Bull Kelp Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Database, Northern California, 1971-2023

Study Extent

The Kelp Forest Monitoring data record span surveys across 28 years from 1971 through 2023 at 20 locations on the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast, Northern California. Years without data, inclusive: 1972-1985, 1987, 1988, 1993-1998, 2002, 2020, 2021. These surveys are ongoing and are conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife dive team with participation from dive program partners at UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, Cal Poly Humboldt, Sonoma State and other dive programs and volunteers. Not all sites were surveyed in all years. Surveys prior to 2003 were not conducted by the same teams or with the same methods except that all surveys were done using Scuba along 30 x 2m transects randomly placed in the subtidal zone in rocky habitats dominated by bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, forests. These randomly placed band transects surveys were stratified by depth (A=0-15, B=16-30, C=31-45, D=46-60 ft) as we know sea urchin and abalone populations differ by depth.

Sampling

Scuba divers that are certified by the CDFW and/or the American Academy of Underwater Sciences trained are used to conduct the surveys. Divers must be trained in underwater survey techniques and be able to locate and identify cryptic species including two species of sea urchins and three species of abalone. Diver safety takes precedence over data collection. Once trained, divers are assigned to randomly-selected GPS way points within designated depth strata: A: 0-15ft, B:16-30ft, C:31-45ft, and D:46-60ft. Divers typically complete 8-9 transects within each of the four depth strata ranging from 0-60 feet at each site. Divers swim along transect areas measuring 30 x 2m in area across the rocky reef. All transects are in habitat which is dominated (>70% rock) by rocky reef. Two divers (a dive team) work together to count and measure organisms along the transect with each diver sampling a 1-meter swath on either side of the 30 m tape for a total survey area of 60 m2. On average 30% of the divers working with CDFW divers are volunteer citizen science divers or scientific divers belonging to other California science dive programs such as the University of California, California State University system or NOAA divers. Data collected on the transects include depth of transect, number, size and species of abalone and urchins, number of associated species and predators, substrate, algal type percent cover. Emergent sampling focuses on emergent, exposed, or slightly cryptic animals but visible without turning rocks or the use of a flash light. Where needed divers mark abalone shells with yellow forestry crayons to avoid duplicate counts and measures. Data that is needed from each dive is specified on waterproof datasheets which the divers fill out. Upon return to the boat data sheets are checked by the lead diver to ensure accuracy and readability for the first quality control check.

Method steps

1. For a detailed description of the methods, see the .RTF metadata files at this link: https://opc.dataone.org/view/doi:10.25494/P66W3J

1. Holothuroidea
   rank: class
2. Nudibranchia
   rank: order
3. Mollusca
   rank: phylum
4. Clionaida
   rank: order
5. Demospongiae
   rank: class
6. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
7. Asteropseidae
   rank: family
8. Pectinida
   rank: order
9. Trochida
   rank: order
10. Clionaidae
    rank: family
11. Actiniidae
    rank: family
12. Decapoda
    rank: order
13. Chromista
    rank: kingdom
14. Echinasteridae
    rank: family
15. Neogastropoda
    rank: order
16. Asterinidae
    rank: family
17. Porifera
    rank: phylum
18. Cucumariidae
    rank: family
19. Cerianthidae
    rank: family
20. Dorididae
    rank: family
21. Cancridae
    rank: family
22. Plantae
    rank: kingdom
23. Animalia
    rank: kingdom
24. Perciformes
    rank: order
25. Paguridae
    rank: family
26. Dendrochirotida
    rank: order
27. Chitonida
    rank: order
28. Forcipulatida
    rank: order
29. Laminariales
    rank: order
30. Lottiidae
    rank: family
31. Tetractinellida
    rank: order
32. Sebastidae
    rank: family
33. Tethyidae
    rank: family
34. Florideophyceae
    rank: class
35. Champiaceae
    rank: family
36. Styelidae
    rank: family
37. Valvatida
    rank: order
38. Goniodorididae
    rank: family
39. Laminariaceae
    rank: family
40. Pholidae
    rank: family
41. Phaeophyceae
    rank: class
42. Actiniaria
    rank: order
43. Tonicellidae
    rank: family
44. Chordata
    rank: phylum
45. Rhodymeniales
    rank: order
46. Rhodophyta
    rank: phylum
47. Jordaniidae
    rank: family
48. Spinulosida
    rank: order
49. Lepetellida
    rank: order
50. Solasteridae
    rank: family
51. Bivalvia
    rank: class
52. Ascidiacea
    rank: class
53. Cottidae
    rank: family
54. Tetillidae
    rank: family
55. Mopaliidae
    rank: family
56. Synallactida
    rank: order
57. Ovalentaria incertae sedis
    rank: order
58. Asteriidae
    rank: family
59. Acmaeidae
    rank: family
60. Tethyida
    rank: order
61. Haliotidae
    rank: family
62. Stolidobranchia
    rank: order
63. Pectinidae
    rank: family
64. Varunidae
    rank: family
65. Sclerodactylidae
    rank: family
66. Lithodidae
    rank: family
67. Tegulidae
    rank: family
68. Echinoidea
    rank: class
69. Polyplacophora
    rank: class
70. Anthozoa
    rank: class
71. Hexagrammidae
    rank: family
72. Ochrophyta
    rank: phylum
73. Spirularia
    rank: order
74. Cephalopoda
    rank: class
75. Camarodonta
    rank: order
76. Malacostraca
    rank: class
77. Buccinidae
    rank: family
78. Embiotocidae
    rank: family
79. Fissurellidae
    rank: family
80. Strongylocentrotidae
    rank: family
81. Stichopodidae
    rank: family
82. Muricidae
    rank: family
83. Octopoda
    rank: order
84. Gastropoda
    rank: class
85. Asteroidea
    rank: class
86. Epialtidae
    rank: family
87. Acanthochitonidae
    rank: family
88. Grapsidae
    rank: family
89. Cnidaria
    rank: phylum
90. Teleostei
    rank: class
91. Echinodermata
    rank: phylum

Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, in northern California, USA