A Taxonomic Listing Of Soft Bottom Macro- and Megainvertebrates

Southern California Association of Marine Invertebrate Taxonomists

From Infaunal & Epibenthic Monitoring Programs in the Southern California Bight. Taxonomic standardization, assuring that the same name is applied to an organism by different taxonomists each time that organism is encountered, is an important quality control concern in any biological monitoring program. Compatibility of taxonomy-based data generated by agencies and organizations contributing to a regional monitoring program is essential if the full value of these surveys is to be realized. There are two obstacles to achieving the goal of standardization: the complexity and fluidity of invertebrate taxonomy; and the differences in expertise, experience, and opinion of taxonomists involved in monitoring within the region. While these obstacles hinder us from fully achieving this goal, a great deal can be accomplished in its pursuit. Central to that effort is regional cooperation and communication among the taxonomists responsible for the surveys. The Southern California Association of Marine Invertebrate Taxonomists (SCAMIT) was formed in 1982 to promote the study of invertebrate taxonomy and develop a standardized taxonomy of marine invertebrates within the region. Its membership includes most of the taxonomists responsible for conducting infaunal and epifaunal monitoring programs in Southern California coastal waters. SCAMIT's activities include monthly meetings, workshops, and communication of taxonomic information to its membership through a newsletter and website (www.scamit.org). This list of invertebrates from benthic habitats of the Southern California Bight (SCB) is a contribution of SCAMIT toward the development of regionally coordinated monitoring within the Bight. This edition updates Edition 5 of July 2008, and continues SCAMIT's efforts to compile and maintain a list of species for which taxonomy is standard within the region. That is, a list of species names that are uniformly and consistently applied to organisms in research and monitoring programs within the Bight. Like earlier editions, this is a conservative document constrained by both the information base from which it is derived and by the criteria for including a taxon on the list. This sixth edition adds organisms encountered in infaunal and epifaunal surveys conducted subsequent to the compilation of Edition 5 and incorporation of nomenclatural changes prompted by recent revisionary studies. Notably, this edition incorporates species reported from the 2008 Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program (B’08), which included benthic samples to depths of 1000m in nearshore basins, and megainvertebrates from trawls to depths of 500m in the Bight as well as numerous samples from bays and estuaries. It also incorporates records gleaned from the California Fish and Game Introduced Species Surveys which originated within the area of coverage. Caution is required in the use of this or any other "master species" list. Taxonomic listings do not in themselves constitute standardization of taxonomic usage. They are only tools that contribute to standardization, both as a product and in the process of their development and maintenance. Those responsible for developing regional monitoring should not attempt to impose on contributing surveys an artificially rigid taxonomy based upon a static list of standard names. Such an approach would inevitably lead to poorer quality survey data. Some differences in taxonomy and nomenclatural usage will continue to appear in data sets originating from contributing surveys. Most of these will reflect either change in the species encountered or new revisionary work. Some will represent non-standard usage despite efforts such as this listing and other activities of SCAMIT....