Characterization Of Sandy Beaches And Adjacent Surf Zones, California North Coast MPA Baseline Study, 2014 To 2015

We combined taxonomically detailed surveys of macroinvertebrates and birds with targeted sampling of regionally important focal taxa including surf zone fishes, kelp and sand crabs; physical and biological metrics of the habitat; and activities of people on the beaches to develop an integrated understanding of the important ecosystem processes structuring northern California beaches. Our baseline study program consisted of the following components:

Nine monthly surveys (from September 2014 through May 2015) of birds, macrophyte wrack (detached marine vegetation such as seaweeds, surfgrasses and seagrasses that are deposited on the beach), human use and physical characteristics of 12 sandy beaches and their adjacent surf zones (6 MPA and 6 reference sites);

A one-time, comprehensive survey of intertidal invertebrate biodiversity during summer 2014 of the 12 focal sandy beaches;

A comprehensive baseline survey of redtail surfperch (Amphistichus rhodoterus), including diet analysis, at nine sandy beaches (4 MPA, 5 reference sites) over two years;

Targeted monthly surveys of sand crabs (Emerita analoga) done concurrently with redtail surfperch surveys on three long beaches for three months; and

Sampling of night smelt (Spirinchus starksi) spawning aggregations from nine beaches (5 MPA, 4 reference) during spring and summer over two years.
Organization: State of California
Last updated: 2021-09-08T16:18:00.930952
Tags: 2014, 2015, baseline, beaches, biota, california, california-ocean-protection-council, ecological-data, environmental, marine-protected-area, monitoring, mpa, north-coast, oceans, surf-zones