Kelp Forest Monitoring
PISCO has established long-term kelp forest monitoring sites along the west coast near the collaborating universities (see Where We Work). All monitoring sites are located on shallow (5-20 m depth) rocky bottom habitat and are distributed among oceanographic regions and conditions (e.g., varying degrees of coastal upwelling) as well as inside and outside of existing marine reserves (see Marine Protected Areas page). This allocation of monitoring sites allows us to contrast the structure and dynamics of kelp forest ecosystems in differing oceanographic and fishing regimes.
PISCO's monitoring approach is based primarily on SCUBA diver surveys that quantify the density and abundance of the macroalgae, invertebrates and fishes that constitute kelp forest communities. This approach allows us to quantify both the patterns of abundance of fished ecologically and economically important species as well as characterize changes in the community structure. This information provides insight into the causes and consequences of changes in species and ecosystems resulting from human and natural factors and, as such, directly informs ecosystem-based management of kelp forest ecosystems.
Annual PISCO subtidal community surveys began in 1999 with a total of 14 sites in the central and southern California. With the help of partnerships and collaborations, we have continuously increased the spatial resolution and scale of the monitoring program to include over 60 sites. Central to the success and value of the expansive scale of this monitoring program is the development of survey designs, sampling protocols and training methods that are standardized across all PISCO institutions and partners.
For more information regarding the spatial and temporal coverage of our program, our protocols and procedures including training information and data products and summaries please use the links in the sidebar to the right.