Long-term Monitoring Protocol for Rocky Intertidal Communities of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore, California: Version 1.0

Ammann, Karah; Raimondi, Peter; Becker, Ben; Roberts, Dale; Fong, Darren; Press, Dave; Koenen, Marcus

This protocol is designed to monitor trends in population dynamics of target algae and invertebrate species inhabiting the rocky intertidal zone within the San Francisco Bay Area Network (SFAN) including Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GOGA) and Point Reyes National Seashore (PORE). Rocky intertidal monitoring occurs at two sites at PORE (Santa Maria Creek and Bolinas Point) and three sites at GOGA (Alcatraz, Point Bonita, and Slide Ranch). Monitoring of the rocky intertidal zone of GOGA and PORE date back to the 1990s. Plots were established to evaluate effects of human disturbance (e.g., Point Bonita) and changes associated with pollution (e.g., oil spills) in the area. In 2006, the National Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area joined the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe). The monitoring network is comprised of various government agencies, universities, and private organizations. This network surveys over 110 sites from southern California to northern Washington, with the SFAN intertidal monitoring sites filling in a geographic gap in northern California. As a result of joining MARINe, existing sampling plots within sites were modified to meet standard practices (http://www.marine.gov/). In the revised design, the same number of fixed plots is established in each zone using a random, stratified experimental design appropriate to the highly patchy habitat. Plots and line transects are all “fixed,” or measured in the same location every season. The benefit of this sampling design is that it limits some of the natural variability in the system that can obscure important trends in the data. However, the tradeoff is that it is not possible to extrapolate trends to the whole area without additional corroborative information such as high resolution area-wide photos. This protocol guides all aspects of implementing rocky intertidal monitoring including the sampling design, field methods, data management, reporting, analytical methods, annual budget, and personnel. The contents of this document were largely taken from a monitoring protocol developed for the Klamath Network of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program by Ammann and Raimondi (2008) of the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Center for Ocean Health/Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz. The rocky intertidal habitats at the Klamath Network are similar to those in SFAN. Although field methods were largely taken verbatim from the original protocol, site descriptions, program staffing, and budget sections were modified to describe conditions in SFAN. Data management, data analyses, and data reporting were updated to address new methods. Two designated Lead Project Field Biologists (LPFBs or ‘Project Leads’), one at PORE and one at GOGA, are responsible for coordinating sampling logistics, packing and maintaining gear, and field sampling. Trained Biological Researchers (TBRs) are responsible for assisting the LPFBs with preparations for field work, monitoring, and help with volunteer supervision. A crew of at least four researchers will conduct the monitoring. The SFAN Data Manager will act as one of the TBRs. The SFAN Data Manager will also enter data and produce reports in coordination with the LPFBs. The monitoring involves annual summer sampling of permanent photoquadrats, ochre star (Pisaster ochraceus) plots, and surfgrass (Phyllospadix spp.) transects. Sampling sites are visited during low tides in summer (June/July) at four sites and visited during low tide in fall (October/November) at Alcatraz to avoid disturbing nesting seabird colonies.

Long-term Monitoring Protocol for Rocky Intertidal Communities of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore, California: Version 1.0

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