Coastal Science Review: Issue 3

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center Coastal Science Review Tomales Bay Biodiversity Inventory Update The 3rd year of the Tomales Bay Biodiversity Inventory (TBBI) has brought with it many exciting and notable results. A new species to science, a beta-version water quality database for the Tomales Bay Watershed Council, native oyster restoration experiments, algae and invertebrate inventories, and the most complete freshwater invertebrate inventory of Lagunitas Creek in 25 years! Add on to this the numerous scientists working on green crab removal, invasive tunicate monitoring, and eelgrass health, and the TBBI is helping to provide the research needed to understand and protect Tomales Bay into the future. Tomales Bay Species Diversity In the Fall of 2003, the Tomales Bay Biodiversity Inventory had documented 1,623 Diversity of species in Tomales Bay, California by Phyla group species in the Tomales Bay area. A year later that number had grown to 2,006 species Someday our observations will peak and the late spring! This dieback was likely due documented and the prediction from two annual fluctuations in species totals based on to the above average sea temperatures this years earlier that "it is expected as further effort should dampen. Unfortunately, around year, as well as additional rain that may investigation and discovery of microscopic or the world, both extinctions and invasive have reduced the salinity of Tomales Bay. otherwise obscure organisms takes place, the species introductions continue to play an While this temporary dieback is a welcome percentages of less well represented phyla alarming role in reshaping entire ecosystems. reprieve, our consultations with experts will grow and the 'slice of the pie' for larger Thus, many new species found in the bay are have carried the warning: "It will be back!" groups will shrink" has come true. Diatoms likely to be recent invaders. exemplify this perfectly. A year ago, diatom Nebalia kensleyi observations had made up only a portion of Didemnum lahillei the percentage of "Other Phyla." Within that Since our last issue of Coastal Science time an effort to sample and identify diatoms Students from the Tomales Environmental Review, the new species of crustacean resulted in 189 species added to the catalog of Learning Center at Tomales High School found in the eelgrass beds of Tomales Bay observations, claiming eight percent of the monitored Didemnum (an invasive tunicate has been given an official scientific name species now confirmed to live in the bay. Also that overgrows native biodiversity) regrowth and been described in the Proceedings of in that time, species unknown to science have from removal plots at Nick's Cove during the the Biological Society of Washington. The been described such as Nebalia kensleyi, a Spring of 2005. To their surprise after thick lead author, Todd Haney, has named the shrimp like crustacean called a leptostracan. and rapid growth during January-March, species Nebalia kensleyi, in memory of a almost all of the tunicate disappeared during recently deceased friend. The official newsletter of the Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center • Fall 2005 Issue 3 Coastal Biophysical Inventory Nears Completion Pacific Coast Science and In 2002, Point Reyes National Seashore GIS Biologist Dave Schirokauer and University of Learning Center Works with California-Davis graduate student Rhea Presiado began an ambitious effort to rapidly Tomales High School Mapping inventory the geomorphology, algae and invertebrates of the entire outer coasts of Point Project Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate The Pacific Coast Science and Learning and photographed the perimeter of the National Recreation Area. This information will be critical for assessing any damage caused Center (PCSLC) collaborated with the watershed twice and established features in by oil spills or other catastrophic events that Tomales Environmental Learning Center the landscape not revealed in the original threaten the California coastline. By 2005 (TELC) at Tomales High School to educate map files. The result was a final map of their about 50% of the coastline was completed and students about using GIS (Geographic local sub-watershed map that included their entered into a spatial database (designed by Information Systems) and GIT (Geographic high school campus. Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center GIS Information Technology) in characterizing Specialist Joe Kinyon) for rapid query in case In addition to using GIS and GPS software of catastrophe. The database received its first their local watershed for future water quality test when a wayward ship, the Christopher M, analysis projects in the community. and hardware, the students learned basics of ran aground at Bolinas Point in May. The GIS project management, fundamental database quickly revealed the range of algae Over a three month period, six students met principles of geography, cartographic skills and invertebrate life that might be affected by weekly with the GIS database manager of the and a visceral appreciation for the the wreck. PCSLC and worked independently during transformation of field collected data into a computer map display. Bill McMillon, The final survey work will occur over the next another weekly session. The students focused two years through a grant from California their studies on the interrelationship between director of TELC, had this to say about their Department of Fish and Game (Office of Spill people, software, hardware, methodologies experience, "The students worked diligently Prevention and Response) and will be and data in a GIS project. Their project goal under the direction of Joe Kinyon, and performed in partnership with marine ecology was to map the watershed of a tributary of learned material that will be helpful to them experts from the University of California- Keyes Creek (a major tributary in the Tomales in the future as they explore other disciplines, Santa Cruz. Bay watershed) which includes the Tomales in addition to gaining a better understanding High School Campus. In order to complete of their local watershed." the task, the students built a foundation of GIS knowledge including ESRI’s ArcView 3.3 The students’ work is documented in an GIS analysis and hydrology modeling tools, online project log at g GPS (Global Positioning Systems), and http://tomaleshigh.kinyon-gis.com/ handheld mapping software. They walked index2005.html. .californiacoastline.or Copyright © 2002-2005 KennethAdelman, & California Gabrielle Coastal Recordswww Project, The database can quickly deliver habitat types, algae, and invertebrate species found along each color coded transect (Bolinas Point, CA). Tomales Environmental Learning Center students work with Joe Kinyon to process field data and learn fundamental GIS lessons necessary to build a map of their local watershed. 2 Coastal Science Review Monitoring Northern Spotted Owls in Marin County Since 1998, Point Reyes National Seashore has Science, Marin Municipal Water District, and (Strix varia) which displaces spotted owls, monitored the federally threatened northern Marin County Open Space District). are all biological threats to the continued spotted owl (Strix occidentalis existence of Marin County's spotted owl caurina ) population in Marin County, Although the occupancy of northern spotted population. California as part of a long-term vital signs owls at historic nesting sites in Marin County monitoring program. Marin County has remained constant (at approximately 90% Data collected during the 2005 breeding represents the southern limit of the northern at the 46 long-term monitoring sites since season show that 63% of the northern spotted owl's range which extends from 1998) this southern population of spotted owls spotted owl pairs attempted nesting in Marin British Columbia into Northern California. face a unique set of threats. While the Marin County. Sixty-eight percent successfully The objectives of this program are to County spotted owl population does not face nested, yielding a total of 21 offspring at the determine long-term trends in occupancy and large scale habitat alterations more common 13 successful spotted owl nest sites. The 2004 productivity of spotted owls through in the Pacific Northwest as a result of breeding season generated similar results with monitoring known spotted owl sites on commercial logging, the spotted owl habitat of a total of 21 offspring produced at 12 federal, state, county, and water district lands. Marin County is under continual pressure successful nests. The long-term northern Partners in the joint monitoring program from urban development along open space spotted owl monitoring program in Marin include locations where northern spotted boundaries, intense recreational pressures, County continues to provide valuable owls occur throughout Marin County (Point and the spread of diseases such as Sudden information for environmental reviews for Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods Oak Death. In addition, possible genetic resource management, maintenance, and fire National Monument, Golden Gate National isolation, West Nile Virus, and the continued management projects. Recreation Area, PRBO Conservation range expansion of the barred owl Partnering Education and Science To Save Threatened Species Since 1995, Point Reyes National Seashore coastal dune restoration efforts at Abbotts presence and education efforts are playing a and PRBO Conservation Science have been

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