Calif. Mar. Res. Cornm., CaZCOPT Rept.. 16: 130-149, 1972

THE SANTA BARBARA OIL SPILLS IN PERSPECTIVE

NANCY 1. NICHOLSON Deportment of Biology University of Southern Lor Angeles, California

INTRODUCTION for days; winds, currents and insolation make the presence of such slicks intertidally erratic and rare. Two oil spills during 1969 in the Santa Barbara If slicks reach shore (they usually do at Coal Oil Channel affected an area undergoing major adaptive Point), they are thoroughly worked across intertidal changes. These changes most probably occurred in re- populations by surf. Gobs of tarry material from seeps sponse to air and sea water composition that has been adhere more readily to warm, dry surfaces than to steadily altered by human activities since the turn of cool, wet ones and thus stick selectively in the upper the century. The first spill (January-April, 1969) intertidal, especially during low tides combined with loosed 11,290-112,900 metric tons of crude oil from sunny weather. the sea floor near Union Oil Company’s Platform A There are some major differences between the Santn (Allen, 1969). The second spill (December 21, 1969) Barbara spills of 1969 and the Tampico Maru accident occurred from a break in an underwater pipeline serv- in Baja California during early spring of 1957 (North, ing Platform A, and an estimated 60 metric tons were Neushul and Clendenning, 1965; North, 1067). The released. Oil from the first spill affected approxi- Tampico Maru ran aground at the mouth of a small mately 100 miles of coastline (Fig. 1) and persisted cove, releasing highly toxic dark diesel (8,000 metric in scattered patches for several months. In December, tons) into a confined area, producing an immediate oil from the second spill was most conspicuous on and spectacular kill of marine life. In contrast, the (Plate 1A) and Hobson Santa Barbara incident resulted in the release of crude County Park and behaved differently from the crude oil about seven miles offshore, producing slicks that oil of the first spill in that it remained frothy and remained at sea for several days. These either sank fluid during its stay (about 1 month) in the intertidal, under the influence of tremendous amounts of sedi- readily coating wet and dry surfaces alike. Crude oil ment present from storm runoff or were driven onto is soft and glossy, quickly forming a shiny “skin” on beaches by wind and currents. This delay at sea al- exposure to air, then dulling and hardening after a lowed a natural product (crude oil) to lose many of day or two of weathering. its toxic volatile components through evaporation In the intertidal environment that is the subject of prior to its arrival on shore. An investigation made this paper, the effects of both spills were mediated by soon after the spill by Anderson, et aL2 for the West- the time of year when the oil came ashore: winter ern Oil and Gas Association reported few immediate months lack harsh summer insolation but do inflict deleterious effects on marine organisms of the main- large doses of fresh water (possible bleaching of a1- land and Channel Islands. gae due to rain is shown in Plate 1B) and mechanical The difference in consequences of spills according to disturbance from sand movements and storm surf the degree of refinement of the petroleum product in- (Plate 2B) on the beaches, leaving relatively fewer volved is further illustrated by the release of 38,647 organisms to be affected. metric tons of #2 diesel fuel oil when the barge Crude oil is a regular feature of the Channel en- Florida ran ashore off west Falniouth in Buzzard’s vironment, a consequence of variably active seeps that Bay, Massachusetts (Hampson and Sanders, 1969) j a dot the floor of the Channel (Kolpack, 1971). Some drastic kill of fish, worms, crustaceans and molluscs seeps are nearly intertidal and fairly active, as at Coal occurred rapidly, even before the application of deter- Oil Point. Other seep areas are a mile or more offshore gents. Blumer and eo-workers (1970) have pointed (Carpinteria) and of uncertain activity. Distance from out that even though slicks may be sunk and/or dis- shore is important as one of the factors governing the persed to remove them from view, petroleum products type of seep product (tarry gobs, iridescent slicks) persist in marine food chains. Thus immediate and affecting inshore populations. Measurements (Koi- spectacular kills from refined products that are rela- pack, 1971) of water around seeps show that some of tively more toxic than crude oil (the difference in the oil actually dissolves in the water column, but most toxicity was pointed out by Clendenning in 1964) may of the oil separates according to specific gravity, be followed by subtle, long-term effects. fractions with the heavier asphaltic components sink- In comparing the Santa Barbara spills with an- ing to form “tar mounds” and lighter components other spill of crude oil, it is necessary to point out floating as thin slicks. Thin, iridescent slicks are that cleanup methods may affect the health of marine largely dissipated by evaporation if they remain at sea PAnderson, E. K., L. G Jones, C. T. Mitchell and W. J. North, 1 One metric ton = 6.9 barrels, 1 barrel = 42 gallons (60’ F, sp “I’reliminary report on the ecological effects of the Santa gr. of 0.911 for California crude oil). Barbara oil spill.” REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 131

liW~~~lUT~,MOUNT OF OIL c* emnw + I, D."1 LFTER SPILL ' STATION 'LOCATIONS' rDAWSON'S MAINLAND STATIONS h.1. 1956-591 .."I...... C*.. 4 LW mrnllo (Arroyo Squill

1.11. .a I 13 Gavlolo ! I*

PACIFIC OCEAN

.CHANNEL ISLAND STATIONS Ie.1. 1969-701 I Whll.'i Undinq 2 Northi.iI Harbor 3 Wi1.o.~. cw. i.5 + 4 Was1 End 5 near Old Coos1 Guard Londlnq

FIGURE 1. California from Point Conception south to Mexico. Locations of study beaches and extent of distribution of crude oil 55 days after the onset of the January 1969 spill (Allen, 1969) are shown. Smallest diameter stipples on coastline do not represent oil cover. organisms. When the Torrey Canyon ran aground on may be in part accomplished by careful selection of the Seven Stones Reef, 15 miles from Cornwall, Eng- study sites SO they span areas inside and outside the land (March 1967) 119,000 metric tons of crude oil influence of the spills and represent combinations of escaped. This volume is comparable to that released factors affecting intertidal areas. during the Santa Barbara spills and the accident occurred twice as far from shore. Slicks from the METHODS Torrey Canyon thus had some time at sea to lose toxic Ten rocky intertidal stations were surveyed monthly volatile fractions, but cleanup operations involved ex- from May, 1969 to June, 1970. Eight of these stations tensive use of detergents and dispersants on and near were identical with areas surveyed by Yale Dawson in shore, thus causing much of the mortality (Smith, 1956-59 and two were stations established since the 1968). As a result of observations that detergents, dis- first survey. Ranging from Gaviota State Beach, ap- persants (some are kerosene-based) and their chemical proximately 30 miles north of Santa Barbara, to Dana kin were more toxic to marine organisms than crude Point 60 miles south of Los Angeles (Fig. l),these oil, the spills from Platform A were handled in a stations were : different fashion than those from the English disaster. No dispersants were applied inside the one mile limit Gaviota State Beach (Dawson Station 13) except when oil penetrated the Santa Barbara Harbor El Capitan State Beach (Dawson Station 40) (Gaines, in press). Beaches were cleaned by broad- Coal Oil Point or Devereaux Point (Neushul, New casting chopped straw over oiled areas (Plate 2A), Series 1: est. 1967) then scooping the resultant gummy mess into trucks East Cabrillo Beach (Nicholson-Cimberg Station 1: that hauled it away to be burned. During and imme- est. 1969) diately after the January 1969 spill a study made by Carpinteria State Beach (Dawson Station 15) marine biologists at the University of California at Hobson County Park (Dawson Station 35) Santa Barbara (Foster, Neushul and Zingmark, 1969) Palm Street, Ventura (Dawson Station 12) did not report massive kills of intertidal organisms. Leo Carrillo State Beach (Dawson Station 4) Corona del Mar (Dawson Station 9) In summa,ry, it is necessary to separate changes due 1mile north of Dana Point (Dawson Station 22) to the Santa Barbara oil spills from the effect(s) of naturally-occurring oil, from seasonal changes, from Line intercepts were chosen as the sampling method responses to special events (such as record rainfall) for this investigation. There are some problems with during 1969, and from long-term effects of chronically linear samples : they may miss rare organisms or those altered air and water chemistry. These distinctions with extremely patchy distribution, but this can be 132 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS overcome by carefully exploring the beach and listing of the station area. All data are filed in the Herbarium all categories of organisms desired, then comparing of the Allan Hancock Foundation (Marine Plants). this list with the list from the line intercept. This was Selection of stations to be surveyed was accom- done for each sample. A line intercept does not guar- plished with the purpose of establishing field controls antee a sample of the complete range of tidal levels at for the wide variety of factors operating in the field which a particular organism dwells, but does yield a (Tables 1 and 2). TJnfortunately, the Southern Cali- contiguous sample. The rapidity with which a line fornia mainland has no areas where human interfer- intercept may be completed (2-3 hours) over a long ence can be conclusively shown to be absent, thus distance (200 to 500 feet) is a major point in favor making it necessary to turn to the Channel Islands for of a method used where a site is steadily flooded by relatively undisturbed controls. For this purpose, 13 the incoming tide. Data were taken so that a quanti- stations were established and distributed among all of tative estimate of density and percent occurrence of the islands except for San Miguel Island. Two cruises organisms along the populated length of the station during the fall of 1969 and one during spring 1970 line could be obtained. Finally, the surveys of Dawson were made in the Channel Islands and SCUBA divers and Neushul employed line survey methods compar- collected representative samples of marine organisms able to the one used in the present study. from depths of 0’ to lo’, 10‘ to 20’ and 20’ to 30’ in the The details of the line intercept have been set forth station area. Dredging was used in water of 80’ to 120’ (Nicholson and Cimber, 1971). Briefly, records were depth. No calculations of percent occurrence were made of the substratum and organisms that intersected made on the basis of the Channel Islands data: com- the tape at three inch intervals along the entire sta- parisons were based on presence or absence of inter- tion line. The shore base point was always the end of tidal-shallow subtidal species during appropriate the station line. Except when the stations were sur- months. veyed at night with the aid of miner’s lamps, color All data were compared on an equal taxonomic transparencies were taken to record the visual aspect basis.

TABLE 1 Major Waste Discharges to Coastal Waters of San Diego, Lor Angeles and Ventura Counties

Date of Terminus Discharger and/or Initial Volume, Outfall Length depth Location of Discharge Discharge Type of Discharge mgd, (1970) Ut.) (ft.)

San Diego ...... 1963 Primary EWuent ...... 80 11.430 220 In addition, there are three power plants discharging a total of 597 mgd into San Diego Bay, with an average A T of 12. 1°F. San Elijo ...... 1966 Primary Effluent- ...... 1.1 3.700 52 Encina (Joint Plant)...... 1965 Primary Effluent...... 4.5 5,300 100 Encina (Power Plant)...... 1954 Cooling Water...... 345 At Beach San Onofre Power Plant-...... 1968 Cooling Water...... 506 2,600 13 San Clemente ...... 1947 Secondary Effluent...... 1.8 700 12 Dana Point ...... 1959 Primary Effluent ...... 0.8 4,000 35 South Laguna ...... 1955 Secondary Effluent-...... 1.8 1.700 55 Laguna Beach ...... 1958 Primary Effluent ...... 2.0 3.000 80 County Sanitation Districts of Los Anaeles County.. 1937 Industrial and Domestic...... 380 .O 5,000 110 1937 ...... 6.500 165 Palos Verdes Peninsula...... 1937 Primary Effluent...... 8,500 215 1937 ...... 11,900 195 City of Loa Angeles, Santa Monica Bay ...... 1959 Industrial and Domestic, mostly Pri- mary Effluent; some Secondary .._ 335.0 effluent 26,400 200 1957 sludge 36,960 330 City of Oxnard, Ormond Beach..-- ...... 1950 Industrial and Doroestic ...... 30.0 6,OOO 52 Primary EWuent ...... City of Port Hueneme, Ormond Beach ...... 1955 Industrial and Domestic...... 2.0 5,200 60 Primary Effluent ...... _.__.. City of San Buenaventura, Ventura...... 1938 Industrial and Domestic- ...... 1.8 2.500 30 Primary Effluent ...... City of Avalon, Santa Catalina Island ...... about 1930 Raw se*.age ...... Winter 0.14 400 125 Summer 0.44 Edison Co. El Segundo Generat- ing Station, El Segundo...... 1953 Cooling ...... 460.8 cooling 2,K@ 20 Sewage--...... 0.0045 sewage Redondo Beach Generating Station, Redondo Beach . 1948 Cooling...... 1134.7 2,000 20 Ormond Beach Generating Station, Ormond Beach.. . 1971 Cooling ...... 640.0 1.800 20 proposed Mandalay Generating Station, Oxnard...... 1958 * Cooling ...... 253.4 Discharge to Beach ..__.. Citv of Los Anrreles Denartment of Water and Power Scattergood Steam Plant, El Segundo...... 1958 Cooling ...... 518.8 1,250 15 Mobil Oil Company, Sea Cliff ...... 1968 * Oil Brines, Tanker Ballast .___._____ 11.9 3,100 30 Continental Oil Co., Pitas Point...... 1967 * Treated Seawater, Oil Brine-- ...... 0.273 500 12 Standard Oil Co. of California, El Segundo...... 1951 * Cooling, API water...... 72 .O 400 15 Atlantic Richfield Go.. Rincon Island-...... 1962 * Oil Brine ...... 0.26 Rincon Island Surface Chancellor-Westem Oil and Development Co.. Rincon ...... 1963 * Oil Brine ...... 0.30 nearshore 10 Phillips Petroleum Co., Punta Gorda...... 1967 * Oil Brine ...... 0.63 500 20 Standard Oil Co. of California, McGrath Beach_-.. 1961 * Oil Brine ...... 0.14 nearshore 4.0

* Year in which requirements were prescribed. Compiled March 1971. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 133

TABLE 2 Summary of Factors Affecting Mainland Stations

Station

East Palm St., Leo Corona North of Factor Gaviota El Capitan Coal Oil Pt. Cabrillo Carpinteria Hobson Ventura Cdlo del Mar Dana Pt.

Jan. 1969 oilspill (Allen. Moderate Moderate Moderate Heavy Heavy Heavy Moderate None None None 1969) amounts amounts amounts amounts amounta amounts amounts

~ Dec. 1969 oil spill-. ._ __ Moderate Moderate .- .. __ amounts amounts I -- Natural oil seeps...... Nearby Nearby Near shore About 1 mile -. __ .- .. active offshore active I -- Substratum. .-- - __ - - __.Large roeks Large rocks Shelf and Metal groin Shelf and Rocks Shelf Rocks sand sand Rocks I Rocks Sand movement ______Little Little Moderate Little Moderate Moderate Ileavy. station Heavy, statio Moderate Moderate covered 69- covered 2 70 months ~- Public camp- Public camp- Public collect- Public swim- Public collect- Public clam- Public surfing Public camp- Public collect- Private surf- ing ing ing, surfing ming ing, camping ming, camp ing, surfing ing, swim- ing. swim- ing ming ming __- -- Industrial effluents..-.. ._ ...... Possible large Possible large Possibly af- .. amounts amounts fected by Newport Harbor water

_I- -____ Agrieultural effluents ... .. __ Possible mod- .. Possible mod- .- .. __ erate erate amounts amounts __~ Nearest sewage outfall-. See Table 1

Fresh water ...... Small creek Small creek Nearby creeks __ Heavy, Veo- Heavy, large .- __ town Ilooded tura River creek winter, 1969

TABLE 3 Occurrence of Oil on the Ten Rocky intertidal Mainland Stations

Stations

Coal Oil East Palm St., Leo Corona North of Date Gaviota El Capitan Point Cabrillo Carpinteria Hobson's Ventura Carrillo del Mar Dana Point -~

5/69 ...... __ __ .- 413 .. 34 ______6/69. __.- - - - -.-. -. -. - 42 0 24 380 1 8 .- __ __ .. 7/69 ...... 40 16 49 479 75 30 0 0 8 0 8/69--...... 0 0 88 230 0 0 .. 0 22 0 9/69. .-- - - -.-. - ._ ._. - 201 0 35 384 0 0 -. 0 11 0 10/69 ...... 30 96 177 5 0 0 0 21 0 11/69 ...... 38 12 41 __ __ 0 __ 0 __ 0 12/69 __.____ -.-.-.-.-. 23 __ 195 308 1062 6702 .. 0 _- .. 1/70 ...... _ 0 8 251 1 2912 __ 0 2 0 2/70...... 13 36 59 254 48 6 __ 0 :I 0 3/70 ...... 7 18 44 208 114 1 _. 0 4/70...... 27__ ...... -. -. __ __ 5/70 ...... 9 43 92 1 0 _. 0 6/70-...... 63 4 28 156 0 0 __ 0 Total ...... 274 125 710 3332' 351 1040 0 0 0 Average ...... 25 11 59 277 32 80 0 0 log12 I 0 Note: Table indicates number of times oil was observed at three-inch intervals along transect; dashes (--) indicate no oil data available. 1 This represents the crude oil (persistent, weathered) deposited primarily during the January, 1969 spill; counted repeatedly. * Oil (treated) deposited during the December 1969 spill. 134 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

40 o COAL OIL POINT 0 CARPINTERIA x N. OF DANA POINT

30 w 0 wz a a 3 20 s0

$

IO

I I I 0 IO 20 30 NUMBER OF SPECIES WITH % OCCURRENCE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN A SPECIFIED VALUE

FIGURE 2. Distribution of percent occurrence among marine plant and selected animal species at three beaches with o substratum of stable rock. Crude oil from seeps is nearly continuous at Cool Oil Point, erratic and rare at Corpinteria and not known to occur at the beach one mile north of Dana Point (Salt Creek Road). (Cool Oil Point receives 50 to 70 barrels per day from the seeps (Allen, et of., 1970).) REPORTS VOTAUME XVI, 1 JIJLY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 135

OBSERVATIONS 3) disappearance of this oil from intertidal rocks. For reasons involving the probability of long-term reper- Crude oil from the first spill (January 1969 ; Fig. cussions, it is probably not safe to assume that no dam- 1) persisted as hard asphaltic patches in the upper age (or minimal damage) occurs, regardless of treat- intertidal for at least 7 months, whereas oil from the ment or refinement of oil, even if it is present for second spill (December 1959) had been treated with only a short time. agents that left it fluid and frothy, possibly account- Distribution of oil among the 10 beaches studied is ing for the relatively rapid (about 1 month; see Table shown in Table 3. At a given beach, oil adhered more TABLE 4 readily to relatively warm, dry surfaces in the upper Percent Occurrence of Selected Marine Invertebrates at intertidal (Plate 6B) and stuck rarely and more Three Stations During the Period from June 1969 reversibly in the cooler, wetter lower intertidal. through June 1970 Coal Oil Point was the only beach under study I where iridescent oil films were continuously present at. Coal Oil Point - - - - - times other than during the spills. Both the number Invertebrate e I of plant species and distribution of abundance within e I \m -4 COW \0 N NW01 m \\ \ \ \ \\\ ..mW omm m Wm -40 -4- U0 the species is noticeably different at Coal Oil Point if Date (OW W W 00 >0 - __ - - -_ - - TABLE 5 Acanlhina ..... t t -- t t .. .- t ttt t Acmaea- - - ._._t 2 -- t t t .- t -- t t t Percent Occurrence of Selected Marine Algae Anthopleura .... 41 11 8 25 38 25 26 37 30 33 37 45 at Coal Oil Point During 1969 and 1970 Balanus .______t t -- t .. t t t -- t t t Chthalamus-..- 3 t ttt t t t -- t t t Pollicipes...... t t .. __ _.__ .. ._ ttt t Date Telraclila...... t ...... _ __ .. __ .. ._.. Littorina...... t -- t _. .. ._ 2 t2.- __ Mytilus- ...... 2 ._ 4 3 4 4 5 352 5 l- Eo * * *** * * * *** * Pachygrapsis.. . Organism 1 2 Pagurus..- - __.t 2 2t2 t t t 3tt t Pisaster. .-. -. - .. .. __ ._ t __ __ .. __ .. __ Tegula...... t t __ t t __ t t tt t __ Phylloapadiz spp ...... 5 - - - - - Bryopsis hypnoides...... Chaetomorpha aerea ...... TABLE Montinued Enkromorphn spp.. .-.. 13 Uluo spp...... 1 I Eclocarpus spp ...... Carpinteria Egregia laeuiga ta...... ___- - - - - Endarachne binghamiae. -. .. Invertebrate Peluetia fasfigiafa. -.__ ..- .. m-4- N W 01 m \ \ Rallsia spp ...... -30 -J0 ';. Date 3 % 0 1 g 1 1 a Seytosiphon lomentaria...... - - - - Aoardhiella tenera.-. -. 2 Anisocladella pacifim...... Acanthina_..-. t ttt t t t t t t 2 t Bangia fuscopurpurea...... Acmaea ...... 2 343 3 3 t t t t t t Bossiella spp...... Anthopleura .... 24 26 29 32 26 13 15 34 14 33 22 18 Microcladia coulter...... Balanus _.___._6 74 4 2 2 3 t t t t t Centroceras clauulutum. - -.. -. Chlhalamus.. - - 11 14 11 10 6 7 5 6 5 7 4 7 Ceramium spp...... 13 Pollacipes...... 3 462 3 3 t 2 t 2 t 2 Chondria nidifica ...... Tetraclita.. - -.- - . t -- ._ t ._ t .. t .. ._ .. C. pacifica...... Liftorina- ...... _ .__. ._ 1 t t t t t Corallina uancouwiensis. .- t Mytilus_...... 13 15 14 14 16 9 9 8 a 8 5 7 * *** * * * * * * * * Cryptopleura spp...... t Pachygrapsis.. - Gastroclonium coulteri. __.-. . - Pagurus...... t tt__t t t ._ 2 t t ._ t Gelidium coulteri...... Pisasler-. . .- t -- t __ ._ _. ._ .. ._ t G. crinale ...... Tegula...... t tt 2 3 3 2 5 2 6 4 2 G. purpurascsns ...... t - - - - Gigarlina wnaliculata ..... 11 G. leplprhyncos...... 3 TABLE Montinued G. spinosa-armafa complex. .. Gracilariopsis spp ...... I Gmnogongrus spp Beach 1 Mile North of Dana Point ...... - - Iridaea spp...... Invertebrate Laurencia spp ...... WUI L. pacifica ...... -3 m N t \ \ \\ Lilhothamnion spp Date mW m > U-J ...... W 0 00 Litholhriz aspergillum...... - -1-1-1-1- - _- Melobesia mediomi...... Plocamium eoccineum v. Acanthina.__. .. - ._ 2 ..t ..__..2 -- t t pacificum...... Acmaea ____._._.__.12 5 8 46tt3 t3 Polysiphonia spp...... Anthopleura ...... 8 7 510 2 2 6 -_ 72 Porphyra perforala and P. Balanus...... 9 6 4ttt2 _. __ t thuretii...... Chlhalamus_-...... 45 32 29 10 33 33 26 27 34 51 Plerosiphcnia SPP...... t. Pollicipes ...... 2 t _. ._ t t .. t t -- Rhodoolossum afine. - - __..__ Tetraclita ._.______. -_ tt t t 41 tl--l--l t R. amcricanum...... Littorina ...... 5 2 _. ._ .. -- t t Rhodymenia spp ...... Mytilus _.__.._. 5 22 - ___ Smilhma naiadum ...... 5 Pachygrapsis ..__._.* s i ;t 11 s s ** !I Spermothamnion snyderae. - -. Pagiirua ...... 3 547 285 53 t Stenogramme interrupfa.-.. Pisaster...... __ t __ t tt Diatoms ...... Tegula...... 2 3 5 t4 - - t = less than 2% occurrence. t = less than 2% occurrence. * = observed but not recorded on the station line * = observed but not recorded on the station line. 136 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCE AN IC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

these statistics are used to compare it to other beaches pleura and Plzyllospaclix are most conspicuous in the (Fig. 2; Tables 4-7). Coal Oil Point was compared photograph). with Carpinteria State Beach and the beach 1 mile Representative oil damage to the upper intertidal north of Dana Point because all three areas have sirni- is shown in Plate 3A. Barnacles (Balmus)tall enough lar (but not identical) species composition and phys- to project beyond the crust c?f oil survived; shorter ical substratum (principally stable rock reef, moder- ately open coast). In brief, Coal Oil Point has fewer TABLE 7 Percent Occurrence of Selected Marine Algae at the Beach species than the other two beaches, but some of them One Mile North of Dana Point During 1969 and 1970 are highly abundant (Fig. 2). Plate 3B shows the visual aspect of this beach, covered in large part ---TII I IDate I I I I I with patches composed of a single species (Antho-

TABLE 6 Percent Occurrence of Selected Marine Algae I-I-I-I-I-I-I-1-1-1-1- at Carpinteria State Beach During 1969 and 1970 Phyllospadiz spp.--..--. .-_._. . t ~. t t t t t Enteromorpha spp...... 2 5 .. .. __ t Uluaspp...... 2 17 13 4 5 12 8 Date Coilodesme rigida...... _. .. .- ._ Colpomenia sinuosa ...... t .. __ .. 4 t IIIIIIIIIII Dietyopteris zmariaides...... t _. Dictyota flabella ta...... __ t Ectocarpus spp.-...... t .. .. __ Eisenia arborea ...... __ _- ._ t l-l- l- Egregialaevigata-- ...... 2 2 t t t 7 Phyllospadiz SPP ...... 11 8 6 4 6 10 Endarachne binghaniae...... t .. 4 2 t t Enleromorphspp...... 3 7 t ! 5 5 8 3 Hesperophycus Earwanus. -.- .- - t .. __ __ Ulwspp...... 19 25 18 10 17 8 13 22 Macrocystis pyrifera ...... t .. t _- __ t ~ ~7 Pachydictyon coriaceum ...... Cystoseira osmundncea...... , .. t .... __ _- t t Pelvetiafastigiata ...... 11 6 4 4 Egregialaeuigata ...... 3 t t t t t t t t35 6 4 Petrospongium rugusom ...... 2 .. t .. Endarachne binghamiae.. ~ .~ .. __ .. .. L_ t t t .... __ __ Ralfsia spp..-...... 5 3 4 Laminaria sinclairii...... t .. t ...... t .. 3 Sargassum agardhianum...... Maerocysfis pyrifera ...... __ ...... :: -i :: Scytosiphm lomentaria.. -.. .. -. Pachydictyon coriaceum...... _... .. -. I I _- .. Ralfsia spp...... t .. t t t t t t -i Zmaria Jarlowii ...... t -i Acrosorium uncinatum.-.. .. Scytosiphm lomentaria ..... t ...... __ __ Anisocladella pacifica-...... Agardhieh tenera- ...... __ .- t t42 __ Bossiella spp...... 4 .. 2 Eangia fuscopurpureo ...... __ _... 2 t t _. * t B. dichotoma v. gardneri ...... _. .. Bossiella spp.- ...... t -; t t t tit.. Botryoglossum (arlowianum...... _. Centroceras clawdatum...... __ .I Ceramium spp...... Centrocercs clanulatum.-. .... * ...... ; .. __ .. t .. t 1 Coeloseira compressa...... Ceramium spp...... 4 3 3 8 12 6 t* .. Chondria nidifica ...... * __ I.. Corallina oficinalis v. chilensis.. ._ C. pacifica ...... C. uancoureriensis-- ...... t -5 5 Corallina oficinalis v. chi- Cryplopleura spp...... t -- I -- Endocladia muricata...... lensis ...... _.__ ...... __ C. uancouwrtrnsts ...... t 2 2 4 8 8 15 5 10 3 3 Erythrocystia saccata...... t -; __ t Cryplopleura spp...... 2 t 3 t tt2 ttt Gastroclonium coulteri...... t .. .. t Gastroclonium coulteri...... 2 .. 9 .. -. Gelidium coulteri...... 4 .. 4 2 __ t t -- t ' t Gelidium coulleri ...... 4 5 .. 2 2 t t22 4 10 9 G. crinale..- ...... G. purpurascens...... G. crinale...... * -. .. .. -. .. .- .. __ G. robustum ...... G. purpurascens ...... _...... __ __ ..-; Gigartina canaliculata...... 10 12 3 I G. robustum ...... __ .. __ .. t 2' Gigarlina canaliculata ...... 10 17 11 7 10 9 10 9 14 G. leptorhynchns...... t t G. spinosa-armata coinplex ...... G. harueyana...... _ .. __ *t t .. __ 0. leplorhynchos ...... t t t 222 Gracilariopsis spp...... -; Grateloupia spp G. spinosa-armata complex. t t t -- t t tt t t -- ...... t .. Herposiphmia secunda...... Gracilaria spp...... __ ...... __ .. * /t Gracilariopsis spp...... 2 3 7 10 34 542 Hildenbrandia sp...... t .. .. -. Jania natalensis ...... * ...... Grateloupia spp...... t -- -...... __ __ .. Laurencin spectabilis...... * ...... Gymnogmgrus spp...... t .. t t __ L. pacifica ...... lridaea spp...... I -. ._ 2 7 9 10 4 2 8 Lithothmnion ...... 2 .. .. Laurencia spp...... -- t t t 7 .. WP t Zithothamnion spp...... t tt t t -- t Zithofhriz aspergillurn. --.__ .. -. t .- .. .. t .. t .I Me&& mediacris ...... _. Melobesia medwcris...... t tt2 t2 .... t .. t t t Plocamium coccineum v. paci- Microcladia coulleri.. - -.-...... __ .. __ cum ...... Nienburgia andersoniana...... !lt * t t. Plowmium coccineum v. -- I -- Polysiphonia spp...... t Porphyra perforata and P. thu- pacificum...... t * *. .. *. t retii ...... 3 ._ 3 Polysiphcnia spp...... -. 4 66 t 7.6 * t Porphyra perforah and P. Pterocladia pyramidah...... t t 5 t fhurelii ...... 3 .. t tt2 3tt Pterosiphonia dendroiden ...... t .. Prionitis spp...... t .. __ _. Rhodoglossum afine...... R. americanum- ...... Pterocladia pyramidale ...... 4 .... t .. __ -. * .. .. Smithora naiadum...... Pferosiphonia baileyi...... t __ .. .. __ P. dendroiden ...... t 't Diatoms..-- ...... 2 ...... Rhodoglossum afinp-...... t .. .. -- t Grazedor Turf Algae ...... 10 t t t t t t t t t t R. americanum...... _. .. I .. Pterochmdria woodii- ...... t ...... Rhodymenia spp...... __ .. .. ! ...... Smithcra naiadum ...... 6 7 6 37 t 22 t GATCOR' ...... 3 IO 4 ...... Spermothamnion snyderae...... t --ti-- t __ * .. .. Diatoms...... __ 8 1 GATGOR = Green Algae That Grow On Rocks: a term used to describe - ...... films of green algae eonsisting of unicellular forms and/or microscopic phases of macroscopic species. t = lees than 2% occurrence. t = less than 2% occurrence. * = observed but not recorded on the station line. * = observed but not recorded on the station line. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 137 species (Chthalarnus) were smothered. Juvenile bar- son and Cimberg, 1971; Tables 6 and 7). The latter nacles established themselves on weathered oil ; they tables show different constellations of species missing were lost when the asphalt layer finally crumbled from each beach. away. Smothering in the upper intertidal was frequent Winter and summer months are characterized by but occurred in discontinuous patches. populations of different plant species and differing Comparison of data from spring 1969 and 1970 is abundances of persistent species (Tables 5-7). An in- made in Table 8. There is a tendency for the beaches teresting feature of cobble beaches is that they usu- affected by the spills (Gaviota State Beach to Hobson ally show half the species in winter that they have in County Park) to show an increase in plant species summer (Table 10) ; assuming that a sufficient va- over spring of 1969. All beaches studied were sub- riety of plants is present to show this type of change jected to flooding ; exceptional cases are noted in Ta- (Palm Street, Ventura is excluded on this basis : see ble 2. Hobson County Park was subjected to constant Plate 4B). Large cobbles (1 to 2 fect in diameter) mechanical disruption by clammers. are radically shifted about by winter surf, mimicking Table 9 documents a decade-long downward trend the action of a ball mill. in number of intertidal plant species. Factors affect- Public use of beaches was found to be highly dc- ing the study beaches during this time are quali- structive of intertidal areas. Sightseeing in tidepools tatively shown in Table 2 and more quantitatively in results in trampling of both plants and animals when Table 1. The average decline in number of intertidal they are especially vulnerable. In the case of upper species of plants between 1956-59 and 1970 is 63%. intertidal seaweeds, these commonly dry out to the Details of species recorded in 1956-59 but not recorded extent that they are brittle and fragile. Such plants in 1969-70 may be found in an earlier paper (Nichol- are shattered by trampling. Clamming also results in considerable mechanical disturbance to a beach. At TABLE a Hobson County Park each low tide was characterized Number of Plant Species Reported on by swarms of clammers (Plate 4A) who routinely took Spring Stations, 1969-70 many limits apiece of the clam Protothaca sfanzinca, failed to replace large rocks moved for digging (all I 1969 1970 Change to whom it was suggested thst the beach would benefit __ ~ __- between June 1969 by restoration of disturbed areas refused to make the Stations June May June and 1970 effort), and who did not bury the clams they dug up ~~ . ___ ~ _- ___ but did not use. In May of 1970, nearly 80% of the Gaviota State Beacti ...... 23 10 18 -5 station line was overturned by the activities of clam- El Capitan State Beach ... 15 6 17 +2 Coal Oil Point (Devereaux mers. The devotion with which people will pursue free Pt.) ...... 19 24 26 +7 East Cabrillo Beach._-.-. 5 6 6 +1 clams can be illustrated by the observation that clam- Carpinteria State Beach.. 19 30 32 +13 ming slackened only slightly during the time the inter- Hobson County Park. -.-. 23 15 16 -7 Palm Street, Ventura- .... 4 __ 4 0 tidal was covered with oil in December 1969: at least Leo Carrillo State Beach-. 22 19 16 -6 Corona del Mar ...... 5 18 17 +I2 12 humans were observed with most of their clothes One mile north of Dana and bodies liberally smeared with oil, busily digging Point...... 35 24 31 -4 ______clams.

One mile Gaviota El Capitan Carpintelia IIobson Palm St., Leo Carrillo Corona north of Investigation and Year State Reach State Beach State Beach County Park Ventura State Beach del Mar Dana Point __~- Dawson. 1959-Average 1956- 1959...... 28 25 36 26 18 32 28 31

Neushul, 1967-...... 13 20 29 13 17 14 _. _.

Nicholson and Cimberg, 1969 to 1970 Average ...... 13 7 26 7 4 7 9 14 _____ - __-__ - Percent Decrease1 Between 1956 and 1970...... 54 72 28 73 78 78 68 55

~~ average average ('56-'59) - ('69-'70) 1 Percent decrease = x 100 average '56-'59

Average Number of Species per Visit Dawson 1956-59: 29 (8 stations) Neushul 1967: 17 (6 statjons) Nicholson and Cimberg 1971: 11 (8 stations) 138 CALIJ?ORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES IKVESTIGATIONS

A heavy, persistent cover of sand may also drama- tates. Natural patterns need to be differentiated from tically reduce intertidal populations (Plates 5A, B, disturbed patterns to avoid error in assigning presence 6A), as happened at Leo Carillo State Beach in Jan- or absence of species to conditions observed as a result uary and February of 1970. By February, the plants of human activities. As an example, it is improper that had managed to survive longest (Egregia, men- to attribute the absence of cold water and/or low light ziesii var. laevigata and Macroc ystis pzjrif era) had intensity adapted species to the presence of oil or sew- died back to stumps of stipes. By mid-March 1970, 15 age when the area in question is characterized by young plant and one animal species were recorded warm water and/tor high light intensities. on the uncovered portions of rocks. A similar sandfill If heavily populated industrial centers develop with partial coverage of Egregia and Macrocystis was along R coastline, their use of coastal waters can affect reported by Dawson in February 1958 (Dawson, previously-developed distribution patterns. The ways 1965). in which human acti\Tities affect marine populations Preliminary surveys of the marine flora of the can be arbitrarily divided into two categories based Southern California Channel Islands (Table 11) show on duration of a condition(s) : acute (short term ef- an average number of species (36) obtained at single fects) and chronic (long term effects). Arbitrariness visits that is higher than the averages obt'ained dur- of the above designations is evident if it is pointed ing the mainland studies conducted between 1956 and out that a sufficient number of acute events can ap- 1970 (Table 9). proach and/or equal a chronic state. An acute event may also produce subtle repercussions that outlast its DISCUSSION initial phases. One of the dominant features of the natural distri- General Features of Intertidal Algal Populations in Southern California bution of algae in Southern California is their coinci- dence with areas of predominantly cool or warm water. The physical-chemical setting for marine organisms The northern and southem Channel Islands, two main is established by circulation patterns of oceanic water, current periods, and wind-governed periods of up- runoff from continental areas or other factors govern- welling contribute to a complex circulation pattern. ing nutrient levels and the quality and quantity of Two currents dominate water conditions in Califor- light penetrating to various depths. Given sufficient nia : the California and Davidson currents. Although time, species distribute themselves throughout a geo- the term current brings to mind the image of a river graphical area in patterns corresponding to the or of the Gulf Stream, these two currents on the West stresses (or lack of stresses) the environment dic- Coast are composed of a complex system of gyres and eddies that transports water north (Davidson Cur- TABLE 10 rent) or south (California Current) at velocities usu- Number of Species of Marine Plants Present During ally between 0.25 and 0.5 knots. At the surface, the Winter and Early Summer _____ California Current governs circulation for most of the year. The Davidson Current stays submerged Deeem- 1 All ber June Year Type of (200 m) until late fall and early winter when north Location 1969 1970 1 Total Rocky Substratum winds u7eaken. Under these latter conditions it forms

Gaviota State Beach TABLE 11 (Dawson Sta. 13) ...... 16 18 48 stable rock reef I Preliminary Sampling of the Marine Flora of El Capitan State Beach the Southern California Channel Islands: (Dawson Sta. 40) 8 17 1 34 unstable: large Intertidal and Shallow Subtidal Areas cobbles (1' + dia.) Coal Oil Point Station I Date I Number of Species (New Series 1) ...... 25 stable rock reef

East Cabrillo Beach Santa Rosa Island (Nicholson-Cimberg 1) - 7 metal groin Corral Point- ...... 12/09 31 Between Ford Point and East Point.. 12/09 24 Carpinteria State Beach Santa Crua Island (Dawson Sta. 15)...... 25 stable rock reef Prisoner's Harbor...... 12/69 28 Sniuggler's Cove...... 12/09 33 Hobson County Park Smuggler's Cove ...... 1/70 45 (Dawson Sta. 35) ___._.7 unstable: large Blue Banks Anchorage-- ...... 4/70 61 cobb I es (14 fms: biological chain dredge) Palm Street, Ventura Anacapa Islands (Dawson Sta. 12) ...... 10/09 unstable: large Southern exposure on East Island.. .. 12/69 30 4 cobbles Santa Barbara Island Near Coast Guard Landing ...... 12/69 33 Leo Carrillo St. Beach San Nicholas Island (Dawson Sta. 4) 13 cobble and stable Northwest End...... 12/09 41 rock Santa Catalina Island Isthmus Cove--- ...... 11969-70 68 Corona del Mar I I (Dawson Sta. 9) ...... 12 17 28 stable rock reef Note: Unless otherwise specified, data were obtained by skin and SCUBA One mile north of Dana 11/69 divers at single visits. The Channel Islands are not as well explored aa the mainland, so that species lists are minimal. This investiga- Point (Dawson Sta. 22). 16 33 60 cobble and stable tion added roughly 10% more species to the state's marine flora: rock some of these species are as yet undescribed and some were well- - known, but had not been reported from California. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 139 at the surface close inshore, extending from the tip of One surprising feature of the annual temperature Baja California as far north as Washington. variation in the Channel is that the coldest tempera- Water circulation is further complicated by up- tures occur in May. During May, the California Cur- welling in many areas under the influence of winds rent is strong, sweeping cold water from the North. blowing parallel to the shore. California shares this In November and December, warmer water from Baja circulation pattern with Peru, since both coastlines California moves along close as far as Point Concep- have ranges of mountains that deflect winds into par- tion (the effect of this water is less north of the large alleling the shore. In California, upwelling is particu- promontory), but the effect of warm water is tempered larly strong south of the two large land masses of by upwelling of cooler waters during this time. Sea- Cape Mendocino and Point Conception. Presence of sonal differences in temperature encountered north offshore islands also affects water circulation on the (15°C in August, 10-13°C in March) and south (16- continental shelf (Fig. 3). 20°C in August, 14-15OC in March) of the cape and Two prominent features of the circulation in the different durations of the temperature variations re- Sants Barbara Channel are a large counterclockwise sult in major floral and faunal changes at this point. gyre in the northern part of the Chanhel and a Marine algae favoring cold or warm waters distrib- smaller clockwise gyre in the southern end. These two ute themselves accordingly, with intermediate forms features strongly affect the distribution of marine on the islands of Anacapa, Santa Barbara and the organisms on the Channel shores. southeastern end of . Transition The southern gyre can distribute any floating debris from cold water species (or forms) characteristic of or liquid wastes (at least 30 or more mgd, see Table 1) habitats north of Point Conception to species adapted discharged into the sea at Ventura-Oxnard-Hueneme to warmer waters is more gradual in the Channel to areas south of these settlements. And longshore Islands than on the mainland because cold water drift can move 600 cubic yards of sand a day (con- swept south by the northern gyre allows species char- taminated or clean) south past a given point on a acteristic of the northern California mainland to pen- beach in average weather. etrate farther down the island chain. A number of The northern gyre distributes cold water from re- species found in Baja California are found on the gions north of Point conception along the mainland more southerly Channel Islands of Santa Catalina side of San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island and the and San Clemente. The bulk of the Channel Islands northwestern end of Santa Cruz Island. During Au- algal species are shared with the mainland. gust, a time of warm water (see temperature data in A skeleton outline of the relatively undisturbed dis- Fig. 3), islands influenced by this gyre show an aver- tribution pattern of species that existed around the age of 4°C cooler surface temperatures than the main- turn of the century can be documented from collec- land waters opposite them. tions of W. A, Setchell and N. L. Gardner, and such

+

-0 iao' 40' w' ne0

FIGURE 3. Fall ond winter movements of surfoca waters in the Santa Barbara Channel. These were the currents prevailing at the time of both spills: note that the distribution of oil on the mainland and in the Channel Islands (Fig. 1) coincides with the pattern of flow. Temperature dota are also shown (courtesy of Ronold Kalpock, Department of Geology, U.S.C.). 140 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

an outline is consistent with the circulation patterns and we likely to be found in the near shore sediments. of water briefly discussed above. Since the setting for A major exception to this route from atmosphere to the Southern California marine flora is composed of sediment should be found in those areas where marine a variety of physical, chemical and geographical fac- algae such as lllncrocysfis and diatoms secrete copious tors, it is not surprising that this variety is reflected amounts of mucilages into the surrounding water, in complex distribution patterns. which are then capable of complexing heavy metals. The diversity of the California flora at the turn of In view of the continuous supply of heavy metals to the century may now only be estimated, but Yale the air and a ready mechanism for their introduction Dawson (1959) analyzed collections (intertidal and iuto the marine environment, their impact should be shallow subtidal) from the years 1895-1913 and felt carefully investigated. This investigation was not able that, as a conservative estimate, 60 conspicuous species to corxern itself specifically with the effects of smog made up the state’s marine flora during a given season components such as metals, but they are as important at a specific point on the coast. That this number is as the more readily observable effects of human usage reasonable has been confirmed by findings at the sta- of the beach areas. Mechanical disturbance arises from tions surveyed in the Channel Islands by Nicholson droves of sightseers, collectors, clamniers, etc. (stam- and Cimberg (1971). The most thoroughly surveyed pede effect). All of the above factors have, over the sites have minimum floras of 61 species (Blue Banks past eight decades, become increasingly chronic. Dur- Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island) recorded from a single ing the period under consideration, there have oc- visit and 68 species (all year; Isthmus Cove, Santa curred numerous incidents of acute exposure of ma- Catalina Island). There have been 6 new records of rine populations to toxic materials intentionally or macroscopic algae at Isthmus Cove added in the sea- accident:illy released. Thus the effects of acute inci- son following the 1969-1970 survey by USC, bringing dents such as the Santa Barbara oil spills are super- the total to 74. The usnal number of algal species imposed on responses to chronic conditions and are at one visit in the Channel Islands varies between 28 influenced by antecedent rvents. and 45. Changes (or dynamic equilibria) in the intertidal Island stations ;ire here assumed to represent a are most easily detected by monitoring populations of relatively undisturbed condition, at least on the Pa- firmly attached organisms. Benthic seaweeds and ses- cific side of the islands which is freer than the main- sile or sluggish animals attached to a rocky substratum land side from the influence of materials added to allow repeatable sampling of the same populations the water from mainland sources. The present island over as long a time span as desired. It should be noted flora cannot be assumed to be identical with the hypo- here that investigations in the rocky intertidal are thetical mainland flora of seven decades ago, but it affected by a number of factors related to regular ex- can serve as a model baseline for comparison with posure and inundation ; the area available to sample Dawsoii’s data gathered between 1956 and 1959. The is in a continual state of flux due to uneven tidal major deviation in composition from mainland asso- heights, shifting sand and rocks. There is also a con- ciations that the Channel Islands flora would be ex- tinual change of species composition in the intertidal pected to show, would be a lack of dominance of during the yearly cycle of seasons, making it impera- species adapted to areas enriched by abundant natural tive that samples from one year to the next be com- runoff. In other words, the Channel Islands probably pared on the basis of similar months. Any compara- shared most species with the mainland, but the abun- tive study must have baselines, without which detection dance of certain types was markedly different. of steady states or changes is impossible. In the case The intertidal plants in Southern California offer of the Southern California intertidal, the marine algae an example of populations responding to changing have been the only organisms for which a baseline conditions. There has been a shift from waters unaf- exists. fected by human-produced wastes to waters receiving There have been major changes in the number of nearly one billion gallons per day of assorted dis- species of intertidal plants at specific locations charges (cooling effluents, industrial and municipal throughout most of Southern California. This conclu- wastes, storm rurioff from urban areas) from nu- sion is based on monitoring of 44 rocky beaches estab- merous ocean outfalls (Table l). Dilution of these lished as stations for checks on water quality in discharges is hindered by the restricted circulation 1956-59 (Dawson, 1959), and resurveyed by Neushul between the mainland and the Channel Islands (Fig. (1967) and Nicholson and Cimberg (1971). 3 shows surface water movements in the Northern The dates and locations of these studies make it pos- Channel). Wastes discharged into these gyres may be sible to draw three general conclusions regarding recirculated rather than efficiently diluted. In addi- shifts in the romposition of the intertidal flora. First, tion to changes in water chemistry, intertidal areas the change in number of species over the decade be- are now subject to photochemical smog (the water- tween 1959 and 1969 has been a decline amounting to soluble components of which dissolve on the wet sur- an average value of 63% for the region between Point faces of freshly exposed organisms, concentrating as Conception and Dana Point. Second, the decline was exposure lengthens) the components of smog are thor- well underway by 1967, (Table 9) at least in the oughly mixed into shallow water by waves on the ebb Santa Barbara-Ventura region. Third, while the and flood tides. Because smog-borne heavy metals are Santa Barbara spills of 1969 were responsible for spe- not appreciably water soluble, they probably pre- cific destructive incidents, those oil spills cannot be cipitate soon after their mixing into the water column the cause of the changes that occurred before them in REI’ORTR VOJJliBfE XVI, 1 JUJdY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 141

time or outside their area of influence. The oil spills abundant cover of the slower growing Endocladia and were responsible for kills of seabirds and losses of the perennial rockweeds Pelvetia and Hesperophycus. marine organisms in the upper intertidal when patches In the lower intertidal, Egregia is particularly of their habitat were smothered. And, until the slicks abundant at (immediately were gone, they interfered with the settlement and north of Vrntnra), Point Fermin (near Port of Los establishment of marine populations on rocks. Effects Angeles) and White’s Point (site of 380 mgd dis- of the sunken oil on deep water animals is not easy to charge of sewage and industrial wastes). Young Egre- assess (Fwuchnld, 1971), but the possibility exists that gia sporophytes are abundant (spring and late winter) large areas of sediments were changed in texture up to the 2.5 foot level in the latter two areas and and/or composition sufficiently to disturb their resi- mixed populations of juvenile and mature plants dents. Fanchald (1971) also reports a decrease in bio- grow at least as deep as 35‘ subtidally. Most of the mass of the echiuroid worm Listriolobzts pelodcs in adults occur from 0.5 tide level or lower: all sporo- the area ESE of Santa Barbara from a peak of 2,000 phytes are thicker and more coriaceous than compara- g/m2 (surrounding areas varied between 1,100 and ble plants around Santa Barbara, San Diego and the 1,800 g/m2) in the state survey of 1959 to a present Channel Islands. Egregia is often found interspersed peak value of 800 g/m2 (nearby areas show 8-180 with Macrocystis (for example at Anacapa Island and g/m2). This decline was not attributable to oil seep in Northern California) under relatively activity or to the oil spill, but it does fit a general pic- undisturbed conditions, but it may be a successful ture of decline in many marine populations in South- competitor of Macrocystis under present conditions ern California. However, Hartman (1960) noted that around Point Fermin and White’s Point. Whether or there was a reduced fauna in oil seepage areas near not these small Macrocystis beds (remains of once Goleta (a short distance north of Santa Barbara). vast kelp forests in the Los Angeles region) at these sites are suffering from encroachment of Egregia is a Analysis and Znterpretution of Datu with Respect to worthwhile topic for investigation. the Presence of Oil and Other Znfluences on Another good colonizer has made its appearance in Zntertidal Populations Southern California : the large brown seaweed Xar- The brief list offered below, consisting of factors gnssz~m mnticzcm. This alga was introduced from affecting health of intertidal populations, is intended Japan (probably on shells of young oysters) into the to outline the complex situation from which single Puget Sound region about 1947 (Fensholt, 1955; events (such as oil spills) must be untangled. Scagel, 1956) and worked its way southward into Ore- i) exposure of wet surface films to smog at low gon and Northern California. It first appeared in tide, with probable adsorption and/or absorp- Southern California in spring 1971, where it was tion of heavy metal complexes (Pb is a logical reported from Orange County, San Diego County and possibility), arid-forming moieties and the like Santa Catalina Island. As this Sargassum establishes which concentrate as evaporation proceeds ; itself in the lower intertidal and shallow subtidal, its ii) mixing of smog into the first few feet of sea abundance is being monitored quantitatively. Whether water by wave action, producing a local altera- Sargassum iiaiiticzina represents a potential pest, an tion in water chemistry; interesting addition to the Southern California marine flora or a commercial source of brown algal poly- iii) trampling, clamming, collecting ; saccharides remains to be seen. iv) special events such as flooding, Santa Ana winds Vulnerability of simplified ecosystems to invasion at low tide, storm surf, smothering by sand; and epidemics have been adequately discussed else- v 1 chronically altered water chemistry from mu- where (Hutchinson, 1959 ; Woodwell, 1970) and the nicipal wastes, industrial wastes and storm run- warnings of these authors are pertinent to the situa- off from urban areas; tion that has developed in Southern California. LOSS vi) chronic presence of oil in the Santa Barbara of huge areas of subtidal kelp forests (Limbaugh Ch anri el ; showed in 1955 that at least 125 species of fish associ- vii) selective adhesion of oil to warm, dry surfaces. ated themselves with the “living reef ” of a kelp bed), persistence of rapid colonizers in the upper intertidal With the possible exception of chronir: changes in and the invasion of the lower intertidal-shallow sub- water chemistry and chronic presence of oil through- tidal by a large seaweed from Japan lead to the con- out the floor of the Channel, all the above factors act clusion that a decade-long decline of 63% in variety more intensely in the upper rather than in the lower of intertidal algae has not been a neutral event. Since areas of the intertidal. marine plants are a basic source of food and shelter Viewed in long-range perspective, the Santa Bar- for animals, it is reasonable to suppose that a decline bara oil spills of 1969 are incidents of abuse to coastal in variety and/or quality of food (not necessarily waters that have been subject to chronic human inter- quantity) will have repercussions throughout marine ference for at least seven decades. The downward food webs of the entire southern portion of the state. trend in variety of intertidal plants is a reflection of altered environmental parameters. At least for the Shifts in predation pressures occurring as a result of upper intertidal, the tendency is now for the area to altered food supply of local regions can expose distant be inhabited by species that are aggressive annual relatively undisturbed sites to upsets. For instance, colonizers : Ulva, Enteromorpha, diatom films and dwindling kelp beds yield fewer good fishing grounds GATGOR (note at end of Table 7), instead of normal for large mammals (man included), increasing fre- 142 CBLIE’ORSIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS quency of catches in remaining submarine forests may (as in the case of the smothered barnacles), it is ex- reduce available food, interfering with migratory pat- tremely difficult to distinguish oil-killed from fresh terns of birds and mammals dependent on nearshore water-killed specimens. In the vicinity of active oil foraging. seeps there is also the possibility that there will be What can be said coqcerning the effects of oil on traces of oil in tissues ; simple presence of oil does not intertidal plants in view of the complexity of the guarantee its origin from a spill. background against which they must be interpreted ? Laboratory investigations do, however, show a po- The best field evidence for chronic influence of oil tential for certain fractions of oil to interfere with comes from comparison of populations at Coal Oil photosynthesis (Clendenning, 1964). Even if this Point, Carpinteria State Beach and the beach one interference is slight, it may be sufficient to upset the mile north of Dana Point (Fig. 2; Tables 4-7). TWO delicate balance between photosynthesis and respira- observations are noteworthy : the plants present in tion, gradually producing a loss of vitality in vegeta- largest numbers may be oil tolerant or oil evading, tive and reproductive phases. The latter effects are particularly in the upper intertidal (given the small best observed in detail in the laboratory, since slow solubility of crude oil fractions in sea water, and or subtle changes in vitality are not easily observed long exposures, there is greater opportunity for oil quantitatively in the field. films to cling to warmed and dried organisms in the upper intertidal) and there are fewer species than at Summary of Observations and Conclusions Carpinteria or near Dana Point. Lower intertidal General or Long-term Trends : plant species are the main contributors to variety 1) There has been an average decline of 63% in at Coal Oil Point. variety of species of intertidal algae in South- That Carpiriteria State Beach is inshore of an oil ern California (1956-1970). seep area cannot be ignored, but other than during oil spill periods, slicks and their accompaniment of 2) The decline mentioned above was underway petroleum smell were not observed. Table 3 shows by 1967 at, least in the Santa Barbara-Ventura that occurrence of oil patches at Carpinteria is about region and continued in 1969-70 in the larger half that at Coal Oil Point and its presence is spo- region between Point Conception and Dana radic. Carpinteria has slightly fewer but more abun- Point. dant species than the beach near Dana Point, pos- 3) Substantial losses in area of kelp forests, partial sibly reflecting the greater occurrence of oil at Car- replacement of semi-permanent high intertidal pinteria. Additionally, in spite of the presence of species such as Endocladin, Pelvetia, Hcspcro- natural oil, exposure to two oil spills and flooding phycus by algal films (GATGOR and diatoms), in the winter of 1969, Carpinteria may be a healthier Clva and Enteronzorpha which are fast-growing beacah (28% decline in algal variety over a decade) annuals along with the invasion of lower inter- than the beach near Dana Point (55% decline for the tidal-shallow subtidal areas by Saryassuni niuti- same period) which is nearer large sourccs of dis- czm from ?Japan point to developing instability charged wastes. There are a number of ways in which of associations of macroalgae. populations may register damage ; the percent oc- 4) It is suggested that altered air and water chem- currence data from Carpinteria and the Dana Point istry since the turn of the century combined area raise the interesting possibility that species with mechanical disruption of intertidal areas abundance decreases prior to loss of a species. In by public use have created an environment regard to the way in which the phrase “loss of a favoring the development of instability among species” is used here, there is no intention of con- marine algal populations. cluding that any of the missing species will never return to these sites: but it is noteworthy that their Observed Effects of Crude Oil : occurrence is sufficiently erratic and patchy for them 1) Barnacles that settled on weathered patches of to disappear for significant periods from their normal oil were xashed away when their substratum habitats. eroded away after further weathering. In comparing the spring months of 1969 and 1970, 2) Sessile organisms (algal films and barnacles) there is an indication that the beaches affected by were smothered by discontinuous patches of oil. oil spills (Gaviota to Hobson) and runoff in 1969 recovered more variety of species than the four south- 3) Oil adhered selectively in the upper intertidal ern beaches also affected by runoff (Table 8). This rather than in the lower intertidal due to conclusion implies simultaneous damage from oil and greater length of exposure and consequent fresh water, which both produce dead and bleached warming and drying of the former. algae (as at Catalina in January and December 1969- 4) Chronic presence of oil (Coal Oil Point) in the 70 after the second oil spill: see Nicholson and Cim- intertidal produces a beach with fewer plant berg, 1971). Except in cases where oil is observed species, but those that can tolerate or evade the present long enough to smother or injure living tissue effects of crude oil are highly abundant. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 143

PLATE 1A. Carpinteria State Beach at the time of the December 1969 spill, showing frothy oil an sand.

PLATE 16. Bleached algae (white patches in foreground) at Carpinteria State Beach in late winter of 1969. 144 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

PLATE 2A. East Cabrillo Beach (Santa Barbara) in March 1969: cleanup operations employing chopped straw broadcast on crude oil.

PLATE 2B. East Cabrillo Beach Station line: 7-foot section of metal grain smashed by storm surf in December 1969. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 145

PLATE 3A. Oiled barnacles in the upper intertidal ot Coal Oil Point.

PLATE 38. Middle and lower intertidal at Coal Oil Point (near Galeto) showing large areas covered by the sea anemone Anfhop/eura. The dominant marine plants are Phyflospadix, Ulva and Gigartina. 146 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

PLATE 4A. Hobson County Park: improved facilities for camping completed in June 1969 attracted droves of clammers. Activity shown here is typical of each low tide-including low tides when the beach was covered by oil.

PLATE 4P. The beach at Palm Street, Ventura with green algal and diatom cover on exposed cobbles. Scene is west of Dawson’s original station line, which was covered by sond in 1969-1970. REPORTS VOLUME XVI, 1 JULY 1970 TO 30 JUNE 1971 147

PLATE 5A. Leo Carrillo State Beach (Arroyo Sequit): onset of sandfill in winter 1969-1970. The kelps Egregia and Macrocyrtis protrude through the sand.

PLATE 5B. Leo Carrillo State Beach in February 1970: sandfill has smothered kelps, leaving behind scattered stumps of stipes. 148 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE OCEANIC FISHERIES INVESTIGATIONS

PLATE 6A. Leo Corrilb State Beach in March 1970 after sand had been partially cut away, re-exposing rocks which were quickly repopulated.

PLATE 68. Corona del Mar: oil from an undetermined source on rocks in the upper intertidal. This beach is subject to heavy foot traffic and was the oiliest of the four southern beaches in this survey. REPORTS VOJ,UhIE SVI. 1 JIJLY 1970 TO 30 JIJNE 1951 149

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