming, which limits the information available to resource managers, scientists, and the public.
    [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]
  • Point Lobos Nudibranch Project Topics for Tonight
    Point Lobos Nudibranch Project Topics for Tonight • Project Design, Location and Transect Selection • Nudibranch Identification • Species in the Study • Look-alikes • Sampling Techniques and Data Sheets • Q & A Project Design • Project Design, Location and Transect Selection • Science goals are still being defined. • Hope is to maximize the value of any data we collect. • Cover a variety of species and habitats. • Ease of study was also important. • Sites need to be near each other to maximize data collection time. • Sites need to be easy to find. • Transects need to be easy identify for repeatability. • Species covered need to be common and diverse. Locations • We have chosen two areas for study. • The North end of the Middle Reef • The North end of the Hole-in-the-wall Reef • Each reef will be divided into 4 transect zones. • East Wall • North Wall • West Wall • Top (defined as anything with less than 45 degrees of slope. • Actual transect areas are TBD and will need to be surveyed. • Each transect area needs to be roughly the same size • Transects must be easily identifiable. Locations Rationale • Middle Reef and Hole-in-the-wall Reefs are easily locatable underwater. • Both sites have good populations of nudibranchs. • Both sites have diverse habitat areas. • Hole-in-the-wall Reef may be lacking in “top” and North areas. • A survey will help here. • We’re open to other suggestions. Species in the Study • We have 14 species in the study. • All are at least reasonably common in Whaler’s Cove. • They represent a wide variety of species and prey items.
    [Show full text]
  • 554 Journal of Paleontology, V. 66, No. 4, 1992 Figure 9
    554 JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY, V. 66, NO. 4, 1992 FIGURE 9—Crepidula adunca encrusting living Calliostoma ligatum, Friday Harbor, Washington, shell height of C. ligatum, 21.0 mm, UCMP Type No. 39688. 1, two C. adunca conforming to upper whorls of C. ligatum; 2, C. adunca permanent scar on last whorl of hermitted C. ligatum, shell height, 22.0 mm, UCMP Type No. 39689. 1979). Other species also compete for, or inhabit, gastropod (Hyden and Forest, 1980). However, the shell-encrusting and shells (McLean, 1983; Vermeij, 1987; Walker, 1990). Because boring organisms that occur with hermit crabs have a long fossil empty shells may be rare, post-Triassic gastropod fossil assem- record, dating from the middle Jurassic. Determining the extent blages have most likely been taphonomically affected by sec- of hermitted shells in fossil assemblages should be the first line ondary occupants of shells. Because hermit crab modification of inquiry before paleoecological or evolutionary assessments of gastropod assemblages is great, Shimoyama et al. (1979) sug- are made. gested that the bivalve fossil record provided a more accurate Pagurized shells can be recognized by the settlement of bionts paleoecological record than gastropod assemblages. However, in specific locations on fossil shells (Palmer and Hancock, 1973; gastropod fossil assemblages provide valuable paleoecological Walker, 1988b, 1989, this paper). Recent and fossil biont pat- information for the history of the hermit crab. terns appear to be conservative from the Oligocene to the pres- Hermit crab body fossils are rare. Therefore, it is important ent. That is, taphonomically preserved biont patterns (e.g., east to study their other fossil record: that of the epi- and endobionts Gulf Coast examples) are similar to Recent pagurized shells.
    [Show full text]
  • The Keystone Species Concept: a Critical Appraisal H
    opinion and perspectives ISSN 1948‐6596 perspective The keystone species concept: a critical appraisal H. Eden W. Cottee‐Jones* and Robert J. Whittaker† Conservation Biogeography and Macroecology Programme, School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK *henry.cottee‐[email protected]; http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/graduate/research/ecottee‐jones.html †[email protected] Abstract. The keystone concept has been widely applied in the ecological literature since the idea was introduced in 1969. While it has been useful in framing biodiversity research and garnering support in conservation policy circles, the terminology surrounding the concept has been expanded to the extent that there is considerable confusion over what exactly a keystone species is. Several authors have ar‐ gued that the term is too broadly applied, while others have pointed out the technical and theoretical limitations of the concept. Here, we chart the history of the keystone concept’s evolution and summa‐ rise the plethora of different terms and definitions currently in use. In reviewing these terms, we also analyse the value of the keystone concept and highlight some promising areas of recent work. Keywords. community composition, ecosystem engineer, definitions, dominant species, keystone con‐ cept, keystone species Introduction: the origins of the concept cies” (p. 93). Paine’s field experiments have be‐ The keystone concept has its roots in food‐web come a classic ecological case study, with his dia‐ ecology, and was coined by Paine (1969). In his grams reproduced in many standard ecology texts, experimental manipulation of rocky shoreline his 1966 paper cited 2,509 times, and his note communities on the Pacific coast in Washington, coining the term ‘keystone species’ 465 times (ISI th Paine found that the removal of the carnivorous Web of Knowledge 13 September 2012).
    [Show full text]
  • The Biology of Seashores - Image Bank Guide All Images and Text ©2006 Biomedia ASSOCIATES
    The Biology of Seashores - Image Bank Guide All Images And Text ©2006 BioMEDIA ASSOCIATES Shore Types Low tide, sandy beach, clam diggers. Knowing the Low tide, rocky shore, sandstone shelves ,The time and extent of low tides is important for people amount of beach exposed at low tide depends both on who collect intertidal organisms for food. the level the tide will reach, and on the gradient of the beach. Low tide, Salt Point, CA, mixed sandstone and hard Low tide, granite boulders, The geology of intertidal rock boulders. A rocky beach at low tide. Rocks in the areas varies widely. Here, vertical faces of exposure background are about 15 ft. (4 meters) high. are mixed with gentle slopes, providing much variation in rocky intertidal habitat. Split frame, showing low tide and high tide from same view, Salt Point, California. Identical views Low tide, muddy bay, Bodega Bay, California. of a rocky intertidal area at a moderate low tide (left) Bays protected from winds, currents, and waves tend and moderate high tide (right). Tidal variation between to be shallow and muddy as sediments from rivers these two times was about 9 feet (2.7 m). accumulate in the basin. The receding tide leaves mudflats. High tide, Salt Point, mixed sandstone and hard rock boulders. Same beach as previous two slides, Low tide, muddy bay. In some bays, low tides expose note the absence of exposed algae on the rocks. vast areas of mudflats. The sea may recede several kilometers from the shoreline of high tide Tides Low tide, sandy beach.
    [Show full text]
  • Tesis De Pablo David Vega García
    Programa de Estudios de Posgrado CAMBIOS HISTÓRICOS EN LAS POBLACIONES DE ABULÓN AZUL Y AMARILLO EN LA PENÍNSULA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA TESIS Que para obtener el grado de Doctor en Ciencias Uso, Manejo y Preservación de los Recursos Naturales Orientación Biología Marina P r e s e n t a PABLO DAVID VEGA GARCÍA La Paz, Baja California Sur, febrero de 2016 COMITÉ TUTORIAL Dr. Salvador Emilio Lluch Cota Director de Tesis Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste. La Paz, BCS. México. Dra. Fiorenza Micheli Dr. Héctor Reyes Bonilla Co-Tutor Co-Tutor Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford Universidad Autónoma de Baja University. California Sur. Pacific Grove, CA. EEUU. La Paz, BCS. México. Dr. Eduardo Francisco Balart Páez Dr. Pablo Del Monte Luna Co-Tutor Co-Tutor Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Centro de Interdisciplinario de del Noroeste. Ciencias Marinas. La Paz, BCS. México La Paz, BCS. México. COMITÉ REVISOR DE TESIS Dr. Salvador Emilio Lluch Cota Dra. Fiorenza Micheli Dr. Eduardo Francisco Balart Páez Dr. Héctor Reyes Bonilla Dr. Pablo Del Monte Luna JURADO DE EXAMEN Dr. Salvador Emilio Lluch Cota Dra. Fiorenza Micheli Dr. Eduardo Francisco Balart Páez Dr. Héctor Reyes Bonilla Dr. Pablo Del Monte Luna SUPLENTES Dr. Fausto Valenzuela Quiñonez Dr. Raúl Octavio Martínez Rincón RESUMEN El abulón es un importante recurso pesquero en México que en las últimas décadas ha presentado una importante disminución de sus poblaciones, a pesar de las estrictas regulaciones a las que está sometida su explotación. Si bien la tendencia general de las capturas de abulón indica una disminución de las dos principales especies que la conforman (Haliotis fulgens y H corrugata), a partir de su máximo histórico en 1950, esta tendencia no ha sido uniforme ni entre especies ni entre las regiones de donde se extrae.
    [Show full text]
  • Baeria Rocks Ecological Reserve - Subtidal Survey 2018
    BC Parks Living Lab for Climate Change and Conservation Final Report (Contract #TP19JHQ008) Baeria Rocks Ecological Reserve - Subtidal Survey 2018 Isabelle M. Côté and Siobhan Gray Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University/ Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre [email protected], [email protected] 8 February 2019 Dive surveys of fish and invertebrates were carried out at Baeria Rocks Ecological Reserve on 7 June 2018, to continue a monitoring effort that began in 2007. Twelve divers (7 students from the Scientific Diving class of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC), two Sci Diving Instructors, two course teaching assistants, and one additional diver) were present. All divers were well trained in survey techniques and identification. On each dive, one diver was assigned to tending duties, leaving 11 divers in the water. Surveys were conducted between 10.00 and 13.30 by five dive teams. Two teams conducted timed roving surveys and three teams conducted transects. As in previous years, the teams were deployed around the north islets for the first dive, and around the south islet for the second dive, alternating roving and transect teams along the shore (Figure 1). Roving survey method Each roving team carried out a 40-50 min roving survey, from a maximum depth of 50 ft (14.5 m) depth (where possible), to the top of the reef, swimming in a semi- systematic zigzag pattern from deep to shallow water. Both divers counted every individual observed of each species listed on an underwater roving survey sheet. When a species was very abundant (i.e. more than ~100 individuals), surveyors recorded numbers as ‘lots’.
    [Show full text]