30.3 s%’ . OCS Study MMS 89-0039 BENTHIC RECONNAISSANCE OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OCS AREAS FINAL REPORT 1989 Volume I ,,. ,,. U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Pacific OCS Region OCS STUDY MMS 89-0039 BENTHIC RECONNAISSANCE OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OCS AREAS FINAL REPORT VOLUME I: TECHNICAL REPORT July 1989 Edited by Andrew Lissner Science Applications International Corporation Submitted by Science Applications International Corporation 4224 Campus Point Court San Diego, California 92121 and MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. 2433 Impala Drive Carlsbad, California 92009 This study is supported by Minerals Management Service U.S. Department of the Interior Pacific OCS Region 1340 West Sixth Street Los Angeles, California 92121 Under Contract No. 14-12-0001-30388 PROJECT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM MANAGER Dr. Andrew Lissner Science Applications International Corporation 4224 Campus Point Court San Diego, California 92121 CONTRACTING OFFICER’S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE Dr. Gary Brewer U.S. Department of Interior Minerals Management Service Pacific OCS Region 1340 West Sixth Street Los Angeles, California 90017 PRINCIPAL AUTHORS Dr. Andrew Lissner-Science Applications International Corporation Dr. Arthur Barnett-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Dr. Thomas Johnson-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Dr. Robert Kanter-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Dr. Robert Smith-EcoAnalysis, Inc. CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS Dr. Douglas Diener-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Mr. John Ljubenkov-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Mr. William Watson-MEC Analytical Systems, Inc. Mr. Charles Phillips-Science Applications International Corporation Mr. Dale Roberts-Science Applications International Corporation Ms. Suzanne Benech-Benech Biological and Associates QUALITY REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Donald Boesch-Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Dr. Paul Dayton-Scripps Institute of Oceanography Dr. Gilbert Jones-University of Southern California iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The following individuals are gratefully acknowledged for their outstanding assistance on the program: Technical Review Dr. Robert Kelly - SAIC Mr. Richard Wright - SAIC Ms. Karen Green - Independent Consultant Dr. Craig Smith - University of Hawaii Dr. Gary Taghon Sample Collection Dr. Andrew Lissner - SAIC Mr. Gary Paquette - SAIC Mr. Richard Wright - SAIC Mr. Kelvin Barwick - MEC Mr. Douglas Beanan - MEC Ms. Cheryl Brown - MEC Mr. Troy Delle - MEC Dr. Douglas R. Diener - MEC Mr. Michael Gunnels - MEC Mr. John Ljubenkov - MEC Ms. Suzanne Benech - Benech Biological and Associates Laboratory Analyses Dr. Douglas R. Diener - MEC - Crustacea and Echinodermata Ms. Susan Garner - MEC - Crustacea Ms. Karen Green - Consultant - Polychaeta and Porifera Mr. John Ljubenkov - MEC - Mollusca, Cnidaria, and minor phyla Mr. Larry Lovell - MEC - Polychaeta Mr. Scott Snover - MEC - Sediment Analyses Taxonomic QA/QC Dr. Mary Bergen - SLC - Holothuroids Dr. Rick Brusca - SDMNH - Isopoda Mr. Don Cadien - LJICSD - Gastropoda Ms. Karen Green - Independent Consultant - Porifera Ms. Leslie Harris - AHF - Polychaetes Dr. Gretchen Lambert - CSUF - Tunicates Mr. Tony Phillips - Hyperion Biology Laboratory - Crustacea Mr. Paul Scott - SBMNH - Pelecypoda Dr. Pete Slattery - Moss Landing Marine Laboratory - Crustacea Dr. Bruce Thompson - SCCWRP - Sipuncula Dr. George Wilson - S10 - Crustacea v Production/Graphics Ms. Joan Solinsky - SAIC - Editor Mr. James Stone - SAIC - Word Processing Ms. Mabel O’Byrne - SAIC - Word Processing Ms. Laurie Hughey - SAIC - Word Processing Mr. Dave Poehlman - SAIC - Graphics Ms. Michelle Armstrong - MEC - Word Processing Ms. Julie Ann Schneider - Independent Consultant - Cover Artwork Mr. Joe Zorskie - GeoAnalysis - Graphics vi DISCLAIMER This report has been reviewed by the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region, Minerals Management Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and approved for publication. The opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the report are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Minerals Management Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendations for use. This report has not been edited for conformity with Minerals Management Service editorial standards. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page Title Page . i Project Organization.. .. OO. O...... iii Acknowledgments . v Disclaimer . vii Table of Contents . viii List of Tables . xi List of Figures . .. .. .. .. .. .. xiv VOLUME I - TECHNICAL REPORT 1.0 PROGRAM OVERVIEW . 1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND . 1-1 1.2 OBJECTIVES . 1-3 1.3 SUNMA.RY OF FINDINGS . 1-5 1.3.1 Hard Substrate . 1-5 1.3.2 Soft Substrate . 1-11 1.3.3 Seabirds, Marine Mammals, and Fisheries Activities . 1-15 1.4 RECOMMENDATIONS . 1-16 1.4.1 Survey Methods . 1-16 1.4.2 Analytical Methods . 1-18 1.4.3 Notable Habitats and Species . 1-20 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 2-=1 2.1 OVERVIEW OF SURVEY AREA AND ACTIVITIES . 2-1 2.1.1 Site Selection Criteria . 2-1 2.1.2 Survey Locations . 2-4 4.1.3 Survey Overview . 2-14 2.2 NAVIGATION . 2-17 viii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Section Page 2.3 HARD SUBSTRATE FIELD AND I.ABORATORY METHODS . 2-24 2.3.1 Survey Equipment . 2-24 2.3.2 Field Survey Methods . 2-27 2.3.3 Hard Substrate Laboratory Methods . 2-30 2.4 SOFT SUBSTRATE FIELD AND LABORATORY METHODS . 2-35 2.4.1 Field Survey Methods . 2-35 2.4.2 Laboratory Processing of Soft Substrate Samples . 2-38 2.5 SEABIRD, MARINE MAMMAL, AND FISHING OBSERVATIONS . 2-41 2.6 DATA ANALYSIS METHODS.. 2-41 2.6.1 Multivariate Analyses . 2-42 2.6.2 Univariate Analyses . 2-45 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.. 3-1 3.1 HARD SUBSTRATE . 3-1 3.1.1 Characteristics of the Physical Environment . 3-7 3.1.2 Characteristic Taxa and Biological Communities . 3-16 3.1.3 Community Patterns and Environmental Relationships . 3-31 3.1.4 Large-Scale Spatial Patterns . 3-52 3.1.5 Video and Photoquadrat Methods Evaluation . 3-61 3.2 SOFT SUBSTRATE COMMUNITIES . 3-73 3.2.1 Soft Substrate Environment . 3-74 3.2.2 Soft Substrate Community Summary Variables . 3-85 3.2.3 Patterns in Soft Substrate Communities, Relationships to Environmental Variables, and Tests of Hypotheses . 3-91 3.2.4 Large-Scale Spatial Patterns . 3-146 3.2.5 New Taxa and the Zoogeography of Selected Infauna . 3-165 3.2.6 Analysis of Sample Replication . 3-173 3.2.7 Quality Assurance . 3-181 3.3 SEABIRDS, MARINE MAMMALS, AND FISHING OBSERVATIONS . 3-183 3.3.1 Seabirds . 3-183 3.3.2 Marine Mammals . 3-190 3.3.3 Fishing Observations . 3-192 ix I TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) I Section Page 4.0 REFERENCES . 4-1 AI?PENDIXA Data Analysis Methods . A-1 VOLUME II - TECHNICAL APPENDICES A PLANNED FIELD SURVEY LOCATIONS . A-1 B MMS CARP SHORE STATION GEODETIC INFORMATION . B-1 c HARD SUBSTRATE (ROV TRANSECT) NAVIGATIONAL POSITIONS . c-1 D ROV TRANSECT PLOTS AND COMMUNITY SUMMARY . D-1 E SOFT SUBSTRATE STATION LOCATIONS . E-1 F HARD SUBSTRATE TAXONOMIC LIST . F-1 G SOFT SUBSTRATE TAXONOMIC LIST . G-1 x LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2-1 HARD SUBSTRATE ACTUAL TRANSECT LOCATIONS . 2-9 2-2 SOFT SUBSTRATE ACTUAL STATION LOCATIONS . 2-11 3-1 SUMMARY FROM OBSERVER SURVEY LOGS OF GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HARD SUBSTRATE TRANSECTS . 3-3 3-2 PERCENT OF BAND QUADRATS WITH PRESENCE OF SELECTED PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES ALONG HARD SUBSTFUITE TRANSECTS . 3-9 3-3 ABIOTIC DATA COLLECTED FROM NEAR-BOTTOM WATER ALONG HARD SUBSTRATE TRANSECTS . 3-12 3-4 SUMMARY OF TOTAL TAXA AND TOTAL OCCURRENCES BY TRANSECT AND BASIN FROM ANALYSIS OF VIDEO DATA . 3-18 3-5 SUMMARY OF TOTAL TAXA AND TOTAL OCCURRENCES BY TAXONOMIC GROUP FROM ANALYSIS OF PHOTOQUADRAT DATA . 3-19 3-6 SIMILAR SPECIES OR CLOSELY RELATED GENERA AND SPECIES COLLECTED ON ROCK SAMPLES DURING THE MMS CARP AND PHASE I SURVEYS . 3-43 3-7 RESULTS OF A MANTEL TEST ASSESSING THE PROBABILITIES THAT COMMUNITY DIFFERENCES AMONG BASIN PAIRS ARE SIGNIFICANT . 3-54 3-8 RESULTS OF A MANTEL TEST ASSESSING THE PROBABILITIES THAT COMMUNITY DIFFERENCES AMONG BASIN PAIRS ARE SIGNIFICANT . 3-56 3-9 WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-BAND QUADRAT DISTANCES IN THE ORDINATION SPACE . 3-62 3-1o WITHIN- AND BETWEEN-BAND QUADRAT DISTANCES IN THE ORDINATION SPACE . 3-67 3-11 MEAN DISTANCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SPATIAL SCALES, AND BETWEEN QC REPLICATES FOR POINT-CONTACT DATA . 3-71 3-12 MEAN DISTANCES BETWEEN THE VARIOUS SPATIAL SCALES,.