erials |H 105 0.1. 4116-50 meorHeERN -CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ISSN 0038-3872 LLETIN Volume 105 Number 1 ~ wf 5 - eh : as bak all E in at ye! > 2 hal bi ‘ Mi ‘greed. “ay es Yue. tan OMe Sm eR i aces Si - BCAS-A105(1) 1-42 (2006) April 2006 Southern California Academy of Sciences Founded 6 November 1891, incorporated 17 May 1907 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 OFFICERS John Dorsey, President Brad Blood, Vice-President John Roberts, Secretary Daniel A. Guthrie, 7reasurer Daniel A. Guthrie, Editor Ralph G. Appy, Past President Robert Grove, Past President David G. Huckaby, Past President Daniel J. Pondella, Il, Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2003-2006 2004-2007 2005-2008 M. James Allen Brad Blood Jonathan N. Baskin JohnH. Dorsey Donald G. Buth John Roberts Judith Lemus Robert S. Grove Gloria J. Takahashi Karen Martin Kathy Keene Andrea Murray Susan Yoder Edith Reed Pnicippa Drennan Membership is open to scholars in the fields of natural and social sciences, and to any person interested in the advancement of science. Dues for membership, changes of address, and requests for missing numbers lost in shipment should be addressed to: Southern California Academy of Sciences, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Prmtessional Members... 3.0 is.c 5) Di ee os a ee ce Sl ee ee $35.00 Student Members Memberships in other categories are available on request. Ob ON) el Te ee, ve et em cae ce te oo eee Se: ee cel oe fee fe Ve ge) je; Whe fen Ger “Mei tos We “Tel eu ie Te? eh et els fe am cee ee Oe Fellows: Elected by the Board of Directors for meritorious services. The Bulletin is published three times each year by the Academy. Manuscripts for publication should be sent to the appropriate editor as explained in “Instructions for Authors” on the inside back cover of each number. All other communications should be addressed to the Southern California Academy of Sciences in care of the Natural His- tory Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Date of this issue 27 March 2006 © This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES DEC - 2 2008 LIBRARY BOOKS OF INTEREST Floating Islands: A Global Bibliography, with an Edition and Translation of G.C. Munz’s Exercitatio academica de insulis natantibus(1711) by Chet Van Duzer Hardcover, 6 x 9, 428 pages with indices and 24 illustrations ISBN 0-9755424-0-0 $44.95. Cantor Press This book is a unique treasury of information about one of nature’s marvels: floating islands. The bibliography contains more than 1800 citations of books and articles in twenty languages on the subject; the entries are annotated and cross-referenced, and there are both thematic and geographic indices. All aspects of floating islands are addressed, including the formation of floating islands, the causes of their buoyancy, their role in the ecology of lakes and wetlands, their flora and fauna, their role in the dispersal of plants and animals, and methods for controlling and managing them. Works are also cited on artificial floating islands used for agriculture, human habitation, wildlife habitat, and improvement of water quality; and floating islands in literature, myth, and legend. The book includes the text and English translation, with detailed notes, of G.C. Munz’s rare 1711 thesis on floating islands, Exer- citatio academica de insulis natantibus, as well as photographs of several floating islands. The Salton Sea; Geology, History, Potential Problems, Politics and Possible Futurues of an Unnatural Deert Salt Lake. Larry C. Oglesby Memoir of the Southern California Academy of Sciences, Vol. 10. Copies available from the Academy for $15 from; Daniel A. Guthrie To Wem. Keck Science Center 925 N. Mills Ae Claremont, CA 91711 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from California Academy of Sciences Library http://archive.org/details/bulletin8838sout Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(1), 2006, pp. 1-16 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 An Annotated Bibliography of References to Historical Distributions of Pronghorn in Southern and Baja California David E. Brown,! Jorge Cancino,” Kevin B. Clark,** Myrna Smith,* and Jim Yoakum? 'School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501. (debrown@ imap3.asu.edu) *Centro de Investigaciones Bioidgicas del Noroeste, S. C. Apartado postal 128. La Paz, 23090, Baja California Sur, Mexico. (jcancino04 @ cibnor.mx) 3*U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA 92011. (Kevin_Clark@ fws.gov) 4P.O. Box 18705, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269 (mlefever @ qwest.net) >Western Wildlife, P.O. Box 369, Verdi, NV 89439 Abstract.—Recent pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) translocations to southern California and the establishment of captive populations of endangered desert pronghorn have revived interest in the historical occurrence of pronghorn in the Californias. Adding to this interest is the recent widespread replacement of coastal sage scrub vegetation in southern California by annual grasslands more favorable to pronghorn. We have searched the scientific and popular literature, as well as museum collections, to locate pronghorn antelope occurrences from below San Francisco Bay southward through the Baja California peninsula. Our results show that pronghorn were widely distributed, and often abundant, on nearly all of the plains and valleys on both sides of the Coastal and Peninsular ranges to at least as far south as the Magdalena Plain. Although the U.S. Geological Survey lists more than 30 ‘‘Antelope’’ place names in California south of Parallel 38° North,° pronghorn were extirpated from southern California prior to 1950, and the species is now endangered in Lower California (O’Gara and Yoakum 2004). Then, beginning in 1987, translocated pronghorn were reintroduced to San Luis Obispo, Kern, and Los Angeles counties in southern California (Koch and Yoakum 2002). Captive populations of the en- dangered Antilocapra americana peninsularis in Baja California Sur and Antilo- capra americana sonoriensis in southwest Arizona have also been established with the intention of eventually restoring desert pronghorn to historic habitats. These efforts, at least some of which appear to be successful, coupled with the recent replacement of large areas of coastal sage scrub by annual grasslands more conducive to pronghorn (Weislander 1934; Minnich and Dezzani 1998) prompted us to aid in the evaluation of additional releases by documenting the historic occurrences of “‘antelope”’ and berrendos in southern California, Baja California and Baja California Sur. Methods Contacted museums included the American Museum of Natural History in New York (AMNH), Natural History Museum in London (BMNH), California Acad- * Corresponding Author © One in Inyo County, 8 in Kern County, 9 in Los Angeles County, 5 in Mono County, 2 in Riverside County, 3 in San Benito County, and 3 in San Bernardino County. | i) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES emy of Sciences (CAS), Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CM), Field Mu- seum of Natural History (FMNH), Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM), Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard (MCZ), Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), San Diego Museum of Natural History (SDNHM), Universidad Autonoma de México (UNAM), U.S. National Museum (USNM), and Burke Museum of Natural History at the University of Washington (UWBM). Literature sources were sought in both the popular and scientific literature giving the approximate dates and locations of pronghorn observations in southern Cali- fornia and lower California prior to 1950. Publications especially helpful in this endeavor were Jim Yoakum’s (1967) annotated bibliography on the species, Mor- ris Heller’s (1997) bibliography of hunting books, and Eric Mellink’s (2000) bi- ography of collector Edward Funcke. The following bibliography, while compre- hensive, is not exhaustive, and other sources, especially those in Spanish and referring to the Spanish period, remain to be uncovered. Results In addition to the museum specimens shown in Table 1, we have assembled the following historic references to pronghorn in the Californias south of San Francisco Bay: Anderson, H. T., Jr. 1932. The pronghorn antelope. California Fish and Game 18: 258-259. Anderson reports on recent pronghorn sightings in the Mojave Desert near Randsburg and in Antelope Valley. Anderson, H. T., Jr. 1934. The pronghorn antelope in Los Angeles County, Cali- fornia Fish and Game 20:91—92. A total of seven pronghorn was reported in Los Angeles County in July, 1932. By December 1933 only four does could be located in the rolling low hills of Antelope Valley. With no males present it was apparent that the county’s prong- horn would soon be extirpated. Bolton, H. E. 1927. Fray Juan Crespi, Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774. University of California Press, Berkeley. While crossing the Salinas Valley on September 27, 1769, Father Crespi re- ported: “‘We saw in this day’s march two bands of antelope some distance from us,’ and the next day, near the present site of Greenfield (Gordon 1979), “‘some bands of antelope were seen but not within gunshot.” Brewer, W. H. 1930. E Farquhar, ed. Up and Down California in 1860—1864. University of California Press, Berkeley. Near New Idria, east of Tres Pinos, San Benito Co., while in the valley of Little Panoche Creek, Brewer reported that, “‘we came on a drove of ten antelope, the first we have seen. They were very plentiful a few years ago in this state, in large flocks.”’ Earlier, on June 10, 1861, Brewer reports coming upon a herd of “thirty or forty antelope” at Canada del Puerto in Stanislaus County, and later, on June 19, he and his party saw a herd of pronghorn in the San Joaquin Valley near San Luis (Merced Co.) 27 miles from Pacheco Pass. Brewer goes BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES 3) on to report antelope in San Ramon Valley near Mount Diablo (Contra Costa Co.), Pacheco Valley (Santa Clara Co.), and between Visalia and the Kern River in Kern County. Bryant, E. 1848. What I saw in California. D. Appleton and Co., New York. e Bryant reported seeing “several large droves of antelope and deer,” some 40 to 50 miles above the mouth of the San Joaquin River (probably near present day Tracy in San Joaquin County). He also reported that the San Joaquin Plain was furrowed with deep trails of horses, elk, deer, and antelope. Bryant con- sidered antelope as occurring in California in “large numbers” with “large flocks” being present in the Sacramento Valley along the American River. Burcham, L. T. 1957. California range land, an historico-ecological study of the range resources of California. California Department of Natural Resources, Sac- ramento. 261 p. Prior to European settlement, the range lands of California were only used moderately by pronghorn, deer, and elk. Burcham provides several early ac- counts from journals referring to historic pronghorn distribution. “‘“Considered in its entirety, the native animal community had a relatively small effect on the plant cover.” In parts of California, pronghorn were abundant and formed a mainstay of subsistence for the Indians, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley where the animals formed large herds numbering up to 2,000 to 3,000 head. Caton, J. D. 1877. The antelope and deer of America. Forest and Stream Pub- lishing Company, New York. According to Dr. Canfield of Montera [Monterey], antelope were very abundant in the Monterey area’s coastal grasslands from the Coast Ranges down to the sea 25 years earlier [early 1850’s]. Canfield, who attempted to raise pronghorn in captivity, told Caton that “California at this time [ca. 1876] is almost entirely deserted by them.” Cheney, E. S. 1929. California Fish and Game 15:175. Cheney reports on the increasing numbers of pronghorn in California’s north- eastern counties but makes no mention of any animals in central or southern California. Crosby, H. W. 2003. Gateway to Alta California: the expedition to San Diego, 1769. Sunbelt Publications, San Diego, CA. This book quotes Fray Juan Crespi as stating that while riding west on April 14, 1769, along the Rio San Telmo in northern Baja California: “‘there are many antelopes (we saw one group of nine of them together), and many coyotes and deer.” At San Diego, in May, 1769, Alferez Miguel Costanso, who had recently ar- rived by ship, remarks that, “*“There are in the land, deer, antelope, many hares, rabbits, squirrels, wild cats, and rats.” Cudahy, J. 1928. Mananaland: adventuring with camera and rifle throughout Cal- ifornia and Mexico. Duffield Publishing Co., New York. 4 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Contains a lengthy account and several photographs of pronghorn hunting in Baja California, principally in the Tres Pozos and San Felipe areas. A most interesting book as it indicates that pronghorn remained locally common after being protected by Mexican law in 1922. Dasmann, W. P. 1952. Antelope planting investigations. Calif. Dept. Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. 6 p. A report to the California Fish and Game Commission on possible pronghorn translocation sites in California, Dasmann considers few if any of the remaining rangelands in suitable condition for a transplant. De Lewenhaupt, C. A. C. 1933. Sport across the world. Jarrold’s London. Contains a reminiscence of an earlier hunt out of La Paz, “‘towards the plateau of Timales, after having crossed the rough slopes of San Pedro.” Here, the author reports he and his partner killing a buck out of a little herd of antelope, which “‘are now beginning to grow scarce.” Eisen, Gustav. 1895. Explorations in the Cape region of Baja California in 1894, with references to former expeditions of the California Academy of Sciences. Proc. Calit, Acad. Scr, 2° Sen, Vo 733—775. Some of these expeditions undoubtedly reported the presence of pronghorn. Unfortunately, the fire of April 1906 destroyed all of these collections along with any museum records. Elliot, D. G. 1903. A list of mammals collected by Edmund Heller in the San Pedro Martir and Hanson Laguna Mountains and the accompanying coast re- gions of Lower California with descriptions of apparent new species. Field Columb. Mus. Publ. 79, Zool. Ser. 3, No. 12:208. A juvenile male pronghorn is taken near San Felipe, on the Gulf of California. The author also states that “At rare intervals antelope have been observed at Rosarito”’; tracks were seen at San Matias Spring; and the animals ‘“‘occasion- ally come into the Cafion Esperanza for water from the near-lying desert.” Writing in San Quintin, Heller writes that “‘a few occurred until recently west of the bay on the north end of the peninsula west of the town. This was ap- parently their northern range on the Pacific coast. It is not rare on the coast south of this place.” Inland from the coast of San Felipe Bay, he wrote that “ta few antelope inhabit the plains near the bay, but from the number of tracks seen there are probably less than a dozen. No herds of any size occur and they are usually seen singly or in bunches of three or four. The Indians report seeing as many as fifteen occasionally in a band.” Elliot, D. G. 1904. Catalogue of mammals collected by E. Heller in southern California. Field Columbian Museum Publ. 91. Zool. Series. Vol. 3(16):284— 289, Two specimens, a male and a female, were collected in Antelope Valley near the eastern base of Tehachapi Mountains. On page 2 (Plate 41), there is a photograph of a captive female pronghorn near Fort Tejon. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES 5 Heller found a herd of 30 pronghorn in the western edge of the Mohave Desert near the eastern base of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, California, the “remnant of the hundreds that recently inhabited this arm of the desert.” He describes the habitat as a heavy forest of “‘tree-yuccas’’ [Joshua trees],”’ which is flanked by an open adobe plain supporting a scanty growth of bunch- grass and afileria [filaree], including the bases of the bordering hills and moun- tains. These animals used to winter in small, sheltered valleys among the foot- hills where they fawned. He says the horns are shed in early October or late in September and the animals breed in mid-summer. A female taken in the middle of October contained two embryos about 3 months old. He also knew of a herd of 7 ‘“‘on the open plains” of the San Joaquin side of Tehachapi Pass, with another 7 or so farther west near Buena Vista Lake in Kern County and another herd on the Carrizo Plains on the western side of the San Joaquin Valley. He also stated that this species was formerly thought to move freely between the Mohave Desert and the San Joaquin Valley. Ely, A. (Chair). 1939. North American big game. Boone and Crockett Club and Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York and London. Contains a listing of the then highest scoring pronghorn trophies in the Boone and Crockett record book including a buck with 16” horns taken by E. W. Funcke in Lower California. Freeman, Lewis R. 1904-05. A new sportsman’s paradise. Western Field 5(1904): 191-197, 269-271, 352-360; 1905:445—451. Reprinted in the Pacific Monthly in March 1909 in ““The Mountain Sheep of North America.” Reports an abundance of antelope and bighorn on the west slopes of the Sierra Pinta in northeastern Baja California. Fremont, John C. 1849. Notes of travel in California. D. Appleton and Co., New Work. p. 36. Fremont’s impressions of the natural history of mid 19th Century California’s are especially interesting in that they are usually accompanied by botanical descriptions of the forbs and grasses present including California poppy, wild pea, filaree, wild oats, etc. These include the following passage describing the countryside around Tulare Lake in early January in what is now Kern County: “We traveled among multitudinous herds of elk, antelope, and wild horses. Several of the latter, which we killed for food, were found to be very fat.” Funcke, E. W. 1915. The sheep hunting of Lower California. Outdoor Life. Sept. 221-228. Discusses and maps the distribution of bighorn sheep, pronghorn and mule deer in northern Baja California. Funcke, E. W. 1919. Hunting antelope for museum specimens. Field and Stream. March: 834-36. Captain Funcke discusses his guiding and hunting expeditions for pronghorn in Baja California, often at the request of American museums. Funcke was an 6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES accomplished hunter and a relentless collector, securing more pronghorn spec- imens from the region than all other collectors combined. Gordon, B. L. 1979. Monterey Bay Area: natural history and cultural imprints. 2™4 ed. The Boxwood Press, Pacific Grove, CA. Citing old newspaper articles, Gordon noted that in January 1852, ““‘We rode along the hills in the east and northeast side of the Salinas Plains (west base of the northern Sierra Gabilon). .. We saw several bear and plenty of deer and antelope (Salinas City Index, February 15, 1877). And, also in Monterey County: “‘older settlers can remember the time in the Hildrethe and Dunphy herding days when antelope were not uncommon on the Salinas plains from Gonzales southward” (MontereyDemocrat, June 30, 1888: 6). Gordon also cited a 1770 entry near the present site of Chular by Fr. Pedro Fages 1911:149: “‘many herds of antelope; some of them exceeding fifty.” Gordon also cites “Life in California,’’ 1947, (Biobooks, Oakland:69), in which A. Robinson state’s that there were also antelope in the upper drainage of the Pajaro River in the Santa Clara Valley (Santa Cruz County). Graves, J. A. 1912. Out of doors, California and Oregon. Grafton Publ. Co., Los Angeles, CA. In 1876 Graves and an old hunter named Chavin kill two bucks out of a large herd of pronghorn near the Liebre Ranch on Rock Creek, not far from Elizabeth Lake in Los Angeles County. This site, near where Fairmont is located, was then a grassy cienéga. Graves, J. A. 1927. My seventy years in California: 1857-1927. Times-Mirror Press, Los Angeles. Contains a reminiscence of Graves and his partner killing “two fine buck an- telope”’ in the fall of 1876 near Rock Creek in Los Angeles County at the western end of Antelope Valley not far from Rancho Liebre. The following year, Graves and about a dozen others drove a wagon from Los Angeles to Willow Springs, west of Mohave, where they waylaid a large band of pronghorn coming to water and killed 17. Another member of the party claimed the num- ber was 27, the party dressing the pronghorn in the willow trees near the spring. Graves also reported seeing bands of antelope from the train when travelling through Antelope Valley. Grinnell, J. 1933. Review of the recent mammal fauna of California. Univ. Cali- fornia Publ. in Zool.40:209. Pronghorn “‘occurred westwardly at north to Shasta valley, Siskiyou County; centrally to open hills of Contra Costa County and to Salinas Valley, Monterey County; and southerly, at least to piedmont or mesa region where Pasadena ts now located and to San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County. Within recent years only isolated bands exist: largest of these [of several separate bands there] in Modoc region ...; a small band on west side of San Joaquin Valley in western BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES 7 Fresno County [none definitely reported later than 1928]; a very few western arm of Mohave Desert |Antelope Valley] in northern Los Angeles County or southern Kern County; a small herd in northwestern San Bernardino County near Randsburg; and a few individuals on west of Colorado Desert near the Mexican line, in eastern San Diego County or western Imperial County [Nelson 2 5)| ©. Guzman, G., Jr. 1961. Vegetation zones of the territory of Baja California in relation to wildlife. Trans. Desert Bighorn Council 5:68—74. Guzman describes five major biotic zones for Baja California and states that pronghorn now only are found in one of these—the Vizcaino Desert on the Pacific side of the middle of the peninsula. Hall, E. R., and K. R. Kelson. 1959. The mammals of North America. Ronald Press, New York. Shows distribution dots and marginal records for pronghorn in Antelope Valley, CA; west side of Colorado Desert near Mexican border in the vicinity of Cam- po, CA; San Jacinto Valley, CA; Salinas Valley, CA; and Contra Costa County, CA. Marginal records in Baja California are from Canon Esperanza, San Felipe Bay, inland from Santa Rosalia Bay, south beyond Magdalena Bay, Vizcaino Bay, and San Quintin. Holder, C. F. 1906. Life in the open. Sport with rod, gun, horse and hound in southern California. G. Putnam’s Sons, London and Knickerbacher Press, New York. States that pronghorn in large bands can be found near Elizabeth Lake and in Antelope Valley. Yet, in a 1902 map of pronghorn distribution in California prepared by C. H. Merriam, this species is shown as occurring only in north- eastern California and in Imperial Valley. Huey, L. M. 1964. The mammals of Baja California, Mexico. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 13:85—168. The author reports having observed freshly killed pronghorn taken in 1908 and 1909 in El Valle de la Trinidad by a local big game hunter. This valley and other “‘high” valleys such as Valle de Rodeo west of the Sierra San Pedro Martir appear to have been good pronghorn habitat. Huey reports this species as having been extirpated in northern BC and pre- dicted that the pronghorn would be extinct in BCS within 20 years. At the time of his report, the species reputedly could still be found in the desert valleys north and south of Bahia de Los Angeles on the east coast and east of Scam- mon’s Lagoon on the west coast of BCS. Humboldt, A. von. 1811. Essai politique sur le Royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne. ZVOl. Paris, France. Reports pronghorn near Monterey, CA. Humphrey, W. E. 1911-12. Shooting the vanishing sheep of the desert. Outdoor Life 28, Dec. (6):477—487, 29, Jan. (1):3-16. 8 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Humphrey and his wife hunt for bighorn and pronghorn in BC with E. W. Funcke in October and November 1909. He kills a buck pronghorn near Tres Pozos, BC, which was reportedly to be used in a desert display at the University of Washington [now the Burke Museum]. See Table 1. Jaeger, E. C. 1956. Last stand of the pronghorn. Desert Mag. 19 (7):17—18. References are provided for the last known pronghorn observations in Califor- nia’s Sonoran and Mojave deserts. Jaeger, E. C. 1957. The North American deserts. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto; CAS ps 97. States that a few pronghorn were known to roam the plains northeast of the Chocolate Mountains on the plains drained by tributaries of Arroyo Seco or Milpitas Wash prior to 1941 when this area was withdrawn for use by the U.S. Navy. Jaeger, E. C. 1961. Desert wildlife. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, CA. p. 0) Repeats the accusation that the U.S. military was responsible for the extirpation of pronghorn in the Colorado and Mojave deserts of California during WWII. Jones, F. L. 1954. Report on resurvey of proposed antelope planting sites. Cali- fornia Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento. 13 p. A resurvey of the 16 potential translocation sites reported by Dasmann (1952) showed only two to be suitable due to insufficient forage and water. The report also stated that good release sites for desert pronghorn might also be available, but that there was insufficient knowledge of the forage and water requirements of ““Sonoran”’ pronghorn. Kent, W. 1929. Reminiscences of outdoor life. A. M. Robertson, San Francisco, CA. This account is most valuable for its description of E. W. Funcke’s background as a sea otter hunter off of the coast of BC prior to his marrying a Mexican woman and taking up big game guiding as a profession. Funcke guides Kent, accompanied by Stewart Edward White and Samuel H. Adams, into the desert ranges of northeastern BC where “‘scattered” bands of antelope are said to occur and where they kill 60 to 70 bighorn in a little over two weeks time. Kidwell, Art. 1996. Bill McHaney: he found and lost a gold mine. Hi-Desert Mag. Summer: 11. Anecdotal statement by McHaney that when he first arrived in a high valley within today’s Joshua Tree National Park in 1879 that the “valley was full of antelope”’’ and the area’s lush grass was “‘belly-high on a horse.”’ Koch, A. J., and J. D. Yoakum. 2002. Reintroduction and status of pronghorn on the Carrizo Plain National Monument and surrounding areas in southern Cal- ifornia. Proceedings of biennial pronghorn workshop 20:25—41. Documents the introductions and status of pronghorn in the Carrizo Plain, Fort BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES SOd “TWrewyeD ws syouny “M A LT61-99d-7 d vrrsLi WNS) SOd “HWreuyeD s tu O¢ syouny “MA “A 9161 FPI-9T W EVvrsLl WNS) SOd Wreuypedy ‘Bo syouny ‘M “A TT61-99°d-1 W C6csZLl WNSf Sod TWrewyey M “tu C7 syouny{ “M “A 1161-das- | al P6csLl WNS) Sod TWrewyey M “Tu ¢°7 eyouny “M “A 1161-das-] d C6esLl WNSN SOd TWleuyey M “TU ¢°Z syouny “M A 1161-des-¢1 W COC8LI WNSf) Od ‘SOZOd Sel], U “TUT 9 oyouny, “M “A VI61-99H-VC W 6LI EOC WNSN Od *sozod Soly, U “TU / eyouny “MM “A PI6[-Uel-9] 4 SVIeOT WNSN Od ‘SOZOd Soll S “TW g syouny{ “M “A vI6l-uel-8 d PVICOT WNSf Od ‘SOZOdg Soi, S “TU syoun “M “A PI6[-UBl-8 W EVIEOT WNS) Og ‘ajoreded s “tu ¢ eyouny “MA “A PI6[-Uef-9] W ce lLeoG WNSf Od ‘ajoreded s ‘tu ¢ syouny “MA “A PI6[-Uef-9] W CEIEOT WNSN JIISIP OUTBIZIA *SOIINIT] IP 9ONID ‘a UP ITIA p86 ‘Tidy é VL8¢e WVNN) SOd “HrewyeD jo s ‘Tw Q9 eyqoun “M “A ZTI61-SNV-61 A 9LI6l ZAW “AZT OO’ SOd “HWrewyedy Jo s tu Q9 syouny “M A TI61-8NV-7Z W CLI6I ZAW Od ‘eyedeyD quie"yT “D “sey TeolAeIN-8 é OVcOS ZAW Og ‘eedeyD que] “D sey) Teol-1"f-6l W 6£T0S ZAW Od “peprunty s][PA quie"y “D sey) 9C61-99C-Ol G CLOLE ZAW 90d ‘OD ousel{ “RJOpus| JO M “TW QT uoxIq °§ ydasor OT61 FPIN-87 d LSII¢ ZAW UMP ‘OD OUusel{ “BIOpUs|] JO M “TU OQ] uoxIg “§ Yydasor OC6 1 4PIN-8C W OSTIE ZAW SOd ‘yjewuyed reou oyouny ‘M “A Aq payoafoo sayeuray [B1OAQS PUB So[eW IOYIO f SN dq S061 FPIN-97 W S9 ZOW [ys pue uLys VO ‘OD sajasuy soy ‘yorusaN Jo[[9H puntupy €061-190-9T d CSLIT HNWda [THys pue ulrys VO ‘0= sajasuy soT ‘yovusaN Joi[9H punupyA £061-390-91 W OCLIT HNWdA [ys pue ulrys Od ‘edija, ues Jo][9H puntupy C061 4PIN-ST W SOlel HNW4A Sod ‘sofoaiqy vung SsOL H 7 euueH Cd ‘DO 7761 -SNW-€ é OVI SVD usroy yensed pue deo [[ny¢g ‘OD O8aIq ues ‘YaeID Ystq/MyPy wids SO61-APIN-OI dSddv Mel ensied ‘OZ—- OSIIq US ‘spuL[peg OSd1I0g dSddv Ayied pue oyouny “MA uimnasnyy UATYOOIg JO} L [6] Ul pa}sa]]Oo usoysuoid g Jo | A[QIssog Od “S0Z0d Sell, LAydingy “Du LI61 “Yolen W IV6LL HNNV SO1ION uoneo0'T IOJITJOD JeaA/Uuu/pp xoS # ‘oads uonn su] ‘SUOTIDAT[OD Wnesnyy AJOSI{ [RAINIVNY Ul eIUIOFITeD eleg pue eruIOjITeD usJayNoS wo adojayuy UIOYsuoIg “| IQR] SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10 ING vriUsOsIeD vleg = SOg ‘erusosleD eleg = Og ‘vO ‘ssuLids o8all0g ‘yIeg a1k1g Wasag OSaLI0g-ezuy = dSddV ‘AllD Odlxs] ‘OOTXOP Op BUTOUOINY PepIsI9AIU = WYNN ‘uoisuryseAy JO “ATU ‘Wnoasnyy] YING = WANN LOs8eoryD ‘AsOIsTH [eANIeN JO wMasnyy ple = HNWH ‘prearey ‘Aso[ooZ sAneiedwog jo umesny, = ZOW ‘Aspoyog OM ‘AsopooZ awiqoawaA JO winasnyy = ZAW ‘AsJOIsIy [eaMeN Jo wasn [euoneN = WNS2M ‘so9uetg Jo Awaproy eIlUtoyTTeD = SYD ‘AsoIsIHY [einjenN Jo winasnyy ysnug = HNWg ‘Asoisiy [einen jo uinasnyy uvoliauy = HNIWY :suonelAciqqy DO “SOZOd Sol VO— ‘oorxg[egd VO ‘uolayl Woy RD SO “WeuUypED s “Tut O¢ SOP “HPeUeD s “Tu Og SOd “WeueD s “Tur Q¢ SOP “HeueD s “tur Q¢ SOd “WeuUpED s “Tur Q¢ SOd “Wrewyed s “Tu Cp SO “WeuUyED s “TU Cp SOd “WpeuUyeD s “Tu Cp SOd “Wpewyed s “Tur O¢ SOd “Wewypeg w Tu Cp SO “WewyeD s ‘Tu O¢ SOd “WeuyeD s “Tur O¢ SOP “WeuUyED s “Tu O¢ SOd “Weulpey “vo SOd “HeupeD “vo SOd “WeuypeD “evo SOd “WeuUyeD s Tut Cp SOZOdg So1p, WorZ :ATUO [[NYS A[UO [[NYS SION uoneoo'] ‘ponunuog “| aqeL Aaryduiny “AM Jasulg fd snuex ‘f ayouny ayoun ayoun{ ayouny ayouny ayoun ayouny ayouny youn ayoun youn oyouny oyouny oyoun ayoun ayoun ayoun BESS SESE SEE SESE ES poi coh cod hd hdd dd ddd hd IOJDIT[OD S061 FPIN- EC T1161 AON ZT161-994-91 TIGI-APIN-0Z TIGI-APIN-F TIGI-APIN-61 T161-APIN-07 TI61-uNyg-¢ TI6I-UNy-g TI6I-UN-8 TIGI-APIN-SI TI61-APIN-F ZI61-9294-81 ZT161-994-91 T161-994-91 TI61-G2A-S I TI61-99H-S T161-924-S T161-924-+ IeoA/Wu/pp ZZUSZZUSAZZUSZAZAZSZAZYLUSZAS xaos LOO81T VES cOOOV VLI6LI eL96LI CLIO LZOGLT OL96LI 6996LI 8996LI LO96LI 9996LI S996LI ISPsZl OSP8ZLI 6VrsLl 8PrsLl LYVsLi OPrsLi SPrsLl # ‘oads Wan) uonn su] BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES 1] Tejon Ranch, Cholame Valley and other southern California locations as a result of transplants from northeastern California between 1985 and 1990. Larsen, H. (Mrs.) 1929. The antelope near Fresno. California Fish and Game 15(4): 350-351. Mrs. Larsen describes how she came to Fresno County in 1878 as a homesteader and how in 1879 bands of 40—50 antelope were feeding on the settler’s new alfalfa crops. The pronghorn diminished with settlement although she and her son later saw herds near Firebaugh and in the more open reaches of the Coast Range. One of the last herds was a population of about 50 near the mouth of Salt Creek near Panoche Pass in the “Joaquin Murrieta country.” Leopold, A. S. 1959. Wildlife of Mexico: the game birds and mammals. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London. Leopold reported that a S. B. Benson found scattered bands of pronghorn in northwestern Sonora and in northeastern Baja California near San Felipe on various trips between 1936 and 1948. He also stated that Raymond Gilmore had been told in July 1956 that bands of up to 30 pronghorn were often see on the Vizcaino plain east of Black Warrior Lagoon in July, 1956 and that hunters still pursued them. McLean, D. D. 1944. The prong-horned antelope in California. California Fish and Game 30:221-—239. Although focusing on the Modoc Plateau in northeast California, McLean maps the historical occurrence of pronghorn in California as all of the plains, valleys and deserts including the valleys west of the Coast Ranges to as far north as Sonoma County. Mearns, FE. A. 1907. Mammals of the Mexican Boundary Survey of the United States. U.S. National Mus. Bull. 56, Part I. Washington, D.C. Mearns states that some antelope, though not abundant, remained on the Col- orado Desert in both Californias. He saw their tracks near Gardner’s and Laguna stations along the border, and records having seen a specimen taken by A. W. Anthony; west of the Coast Range in Lower California. Meyers, L. H. 1963. A general history of the pronghorn antelope in California. Intern. Antelope Conference Trans. 14:81—102. Meyers provides a literature review of California pronghorn with some 60 ref- erences being listed. Monson, G. 1968. The desert pronghorn. Trans. Desert Bighorn Council 12:63- 69. Monson discusses the former distributions of the ““Sonoran’”’ and ‘‘Peninsular’’ pronghorn and proposes that they be referred to as “desert pronghorn.” Murphy, Robert Cushman. 1917. The desert life group, and an account of the museum expedition into Lower California. Brooklyn Museum Quarterly V (=IV), No. 4:179-—210. 12 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Murphy, Robert Cushman. 1917. Natural history observations from the Mexican portion of the Colorado Desert with a note on the Lower Californian pronghorn and a list of the birds. Proc. Linnean Soc. New York 29:43—101. In the above accounts, Murphy, accompanied by Robert Rodwell (chief taxi- dermist) and Edward W. Funcke of San Ysidro, CA, embark on a pronghorn expedition to Tres Pozos and the Pattie Basin of BC in 1915. On April 7 he reported that the “heart-shaped tracks of antelopes were visible everywhere, but were mostly old.”’ Later that day he saw a lone buck and then a herd of 7 or 8 in the Pattie Basin just north of San Felipe, none of which was secured. Nine more pronghorn were seen on April 3, and on April 4 a fawn was killed 7 miles from Tres Pozos. Two more “‘half-grown” pronghorn were killed to- ward Caparote by Funcke on April 7. On his return, the party frightened a small band in a pass cutting through the Tinajas Mountains on April 11. He returned with Mrs. Murphy on April 23 during which time more prong- horn were observed and at least | killed, none of which are presently in the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Culture. Murphy considered the pronghorn in Pattie Basin much reduced in numbers as he only saw 50-60 animals, mostly in singles, in 11 days. All were extremely wild. Based on the size of the fawns observed and collected, he and Funcke estimated the birthing time to be in late February. Major spring foods were desert broom-rape and trailing four-o-clock, with ironwood taken at other times. Later, between March 16 and 25, 1917, Funcke sent 8 pronghorn from the Tres Pozos area to the Brooklyn Museum. Nelson, E. W. 1912. A new subspecies of pronghorn antelope from Lower Cali- fornia. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 25:107—108. Nelson describes the type specimen of Antilocapra americana peninsularis tak- en near Calmalli by E. W. Funcke. Nelson, E. W. 1922 (1966). Lower California and its natural resources. National Acad. Sci. 61:1—194. 1st Memoir. ‘‘Antelopes, once so numerous on the open plains of the peninsula, have become exterminated over considerable areas. None appear to be left in the north- western part of the peninsula west of the mountains, and north of El Rosario. They are also gone from the great Magdalena Plain {south of where Nelson: 64 said they once occurred]. Small numbers still exist on the desert south of the Cocopah Mountains and back of San Felipe Bay, as well as in various other localities, thence south to the Vizcaino Desert, where they are still more numerous than elsewhere. It is evident, however, that these animals are fated to disappear from this region in the not distant future.” Nelson, E. W. 1925. Status of the pronghorned antelope, 1922—1924. USDA Bull. 1346: 1-64. In his statewide compilation, Nelson reported a census of 1070 pronghorn in California. Most of these animals (980) were in the northeastern part of the state, but a herd of about 30 was also reported as being present in 1922 between Granite Wells and Randsburg in the Mohave Desert, with another band of 11 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES 1S) in Antelope Valley along the Kern-Los Angeles County line. He also reported, but did not map, a band of 13 as having been seen in 1924 between Willow Springs and Liebre Ranch on the west side of Antelope Valley in Kern County. Two bands totaling 29 head were also reported from the San Joaquin Valley between Mendota and Panache Creeks in Fresno County. Another small band of 5 animals was also reported as occurring in 1922 on the ‘Colorado Desert” along the Imperial—San Diego County border near Campo. Nelson’s informants estimated about 200 pronghorn on the east side of BC from the California border to the boundary of what is now BCS. Another 100 to 300 animals were thought to be in the Vizcaino Desert in BCS between Vizcaino and Ballenas bays. Newberry, J. S., M.D. 1855. Report upon the zoology of the route. No. 2, Chap. 1, pp. 70-71 In H. L. Abbot. 1857. Reports of explorations and surveys to ascertain. .. etc. U.S. Senate ex. Doc. No 78, Vol. 7, Washington D.C. Page 71: “Though found in nearly all parts of the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi, it [Antilocapra Americana] is probably most numerous in the valley of the San Joaquin, California. There it is found in herds literally of thousands; and though it is much reduced in numbers by the war which is incessantly and remorselessly waged upon it, it is still so common that its flesh is cheaper and more abundant in the markets of the Californian cities than that of any other animal. On nearly every day’s march between the valley of the Sacramento and the Columbia, we saw either the antelope itself or its peculiar track in the sand.” “In the Sacramento Valley they have become rare, and the few still remaining are excessively wild.” North, A. W. 1907. Hunting the bighorn. Sunset Magazine. Oct.:523—532. North, A. W. 1910. Camp and camino in Lower California. Baker and Taylor Co. New York. North was in Baja California from December 1905 until May 1906, and then again, from July through September 1906. He hunted both bighorn and prong- horn in what is now BC and BCS. P. 106: “South of Youbai we crossed the tapering of two level valleys extending down towards the Gulf and containing several thousand acres with grass and brush. According to Otero a few antelope ranged in this section... Like the Llanos de Buenos Ayres and the Llanos de Santa Maria, which are also in- habited by small bands of antelope—this region is barren of springs.” P. 144: *“‘Presently, leaving the rolling hills behind, we entered upon the Llanos de Ojo Liebre, or Plains of a Hare’s Eye, sometimes also called Antelope Plains, an immense barren, expanse, bordered by the San Pablo Sierras on the east, the Santa Clara Sierras on the south and a low horizon on the west. With its numerous curving swales and rounded sand hills, the vast field covered with waving grasses, bobbing wild flowers and small, fretful leguminous plants, spread out before us like some billowy sea. Soon I saw my first prong-horn or antelope. . . Early in the afternoon we came upon three antelope, though I, personally, saw 14 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES only one, a fine prong-horn buck.” North goes on to describe killing his first pronghorn, a buck, near the Calmalli-San Ignacio road while en route to San Angel. Four days later they arrive at San Ignacio having crossed the peninsula from Pozo de Ojo Liebre. North, Oliver (Mullen, W.) 1876. Rambles after Sport or Travels and adventures in the Americas and at home. The Field Office, London. An Englishman’s account of hunting in the Californias in the 1860s. He reports pronghorn as then being fairly common in the Ensenada area. O’Gara, B. W., and J. D. Yoakum. 2004. Pronghorn: ecology and management. Wildlife Management Institute and Univ. Colorado Press. On page 547 there is a photo, ca. 1920, of one of the last pronghorn killed in the San Joaquin Valley. Restoration attempts in the Carrizo Plains and other California locales are also summarized. Paez, J. 1542-1543. Cabrillo’s Log. trans. J. R. Moriarty and M. Keistman. The Western Explorer, vol V, no. 2 and 3, Cabrillo Historical Association. San Diego, CA, September 1968. In September 1542, Cabrillo reported seeing “‘herds of animals like domestic animals which were in the number of a hundred or more” on the grassy sa- vannas at Ensenada, Baja California. His further descriptions of the animals could only refer to pronghorn. Phillips, J. C. 1913. The Lower California pronghorn antelope. Science, May 9: 717-718. Phillips describes the Museum of Comparative Zoology’s (Harvard) recent ac- quisition of 5 male and several female pronghorn collected by E. W. Funcke in the Calmalli area of BCS. He notes that one of the males, #65 in the MCZ collection, has horns 16% X 64’ long and is the 5" largest specimen in the 6" edition of Rowland Ward’s record book. Priestly, H. I. 1937. A historical, political, and natural description of California by Pedro Fages, soldier of Spain. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley. 83 pp. In 1769, while Fages was traveling with the Portola expedition through the San Diego area, he reports observing “‘deer, antelope, conies, hares without number, wildcats, wolves, some bears, coyotes and squirrels of three kinds.” Singer, Dan. J. 1916?. Desert trails. Field and Stream. Sept. 413-416, Oct. 503— 506, INov..588—590" Dec: 673-681; Not seen. This article may describe a hunt with E. W. Funcke and the collecting of Singer’s pronghorn in the U.S. National Museum (Table 1). Slade, C. B. 1902. Hunting sheep and antelope in Lower California. Outing 39 (Feb):505—512. Slade kills a buck pronghorn out of a group of 3 on Mesa Huatamote (due east of El Rosario) between the ‘Stone Corral’? near San Juan de Dios (Espinosa’s Ranch) and La Tinaja. The antelope was near a dead juniper and on a high BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HISTORIC PRONGHORN REFERENCES IS mesa 25 miles north of the “‘Plains of San Agustine”’ (Llanos San Agustin) 20 miles from the coast. His party had left from San Quintin. Stephens, F. 1906. California mammals. West Coast Publishing Co., San Diego, CA. “In 1877 I saw a band of about 2 dozen where Perris, Riverside County, now stands, and the next year I saw one within the limits of what ts now the city of Riverside. At this writing they are almost exterminated in this State. There are a very few in Modoc, Lassen and Mono Counties, and a small band or two in the deserts in the southeastern part of the State. All told there may be two or three hundred left and this number is steadily diminishing.” Stephens, F. 1921. An annotated list of the mammals of San Diego County, Cal- ifornia. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. History 3:41—56. Stephens reports the presence of four pronghorn at Carrizo Creek in the Anza Borrego Desert “‘many years ago.”’ Tinker, B. 1978. Mexican Wilderness and Wildlife. Univ. Texas Press: Austin, TX. Tinker, who collected several pronghorn in Sonora and Baja California, pro- vides a description and account of an animal bagged in BC, giving its weight and measurements. Tinker’s reports are unreliable, however. Townsend, C. H. 1912. Mammals collected by the Albatross Expedition in Lower California in 1911, with descriptions of new species. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. hist. 312119. Townsend collects a pronghorn inland from San Felipe for the Field Museum in Chicago. Van Dyke, T. S. 1888. The city and county of San Diego. The Pacific Press, Oakland and San Francisco. Van Dyke, T. S. 1905. Sport on the Lower Colorado. Western Field 6:3-7. Van Dyke reports pronghorn in El Cajon and Otay Mesa in San Diego County, the last one being killed in 1883. Van Norden, O. H. 1919. Hunting in Laguna Salada. Outing 74:209—213, 260, 280—284, 316-317, 349-353, 380, 386. More pronghorn hunting accounts in northeastern BC with the indomitable Captain Funcke. Zwinger, A. 1986. John Xantus: the Fort Tejon letters, 1857—1859. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. Xantus, while stationed at Fort Tejon in Kern County, California, reported see- ing large herds of pronghorn from Tejon Peak in October 1857. A skull at the U.S. National Museum is attributed to him. Discussion The published accounts and associated specimens provide a fairly complete picture of pronghorn distribution in the Californias. The central valley of Cali- 16 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES fornia was a population center prior to the valley being settled by farmers and the pronghorn undergoing pervasive and sustained hunting pressure. Pronghorn in both Californias ranged all the way to the coast at Monterey in the north southward to at least Magdalena Bay in Baja California Sur. Pronghorn also ap- pear to have been fairly regularly distributed along mesas and valleys from coastal southern California, including the Riverside—Perris plain in western Riverside County and the coastal mesas in San Diego County. Along the Lower California peninsula, pronghorn ranged southward along both coasts to below San Felipe on the Gulf of California, and on the Pacific coast to at least Bahia San Ignacio, with records from Ensenada, San Telmo, San Quintin and El Rosario, as well as such high mountain valleys as near Campo (just north of the border) and Valle Trinidad. In the central portion of the peninsula there are specimens from Laguna Chapala in the Valle de los Cirios, with a large series collected about 50 miles south of Calmalli, southwest of the modern town of Vizcaino. This is the site containing most of the remaining pronghorn population today. East of the Coast Ranges, pronghorn appear to have been abundant in the western Mojave desert and ad- jacent foothills, with lesser numbers found in the rest of desert southern California with the eastern base of the peninsular ranges in Baja California being a regular hunting locale in the early part of the 20" century. Here, undoubtedly due to its later settlement, the San Felipe desert sustained a large pronghorn population even after the species disappeared from most other Sonoran Desert locales in the U.S. The southern extent of the species range appeared to be in the Magdalena plain, although actual records there are vague, and any population in southern BCS must have been small. Literature Cited Heller, M. 1997. American hunting and fishing books: an annotated bibliography of books and booklets in American hunting and fishing 1800—1970. Nimrod and Piscator Press, Mesilla, New Mexico. Koch, A. J., and J. D. Yoakum. 2002. Reintroduction and status of pronghorn on the Carrizo Plain National Monument and surrounding areas in southern California. Proceedings of the Biennial Pronghorn Workshop 20:25—41. Mellink, E. 2000. Captain Edward William Funcke: hunting in Baja California for a living. J. San Diego History 46(1): 34-51. Minnich, R.A., and R.J. Dezzani. 1998. Historical decline of coastal sage scrub in the Riverside—Perris plain, California. Western Birds 29(4): 366-391. Weislander, A. E. 1934. Vegetation types of California, San Jacinto Quadrangle (1:125,000). U.S. Forest Service (published map). Yoakum, J. 1967. Literature of the American pronghorn antelope: an annotated bibliography with abstracts emphasizing food habits and range relationships. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Reno, NV. Accepted for publication 10 June, 2005. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(1), 2006, pp. 17—29 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 Observations on the Mating Behavior of Captive Spotted Sand Bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) Eric E Miller! and Larry G. Allen? Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91711 Abstract.—The sex allocation pattern of various populations of spotted sand bass are thought to vary from functional gonochorism to strict protogyny. The devel- opment of hypotheses explaining how such a plastic (flexible) strategy has been maintained selectively has been hindered by a general lack of information on reproductive behavior in this species. Therefore, the spawning behavior of adult, wild-caught spotted sand bass were observed in captivity under a variety of den- sities. Three distinct spawning modes were observed: |) pair spawning, 2) group spawning, and 3) spawning including a sneaker male. Courtship was characterized by the following sequence: 1) a male or males approach the females, 2) one or more males make contact with the ventro-lateral surface of the female and chase the female, 3) the male contacts the ventro-lateral surface of the female and pushes her through a vertical spawning rush. Spawning behavior involved ephemeral color changes, persistent physical contact initiated by the male, short rushes be- ginning near structure and ending in a vertical rush with a gamete release. In general, in low density groups, reproductive activity was dominated by a single male that actively excluded smaller males from spawning. The dominant male in these groups exclusively engaged in pair spawning. Individuals in groups of higher density spawned in groups, with no observations of large males mo- nopolizing females. These observations are consistent with the predictions of the size-advantage hypothesis regarding mating strategies in fishes. We propose that these three spawning modes and the frequency with which they occur allow the flexibility seen in the mating strategies of isolated populations of spotted sand bass. Introduction The spotted sand bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, is a shallow water ser- ranid that inhabits the bays and lagoons of southern California, Baja California and the Gulf of California. These physically protected areas consist of eelgrass, surfgrass, rock/sand interfaces and serve as warm water refuges for this subtrop- ical species (Allen 1985). Spotted sand bass spawn in the summer (Allen et al. 1995) and are believed to be multiple spawners (Quast 1968). Oda et al. (1993) suggested that Paralabrax maculatofasciatus are capable of spawning on a daily basis. This species forms spawning aggregations at the entrances of bays in southern California, the pelagic ' Current address. MBC Applied Environmental Sciences, 3000 Redhill Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626-4524 > Corresponding Author (larry.allen@csun.edu). iF 18 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES eggs enter the plankton in coastal waters (Allen et al. 1995), and the juveniles settle out of the water column at 25 to 31 days (Allen, unpubl. data) off southern California. The spotted sand bass is the only known hermaphrodite among serranids com- mon to southern California (Hastings 1989). However, the sex allocation pattern of various populations of spotted sand bass appear to vary from functional gon- ochorism to strict protogyny (Hovey and Allen 2000; Hovey et al. 2002). Hastings (1989) found three transitional individuals of this species collected from the north- ern Gulf of California and confirmed protogyny in that population. Following exhaustive sampling of six sites in California and along both sides of the Baja California Peninsula, Hovey and Allen (2000) also confirmed protogyny in fish sampled from San Diego Bay and Los Pulpos, Baja California (northern Gulf of California). They found five transitional individuals from these two sites. How- ever, fish sampled from both Anaheim and Newport bays in southern California were considered as functionally gonochoric because they lacked transitional in- dividuals and standard demographic patterns, although secondary males were col- lected at each site (Hovey and Allen 2000). In all populations of spotted sand bass examined, both primary and secondary males were present in all size classes. Based on these studies, Hovey and Allen (2000) proposed that the size advan- tage hypothesis (Ghiselin 1969) could explain the reproductive patterns observed for each individual population of spotted sand bass examined. Low density spawn- ing aggregations covering large areas may select for protogynous strategies in populations within San Diego Bay and the northern Gulf of California (Hovey and Allen 2000) because terminal males can dominate spawning activities (Allen et al. 1995). Functionally gonochoric populations, such as those in Anaheim Bay and Newport Bay appear to form dense groups in spatially restricted spawning areas, thereby allowing subordinate males to engage in spawning activities (Hovey and Allen 2000). The hypotheses regarding the impact of low and high density breeding aggregations on reproductive strategy in spotted sand bass have yet to be tested. In fact, prior to the current investigation, basic courtship and spawning behavior had not been described in this species, largely due to the high turbidity of the water in most spawning areas within embayments. Our initial prediction was that the plasticity of mating strategy (gonochorism to protogyny) described in different populations of this sea bass may be maintained by a variety of spawn- ing strategies as seen in several species of wrasses (Warner and Hoffman 1980; Warner 1982 1984, Adreani and Allen, in press). This paper describes our initial observations on the reproductive behavior of spotted sand bass in captivity. The specific objectives are to: 1) describe courtship and spawning behaviors of adult spotted sand bass and 2) to make preliminary observations on the effects of group size on the mating strategy of this protogyn- ous hermaphrodite. Materials and Methods Observation Tank Design Two types of tanks were used for behavioral observations. The first design used two (Tl and T2) circular 1,100 L indoor, insulated fiberglass tanks set up on a flow through system at the Science, Education, and Adventure Laboratory (SEA MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS 19 Lab) located on the waterfront of King Harbor, Redondo Beach, California (33° 50.50'N, 118° 23.70’W). Both tanks were illuminated with 120 w plant lights set on timers to regulate the daylight cycle at 14 L:10 D to simulate mid-summer light cycles. Water in each tank was heated with 300-w submersible heaters sus- pended from two 2” PVC pipes spanning the top of each tank. Each tank was stocked with wild-caught adults from San Diego Bay, California (32° 37.30'N, 117° 14.80'W) collected by hook and line in January 2002. The second type of observation tank (T3) was a large (11,300 L) mobile aquar- ium that is equipped with a re-circulating two-stage (chemical and mechanical) filter system. This tank was housed at the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI) on Terminal Island, in the Port of Los Angeles, California (33° 42.00'N, 118° 12.10'W) and was under natural light conditions. The walls of this tank (T3) are made of 3.8 cm thick transparent acrylic panels permitting a nearly unob- structed view of the fish. Water temperature ranged between 19 and 25 °C during observations. All of the spotted sand bass stocked in T3 were collected from Mission Bay, California (32° 45.54’N, 117°15.38’W) by hook and line in April 2003. Tank Tl and T2 were stocked at one of two group densities. The Tl group consisted of 26 adults (20 fish/kl), with a minimum of five males (maximum 8 possible), to represent a high-density aggregation. The T2 group included ten adults (9 fish/kl), with three males, to represent a low-density aggregation. The group in T3 was adjusted to simulate several aggregation densities. The first group included eight adults (five females and three males; 0.7 fish/kl) and was observed for 10 nonconsecutive days over a 20 day period. Next, the group was reduced by three fish leaving two males and three females; then observed for eight non- consecutive days over a 14 day period. Subsequent to the five-fish group (0.4 fish/kl), the group size was increased to 12 individuals (1 fish/kl) by the addition of seven adults (four females and three males). The final group of 12 fish was observed for seven nonconsecutive days over a period of 10 days. Observation of Spawning Observations of spawning behavior were made between 1700—2100 hr in tanks Tl and T2 from June to August 2002 and May to June 2003. Observations were made in T3 from August to October 2003. Behavior was observed in the tanks and videotaped with a Canon® digital video camera (Model ZR 45-MC) from a dorso-lateral angle. Various behaviors were catalogued by time of day, frequency, and number of fish involved, as well as the sex of those individuals when possible. Videos were later scored for the type of behavior, duration of interaction, color- ation of involved individuals, relative position of individuals in relation to one another, and culmination of event (spawn, aborted rush or end of an agonistic interaction). Discrete, quantifiable acts of behavior were considered to be “‘bouts’’. Behaviors were generally categorized as aggressive, courting, and spawning (pair or group). Aggressive behavior was defined as one or more fish exhibiting at least one of the following postures: flaring of fins, face off between individuals, high intensity color contrast flash, chasing, jaw snapping, and biting (Erisman and Allen 2005b). Courting behaviors were identified as intense male attention to a female including lateral display, slow following, physical contact by male on the ventro-lateral 20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES surface of female near the abdomen, and rapid movements over the top of the female. Spawning bouts involved a minimum of one male chasing one female in a vertical rush resulting in gamete release (Erisman and Allen 2005b). Timing and detailed descriptions of courtship and spawning behaviors were recorded from T3 observations because of the increased visibility of these behav- iors in comparison to Tl and T2. Pair-spawning events were characterized as only involving two individual fishes, one male and one female. Group spawning events involved three (>2 males and | female) or more individuals. Sneak/streak spawn- ing events were therefore included in the group spawning category. Males and females were initially distinguished by sexual dichromatism as described in Allen et al. (1995). Sexual identity was later confirmed by activity and coloration during spawning. Results Spawning Modes and Courtship Behavior During pre-courtship activities, females were dark-bodied, with black bars over a dark green background (Figure 1). During actual courtship and spawning peri- ods, females developed a higher contrast color pattern with the background light- ening to light green/off-white. Males exhibited a high-contrast pattern, black bars over a white background during the entire daily spawning period. Spawning events were defined as interactions starting with a male initiating courtship by contacting a gravid female on her ventro-lateral surface and culmi- nating in a spawning rush. Three distinct spawning modes were observed: 1) pair spawning, 2) group spawning, and 3) spawning including a sneaker male. Court- ship involved one male and one gravid female in 10 of 18 spawning observations. On two occasions, two males were observed courting a female, but courtship followed the same pattern as with one male. No detailed courtship observations were made for the remaining spawning events (6/18) because of insufficient light and/or poor visibility, which prevented video-taping. In pair spawning events, a courting male initiated contact with a gravid female by approaching from the side (Figure 2A). The female usually responded by swimming away slowly. The male then followed, mirroring the female’s move- ments from behind and underneath (Figure 2B). The male usually moved from one side of the female to the other as he followed. Once the female stopped, she would begin to sink slowly. The male then followed her down, with his snout near her abdomen. Males often made contact with the abdomen of the female during this slow descent. The descent usually stopped about | m above the bottom of the tank. The female then raised her head to position her body at a 45° angle to the bottom and changed her color to a high contrast (black bar over a white background) pattern, similar to that of the male. The male then moved beneath the female and began a head-to-tail spiral chase, parallel to the bottom, gradually rising in the water column (Figure 2C). Chase sequences varied in length and speed. Males frequently ceased the chase momentarily, would swim away and then quickly return (Figure 2D). Males made frequent passes over or under the female (Figure 2E). Chasing behavior was common during courtship. During these bouts the male would often make contact with the female and initiate another short chase sequence. In the course of a chase the male often moved up to a MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS Fig. 1. Courtship-related coloration patterns in Paralabrax maculatofasciatus. i) i) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Pair Spawn Fig. 2. Diagrammatic representation of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus pair spawn from courtship to gamete release. A. Initial contact of gravid female with dark contrast and a yellow chin by a high contrast male. B. Male contacts female abdomen. C. Flat spiral caused by male chasing female. Chase gradually moves vertically in water column. D. Male breaks off chase and leaves area. Female does not move far from position male left her. Male leaves for a short time, then returns quickly. E. The sequence may be repeated several times during a single courtship. EF Spawning pair initiates turn upward to begin spawning rush. Both male and female maintain courtship coloration. G. Spawning rush with both fish take on high contrast pattern. Male takes position with snout pushing at female near insertion point of second dorsal fin. H. Gamete release at near peak of rush. I. Rush peak, gamete cloud present with spawning pair separating. Female regains dark contrast with yellow chin color pattern and returns to structure, while male returns to bottom in search of another gravid female. position near the origin of her second dorsal fin, and began pushing the female (Figure 3). Once in this position, the male directed the female upwards, initiating a rush to the surface (Figure 2F G) and subsequent gamete release by both the female and male (Figure 2H). After the gamete release, the fish separated and returned to the bottom (Figure 2]). The females usually returned to shelter, and males began approaching other females, still exhibiting courtship coloration. Males tended to lose their courtship coloration after all females had been ap- proached. In a typical group spawn, courting males initiated contact with gravid females by approaching from the side (Figure 4). The female responded by swimming away Slowly. The group of males converged on the female from all sides initiating a rush to the surface by all fish in the group. After the subsequent gamete release, all fish separated and returned to the bottom. ' In a group spawn involving a sneaker male (Figure 5), courtship begins as in MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS N er) Fig. 3. A male Paralabrax maculatofasciatus in the position near the mid-dorsal region of a gravid female just prior to a vertical spawning rush to the surface. a pair spawn and is later interrupted by a male (sneaker) that joins as the original pair make their vertical turn to begin the spawning rush towards the surface. The sneaker, therefore, joined in the spawning rush and in subsequent gamete release. In one observation of a sneak spawn, the sneaker was observed colliding with and displacing the original courting male in close proximity to the female. Spawning Times and Coloration The mean duration of all spawning bouts was 127 seconds (range 45.1—190.1 sec). The mean spawning rush for the captive adults lasted 4 sec, measured from the vertical turn (that terminated courtship) to gamete release. Spawning was observed from 1745-1945 hr in T3 (Figure 6). Most spawns (83%) occurred after 1900 hr, however, two spawns occurred at 1850 and 1854 hr. Sundown times during the observation period began at 1922 hr and ended at 1853 hr (Figure 5). The mean spawn time for the eight-fish group was 1906 hr (+ 31 min), 12 minutes before sunset (1918 hr). The mean time of spawning for the five-fish group was 1924 hr (+ 10.1 min), 31 min after sunset (1853 hr). Activity patterns were noticeably different between the sexes. In the late after- noon (1700—1800), females were observed swimming, most frequently near the top of the tank. By 1900, females were less active and their abdomens began to swell. As time progressed, the genital papilla of females with swollen abdomens began to protrude (Figure 7). Males were also less active in the late afternoon, becoming more active as the spawning period approached. During courtship, fe- 24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Group Spawn Fig. 4. Diagrammatic representation of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus group spawn from courtship to gamete release. Group Spawn (with sneaker) O’sneaker O’sneaker him we Fig. 5. Diagrammatic representation of group spawning in Paralabrax maculatofasciatus involving a sneaker. The courtship begins as a pair courtship that is later interrupted by a sneaker that joins as the original pair make their vertical turn to begin the spawning rush towards the surface. MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS 25 2000 8 Fish Group 5 Fish Group 1950 1900 1850 TIME 1800 mapa SPAWNING TIME == = SUNSET 1750 DATE Fig. 6. Spawning and sunset times for the T3 tank observations. Fig. 7. A large gravid female of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus with genital papilla protruding from abdomen prior to being courted by an active male. 26 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES males were observed hovering, most often near the bottom, while males began approaching them. Observations on Spawning Modes and Group Size Overall, 34 spawning bouts were observed in all three tanks. Eleven of these spawns were observed in Tl (large group = higher density), of which 10 were characterized as group spawns with only one pair-spawning event. Only three agonistic interactions were observed in the Tl group, all lasting less than one minute. Sneak spawning was common (Figure 4), occurring in three of the ten recorded group spawns. Five spawning events were observed in T2 (small group = lower density). All were pair spawns (Figure 1), with the same male involved in all spawns. This male was observed actively excluding other males, and on three occasions, was observed chasing a subordinate that was engaged in courtship activities with a female. Ten agonistic interactions were observed in T2. A single, dominant male was observed in all of the combative activities, with one other male involved most often (80%) with the dominant male. The interactions between these two males were not limited to spawning periods, and were observed at various times throughout the day. Confrontations between these two males in T2 ranged in duration from short (<1 min.) to very long (>1 hr) with one of the two ending the contest by leaving the area. Most encounters began with a dorsal fin flare and color contrast flash, but could quickly progress into a face off, jaw wrestling, charging and chasing, and finally, in some cases, one fish biting the other. Eighteen spawning events were observed in T3 with various group densities. Sixteen of the 18 spawning events were pair spawns while two were group spawns involving only two males and one female. Neither of the group spawns included sneakers as both males were observed participating in courtship through the spawning rush. Eleven spawning events were observed when eight fish were in the tank, while seven were witnessed with a group of five fish. Both pair and group spawning was observed in the eight-fish group in T3. However, pair spawning was more common in this group (9 of 11 spawns). The same male was observed actively courting females when the male could be clearly identified by physical characteristics. Male-male aggression was observed once in the eight-fish group, and three female-female agonistic events were also recorded. Female-female interactions involved a gravid female (swollen abdomen) and a presumably inactive female (not swollen). When five fish were present in T3, only pair spawning was observed. In this case, all spawns involved the same male, with all females of the group observed to spawn at least once. No agonistic activity was observed in this group. Discussion Allen et al. (1995) first documented sexual dichromatism in spotted sand bass as males with high contrast dark bars over a white background with a white chin, Whereas females were overall darker with dark bars over a medium toned green- gray background with a yellow chin. These patterns are enhanced during repro- ductive activities with males accentuating the high contrast, while the females gradually developed a darker pattern with less contrast between bars and general MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS ZI background. Only during active spawning do the differences disappear as both males and females take on the high contrast patterns normally seen in males only. Ephemeral color changes have been documented in other serranids (Gilmore and Jones 1992; Erisman and Allen 2005Sa; Sala et al. 2003). Kodric-Brown (1998) suggests reproductively related ephemeral color changes in fish may assist in coordinating the activities by signaling the breeding state of the participants. In the current study, male and female spotted sand bass were observed to sponta- neously alter their color patterns in response to agonistic challenges, reproductive approaches, and spawning rushes. Gilmore and Jones (1992) found similar mod- ifications to occur in scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) and gag (M. microlepis). Similarly, Erisman and Allen (2005a) observed both seasonal and ephemeral color change in kelp bass related to reproduction. He noted that during courtship, males accentuated their normal breeding coloration whereas females maintained or dark- ened their coloration. Unlike kelp bass, female spotted sand bass take on a high contrast color pattern, similar to the male pattern, during the final spawning rush. Spotted sand bass exhibited many similarities in courtship and spawning be- havior to that of a partially sympatric congener, the kelp bass (Paralabrax clath- ratus; Erisman and Allen 2005b). Chief among these was the extensive contact between male and female during courtship and spawning in both species. Also, females from both species showed a dramatic decrease in activity when gravid, while the males greatly increased their activity levels during spawning periods. Moreover, definitive color changes occurred in both sexes for both species of Paralabrax during courtship and spawning, with an accentuation of the color patterns normally present to indicate reproductive state. The primary difference between the spawning behaviors of the congeners was the occurrence of multiple mating strategies in spotted sand bass. Shapiro (1987) concluded that inter- and intrasexual behavior was responsible for inducing sex change in the hermaphroditic wrasse, genus Thalassoma. Relative size and behavioral interactions of males within a spawning aggregation were believed to be the dominant stimuli for sex change in protogynous fishes (Shapiro 1987). The size-advantage model (Ghiselin 1969), for the evolution of protogyn- ous hermaphroditism, predicts that large males prevent small males from engaging in spawning behaviors, but allow small females to reproduce. Thus, it is advan- tageous for an individual to be female while small, and change sex when larger (Warner 1984). Warner and Hoffman (1980) detailed the effect of local population size on the effectiveness of male-dominated reproduction in Thalassoma lucasan- um, and found local population size to be strongly correlated to the effectiveness of male reproductive dominance through territorial defense. In low-density pop- ulations, large terminal-phase males were capable of excluding smaller males from females. As population density increased, the ability of terminal-phase males to exclude small males from spawning decreased as tactics such as sneak (streak) spawning increased in frequency (Warner and Hoffman 1980). When the increased energy expenditure for defense of females by a terminal-phase male exceeds the reproductive advantage, the selective advantage of sex change is lost by the in- dividual and, collectively, within the breeding population. Munoz and Warner (2003) recently modified the size advantage hypothesis for protogynous hermaphroditism. The authors indicated that large females may defer sex change to smaller individuals due to a skew in the size fecundity relationship. 28 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES According to Munoz and Warner (2003), the relationship between female body size and fecundity may be logarithmic rather than linear. This predicts that the fecundity of a single, large female may be equivalent to that of all remaining females in a population. In such a case, sex change may not present a reproductive advantage. In addition, sperm competition from sneaker males, which may lessen the dominate male’s paternity, further lessens the evolutionary advantage gained by sex change from a large, highly fecund female to a dominant male. In spotted sand bass, small, low density groups were observed to pair spawn in 91% of observed spawning events. The large, higher density groups engaged in group spawning in 91% of observed events. The size-advantage model for protogynous hermaphrodites predicts that breeding aggregations with relatively low fish density would allow dominant males to monopolize females for spawning activities via pair spawning. Selection would favor a protogynous sex allocation in this case. Conversely, a large, high density breeding aggregation would select for group spawning strategies, as reported for Paralabrax clathratus (Erisman and Allen 2005b), where a large dominant male would be incapable of excluding other males from engaging in spawning activities. During brief field observations of a large, dense spawning aggregation in Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Hovey (pers comm+*) noted only group spawning to occur. Warner and Hoffman (1980) reported similar results for blueheaded wrasse, Thalassoma bifasciatum, where terminal phase males comprised 12% of the population on small reefs but only 1% on larger reefs. Small reefs with low fish density supported pair-spawning aggregations, whereas large reef aggregations with high fish density were ob- served to group spawn exclusively. Furthermore, Warner (1982) indicated that sex change in the rainbow wrasse, Thalassoma lucasanum, was rare, only occurring at low population densities. Low density groups of spotted sand bass may very well show the same pattern (Hovey and Allen 2000). In summary, the size-advantage model seems to explain the maintenance of multiple mating strategies of (at least captive) spotted sand bass quite well. Be- havioral observations of captive fishes in low and high density groups indicated that spawning aggregation density may have a significant influence on the sex allocation of this facultatively protogynous hermaphrodite. In small, low density spawning groups, pair spawning with a single dominant male was the prominent mating strategy observed, thereby making a sex change from female to male selectively advantageous. Large, high density groups primarily displayed group spawning, in which case sex change may offer little or no selective advantage. At higher density levels, large males were not observed to exclude smaller males from engaging in reproductive activities, perhaps suppressing any reproductive advantage that may be gained through post-maturational sex change. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank M. Gardner, M. Miller, B. Tufts, D. Warren, D. Bottinelli, J. Williams, M. Salomon, as well as G. Cetrulo, L. Elkins and the interns of the S. E. A. Laboratory in Redondo Beach, CA for their assistance. We also acknowledge the technical assistance of B. Victor and T. Hovey. This man- uscript was greatly improved by the comments of D. Pondella, M. Franklin, R. *'T. E. Hovey. California Department of Fish and Game, Santa Clarita, California. MATING BEHAVIOR OF SPOTTED SAND BASS 25 Espinoza, and B. Erisman. This project was generously supported by the follow- ing: facilities were provided by the S.E.A. Laboratory in Redondo Beach, CA which was founded by Southern California Edison and the Earth Island Institute, PADI Project A.W.A.R.E. Foundation, Sigma Xi Grant-in-aid, California State University, Northridge Office of Graduate Research and Sponsored Projects through the Graduate Equity Fellowship and Thesis and Performance Grant, and a California State University, Northridge Corporation Student Project Committee grant. Literature Cited Adreani, M. S. and L. G. Allen. In press. Reproductive behavior and mating system of the temperate wrasse, Halichoeres semicinctus. J. Fish Biol. Allen, L.G. 1985. A habitat analysis of the nearshore marine fishes from Southern California. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci. 84(3): 233-155. Allen, L. G., T. E. Hovey, M. S. Love, J. T. W. Smith. 1995. The life history of the spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) within the Southern California Bight. CalCOFI 36:193—203. Erisman, B. E. and L. G. Allen. 2005a. Seasonal and ephemeral color patterns in the kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (Teleostei: Serranidae). Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci. 104(2):45—62. Erisman, B. E. and L. G. Allen. 2005b. Reproductive behavior of a temperate serranid fish, Paralabrax clathratus (Girard), from Santa Catalina Island, California, U.S.A. J. Fish Biol. 67:1—29. Ghiselin, M. T. 1969. The evolution of hermaphroditism among animals. Quart. Rev. Bio. 44:189— 208. Gilmore, R. G. and R. S. Jones. 1992. Color variation and associated behavior in the epinepheline groupers, Mycteroperca microlepis, (Goode and Bean) and M. phenax Jordan and Swain. Bull. Mar. Sci. 51(1):83-—103. Hastings, P. A. 1989. Protogynous hermaphroditism in Paralabrax maculatofasciatus (Pisces: Serran- idae). Copeia 1989:184—88. Hovey, C. B., L. G. Allen, and T. E. Hovey. 2002. The reproductive pattern of barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) from southern California. CalCOFI 43:174-—181. Hovey, T. E. and L. G. Allen. 2000. Reproductive patterns of six populations of the spotted sand bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus, from southern and Baja California. Copeia 2000:459—468. Kodric-Brown, A. 1998. Sexual dichromatism and temporary color changes in the reproduction of fishes. Amer. Zool. 38:70-81. Oda, D. L., R. J. Lavenberg, and J. M. Rounds. 1993. Reproductive biology of three California species of Paralabrax (Pisces: Serranidae). CalCOFI 34:122—132. Sala, E., O. Aburto-Oropeza, G. Paredes, and G. Thompson. 2003. Spawning aggregations and repro- ductive behavior of reef fishes in the Gulf of California. Bull. Mar. Sci. 72:103—121. Shapiro, D. Y. 1987. Differentiation and evolution of sex change in fishes. Bioscience 37:490—497. Sokal, R. R. and E J. Rohlf. 1995. Biometry: The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research. W. H. Freeman and Co., New York, NY. 887pp. Warner, R. R. 1982. Mating systems, sex change, and sexual demography in the rainbow wrasse, Thalassoma lucasanum. Copeia 1982:653—661. Warner, R. R. 1984. Mating behavior and hermaphroditism in coral reef fishes. American Scientist 72: 128-136. Warner, R. R. and S. G. Hoffman. 1980. Local population size as a determinate of mating system and sexual composition in two tropical marine fishes (Thalassoma spp.). Evolution 34:508—518. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(1), 2006, pp. 30—42 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 A New Late Miocene Species of Sciaenid Fish, Based Primarily on an in situ Otolith from California Richard W. Huddleston!” and Gary T. Takeuchi? | Scientific Research Systems, 11044 McGirk Avenue, El Monte, California 91731 > Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007 Abstract.—A new species of sciaenid, Seriphus lavenbergi sp. nov., is described from the late Miocene Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, southern Cali- fornia. The holotype is represented by an incomplete disarticulated skull with the right saccular (= sagitta) otolith in situ, an extremely rare occurrence. This is the earliest known geological occurrence of Seriphus and represents a second species within the genus. It is hypothesized that the ancestor of Seriphus emigrated from the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic into the Pacific via the Panama Seaway and the genus evolved entirely in the eastern Pacific. During the spring of 1969, students from Rio Hondo College (Whittier, Cali- fornia) collected fossils from a late Miocene marine site referred to locally as “Chalk Hill” in the western Puente Hills, City of Industry, California. Mr. Melvin Caskey, former Associate Professor of Geology at Rio Hondo College, allowed one of us (RWH) to examine some of the material collected. Among the speci- mens was a small block of diatomaceous shale, which contained a crushed, 1n- complete neurocranium of a fossil fish that still contained both saccular (= sagitta) otoliths in situ. We describe a new species of the sciaenid genus Seriphus based on this specimen. Previous to this report, Seriphus was considered monospecific (see discussion) with its earliest geological occurrence in the late Pliocene (Fitch and Reimer 1967). The family Sciaenidae represents a strongly provinicalized worldwide group of nearshore fishes containing some 270 extant species (Nelson 1994). This family is confined to shallow, coastal, and estuarine environments with a few freshwater taxa. These fishes are most abundant in tropical and subtropical areas, diminishing in more temperate zones. Sciaenids are absent from the Ryukyu Islands, New Zealand, and Pacific Oceanic Island groups (Sasaki 1989). They are also absent from the North Sea and only a single species is recorded in southern Australia (Schwarzhans 1993). This strongly suggests that the open ocean regions and cold extreme temperate zones were effective barriers to the distribution of this group. The fossil record of Seriphus is confined to the extant species S. politus Ayres, 1860, and is represented only by isolated otoliths from the Plio-Pleistocene of California. The earliest geological occurrence of Seriphus is from the Fernando Formation, late Pliocene (Fitch and Reimer 1967). Seriphus politus has also been reported from the Timms Point Silt, early Pleistocene (Fitch 1968), from the late Pleistocene Sand Pedro Sand, and overlying Palos Verdes Sand (Kanakoff 1956; Fitch 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970). Fitch (1970) reported S. politus from the Crannell 30 A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA 31 ari, santa 1!) V7 A ly y\\h MONICA } fae 1] ih iNy ie HILLS) AN MOUNTAINS ai |! ae SS y an ZSOSE | SS ig iri! eel Sas hy Sy 34°00" \EO OLos NWA HS yy SANTA ANGELES = => locality 6907 \~ ge MONICA yee oan = MN) lei NO Wiehe z VEE SE LA PUENTE Za OSU TD ass HILLS Uy, Sy Zp a ae J SS LOS ANGELES BASIN Mies Pe aa HI Ae WINN a Ee <\ N Ui as aS Yi Zi , HILLSZ © LONG BEACH Z Lips ~, SANTA ANA ns < MOUNTAINS a Re = PACIFIC OCEAN DY SANG je 7, JOAQUIN “7; Li), EMIS Lt j};§ 10 km Ne : N 118° 30° 118° 15’ 118° 00” “a 2 Fig. |. Map of the Los Angeles basin indicating type locality (LACM locality 6907) of Seriphus lavenbergi, sp. nov. (LACM 55484), holotype, late Miocene, Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, California. Road locality near Arcata, northern California and referred this site to be age- equivalent to the late Pleistocene Palos Verdes Sand of southern California. We have determined these deposits to represent the late Pleistocene Battery Formation and constitutes the northern most fossil occurrence of Seriphus. Locality and Geology The locality, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM) locality 6907, was an approximately 10 m vertical exposure on a small west-facing hill in the western Puente Hills, City of Industry, Los Angeles County, California (Fig. 1). This site is located approximately 31 km east of downtown Los Angeles, but was largely destroyed by construction activity in the 1980’s. The stratigraphic thickness of the section is 100 m and is composed of finely laminated diatoma- ceous shale interbedded with gray siltstone and fine dark mudstone deposited on a submarine fan at bathyal depths (Durham and Yerkes 1964; Yerkes 1972; Critelli et al. 1995). Durham and Yerkes (1964) and Yerkes (1972) have assigned this interval to the lower part of the Yorba Member of the Puente Formation. The 32 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Puente Formation was named by Eldridge and Arnold (1907) for exposures in the Puente Hills in the eastern Los Angeles basin, and they recognized a lower shale member, an intermediate sandstone member, and an upper shale member. Daviess and Woodford (1949) informally divided the formation into four mem- bers, and subsequently, Schoellhamer et al. (1954) formally named the members: The La Vida Member, the Soquel Member, the Yorba Member, and the Sycamore Canyon Member. Recently, some confusion about the naming of the Puente Formation has arisen by the assignment of the La Vida, Soquel, and Yorba members to the Monterey Formation and by the elevation of the Sycamore Canyon Member to formational rank (Dibblee 1995; 2001). The Puente Formation is considered by most workers equivalent in age to the upper portion of the Monterey Formation; however, it is distinctly different in lithology and depositional environment. The Monterey For- mation consists of siliceous hemipelagic shale deposited at bathyal depth (Pis- ciotto and Garrison 1981), whereas the Puente Formation consists of more terrig- enous sediments derived from the southeastern San Gabriel Mountains deposited as turbidites on submarine fans at bathyal depths (Critelli et al. 1995). Thus, we use Yerkes’ (1972) terminology for the purposes of this study. Based upon benthic foraminiferans, Durham and Yerkes (1964) placed a late Miocene (upper Mohnian) age to the Yorba Member of the Puente Formation. Benthic foraminiferan ages have been found to be time transgressive in the Ce- nozoic rocks of the Pacific coast of North America and are not, by themselves, reliable age indicators relative to ages derived from planktonic microfossils (Prothero 2001). Micropaleontological studies at the locality have yielded diag- nostic diatom floras that confirm the late Miocene age. The diatoms are assignable to the Thalassionema schraderi Zone, which indicates an age of 8.6—7.6 Ma (J. D. Stewart, pers. comm.). The Chalk Hill locality has produced a large, as yet undescribed, ichthyofauna dominated by mesopelagic forms with additional epipelagic as well as nearshore taxa (Table 1). A single specimen of the deep sea anglerfish Acentrophryne has been reported from the Chalk Hill area (Pietsch and Lavenberg 1980). Other megafossils recovered include an odontocete, an unidentified bird, algal remains, and terrestrial spermatophyte leaves (L. G. Barnes, pers. comm.; J. D. Stewart, pers. comm.). Invertebrates collected include Delectopecten pedroana Trask, My- tilus sp., Lepas sp., and an unidentified shrimp. Probable marine mammal cop- rolitic material has also been collected. Material and Methods Recent comparative materials used in this study are from the collections of the Department of Ichthyology, LACM, and includes skeletons and otoliths of Recent sciaenids. Additional comparative materials came from an otolith collection of one of the authors (RWH). The holotype of Seriphus lavenbergi, sp. nov. (LACM 55484), is catalogued and housed in the collections of the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, LACM. The holotype was discovered by splitting the diatomaceous shale along bedding planes using small hand tools in the field and was damaged in the process. This method of recovery often damages the specimens because the skeleton splits between the two sides of the shale. Additional preparation, using a fine needle A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA 33 Table 1. Late Miocene ichthyofauna at LACM locality 6907 Pomona Freeway Chalk Hill, Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, California. Data from Fitch (1969), Pietsch and Lavenberg (1980), J. D. Stewart pers. comm., and personal observation. Myctophidae Chondrichthyes Lamnidae Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 Cetorhinidae Cetorhinus sp. Osteichthyes Clupeidae Ganolytes cameo Jordan in Jordan and Gilbert, 1919 Ganolytes sp. Xyne grex Jordan and Gilbert, 1919 Atherinidae Atherinops sp. Atherinopsis sp. Argentinidae Argentina sp. Bathylagidae Genus and species not determined Gonostomatidae Cyclothone sp. Sternoptychidae Argyropelecus sp. Chauliodontidae Chauliodus eximius (Jordan and Gilbert in Jordan, 1925) Lampanyctus sp. Genus and species not determined Linophrynidae Acentrophryne longidens Regan, 1926 Moridae Genus and species not determined Serranidae Paralabrax sp. Carangidae Decapterus sp. Sciaenidae Lompoquia sp. Seriphus lavenbergi sp. nov. (this paper) Zaphlegidae Thyrsocles kriegeri (Jordan and Gilbert, 1919) Scombridae Sarda sp. Scomber sp. Pleuronectiformes Family not determined and a dissecting microscope, was required to carefully remove the fragmented left saccular otolith. This otolith had been crushed, inner face down, on top of the right otolith, and it was removed to expose the underlying diagnostic inner surface of the right otolith for study. Morphological terms used in the general description follow Nolf (1985), Sasaki (1989), and Schwarzhans (1993). Linear measurements were made on an EPOI Shopscope optical micrometer. Otolith measurements for the Sciaenidae (Fig. 2) follow Schwarzhans (1993), and characters and their definitions for features of the saccular otolith are described below. Measurements used for proportional ra- tios on the inner face include the following: otolith length (L) is the greatest anterior to posterior length; otolith height (H) is the greatest dorsal to ventral height; ostium length (OL) is taken from the anterior edge of the ostium to the posterior most extension of the ostium, including the postostial lobe if present; ostium height (OH) is the greatest dorsal to ventral height of the ostium with the otolith in natural position; caudal length (CL) is measured from the dorsal edge of the cauda, at the dorsal caudal joint and extending to the posterior most ex- tension of the dorsal caudal margin; length of horizontal portion of the cauda (X) is measured from the caudal joint of the ventral caudal margin and extending to the posterior most extension of the ventral caudal margin; length of down turned portion of cauda (Y) is from the highest point of the ventral caudal margin to the 34 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES L Fig. 2. Inner face of generalized sciaenid saccular otolith with measurements used for proportional ratios. Abbreviations: cl, cauda length; h, otolith height; 1, otolith length; oh, ostium height; ol, ostium length; x:y, caudal curvature index (cci). Follows Schwarzhans (1993). posterior most point of the cauda termination. The measurement used for pro- portional ratios from lateral view is otolith thickness (T), which is the greatest inner face to outer face thickness taken in dorsal view. Systematic Paleontology Class Actinopterygii (sensu Nelson, 1994) Division Teleostei (Sensu Nelson, 1994) Order Perciformes (sensu Johnson and Patterson, 1993) Family Sciaenidae Cuvier, 1829 Subfamily Sciaeninae Gill, 1861 Genus Seriphus Ayres, 1860 Seriphus lavenbergi sp. nov. Figs. 3—4; Table 2 Holotype.—LACM 55484, incomplete disarticulated skull with right saccular otolith in situ (Fig. 3). Additional specimens.—The holotype is the only known specimen. Type locality—LACM locality 6907, Pomona Freeway Chalk Hill, City of Industry, Los Angeles County, California, USA; 117° 54’ 41” W. longitude and 33° 59’ 28” N. latitude, La Habra 7.5 quadrangle (U.S.G.S). Horizon.—The Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, late Miocene described by Durham and Yerkes (1964) and Yerkes (1972). Etymology.—The holotype is named in honor of Robert J. Lavenberg, Curator Emeritus, Department of Ichthyology, LACM, who along with the late John E. Fitch and one of the authors (RWH) collected and initiated the first research on the Chalk Hill ichthyofauna. We acknowledge his friendship, assistance, and con- tributions to the study of fossil and Recent fishes. Diagnosis.—Seriphus lavenbergi, is distinguished from S. politus in the follow- ing combination of characters for the saccular otolith: 1) a more elongate overall A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA 35 Fig. 3. Photograph (A) and illustration (B) of disarticulated skull with right saccular otolith in situ of Seriphus lavenbergi, sp. nov. (LACM 55484), holotype, late Miocene, Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, California. Abbreviations: acp, ascending process; arp, articular process; bo, basioccipital; fr, frontal; le, lateral ethmoid; mx, maxilla; ns, neural spine; p, pterygiophore; pmx, premaxilla; pro, prootic; psph, parasphenoid; pv, prevomer; rb, rib; saco, saccular otolith; sc, scale; v, vertebra. Scale bar equals 2 cm. 36 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fig. 4. Drawing of right saccular otolith of Seriphus lavenbergi, sp. nov. (LACM 55484), holotype, late Miocene, Yorba Member of the Puente Formation, California. Gray areas represent missing por- tions of the otolith. Scale bar equals 5 mm. shape (Fig. 4); 2) a low, nearly horizontal dorsal rim (Fig. 4); 3) a more blunted, nearly vertical posterior rim (Fig. 4); 4) a longer more anteriorly tapering ostium (Fig. 4); 5) a lower caudal curvature index (2.2 vs. 3.7 in S. politus; Table 2); and 6) the posterior cauda is more gently flexed posteroventrally (Fig. 4). The new species also differs from S. politus in the following: a premaxilla with a much longer alveolar process; and a maxilla that is strongly constricted between the anterior condyle and the posterior extension of the maxillary. Discussion.—The most diagnostic feature of the holotype is the saccular otolith, which has a broad, flat, shallow ostium. The cauda is narrow and horizontal with a curved posterior section. The sulcus is strongly homosulcoid with both the rostrum and antirostrum absent. These features are sufficient to place this speci- men within the family Sciaenidae. The sub-ovate otolith with a subangular ventral margin, ellipitical ostium, and posteroventrally-bent posterior cauda is character- istic of the genus Seriphus. Description.—The holotype of Seriphus lavenbergi (Fig. 3—4) is a disarticu- lated incomplete skull with the right saccular otolith in situ. The specimen is preserved as brown bone in white diatomaceous shale. The neurocranium measures 48.20 mm in length and 21.24 mm at greatest width. The preserved elements of the skull are difficult to interpret because of damage. The frontals and lateral ethmoids appear to be preserved in ventral view. The paired triangular frontals are by far the largest bone in the skull roof and account for the anterior half of the neural cranium. The lateral ethmoids are paired, moderately thick and projecting lateroanteriorly, forming the anterior wall of the orbits. The edentulous prevomer is short and expands laterally. It is detached and preserved lateroanteriorly of the neurocranium. The nasals do not appear to be preserved in the holotype. The thick, flattened parasphenoid is detached and pre- served in ventral view anteriorly of the neurocranium. The anterior parasphenoid is attached to the prevomer. The paired prootics are large and broken, attached posteroventrally to the incomplete enlarged basiocceptals. The upper jaw consists of a maxilla and a premaxilla. The bone surfaces are all smooth without noticeable ornamentation. The premaxilla bears well-devel- oped ascending, articular, and postmaxillary processes. The ascending process is a thin blade-like structure and is higher than the articular process. The articular a7 A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA ZL = Jequinyy O'€ oT O1 ie vl L'0 Org OP XG wP 07 ES 18 WUNWTUTYA Lib 81 61 BC 61 I'l CE L's 8°7 6 [EC L's 601 WINX 6L LI Che me Hor Se G6 “Gal 82 we 16 91 p89 E901 69's 19S] 83:01 Vee S88 UOHBLIBA JO JUSIOYJI0D L9'0 ECO ee OU Be tc: = TL0. = ok0 Coe 6G GU0E BS SC0m 7720 clO0 sso uoneIAad prepuels ELS L9'] er CVG = GL 60 fece = COC p97 OED ITT 8r'S 19°6 uvay| snqyod “§ Cc 81 Ol = 07 oa 67 87 97 8p = I's COI (P8rSS WOWT) edAiojoH rd1aquann] “§ 199 yo:]o Jo:]o iY "| K x 2 yo jo } y I “WIL «UT OIv SJUSWOINSRIY “SUOTIBIADIQGR JO UONIUYSp JO} Z “SLY pue 1x1 99g *(199) XapuT aMjRAINO jepnes ‘A:x ‘epneo jo uoniod pouin) umop ‘A ‘epnes jo uonsod yewoztoy ‘x ‘ySuaT fepneo ‘pP jYysIey wWNNso ‘Yo ‘yu, WINSO ‘Jo ‘ssauyoIy) YyWTOIO 4 ‘WYysray YNfoIo “Y YSU] YIWOIO ‘[ :suoMeAsaqqy “snydivag JO satseds usaMjaq YITOIO IepNdOKs dy} JO soNeA eUONIOdo’d pue syUsWOINsvoW JO UOSUIedWUIOD °Z IIqQeT 28 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES process is large and rounded, while the alveolar process is narrow and incomplete. The postmaxilla process is also incomplete. The ventral edge of the alveolar process has a narrow row of small, uniform conical teeth. The maxilla is incomplete, and only the anterior portion 1s exposed. The maxilla has a distinct head with two condyles and a laterally flattened shaft. The dorsal- ventral width of the shaft is strongly constricted just posterior of the condyles. Other associated skeletal material includes four disarticulated abdominal ver- tebral centra with the parapophysis either poorly preserved or broken. Neural spines are either obscured by matrix or incomplete. Two pleural ribs are present. An isolated partially articulated segment of four dorsal fin pterygiophores are preserved near the posterior end of the neurocranium. The pterygiophores are bisegmental with well-ossified stays. Pterygiophores are broad, blade-like, and increase in size posteriorly. Two additional detached pterygiophores are present, anterior and posterior of the neurocranium. Numerous isolated scales and scale impressions on the slab are scattered around the neurocranium and are of the typical sciaenid type. They are ctenoid with the focus positioned posterior to the center of the scale. There are 12—13 anterior (basal) radii. The right saccular otolith (Fig. 4) is moderately elongate with a total length of 10.3 mm and a greatest height of 5.1 mm. Measurements and proportional ratios of the otolith are given in Table 2 and Fig. 2. The dorsal rim is low, flat, and nearly horizontal with a slight undulation. The anterior end is sharply rounded, lacking both rostrum and antirostrum, and the ventral rim is deep and strongly angular, reaching greatest depth just posterior of the vertical midline of the otolith. The posteroventral margin is short and angled posterodorsally, with the posterior margin blunted. The ostium is large, broad, shallow, subelliptical, and elongated, tapering anteriorly. The area of the precaudal depression is not adequately pre- served for description. The cauda is narrow, with its anterior long and nearly horizontal. The posterior cauda is greatly flexed posteroventrally and terminates near the posteroventral margin. Discussion and Conclusions The genus Seriphus is generally acknowledged as monospecific, with S. politus as the only included species. Recently, Schwarzhans (1993) incorporated an ad- ditional extant species, Cynoscion striatus, within Seriphus. This assignment was based solely on similarities in otolith morphology and excluded the differences in osteology and soft body anatomy upon which the relationships of the modern sciaenids are based. A phylogenetic analysis for the Sciaenidae by Sasaki (1989) that used morphological, osteological, and myological evidence concluded that Seriphus is broadly separated from Cynoscion by possessing the following char- acters: an enlarged and anteriorly located toothplate on the pharyngobranchial 2, the flexor ventralis externus fades into the flexor ventralis, the basiphenoid is separate from the parasphenoid ventrally, a dentary foramen is present, there is a secondary reversal from an enlarged and anteriorly located tooth plate on phar- yngobranchial 2, the posterior dorsal fin spines are not exposed, and the soft dorsal and anal fin bases are of equal length. Sasaki’s (1989) phylogenetic analysis placed Seriphus and related genera near Cheilotrema and Cillus. The saccular otolith of S. politus and Cynoscion striatus display some super- A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA 59 ficial similarities, however, a closer examination as part of this study revealed significant differences. The otoliths of C. striatus differ from Seriphus by being more elongate and subrectangular. They are considerably thicker with a small, more elliptical ostium. The anterior cauda is relatively longer, and the posterior cauda is extremely short and sharply curved. These features are more consistent with the interspecific variation seen in the species of Cynoscion. Based on these observations and the differences in the osteological and soft-bodied anatomy, we consider the placement of C. striatus within Seriphus untenable. Thus, we rec- ognize only a single extant species within Seriphus. The occurrence of S. lavenbergi in the late Miocene Yorba Member of the Puente Formation suggests that Seriphus appears to have evolved entirely in the subtropical eastern Pacific during, or prior to, the late Miocene. The Sciaenidae display pronounced provincialism with most genera confined to a specific bio- province. The greatest diversity and highest number of species within the Sciaen- idae primarily concentrate in two distinct areas of the world: Tropical America (on both Pacific and Atlantic sides) and the Indo-West Pacific, particularly along the coasts from India to China. A third more isolated endemic bioprovince occurs along the tropic West Africa coast. These areas may represent the evolutionary centers for sciaenid radiation and dispersal (Schwarzhans 1993). In his analysis of the monophyletic groups within the Sciaenidae, Sasaki (1989) noted that the family possibly originated in a restricted area of the New World (= eastern Pacific and western Atlantic) with successive dispersals extending the range of the family and increasing the diversity of the genera and species. The North American fossil record of the Sciaenidae strongly suggests that Trop- ical America was the possible major evolutionary center for this family. The earliest geologic occurrence of the family is from the middle to late Eocene Gulf Coast region of North America (Koken 1888; Frizzell and Dante 1965; Breard and Stringer 1999; Nolf 2003; Nolf and Stringer 2003). Eight fossil sciaenid species have been described with an additional specimen assigned to a Recent species. Of these, five have been recognized as valid by Schwarzhans (1993). The fauna is dominated by very plesiomorphic genera that includes ?Umbrina pseu- doradians, Frizzellithus gemma, Eokokenia epporrecta, Jefitchia claybornensis, and Jefitchia copelandi. None of the sciaenids from the Eocene through Miocene Gulf Coast region display any ancestral relationship to Seriphus. Dispersal of the family into the eastern Pacific from the Gulf Coast region occurred by way of the Panama Seaway sometime prior to the early Miocene. Assuming fossil sciaen- ids had similar ecological preferences as extant sciaenids, they probably used the existing coastline of North America to radiate into the eastern Pacific. Final clo- sure of the Panama Seaway with the uplift of the Isthmus of Panama occurred about 3.5 Ma (Coates et al. 1992) and divided a former single bioprovince in two. Otolith-rich Eocene deposits along the eastern Pacific of North America show a conspicuous absence of sciaenids. They first appear in the early Miocene (ca 23 Ma) of the west coast of North America within the Jewett Sand Formation in central California (Huddleston, pers. obs.). This small poorly preserved fauna includes several undescribed sciaenids. By the late early Miocene (ca 16.7 Ma), the family was well established in the eastern Pacific, and this is reflected in the occurrence of several thousand sciaenid otoliths representing more than a dozen different taxa from the late early Miocene Olcese Sand of central California 40 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (Clarke and Fitch 1979). This is the largest and most diverse sciaenid population known from the fossil record, yet none of the taxa display any ancestral relation- ship to Seriphus. This strongly suggests that Seriphus evolved sometime between the early and late Miocene. Until recently, otoliths in situ were considered an extremely rare occurrence. Nolf (1985) noted only 23 fossil taxa of otoliths associated with skeletal material in which the otoliths were sufficiently preserved to be taxonomically useful. The fossil fish record in California is restricted to either the numerous faunas based on isolated otoliths or the relatively few faunas based solely on skeletal material. Recent work in southern California by the authors has revealed a surprising num- ber of localities with skeletal remains associated with otoliths. These occurrences appear to be more frequent than previously reported. The reason for this is not known at this time, but it has opened up possibilities that will help provide a more complete picture of California Cenozoic fishes for future studies. At present, three localities are known within California that have at least some specimens preserved with otoliths. These include the Chino Hills, Puente Hills (this paper), and the northern Los Angeles basin. Of these, the Chalk Hill locality is unique in being the only North American diatomaous deposit where otoliths are preserved with skeletal remains (Huddleston and Takeuchi 2002). Specimens with otoliths in situ provide an invaluable bridge in the dichotomy that currently exists in the nomenclatural taxonomy between taxa based entirely on isolated otoliths and skel- etal material lacking otoltihs. Acknowledgments We thank M. Caskey, former Associate Professor of Geology, Rio Hondo Col- lege, California, who brought to the attention of one of the authors (RWH) the specimen described in this paper. R. E Feeney and J. A. Seigel (Department of Ichthyology, LACM) provided access to osteological specimens and otoliths of extant sciaenids. We greatly benefited from discussions with L. G. Barnes and J. D. Stewart (Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, LACM). Comments by C. A. Shaw, and reviews by H. L. Fierstine and G. L. Stringer greatly improved the clarity of this paper. K. E. Nakashima assisted with figure 3. Preliminary results of this project were presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and previously published in abstract form (Huddleston and Takeuchi 2002). Literature Cited Ayres, W. O. 1860. [Description of fishes.] Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 1), 77-81, 81-86. Breard, S., and G. L. Stringer. 1999. Integrated paleoecology and marine vertebrate fauna of the Stone City Formation (middle Eocene), Brazos River section, Texas. Trans. Gulf Coast Assoc. Geol. Soc., 49:132-142. Clarke, M. E., and J. E. Fitch. 1979, Statoliths of Cenozoic teuthoid cephalopods from North America. Palaeontology, 22:479-511. Coates, A. G., J. B. C. Jackson, L. S. Collins, T. M. Cronin, H. J. Dowsett, L. M. Bybell, P. Jung, and J. A. Obando. 1992. Closure of the Isthmus of Panama: the near-shore marine record of Costa Rica and western Panama. Geol. Soc. of Amer. Bull., 104:814—828. Critelli, S., P. E. Rumelhart, and R. V. Ingersoll. 1995. Petrofacies and provenance of the Puente Formation (Middle to Upper Miocene), Los Angeles Basin, southern California: implications for rapid uplift and accumulation rates. J. Sed. Res., A65(4):656—667. Cuvier, G. L. C. R D. 1829. Le Régne Animal, distribué d’aprés son organisation, pour servir de base A NEW SPECIES OF SERIPHUS FROM CALIFORNIA 41 a histoire naturelle des animaux et d’introduction a l’anatomie comparée, Nouvelle édition. Paris, 2:122—406. Daviess, S. N., and A. O. Woodford. 1949. Geology of the northwestern Puente Hills, Los Angeles County, California. USGS Oil and Gas Inv. Prelim. Map 83. Dibblee, T. W., Jr. 1995. Tectonic and depositional environment of the middle and upper Cenozoic sequences of the coastal southern California region. Pp. 212—245 in Cenozoic paleogeography of the western United States—II. (A. E. Fritsche, ed.), Society for Sedimentary Geology, Pacific Section Book 75. . 2001. Geologic Map of the Whittier and La Habra quadrangles (western Puente Hills), Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California. Dibblee Geological Foundation map DF- 74. Durham, D. L., and R. FE Yerkes. 1964. Geology and oil resources of the eastern Puente Hills area, southern California. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper, 420-B:1B—62B. Eldridge, G. H., and R. Arnold. 1907. The Santa Clara Valley, Puente Hills, and Los Angeles oil districts, southern California. US Geol. Surv. Bull., 309:103—106. Fitch, J. E. 1964. The fish fauna of the Playa Del Rey locality, a southern California marine Pleistocene deposit. Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 82:1—35. . 1966. Additional fish remains, mostly otoliths, from a Pleistocene deposit at Playa del Rey, California. Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 119:1—16. . 1967. The marine fish fauna, based primarily on otoliths, of a lower Pleistocene deposit at San Pedro, California (LACMIP 332, San Pedro Sand). Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 128:1-23. . 1968. Otoliths and other fish remains from the Timms Point Silt (early Pleistocene) at San Pedro, California. Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 146:1—25. . 1969. Fossil lanternfish otoliths of California, with notes on fossil Myctophidae of North America. Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 173:1—20. . 1970. Fish remains, mostly otoliths and teeth, from the Palos Verdes Sand (Late Pleistocene) of California. Los Angeles County Mus. Contrib. Sci., 199:1—41. , and R. Reimer. 1967. Otoliths and other fish remains from a Long Beach, California, Pliocene deposit. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci., 66:77—91. Frizzell, D., and J. Dante. 1965. Otoliths of some early Cenozoic fishes of the Gulf Coast. J. Paleontol., 39:687-718. Gill, T. 1861. Revision of the genera of North American Sciaeninae. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 13: 79-89. Huddleston, R. W., and G. T. Takeuchi. 2002. First tertiary record of Seriphus (Perciformes: Sciaen- idae) based on otoliths from the Late Miocene of California. J. Vert. Paleontol., 22(3):68a. Johnson, G. D., and C. Patterson. 1993. Percomorph phylogeny: a survey of the acanthomorphs and a new proposal. Pp. 554—626 in (G. D. Johnson and W. D. Anderson, Jr., eds.), Proceedings of the symposium on phylogeny of Percomorpha, June 15—17, held in Charleston, South Carolina at the 70th annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Bull. Marine Sci., 52:1—629. Jordan, D. S. 1925. The fossil fishes of the Miocene of California. Stanford Univ. Publ., Biol. Sci., 4(1):1-51. , and J. Z. Gilbert. 1919. Fossil fishes of southern California. Stanford Univ. Publ., 98 pp. Kanakoff, G. P. 1956. Fish records from the Pleistocene of southern California in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci., 55:47—49. Koken, E. 1888. Neue untersuchungen an Tertiaren fischotolithen. Z. deut. Geol. Ges., 40:274—305. Nelson, J. S. 1994. Fishes of the world, 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, xvii + 600 pp. Nolf, D. 1985. Otolithi piscium. Pp. 1-145 in Handbook of Paleoichthyology Vol. 10. (H.-P. Schultze, ed.), Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart and New York. . 2003. Revision of the American otolith-based fish species described by Koken in 1888. Lou. Geol. Surv., 12:1-19. , and G. L. Stringer. 2003. Late Eocene (Priabonian) fish otoliths from the Yazoo Clay at Copenhagen, Lousiana. Lou. Geol. Surv., 13:1—23. Pietsch, T. W., and R. J. Lavenberg. 1980. A fossil ceratioid anglerfish from the late Miocene of California. Copeia, 1980(4):906—908. Pisciotto, K. A., and R. E. Garrison. 1981. Lithofacies and depositional environments of the Monterey Formation, California. Pp. 97-122 in The Monterey Formation and related siliceous rocks of 42 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES California: Los Angeles, California. (Garrison, R. E. and R. G. Douglas, eds.), Pacific Section SEPM, Book 15. Prothero, D. R. 2001. Chronostratigraphic calibration of the Pacific Coast Cenozoic: a summary. Pp. 377-394 in Magnetic Stratigraphy of the Pacific Coast Cenozoic. (D. R. Prothero, ed.), Pacific Section SEPM, Book 91. Rafinesque, C. S. 1810. Caratteri di alcuni nuovi generi e nuove specie di animali e piante della sicilia, con varie Osservazioni sopra 1 medisimi. Palermo, 105 pp. Regan, C. T. 1926. The pediculate fishes of the suborder Ceratioidea. Danish Dana Exped. 1920-22: 1—45. Sasaki, K. 1989. Phylogeny of the family Sciaenidae, with notes on its zoogeography (Teleostei, Perciformes). Mem. Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido Univ., 36 (1/2):1—137. Schoellhamer, J. E., D. M. Kinney, R. E Yerkes, and J. G. Vedder. 1954. Geologic map of the northern Santa Ana Mountains, Orange and Riverside counties, California. USGS Oil and Gas Inv. Map OM-154. Schwarzhans, W. 1993. Piscium catalogus: Part Otolithi Piscium, Vol. 1. A comparative morphological treatise of recent and fossil otoliths of the family Sciaenidae (Perciformes). Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Munchen, 245 pp. Yerkes, R. F 1972. Geology and oil resources of the western Puente Hills area, southern California. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper, 420-C:1C—63C. Accepted for publication 16 March 2005. INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS 4 The BULLETIN is published three times each year (April, August, and December) and includes articles in English in any field of science with an emphasis on the southern California area. Manuscripts submitted for publication should contain results of original research, embrace sound principles of scientific investigation, and present data in a clear and concise manner. The current AIBS Style Manual for Biological Journals is recommended as a guide for contributors. Consult also recent issues of the BULLETIN. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION The author should submit at least two additional copies with the original, on 82 < 11 opaque, nonerasable paper, double spac- ing the entire manuscript. Do not break words at right-hand margin anywhere in the manuscript. Footnotes should be avoided. Manuscripts which do not conform to the style of the BULLETIN will be returned to the author. An abstract summarizing in concise terms the methods, findings, and implications discussed in the paper must accompany a feature article. Abstract should not exceed 100 words. A feature article comprises approximately five to thirty typewritten pages. Papers should usually be divided into the following sections: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusions, acknowledgments, literature cited, tables, figure legend page, and figures. Avoid using more than two levels of subheadings. A research note is usually one to six typewritten pages and rarely utilizes subheadings. Consult a recent issue of the BUL- LETIN for the format of notes. Abstracts are not used for notes. Abbreviations: Use of abbreviations and symbols can be determined by inspection of a recent issue of the BULLETIN. Omit periods after standard abbreviations: 1.2 mm, 2 km, 30 cm, but Figs. 1-2. Use numerals before units of measurements: 5 ml, but nine spines (10 or numbers above, such as 13 spines). The metric system of weights and measurements should be used wherever possible. Taxonomic procedures: Authors are advised to adhere to the taxonomic procedures as outlined in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Lawjouw et al. 1956), the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria and Viruses (Buchanan et al. 1958), and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Ride et al. 1985). Special attention should be given to the description of new taxa, designation of holotype, etc. Reference to new taxa in titles and abstracts should be avoided. The literature cited: Entries for books and articles should take these forms. MeWilliams, K. L. 1970. Insect mimicry. Academic Press, vii+326 pp. Holmes, T. Jr., and S. Speak.1971.Reproductive biology of Myotis lucifugus. J. Mamm., 54:452—458. Brattstrom, B. H.1969.The Condor in California. Pp. 369-382 in Vertebrates of California. (S. E. Payne, ed.), Univ. California Press, xi1+635 pp. Tables should not repeat data in figures (/ine drawings, graphs, or black and white photographs) or contained in the text. The author must provide numbers and short legends for tables and figures and place reference to each of them in the text. Each table with legend must be on a separate sheet of paper. All figure legends should be placed together on a separate sheet. [lustra- tions and lettering thereon should be of sufficient size and clarity to permit reduction to standard page size; ordinarily they should not exceed 8% by 11 inches in size and after final reduction lettering must equal or exceed the size of the typeset. All half-tone illustrations will have light screen (grey) backgrounds. Special handling such as dropout half-tones, special screens, etc., must be requested by and will be charged to authors. As changes may be required after review, the authors should retain the original figures in their files until acceptance of the manuscript for publication. Assemble the manuscript as follows: cover page (with title, authors’ names and addresses), abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, acknowledgements, literature cited, appendices, tables, figure legends, and figures. A cover illustration pertaining to an article in the issue or one of general scientific interest will be printed on the cover of each issue. Such illustrations along with a brief caption should be sent to the Editor for review. PROCEDURE All manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor, Daniel A. Guthrie, W. M. Keck Science Center, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711. Authors are requested to submit the names, addresses and specialities of three persons who are capable of reviewing the manuscript. Evaluation of a paper submitted to the BULLETIN begins with a critical reading by the Editor; several referees also check the paper for scientific content, originality, and clarity of presentation. Judgments as to the acceptability of the paper and suggestions for enhancing it are sent to the author at which time he or she may be requested to rework portions of the paper considering these recommendations. The paper then is resubmitted on disk in word format and may be re-evaluated before final acceptance. Proof: The galley proof and manuscript, as well as reprint order blanks, will be sent to the author. He or she should promptly and carefully read the proof sheets for errors and omissions in text, tables, illustrations, legends, and bibliographical references. He or she marks corrections on the galley (copy editing and proof procedures in Style Manual) and promptly returns both gal- ley and manuscript to the Editor. Manuscripts and original illustrations will not be returned unless requested at this time. All changes in galley proof attributable to the author (misspellings, inconsistent abbreviations, deviations from style, etc.) will be charged to the author. Reprint orders are placed with the printer, not the Editor. CONTENTS An Annotated Bibliography of References to Historical Distributions of Pronghorn in Southern and Baja California. David E. Brown, Jorge Cancino, Kevin B. Clark, Myrna Smith, and Jim Yoakum Observations on the Mating Behavior of Captive Spotted Sand Bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus). Eric F. Miller and Larry G. Allen A New Late Miocene Species of Sciaenid Fish, Based Primarily on an in situ Otolith from California. Richard W. Huddleston and Gary T. Takeuchi Cover: Wild antelope in the Vizcaino Desert of central Baja California. Kevin B. Clark. serials YH ISSN 0038-3872 4116-60 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BOLLETIN Volume 105 Number 2 BCAS-A105(2) 43-90 (2006) August 2006 Southern California Academy of Sciences Founded 6 November 1891, incorporated 17 May 1907 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 OFFICERS Brad Blood, President Judith Lemus, Vice-President John Roberts, Secretary Daniel A. Guthrie, Treasurer Daniel A. Guthrie, Editor Ralph G. Appy, Past President Robert Grove, Past President Daniel J. Pondella, Il, Past President John H. Dorsey, Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2004—2007 2005—2008 2006-2009 Brad Blood Jonathan N. Baskin M. James Allen Donald G. Buth John Roberts Sabrina Drill Robert S. Grove Gloria J. Takahashi Judith Lemus Kathy Keene Andrea Murray Darren Sandquist Edith Reed Phillippa Drennan Susan Yoder Membership is open to scholars in the fields of natural and social sciences, and to any person interested in the advancement of science. Dues for membership, changes of address, and requests for missing numbers lost in shipment should be addressed to: Southern California Academy of Sciences, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Professional Mietmners. a i et a See a re ae eh eee oe, oe ee ed i ne oe go $35.00 Pimaecnt MICMNEES: . 2 2 ere once 2) 4 aon eto BUS ele Be Se Cy OA 2 er ee 20.00 Memberships in other categories are available on request. Fellows: Elected by the Board of Directors for meritorious services. The Bulletin is published three times each year by the Academy. Manuscripts for publication should be sent to the appropriate editor as explained in “Instructions for Authors” on the inside back cover of each number. All other communications should be addressed to the Southern California Academy of Sciences in care of the Natural His- tory Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Date of this issue 22 August 2006 This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SEP 5 ©2006 Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(2), 2006, pp. 43-58 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 A Mid-Holocene Fauna from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, California LIBRARY Jim I. Mead', Thomas W. McGinnis’, and Jon E. Keeley? 'Department of Geology and Quaternary Sciences Program, Laboratory of Quaternary Paleontology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ S6011, James.Mead@ nau.edu -USGS-Biological Resources Discipline, Western Ecological Research Center, Sequoia-Kings Canyon Field Station, Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700 Abstract.—Test excavation of floor fill deposits in the first room in Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, produced fossiliferous sediments down to at least 40 cm depth. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal from this layer indicates an early- middle Holocene age of 7220 CAL BP. The fossil accumulation represents prey recovered from generations of ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) dung. Microvertebrate remains include salamanders, lizards, snakes, and mammals. The recovery of Aneides ferreus/vagrans trom early-middle Holocene deposits in Bear Den Cave is a first for this species group. Equally interesting 1s the recovery of Plethodon sp. Neither taxa live in the Sierra Nevada today. The fossil-rich deposits of Bear Den Cave indicate that future paleoecological studies will be productive in Se- quoia National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) is currently inventorying and monitoring its biological resources in an attempt to document the observed changes, understand if they are natural or human-caused, and understand the driving mechanisms. The most logical way that the NPS can determine how much change is acceptable is to compare the rate of change today with that of the rest of the Holocene (the most recent 11,000 years), including that period just prior to the arrival of Anglo- Americans. These data exist in caves that have preserved the environmental changes over several thousand years. “The limestone caves of California have been the object of much fruitful in- vestigation[s]... In purely paleontologic studies the cave faunas are of unusual importance, representing as they do an aspect or zone of [amphibian, reptilian, and] mammalian life not preserved in the more common lacustrine, fluviatile and alluvial accumulations’? (Stock 1918:462). Few late Pleistocene fossil localities were known in 1918, with the vast majority such as the tar seeps of Rancho La Brea and Carpinteria (among others) located in southern California. Faunas from caves were equally as rare and included Samwel, Potter Creek, and Hawver caves. Stock’s statement above is still true today. Additional caves have been investigated since the time of Stock. Although important, most of these are located in the arid, lower elevations of San Bernardino County, southern California (e.g., Schuiling Cave [Downs et al. 1959; Jefferson 1983] and Kokoweef Cave [Goodwin and Reynolds 1989; Bell and Jass 2004]). Only a few cave faunas have been described from mountainous California, such as Eagle Feather Cave, Fresno County (Cole 1983; Mead et al. 1985). 43 44 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES A wealth of pollen and macrobotanical data has been recovered from woodrat middens (Neotoma nesting debris piles) and sediment cores extracted from mead- ows and lake bottoms from a multitude of locations within the Sierra Nevada Range (Anderson and Smith 1994; Woolfenden 1996; Anderson et al. 1997). From these studies a reconstruction is emerging of climate and vegetation changes dur- ing the late Pleistocene and through the Holocene. What have yet to be adequately examined are the changes in vertebrate communities, and of particular interest is how they responded to climate and vegetation changes. Here we report on the small microvertebrate fauna of early-middle Holocene age recently recovered from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, Tulare County. Bear Den Cave was selected for assessment because it was known to be a repository of skeletal re- mains and likely would record vertebrate changes through time. Methods Bear Den Cave is in a marble formation within the steep watershed of Yucca Creek, part of a western drainage (North Fork Kaweah River) of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sequoia National Park (Figure 1). The cave is at 1460 m (4790 ft) elevation with a north-northwest exposure about 30 m above the current stream- bed (approximately 36° 35’N, 118° 49’W). Entrance to this small cave of two rooms is via a short crawlway. The first room measures about 7 by 12 m with 3—4 m ceilings and is the site of our Test Pit A (approximately 17 m from the entrance). The excavation near the cave wall by TWM (NPS permit SEKI-2002- SCI-37) measured 0.5 by 0.5 m with 5 cm levels and was taken to a maximum depth of 40 cm. Although skeletal elements were found throughout the levels, we used the abundant remains from the 25—30 and 35—40 cm levels in this prelimi- nary study. All sediments were wet sieved through 180 jm mesh screens, dried, and picked of all bone material under 10x magnification. Results The fauna of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals recovered from Bear Den Cave is presented in Table 1, with emphasis being placed on the amphibians and reptiles. The characters used to identify each taxon will not be discussed except for the geographically unusual or taxonomically confusing species. All specimens are curated by Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI). Charcoal fragments were removed from the 35—40 cm depth in Test Pit A. Standard C14 analysis and C13/C12 ratio analysis (—24.0%c) on sample Beta-188747 produced a conven- tional radiocarbon age of 6260 + 100 BP. The intercept of the age with the calibration curve produces a calibrated (corrected) age of CAL 7220 BP (one sigma calibration date range: CAL 7410 to 6900 BP). Salamanders (Amphibia, Caudata) Identifications of salamander fossils are based on morphologic and phenetic characters observed on vertebrae (in the modern comparative collection at the Laboratory of Quaternary Paleontology, Northern Arizona University) and the characters reported in Wake (1963, 1966). Modern comparative skeletal specimens of salamander used to compare to those from Bear Den Cave are listed in Ap- pendix I. We feel that the morphology of plethodontid vertebrae is not understood well enough at present to conduct an apomorphic approach to identifications. BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA 45 Tuolumne Co. Yosemite“ _ Nat'l Park ats = anyon : Nat! Park ! Inyo Co. 97 { Sequoia National Park KN Q: Bear Den Cave wo IES Tulare Co. Fig. 1. Map of the southern Sierra Nevada Range of California locating Bear Den Cave in Sequoia National Park. Other nearby parks contain additional late Pleistocene and Holocene biotic remains related to those recovered from Bear Den Cave. Crest of mountain range denoted by dashed line. Adapted from Anderson and Smith (1994). Because of our phenetic approach, our identifications should be viewed as a best- fit recognition, one that provides a direction for future morphological studies and biogeographical modeling. One trunk vertebra (SEKI-20167; Figure 2A, B) is identified as cf. Aneides ferreus/vagrans (Plethodontidae). A. ferreus (clouded salamander) traditionally is known to occur today in coastal forests of northern California and Oregon (Wake 1974, Petranka 1998). Jackman (1998) used molecular data to show that the Oregon populations are A. ferreus, and that they are distinct from the California form which Wake and Jackman (1998) place into a different species, A. vagrans (wandering salamander). A detailed comparison of the vertebrae has not been conducted, yet Wake and Jackman (1998:1579) note that A. vagrans ‘“‘is similar 46 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES to A. ferreus in general morphology and osteology.’’ Here we will not make a distinction of the two species until further detailed morphological comparisons are conducted. SEKI-20167 is nearly complete, missing only a portion of the posterior neural arch rise and the lateral extensions of the transverse processes. SEKI-20167 is from an adult individual based on the development of the thickness of the neural arch wall. Because of this and the overall size of the vertebra (see below) SEKI- 20167 does not belong to Ambystoma (mole salamanders, Ambystomatidae) or Diacamptodon (giant salamanders, Dicamptodontidae [Dicamptodontinae of Frost et al. 2006]), which are much larger at adult growth. The centrum length of SEKI-20167 is 2.2mm and the posterior centrum di- ameter is 0.9 mm, establishing a centrum ratio (cr) of 2.44. The various species of Aneides have a range of the cr from 1.8 to 2.4. Another plethodontid, Ensatina, has a stout vertebra with a cr of 2.5. The cr of other plethodontids is greater, illustrating their long, slender vertebrae: Plethodon (2.9—3.4), Hydromantes (3.0— 3.9), Batrachoseps (3.0—3.5) (cr data from Wake 1966). Although the transverse processes are incomplete on SEKI-20167, they are preserved at the proximal end showing that the diapophysis and parapophysis are likely joined. This is difficult to unequivocally determine as on one side the diapophysis and parapophysis seem not to be joined (1.e., separate processes) and on the other side there is an indication that they may be joined. A complete separation of these processes occurs with Ensatina, some species of Aneides, most species of Plethodon, and Hydromantes. If we conclude that SEKI-20167 has a connection at least at the proximal end, then the vertebra does not belong to Ensatina, Hydromantes, or some species of Aneides or Plethodon. There is a complete joining of the processes (proximal end to tip) on some species of Pleth- odon (e.g., P. elongatus, Del Norte salamander) and Aneides flavipunctatus (black salamander). There is only a proximal joining between these processes on some Plethodon and Aneides ferreus/vagrans. The parapophysis is offset caudally from the diapophysis on SEKI-20167. These two processes are directly above each other on Hydromantes and Batra- choseps, indicating that SEKI-20167 is not either of these two genera. There is no alar expansion to the transverse processes on SEKI-20167, as is found on Aneides lugubris (arboreal salamander), A. flavipuntatus (to a lesser extent), and Taricha (newts, Salamandridae). The cr indicate that the robust SEKI-20167 is likely a member of the genus Aneides, and not of the more slender Plethodon, Hydromantes, Batrachoseps (pos- sibly including B. robustus), or the stout Ensatina. The conclusion that the di- apophysis and parapophysis processes are joining implies that SEKI-20167 could belong to Aneides ferreus/vagrans or some species within Plethodon. The com- bination of the above phenetic characteristics implies that SEKI-20167 is probably Aneides and most likely A. ferreus/vagrans. A second trunk vertebra (SEKI-20166) is identified as Plethodon sp. (Figure C,D). This vertebra is about 80% complete, missing the haemel arch, posterior cotyle, and left transverse process. The relative thickness of the bone implies a mature individual, or at least not a juvenile. The right transverse process is com- plete and extends beyond the zygapophysial lateral margin. This process begins straight then smoothly bends to the posterior (not the abrupt bend observed on BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA 47 Table 1. Fauna (number of identifiable specimens) from Bear Den Cave in Sequoia National Park, California, recorded from sediment layers at 25—30cm depth and 35—40cm depth. Also indicated is whether or not that species, or related species, are known from the current fauna in the Park: x, present; —, not present. Note that the living anurans (frogs and toads), birds, and turtles are not listed below, and only the orders of living (Mod, modern) salamanders, squamates, and mammals that are also recovered in the cave are listed. Taxon Mod P10) 35—40 AMPHIBIA, CAUDATA Plethodontidae cf. Aneides ferreus/vagrans -- — | Batrachoseps gregarius, gregarious slender salamander B. kawia, Sequoia slender salamander B. regius, Kings River slender salamander B. relictus, relictual slender salamander B. simatus, Kern Canyon slender salamander Ensatina eschscholtzi, ensatina Hydromantes platycephalus, Mt. Lyell salamander Plethodon sp., lungless salamander -— — | Plethodontidae genus et species unidentified - —- | ~ KK KM KK OK | | Salamandridae Taricha torosa, California newt xX == = REPTILIA, SQUAMATA Phrynosomatidae Phrynosoma coronatum, coastal horned lizard Sceloporus graciosus, sagebrush lizard S. occidentalis, western fence lizard Uta stansburiana, side-blotched lizard x KK MK | | Scincidae Eumeces gilberti, Gilbert’s skink Xx — —- E. skiltonianus, western skink X _- — Teiidae Cnemidophorus tigris, western whiptail X — _- Cnemidophorus sp., whiptail —- — | Anguidae Anniella pulchra, California legless lizard Elgaria coerulea, northern alligator lizard x KK K | | E. multicarinata, southern alligator lizard cf. Elgaria sp., alligator lizard —- 2 — Boidae Charina bottae, rubber boa x —— = Charina sp., boa — — | Colubridae Colubridae genus et species unidentified — 5) 9 Coluber constrictor, racer X Contia tenuis, sharp-tailed snake Ke _— a Diadophis punctatus, ring-necked snake X Diadophis/Tantilla — | — Hypsiglena torquata, night snake Lampropeltis getula, common kingsnake X Xx L. zonata, California mountain kingsnake Xx — — Masticophis lateralis, striped racer X X Pituophis melanoleucus, gopher snake 48 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Table 1. Continued. Taxon Mod 25-30 35-40 cf. Pituophis sp., gopher snake — a 3 Rhinochelius lecontei, long-nosed snake xX Tantilla hobartsmithi, black-headed snake x Thamnophis couchii, Couch’s garter snake X — — Xx x T. elegans, western terrestrial garter snake T. sirtalis, common garter snake Viperidae Crotalus viridis, western rattlesnake K a —— Crotalus sp., rattlesnake a 1 _ MAMMALIA CHIROPTERA Verspertilionidae Antrozous pallidus, pallid bat Corynorthinus townsendii, Townsend’s big-ear bat Eptesicus fuscus, big brown bat Euderma maculatum, spotted bat Lasionycteris noctivagans, silver-haired bat Lasiurus blossevillii, western red bat L. cinereus, hoary bat Myotis spp. (seven species Myotis sp. Pipistrellus hesperus, western pipistrelle x KK KK KK | | ~ | | | es Molossidae Eumops perotis, western mastiff bat x — — Tadarida brasiliensis, Brazilian free-tailed bat xe “= — RODENTIA Aplodontidae Aplodontia rufa, mountain beaver ? a 1 Sciuridae Glaucomys sabrinus, northern flying squirrel Marmota flaviventris, yellow-bellied marmot Sciurus griseus, western gray squirrel Sciurus sp. Spermophilus beecheyi, California ground squirrel S. beldingi, Belding’s ground squirrel S. lateralis, golden-mantled ground squirrel Tamis alpinus, alpine chipmunk . amoenus, yellow-pine chipmunk . merriami, Merriam’s chipmunk . minimus, least chipmunk . quadrimaculatus, long-eared chipmunk . senex, Allen’s chipmunk . Speciosus, lodgepole chipmunk umbrinus, Uinta chipmunk Tamiasciurus douglasii, douglas’ squirrel Sciuridae genus et species unidentified Ls feta kas [ams lenses |e | |) Peeled Os ol bd ot ds | | | Geomyidae Thomomys bottae, Botta’s pocket gopher X = ze T. monticola, mountain pocket gopher X Th Thomomys sp., pocket gopher i 2 I Heteromyidae Chaetodipus californicus, California pocket mouse Xx aT me Chaetodipus sp., pocket mouse = 2 2 Dipodomys heermanii, Heermann’s kangaroo rat X = a BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA Table 1. Continued. Taxon Mod 25-30 Castoridae Castor canadensis, beaver 4 z= Muridae Neotoma cinerea, bushy-tailed woodrat i N. fuscipes, dusky-footed woodrat K — N. lepida, desert woodrat Xx Neotoma spp., woodrats — 5] Peromyscus boylii, brush mouse Xx P. californicus, California mouse Xx P. maniculatus, deer mouse X —- P. truei, pinyon mouse x Reithrodontomys megalotis, western harvest mouse x Peromyscus/Reithrodontomys — 19 Microtus californicus, California vole K M. longicaudus, long-tailed vole X a M. montanus, montane vole 58 Microtus sp., meadow vole — 6 Ondatra zibethicus, muskrat 7 —— Phenacomys intermedius, heather vole X — Dipodidae (Zapodidae) Zapus princes, western jumping mouse ne — Erethizontidae Erethizon dorsatum, porcupine X — CARNIVORA Canidae Canis latrans, coyote X — Urocyon cinereoargenteus, gray fox Vulpes vulpes, red fox Ke —- Ursidae Ursus americanus, black bear x * U. arctos, brown bear x — ~*~ | Procyonidae Bassariscus astutus, ringtail x “= Procycon lotor, raccoon x —- Mustelidae Gulo gulo, wolverine Lontra canadensis, river otter Martes americanus, marten M. pennanti, fisher Mephitis mephitis, striped skunk Mustela erminea, ermine M. frenata, long-tailed weasel M. vison, mink Spilogale putorius, spotted skunk Taxidea taxus, badger Felidae Puma concolor, mountain lon x —_ Lynx rufus, bobcat X — MS. PADIPSI. IPG) oPAin uPAin (PAS PAMLYS) | (PS * = found elsewhere in the cave but not in the stratigraphic sections presented here. 35—40 49 50 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Fig. 2. Photograph of salamander trunk vertebrae from Bear Den Cave. A, dorsal and B, ventral of cf. Aneides ferreus/vagrans, SEKI-20167. C, dorsal and D, ventral of Plethodon sp., SEKI-20166. Photographs by Sandra L. Swift. Scale equals | mm. Batrachoseps). The diapophysis and parapophysis are connected to the tip, indi- cating that SEKI-20166 does not belong to Ensatina, Aneides ferreus/vagrans, Hydromantes, or some species of Plethodon. The parapophysis is offset slightly from the diapophysis indicating that SEKI-20166 is not Hydromantes or Batra- choseps. Based on this character, SEKI-20166 could belong to some species of Plethodon or Aneides flavipuntatus. There is no alar expansion, which indicates that SEKI-20166 does not belong to Taricha spp., Aneides lugubris, or A. flavi- puntatus. Given these characteristics, SEKI-20166 seems best to belong to a form of Plethodon, although which species cannot be determined at this time. A fragmented sacral vertebra (SEKI-20165) is identified as Plethodontidae ge- nus et species indeterminate. The specimen is only about 50% represented, pre- serving most of the posterior half, left transverse process and some of the right process. The hyperapophysis is well expanded, which is typical of the sacral BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA =)! vertebra, but SEKI-20165 has a larger-than-usual flaring. Taricha species do not have a hyperapophysis. The hyperapophysis is minute on Rhyacotriton spp. (tor- rent salamanders; Rhyacotritonidae), and its neural arch is markedly flattened, completely unlike that area on SEKI-20165. The diapophysis and parapophysis are not divided, indicating that SEKI-20165 is not Ensatina. There is no alar expansion, indicating SEKI-20165 is not Aneides lugubris or A. flavipunctatus. There is not enough of SEKI-20165 to provide an unequivocal identity. It does have similarities with Aneides ferreus/vagrans and Plethodon elongatus. The proximal end of the diapophysis of SEKI-20165 is more expanded than observed on Ensatina and more like Aneides ferreus/vagrans and Plethodon elongatus. Lizards and Snakes (Reptilia, Squamata) As with the salamander vertebrae, most of the lizard bones (SEKI-20172, 20183, 20185) from Bear Den Cave are fragmented due to chewing by a predator; there is no evidence of etching. A fragmented right quadrate and fragmented left dentary are identified as cf. Elgaria (Anguidae, alligator lizard). The quadrate (from a large lizard; SEKI-20184a) has the posterior crest only slightly curved, as in Elgaria, and not heavily curved as found on Eumeces (skinks). The dorsal end of the medial crest is a wider flange as found on Elgaria and not the near absence observed on Eumeces. All morphological characters observed on the fossil quadrate are distinct from those found on the robust Phrynosoma coronatum (coast horned lizard) or large, robust Sceloporus (spiny lizard). The dentary of SEKI-20184b is from a large, robust individual; in living Eumeces and Elgaria this dentary would be from individuals with snout-vent lengths greater than 125 mm. Seven teeth (and placement for an eight) occur along the 5.5 mm fragment. The teeth have a single apex in the middle of the cone, with a slight posterior orientation. This apex on Elgaria is also posteriorly oriented whereas it is lingual on Eumeces. Teeth on SEKI-20184b are long and slender with parallel sides, and not similar to the blunt-coned, tapering teeth on many phrynosomatids such as Phrynosoma or Sceloporus. The Mecklian groove on SEKI-20184b is on the ventral surface, as found on Elgaria and Eumeces, yet unlike that of phrynoso- matids. The symphysis is rounded and not pointed as found on Cnemidophorus (Te1idae). A right dentary (SEKI-20171) with bi-conate teeth, pointed symphysis, and lingually-bent bone is diagnostic to a form of Cnemidophorus. One vertebra of the boid snake, Charina sp., was recovered from the 35—40 cm level (SEKI-20169). Discussion about the fossil history of Charina Gncluding Eagle Feather Cave, Kings Canyon NP) and characters used to identify their vertebrae are provided in Bell and Mead (1996). Although C. bottae lives in the region of Bear Den Cave today, and the fossil specimen likely represents this species, we refrain from making a species-level identification until a detailed examination of ontogenetic and serial vertebral variation of all living and extinct forms of Charina 1s completed. Fourteen colubrid snake vertebrae were recovered (Table 1; SEKI-20170, 20182), that represent both small and large individuals. Three vertebrae (SEKI- 20168) were identified as cf. Pituophis (gopher snake). Terminology and identi- fying characters used here are from observations on specimens in the comparative collection in the Laboratory of Quaternary Paleontology, NAU, and from LaDuke 52 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (1991). A small vertebra is identified as Diadophis/Tantilla (SEKI-20181). Dia- dophis and Tantilla vertebrae are similar, but there are some subtle differences. SEKI-20181 and Diadophis have an acute posterior notch of the neural arch (versus obtuse for Tantilla). The postzygapophysis on SEKI-20181 and Diadophis is only slightly longer than wide (versus distinctly longer than wide for Tantilla). The haemel keel is broad, has sloping edges, and flattened ventrally on SEKI- 20181 and Tantilla. The centrum length of SEKI-20181 is 1.8 mm and the neural arch width is 1.1 mm, providing a ratio of 1.6; this overlaps with both Tantilla and Diadophis. Additional vertebrae are needed to determine which taxon is rep- resented in the cave, although both species can be found in the region today (Table 1). A single vertebra of the rattlesnake, Crotalus was recovered (SEKI-20180), but not identified to species. Today only C. viridis is known from the region. Mammals (Mammalia) One complete, isolate M3 of a bat was recovered (SEKI-20188). Based on the width of the tooth, SEKI-20188 belongs to the genus Myotis and not a genus with a highly antero-posterior compressed M3 (e.g., Eptesicus and Antrozous). The species is indeterminable. Bats are known to use Bear Den Cave. A single, distinctive cheek tooth of a mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa) was recovered from the 35—40 cm depth (SEKI-20173). Although this taxon is known to occur today in the Sierra Nevada, it is thought not to live in the immediate area of the cave. One fairly-complete skull (occipital region missing; M1—2 preserved) of a squirrel (SEKI-20174b) was recovered at the 30—35 cm level. Based on the overall large size, the specimen does not belong to any of the small ground or tree squirrels, but it is not as large or robust as Marmota (marmot) or Cynomys (prairie dog). The alveolus for the P3 indicates that the tooth was developed, but near vestigial. This feature and the overall size imply the specimen is not Spermophilus varietatus (rock squirrel) and thus appears to belong to Sciurus (but not S. ari- zonensis; Arizona gray squirrel which lacks the P3). This specimen could not be differentiated from S. aberti (Abert’s squirrel) or S. griseus (western gray tree squirrel), both which have two upper premolars. S. griseus is the only tree squirrel to live in the Sierra Nevada today. Isolated and fragmented squirrel teeth were numerous in both levels of the deposit (Table 1); these were not identified (SEKI-20174a, 20186). Fifteen species live in the region today, including the chipmunks (Tamias spp.), ground squirrels (Spermophilus spp.), Sciurus griseus, flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), and the large Marmota flaviventris. A number of the teeth were small and may rep- resent one or more of the Tamias. The larger teeth could be from the larger species of Spermophilus or Sciurus. Marmota, with its conspicuous large teeth, was not recovered from the cave. Two species of geomyid pocket gophers live in the region today, Thomomys bottae and T. monticola. Three isolate teeth (SEKI-20179, 20192) were recovered representing this genus. Four teeth (SEKI-20176, 20189) were recovered repre- senting a small heteromyid, either Chaetodipus or Perognathus (pocket mouse). Chaetodipus and the larger, Dipodomys (kangaroo rat) are known from the park today. | Teeth of Neotoma are the most abundant identifiable fossils from the deposit BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA 53 (SEKI-20178, 20191; Table 1). Neotoma cinerea, N. fuscipes, and N. lepida live in the region today. We feel at this time that there are inadequate characters of the dentition to unequivocally identify isolated teeth; therefore, we have not iden- tified the fossils to species. The pattern to the occlusal surface varies from lophs and re-entrant angles that are rounded and obtuse to those that are acute and sharp, which implies that at least two species are represented in Bear Den Cave. Peromyscine teeth (SEKI-20175, 20187) were also abundant and not identified beyond Peromyscus/Reithrodontomys (Table 1). Today four species of Peromys- cus and one species of Reithrodontomys live in the region of the cave. Isolated, rootless teeth of arvicoline rodents were identified as Microtus (SEKI- 20177, 20190), but not to species. Today both Microtus (three species) and Phen- acomys intermedius (with rooted teeth) can be found in SEKI (Table 1). Discussion and Conclusions Test excavation of floor fill in the first room in Bear Den Cave produced fos- siliferous sediments down to at least 40 cm depth. Radiocarbon analysis of char- coal indicates an early-middle Holocene age of 7220 CAL BP. Microvertebrate remains, including salamanders, lizards, snakes, and mammals, were recovered from layers at 25-30 and 35—40 cm depth (Table 1). No skeletal remains of anurans (frogs and toads), birds, large mammals, or carnivores were recovered from the test pit. The cave is occasionally used today by Ursus americanus (black bear; Ursidae; skeletal remains were recovered from elsewhere in the cave) as well as Bassariscus astutus (ringtail; Procyonidae). The skeletal remains presented here could have been brought into the cave via the collecting behavior of Neo- toma, which could include the scavenging of raptor (hawk, eagle, owl) stomach pellets. No owl or diurnal raptor roost is known in or near the cave, although several owls and hawks live in the region. Taphonomy Most of the bones from the test pit in Bear Den Cave are slightly to highly fragmented, sharp-edged, and show little to no etching due to stomach acid. Di- urnal raptors typically will break bones, and their strong stomach acid character- istically etches, dissolves, and polishes the prey skeletal elements. Skeletal ele- ments from owl pellets typically show little to no etching and most of the bones are unbroken (see Andrews 1990). The recovered skeletal elements from Bear Den Cave do not appear to represent remains from any form of raptor. Ringtails are small carnivores that hunt at night, selecting medium to small-sized nocturnal and crepuscular prey within its home range of <600 ha. (Grinnell et al. 1937). The recovery of a fauna composed of only small species and skeletal remains showing broken bones with sharp edges and without significant etching, polishing, or dissolutioning is consistent with prey remains from ringtail dung (Mead and Van Devender 1981). The accumulation in Bear Den Cave appears to represent, at least in part, generations of ringtail dung deposition. Most of the recovered taxa represent only locally procured species, in contrast to the prey species re- covered from raptor stomach pellets. Environments Today the Sierra Nevada has a Mediterranean-climate with hot arid summers and cool humid winters (Major 1988). Forest occurs above 1200 m elevation with 54 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES oak woodland grading into ponderosa and ultimately mixed conifer forests above 1600 m. The vegetation today in the watershed surrounding Bear Den Cave (1460 m elevation) includes ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), white fir (Abies con- color), canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), incense cedar (Calocedrus decur- rens), California bay (Umbellularia californica), California nutmeg (Torreya cal- ifornica), big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), wood fern (Dryopteris arguta) and others on the north-facing, more mesic, slope where the cave is situated. A riparian community occurs in the canyon bottom. Aplodontia today are uncommon in Sierra Nevada and SEKI, and significantly, are not near the cave today. This medium-sized rodent is more commonly found in humid, densely vegetation areas. Limits to distribution are associated with rainfall and edaphic conditions that promote succulent vegetation and relatively high humidity within its burrows (Voth 1968, Feldhamer and Rochelle 1982, Carraway and Verts -1993). The current climate regime does not permit such an environment to persist near the cave today. All of the mammals and most of the amphibians and reptiles from Test Pit A are thought to occur today within the hunting distance of a ringtail except for Aplodontia, Aneides, and Plethodon. The occurrences of cf. Aneides ferreus/va- grans and Plethodon sp. are an intrigue and puzzle. The characters used in the identifications seem secure enough to determine that the two vertebrae do not belong to any of the salamanders known from Sequoia National Park or nearby region today (Table 1). Indeed, only one species of Aneides (A. lugubris) is even known from the Sierra Nevada Range (Petranka 1998). A. lugubris lives in the northern Sierra Nevada and to the west of the region (Lynch and Wake 1974; Jennings 1996); A. ferreus/vagrans lives along the coastal region of northern California and north (Jackman 1998), as does A. flavipunctatus (Lynch 1974). Today A. ferreus/vagrans is a forest species, typically associated with large logs and talus slopes, and is one of the most arboreal salamanders in North America. Although fossil and subfossil remains of Aneides are known (Tihen and Wake 1981; Clark 1985), A. ferreus and A. vagrans are known only from the modern record. Their recovery from early-middle Holocene deposits in Bear Den Cave is a first for this species group. Equally interesting is the recovery of a vertebra of Plethodon sp. No species of Plethodon live today in the Sierra Nevada (Petranka 1998). The salamanders living today in the Sequoia National Park region are either a plethodontid (Batrachoseps, Ensatina, and Hydromantes) or salamandrid (Tari- cha). Some of these (e.g., B. gregarius) can live in areas of intense summer heat and drought (Jockusch et al. 1998). Ensatina normally lives in mesic microhab- itats; in arid regions, it typically lives only on north-facing slopes. Hydromantes platycephalus likely does not currently live in the immediate vicinity of the cave because it requires greater mesic habitats (Adams 1942). Taricha torosa can live in mesic forests and in the drier habitats with oak forests, chaparral, rolling grass- lands, and the more arid gray pine-blue oak communities of the Sierra Nevada and likely does occur in the vicinity of the cave (Petranka 1998). Although it is not understood specifically which salamanders live today in the immediate vicinity of Bear Den Cave, the vegetation community would imply that the more mesic areas would harbor some Batrachoseps, Ensatina, and Taricha. Because of the present taxa in the area, we wonder what environment and climate is needed to BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA 5 allow Aneides ferreus/vagrans and at least one Plethodon species to inhabit the presently somewhat marginal mesic-arid habitat adjacent to Bear Den Cave. Plethodontid salamanders lack aquatic larvae indicating that free-flowing streams are not a prerequisite in their reproductive strategy (as it is with sala- mandrids and ambystomatids). The closest locations of living Plethodon are along coastal northern California and the mountainous area bordering Oregon (P. dunni, P. elongatus, and P. stormi; Petranka 1998). Plethodon elongatus is usually found in rocky situations within forested areas and seems to be able to withstand some- what more arid conditions than P. dunni, which requires a more humid environ- ment (Leonard et al. 1993). Plethodon stormi is typically found in rocky, forested habitats (Leonard et al. 1993). Unless there are traits about the terrestrial ecology and habitat requirements that are not fully understood about these species of Plethodon, we speculate that they could possibly live in select mesic habitats of the Sierra Nevada region today. Aneides ferreus/vagrans are closely associated with wood decay of Douglas-fir forests (Lowe 1950; Leonard et al. 1993; Jackman 1998). Although it appears that the present climate and habitat around Bear Den Cave is not suitable for A. ferreus/vagrans, higher elevations with more moisture and forests could prove appropriate. These salamanders are not currently found from the southern Sierra Nevada region and their distribution in the very lowest layer of Bear Den Cave suggests they have been missing for some time. Lowe (1950:96) hypothesized that “‘Anei- des was a more or less continuously distributed series of populations in the Trans- continental Arcto-Tertiary Flora. ..’’ It is apparent from the report here that Anei- des ferreus/vagrans were still present in the southern Sierra Nevada until the mid- Holocene. Approximately 90% of the last two million years in the Sierra Nevada have been wetter and cooler than the last 10,000 years that marks the Holocene (Woolfenden 1996). The paleoecological record the Sierra Nevada suggests very different climate and vegetation changes throughout the region. Coastal areas of the Pacific slope appear to have been characterized by a marked shift to warmer and drier condi- tions. Associated with this change in climate was a shift from denser late Pleis- tocene forest canopies to more open forest and woodlands that were subject to wildfires, which in turn were responsible for even greater opening of the forest and drying of the forest floor habitat (Davis and Moratto 1988). The west side of the Sierra Nevada 11,000—7,000 BP appears to have been considerably drier than at present (Davis et al. 1985; Davis and Moratto 1988; Anderson 1990; Anderson and Smith 1994, 1997). Early Holocene pollen assem- blages are dominated by plants that grow in dry open exposure sites and forests were more open than today. Vegetation on the west side of the Sierra Nevada exhibited a marked Great Basin influence and was similar to contemporary veg- etation at higher elevations on the east side of the Sierra crest. Thus, it appears that the early Holocene was drier and cooler than at present and the vegetation more open forest and scrub. Mid-Holocene (7,000—3,000 BP) pollen assemblages indicate a return to a warmer but moister climate and a lower tree line (Davis et al. 1984; Davis and Moratto 1988). The early Holocene presence of Aneides and Plethodon in the Sierra Nevada, and subsequent mid-late Holocene disappearance are not easily understood. Today these taxa are distributed in cooler and more mesic forest types typical of the 56 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Pacific Northwest. When placed in the context of our current understanding of the mid-Holocene paleoecology and paleoclimates of the Sierra Nevada, the pres- ence of these salamanders appears to be somewhat anomalous. It would seem that today they are restricted to more mesic forest types than are present in the Sierra Nevada today, yet the present forests are more mesic than their early Holocene counterparts. However, the climate feature both the current coastal habitats of these salamanders have with the early Holocene Sierra Nevada habitats is that they were cooler than contemporary Sierra Nevada sites. Thus, it would appear that temperature is perhaps the critical factor determining the distribution of these taxa. The fossil-rich deposits of Bear Den Cave indicate that future paleoecological studies will be productive in Sequoia National Park. As such, this park has a unique opportunity to study ecosystem changes over the past several thousand years. What are natural rates of ecosystem change on the Pacific slope of the Sierra Nevada? The answers are preserved in layers of fossils found in caves. Acknowledgments We thank Lisa McGinnis for picking fossils from sediments. Sandy L. Swift is appreciated for her help in organizing the collection, sorting the fossils, and pho- tography. Invaluable help with field logistics and general information about the cave and local wildlife were received from Scott Anderson, Joel Despain, Shane Fryer, Tanya Baxter, Dale Ritenour, Rachel Mazur, Harold Werner, Jay Snow, Nick Barth, John Petriello, and Louie Long. Steve Emslie is thanked for his preliminary help in organizing the original excavation plan and being available to identify avian fossils. We greatly appreciate the editorial help and in-depth discussion from D. Whistler and D. Wake. Literature Cited Adams, L. 1942. The natural history and classification of the Mount Lyell salamander, Hydromantes platycephalus. Univ. California Publ. Zoology, 46:179—204. Anderson, R. S. 1990. Holocene forest development and paleoclimates within the central Sierra Ne- vada, California. J. Ecol., 78:470—489. Anderson, R. S., and S. J. Smith.. 1994. Paleoclimatic interpretations of meadow sediment and pollen stratigraphies from California. Geology 22:723-726. and . 1997. The sedimentary record of fires in montane meadows, Sierra Nevada, California, USA: a preliminary assessment. Pp. 313-327 in J. S. Clark, H. Cachier, J. G. Goldammer, and B. Stocks eds. Sediment Records of Biomass Burning and Global Change. Springer, Berlin. , and P. A. Koehler. 1997. Distribution of sites and radiocarbon dates in the Sierra Nevada: implications for paleoecological prospecting. Radiocarbon, 39:121—137. Andrews, P. 1990. Owls, Caves and Fossils. Univ. Chicago Press, 231 pp. Bell, C. J., and J. I. Mead. 1996. Charina Gray, 1849 (Boidae: Erycinae) from the Pleistocene of California. Herpetological Nat. Hist., 4:161—168. , and C. N. Jass. 2004. Arvicoline rodents from Kokoweef Cave, Ivanpah Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci., 103:1—11. Carraway, L. N., and B. J. Verts. 1993. Aplodontia rufa. Mammalian Species, 4431:1—10. Clark, J. M. 1985. Fossil plethodontid salamanders from the latest Miocene of California. J. Herpetol., 19:41—47. Cole, K. L. 1983. Late Pleistocene vegetation of Kings aC Sierra Nevada, California. Quat. Res., 19: 117-129. Davis, O. K., R. S. Anderson, P. L. Fall, M. K. O’Rourke, and R. S. Thompson. 1985. Palynological BEAR DEN CAVE, SEQUOIA N. P. CALIFORNIA 57 evidence for early Holocene aridity in the southern Sierra Nevada, California. Quat. Res., 24: 322-332. Davis, O. K., and M. J. Moratto. 1988. Evidence for a warm dry early Holocene in the western Sierra Nevada of California: pollen and plant macrofossil analysis of Dinkey and Exchequer Meadows. Madrono, 35:132—149. Downs, T. D., H. Howard, T. Clements, and G. A. Smith. 1959. Quaternary animals from Schuiling Cave in the Mojave Desert, California. Los Angeles Co. Mus., Contrib. Sci., 29:1—21. Feldhamer, G. A., and J. A. Rochelle. 1982. Mountain beaver. Pp. 167—175 in J. a. Chapman, and G. A. Feldhamer eds. Wild Mammals of North America. Biology, Management, and Economics. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore. Frost, D. R., T. Grant, J. Faivovich, R. H. Bain, A. Haas, C. E B. Haddad, R. O. De SA, et al. 2006. The amphibian tree of life. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 297:1—370. Goodwin, H. T., and R. E. Reynolds. 1989. Late Quatenary Sciuridae from Kokoweef Cave, San Bernardino County, California. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci., 88:21—32. Grinnell, J., J. S. Dixon, and M. J. Linsdale. 1937. The fur-bearing mammals of California, Vol. 1. Univ. California Press, Berkeley, California. Jackman, T. R. 1998. Molecular and historical evidence for the introduction of clouded salamanders (genus Aneides) to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, from California. Canadian J. Zool 76:1570=1579. Jefferson, G. T. 1983. A fragment of human skull from Schuiling Cave, Mojave Desert, California. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci., 82:98—102 Jennings, M. 1996. Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final report to Congress, volume IH, Assessments and scientific basis for management options, p. 921—944. Jockusch, E. L., D. B. Wake, and K. P. Yanev. 1998. New species of slender salamanders, Batrachoseps (Amphibia: Plethodontidae), from the Sierra Nevada of California. Los Angeles Co. Mus., Contrib. Sci., 472:1-17. LaDuke, T. C. 1991. The fossil snakes of Pit 91, Rancho La Brea, California. Contri. Sci., 424: 1-28. Leonard, W. P., H. A. Brown, L. L. C. Jones, K. R. McAllister, and R. M. Storm. 1993. Amphibians of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Washington. Lowe, C. H. 1950. The systematic status of the salamander Plethodon hardii, with a discussion of biogeographical problems in Aneides. Copeia, 1950:92—99. Lynch, J. EK 1974. Aneides flavipunctatus. Catalogue Amer. Amphibians Reptiles, 158:1—2. , and D. B. Wake. 1974. Aneides lugubris. Catalogue Amer. Amphibians Reptiles, 159:1—2. Major, J. 1988. California climate in relation to vegetation. Pp 11—74 in J. G. Barbour and J. Major eds. Terrestrial Vegetation of California. California Native Plant Soc. Special Publ. 9. Mead, J. I., and T. R. Van Devender. 1981. Late Holocene diet of Bassariscus astutus in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. J. Mamm., 62:439—442. , I. R. Van Devender, K. L. Cole, and D. B. Wake. 1985. Late Pleistocene vertebrates from a packrat midden in south-central Sierra Nevada, California. Current Res. Pleistocene, 2:107— 108. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithson. Inst. Press, 587 pp. Stock, C. 1918. The Pleistocene fauna of Hawver Cave. Univ. California Publ., Geology, 10 (24): 461-515. Tihen, J. A., and D. B. Wake. 1981. Vertebrae of plethodontid salamanders from the lower Miocene of Montana. J. Herpetol., 15:35—40. Voth, E. H. 1968. Food habits of the Pacific mountain beaver, Aplodontia rufa pacifica Merriam. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State Univ. Corvallis. Wake, D. B. 1963. Comparative osteology of the plethodontid salamander genus Aneides. J. Morph., 113:77-118. . 1974. Aneides ferreus. Catalogue Amer. Amphibians Reptiles, 16:1—2. . 1966. Comparative osteology and evolution of the lungless salamanders, family Plethodon- tidae. Mem. Southern California Acad. Sci., 4:1—111. , and T. Jackman. 1998. Appendix 1. Description of a new species of plethodontid salamander from California. Canadian J. Zool., 76: 1579-1580. Woolfenden, W.B. 1996. Quaternary vegetation history. Pages 47—70 in Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final report to Congress, vol. H, Assessments and scientific basis for management options, University of California, Davis, Centers for Water and Wildland Resources. Accepted for publication 27 September 2005. 58 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Appendix Modern comparative specimens of western USA salamanders used to compare with remains recov- ered from Bear Den Cave. Number of articulate or disarticulated specimens in parentheses. Ambystomatidae: Ambystoma tigrinum (26). Diacamptodontidae: Dicamptodon ensatus (2); D. tenebrosus (3). Plethodontidae: Batrachoseps attenuatus (8); Hydromantes platycephalus (1; juvenile); H. shastae (2); Aneides ferreus (1) [based on locality]; A. flavipunctatus (4); A. lugubris (1); Ensatina eschscholtzii (24): Plethodon dunni (2); P. elongatus (7); P. vehiculum (1). Rhyacotritonidae: Rhyacotriton variegates (2). Salamandridae: Taricha torosa (5); T. granulose (8). Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(2), 2006, pp. 59-75 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 Densities of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Tidal Waters of the Ballona Wetlands, Los Angeles County, California John H. Dorsey Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Science, Los Angeles, California, 90045 Abstract.—Densities of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) represented by total coli- forms, E. coli and enterococci were measured within tidal channels of the Ballona Wetlands (Los Angeles County) to see if the wetlands act as a sink or source for these bacteria and to measure increases in FIB densities during wet weather. Sam- ples were collected on 10 days over a l-yr period beginning February 2003 at four sites within the wetlands and one site in Ballona Creek opposite the west tide gate. Incoming flood and outgoing ebb tides were sampled during each sam- pling event at each station. Water from Ballona Creek may be a significant source of indicator bacteria in the wetlands. Within the tidal channels, densities for total coliforms typically ranged from 10°—10* MPN/100 ml, but ranged up to 10° during runoff events. Densities of E. coli and enterococci were orders of magnitude less than those measured for total coliforms, generally ranging from 10'—10* for E. coli, and 10'—10° for enterococci; greater densities were associated with runoff events. Densities of FIB tended to be up to three times greater during flood than ebb tide conditions depending on the tidal range. This result suggests that more FIB may be entering the wetlands on flood tides than leaving during ebbs, so that these bacteria either are being destroyed, sinking into the tidal channel sediments and plant surfaces, or both. This hypothesis needs to be tested by further identi- fying other possible FIB sources within the wetlands, and increasing the study design’s statistical power to better characterize the flux of these bacteria entering and leaving the wetlands. Wetlands, both freshwater and salt marsh, are noted for their water purification abilities. For example, suspended sediments will settle into the marsh systems including any associated metal and organic pollutant loads while nutrients will be utilized by plants (Keddy 2000; Mitsch and Gosselink 2000) and feces-derived bacteria are eliminated from the water through destruction by sunlight and other mechanisms (Mayo 1995; Sinton et al. 2002). Given these qualities, wetland sys- tems are being used to purify sewage effluents and runoff (Kadlec and Knight 1996; Schueler and Holland 2000). Conversely, wetlands such as coastal salt marshes can be sources of fecal bac- teria depending on degrees of biological activity and input of contaminated runoff from surrounding urban areas. Water contaminated with feces-derived coliform and enterococci bacteria outwelling from coastal marshes has been shown to cause water quality problems at adjacent ocean beaches where swimmers and surfers recreate (Grant et al. 2001). If bacterial bathing water standards are not met, then beaches can be posted with advisories or closed resulting in millions of dollars of lost revenues to local businesses. Understanding the sources of fecal bacteria, 59 60 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES and their circulation dynamics within coastal marshes, and outwelling to adjacent beaches will help refine regulatory strategies to protect the public. The goal of this study was to characterize levels of fecal indicator bacteria during different tidal flows within the Ballona Wetlands, a salt marsh located in Los Angeles County along the southern border of Marina Del Rey boat harbor. The central question for this study was: Are concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria greater entering the wetlands from Ballona Creek than leaving the wet- land system? To begin addressing this question, densities of fecal indicator bac- teria (FIB: total coliforms, E. coli, enterococci) were measured in the creek and throughout the wetland during different tidal flows (flood and ebb conditions), and amplitudes (neap vs. spring). To date, FIB measurements have been made in Ballona Creek and Estuary by various storm water monitoring agencies (e.g. LADPW Watershed Management Division: http://ladwp.org/wmd) or runoff re- search studies (e.g. Dorsey and Lindaman 2004, Stein and Tiefenthaler 2004). Contrastingly, only a single water sample characterizing coliform densities has been collected in the Ballona Wetlands. This work was done in 1998 by a con- sulting group performing an environmental survey for the Playa Vista develop- ment project (Camp Dresser & McKee 1998 as reported in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1999). Results reported herein are the first major effort to characterize FIB densities in this wetland system. Ballona Wetland Study Area The Ballona Wetlands consist of approximately 180 acres of tidal salt marsh receiving muted tidal flows. It is the last remaining major coastal wetland in Los Angeles County (West 2001). As such, it is surrounded by extensively developed urban areas and impacted by many other human activities. Historically, rail and roadways have fragmented the wetlands since the 1800’s. In 1937 The Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District constructed the Ballona Creek flood control channel that diverted water from the creek straight to the Santa Monica Bay, thus severely limiting tidal flow to the salt marsh. Presently, water entering the wetlands mainly is from Ballona Creek via a single tidal gate (described below). Other sources of freshwater would in- clude intermittent flows of runoff from residential areas on the southern bluffs, and storm runoff from Culver Blvd. running through the wetland area. In 2004, several major events occurred that began reversing the history of negative impacts to this wetland. The State of California purchased the remaining 180 acres of wetlands from a developer for eventual restoration, and the COE constructed a new set of tide gates. Tidal flows within the wetlands are muted. Prior to April 2003 water entered the system through two tidal gates positioned along the southern bank of the Ballona Creek estuary. Both gates were poorly maintained, allowing only a lim- ited amount of tidal flow in and out of the wetlands. The eastern gate was the main gate for the wetlands, allowing in flood and ebb flows. The western gate was a one-way flap-gate allowing only ebb flows to leave the wetlands. Due to corroded hinges, the western gate was frozen in an open position, allowing some flood flows into the wetlands. In April 2003 the COE replaced the old eastern tide gate with a pair of self- regulating gates allowing a maximum tidal level of 1.1 m to occur (U.S. Army FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS 61 Corps of Engineers 1999). In November 2003, the COE removed marine growth and corrosion from the hinges of the west tide gate so that it now functions to only allow ebb flows to leave the wetlands. The wetlands now receive flood flows only through the east tide. When the tide turns, ebb flows drain the tidal channels via both the east and west gates. Wetland and tidal channel monitoring associated with the new tide gate system is being conducted by the City of Los Angeles (Bureau of Sanitation, Environ- mental Monitoring Division) to document any changes in the biological com- munity associated with this project. If populations of native species are stable, then tidal levels may be increased by 0.1 m. This decision will be made by the California Department of Fish and Game, who, in conjunction with the California Coastal Conservancy, are now developing a restoration plan and implementation strategy to restore the Ballona Wetlands to a more naturally functioning wetland. Methods Station Locations and Sampling Times Water quality measurements and FIB densities were collected along the inter- tidal channels at five stations during this study (Figure 1). These channels always had some water flow, even during the lowest spring tides. Stations | through 4 were located within the wetlands while Station 5 was in Ballona Creek. Both Station | and 5 were positioned at the west tide gate. This tidal gate was selected over the eastern gate for its safer access to the tidal channel, and lack of disrupting construction activity. Stations were sampled on a variety of tides ranging from neap to spring tides. Collection days, tidal conditions and ranges are given in Table. I; Field Procedures Water measurements and samples were collected within the tidal channels by standing on the bank and reaching out into the channel with a 10-ft rod with either a sensor or a container for a water sample. Only water from the surface was collected for testing. Water quality measurements were collected in situ using an YSI 600 QS sonde. At each station the sonde was positioned about 1-ft beneath the water surface, and allowed to equilibrate over about a 5-min period before the suite of measurements were taken. Measurements included water temperature (degrees C), salinity (ppt) and dissolved oxygen (mg/L). A single water sample for bacterial densities was collected in sterile 125 ml polypropylene bottles, placed on ice, and returned to the laboratory for determination of FIB densities within the 6-hr holding time. On three occasions (March 6, 16 and 28, 2003) three instantaneous replicate water samples were collected at each station to measure FIB variability. Bacterial Determinations Densities of FIB (total coliforms, FE. coli, enterococci) were measured using Idexx test kits (http://www.idexx.com) based on enzyme substrate test methods (APHA et al. 1998: Standard Methods Section 9223 B.). During dry weather conditions, 10 ml of sample water was added to 90 ml of sterile deionized water mixed with either Enterolert media (for enterococci) or Colilert-18 (for total co- 62 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES PR as: Ta ah - “a x of & lend SES AL , 2 ota. Mi a eet et ee <——— BALLONA CREEK | Z” BSTUARY | Fig. |. Map of the Ballona Wetlands in relation to Marina Del Rey, California STA 5 Sampling stations are shown on the aerial photograph (USGS images from: http://edcsns17.cr.usgs.gov). liforms and E. coli). During wet weather, and additional dilution of 1 ml sample in 99 ml of sterile water/media was added allowing for higher FIB densities. The inoculated 100 ml samples then were poured into 97-well QuantiTray-2000 con- tainers, sealed, and transferred to the incubators. The total coliform/E. coli trays were incubated for 18—22 hrs at 35°C, and the enterococci trays for 24 hrs at 41°C. Tray-cells showing color changes (yellow for total coliforms, fluorescent FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS Date 21/03 3/2/03 3/6/03 3/16/03* 3/28/03 9/30/03 10/26/03 11/16/04 1/18/04 2/3/04* Tablewlt! Collection times (hr) Flood 0620—0707 0837-0949 0830-093 1 0Q605—07 14 0555—0644 0626—0702 0600—0708 1212-1300 0558-0715 0720-0823 * Wet weather runoff event. Ebb 1144-1228 1325-1416 1418-1529 1244-1327 1144-1421 1428-1518 1232-1329 1631-1715 1058-1152 1407-1457 Sampling dates, times, and tidal conditions. Tidal heights 0.9 ft @ 0632 hrs to 3.8 ft @ 1227 hrs 5.8 ft @ 0833 hrs to —0.7 ft @ 1518 hrs 4.2 ft @ 1046 hrs to 1.0 ft @ 1649 hrs 9 ft @ O727shrs\ to 10 @714i5 his 5.2 ft @ 0623 histo —O1o ft @ 13517 hrs 22 ft @ 0602.hrs to 529 ft*@ 1231%hrs 6.7 ft @ 0856 hrs to —0.9 ft @ 1549 hrs 4.3 ft @ 1329 hrs to 0.6 ft @ 2136 hrs 6.3 ft @ 0544 hrs to —1.0 ft @ 1317 hrs 5.9 ft @ 0704 hrs to —0.6 ft @ 1427 hrs Tidal range (ft) 239 6.5 32 6.9 5.8 3.7 7.6 Sa) fies 6.1 blue for E. coli and enterococci) were counted, and MPN/100 ml were determined for each indicator group. Water Quality Measurements A summary of the water quality measurements is presented in Table 2. In general, water temperatures were cooler for water flooding into the wetlands from the Ballona Creek estuary with station averages ranging from 13.7—15.2°C. After residing in the wetlands for several hours, mean temperatures were elevated by Table 2. Flood Ebb Sta n Meany =="S.D. Range n Mean = S.D. Temperature (°C): 1] 10 ASO 4: 11.1-18.7 10 Nifeg cen See D 10 [E29 12.4-18.4 11 [3.7 ==" 276 3 10 PSOE es 12.2-17.5 11 Sins 225 4 10 ekg) en O28) 7.8-18.4 ita LS. == 26 > 8 LS) st D2. 11.8-18.8 9 GRU Pee = leo Salinity (%o): | 10 18.9" 2.9.6 4.8—25.7 10 2D Ons Ov7) DZ 10 1953 = 10:6 1.6—27.3 11 16.6 + 9.6 3 10 17-9 = 10.6 1.4—23.2 11 [4 Oa 4 10 [54 = 10:4 1.3—27.9 11 116 = 8.9 5 8 (Sets 13.4 0.5—31.44 9 228.8 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L): ] 10 4.97 + 1.80 2.86—7.73 10 S$. 138 == 2.83 2 10 S088 2272.55 2.46—9.66 11 [Sri7"= 6:91 3 10 SAS 291 1.13—10.06 1] 12105 33 4 10 6100s 2.71 2.15—10.09 1] 12.98 + 6.88 5 8 7.64 + 2.74 3.43-11.77 8 eo ae 6 yall(0) Results Statistical descriptions of water quality parameters measured at each station during flood and ebb flows (n = number of measurements collected). Range 13.6—20.0 14.7—20.9 14.6—22.4 14.4—22.4 14.6—19.9 7.5—32.9 1.4—27.5 1.2—26.8 1.14—26.6 6.6—32.4 3.75—13.74 2.86—24.06 4.27-—21.26 4.89—23.16 4.78—-13.61 64 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2.5 to 4.8°C in water ebbing back into Ballona Creek. Overall temperatures ranged from 7.8—22.4°C with the warmest occurring during spring low-tide ebb flows. Salinities at the wetland Stations 2—4 generally were brackish with means rang- ing from 11.6—19.3 ppt. Upper salinity ranges at these sites were measured at about 23-33 ppt during both flood and ebb flows. Within the Ballona Creek estuary (Station 5) and at Station 1, mean salinities were slightly higher ranging from 18.9—22.0 ppt. During ebb flows, the highest values of 22.0 ppt were mea- sured at both these stations. During the three wet weather runoff events (Table 1), salinities ranged from 0.5—2.2 ppt on the flood tides, and 7.5—8.9 on the ebbs, reflecting the influence of runoff from both Ballona Creek and the marsh flats and surrounding bluffs. Concentrations of dissolved oxygen generally were lower during morning flood tide conditions compared with measurements taken later each day during the ebb flow. Mean concentrations during flood flows ranged from 4.47—7.64 mg/L, rising to 8.18—12.98 mg/L during ebb flows, presumably due to photosynthetic action from plants living in the tidal channels. Some of the lowest values for dissolved oxygen occurred during the flood tidal flow, the lowest occurring at Station 3 (1.88 mg/L on 2-21-03, and 1.13 mg/L on 10-26-03). Bacterial Densities Histograms of mean FIB densities for each sampling day for the tidal flows are presented in Figures 2 through 4. These data are summarized in Table 3 where mean densities for each fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) among the five stations during flood and ebb tidal flows are presented. In this table, dry- and wet-weather days were separated, yielding a mean FIB density for each weather situation. In general, FIB densities in flood flows tended to be greater than those in ebb flows, especially for E. coli and enterococci (Table 3). However, this trend was only statistically significant on a few occasions for each FIB group, probably owing to the variability within these data. Densities of FIB groups were tested between flood and ebb flows at each station for the three sampling dates (March 6, 16 and 28, 2003) where replicate samples (n = 3) were collected. Of the 15 tests performed, only six yielded significant differences (p < 0.05) with densities being greater during flood flows four of the six times (Table 4). During wet weather, all FIB densities increased by one to several orders of magnitude over dry weather densities. During dry weather, FIB densities tended to diminish with increasing salinity (Fig. 5). Overall, correlations were weak, although this rela- tionship was significant for at least one FIB group at each of the wetland stations. The ratio of bacterial density between flood and ebb flows was determined for each FIB group at each station, and regressed with the tidal ranges over the study period. This approach was used to more closely examine changes in FIB densities over varying tidal ranges, so a FIB Flood:Ebb ratio of >1 would indicate higher densities of FIB on the incoming flood tide. Using only dry weather data, re- gressions were performed for each FIB group at the five stations. The ratio of Flood:Ebb densities generally diminished with increasing tidal ranges suggesting that FIB densities were nearly equal as the tidal flows moved into spring tide conditions. This relationship was not significant at any of the stations, and was best demonstrated at Station 1 (Fig. 6). FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS 65 107 STATION 1 sas 10° STATION 2 . 10° E = 10 She g 10" ba: ea10 i = 102 ee 1014 | Oo @ & A A A 0 Caer oF of uk So © F< 7G SR Ee WD ENS LO EL LY 10S OTe eS TS SS OS rT & GC, UO) a v x aS) IN Rei ae 8 ss ww ie AY Se oe a 107 STATION 3 107 STATION 4 10 ~_ 10 S 10 2 10% | = 102 101 Soe ea RS NOS) ban me ne A ER TTS eS CEE EC EF CFOS ¥ SF EF FF SEH O F BN a oS - s P Oy eo > ae 3 oS ae ne ne s&s 2 3 10” STATION 5 E 3 —EFLOOD 2 WEBB Qa = A ~\ & G L eS & \ «) SEK SEG Ss SF ay <0 So Ot et Se og Fig. 2. Densities of total coliforms (MPN/100 ml) during flood and ebb tidal flows, February 2003-2004. The “‘greater than’’ symbol (>) indicates densities greater than the method detection level for the dilution used. Total coliforms. Total coliforms generally ranged from 10°—10° with higher values occurring during the two wet weather runoff events (Table 3). The highest value recorded (1.4 * 10° MPN/100 ml) occurred during wet weather at Station 1 during the ebb flow. Histograms (Fig. 2) among the five stations over the entire sampling period indicated that densities of total coliforms at Stations 5 and 1, positioned in and adjacent to Ballona Creek, respectively, tended to be greater during flood flows (Table 3). This pattern was most consistent at Station | where flood densities exceeded ebb densities 90% of the time (Table 5) followed by Station 5 at 70%. This pattern, however, was not statistically significant on the three occasions where replicate samples were taken. Results of t-tests for repli- cated samples (Table 4) indicated that total coliforms were significantly greater during flood flows only at Station 4 on March 16, 2003 during a runoff event. On this same day, the ebb flow had significantly greater densities of total coliforms at Station 5 (p = 0.004), demonstrating the impacts of wetland runoff. Differences in densities of this FIB group during the flood and ebb flows tended to be more similar further into the wetlands at Stations 2—4 where the percentage of samples with flood densities = ebb densities ranged from 40—50% (Table 5). E. coli. Mean densities of &. coli generally were greater during flood than ebb 66 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 104 STATION 1 shel 5 oes — We _, 18 E & Swine << < = 102 2 & oO a = & 101 VES SS SEES SEC CF FESR EET 5 fe) Y « ~ eS & o - Se ee © © OE A a ao STATION 3 ae STATION 4 a tN 103 E Fe So oO = 10245 aia 8 i524 << << 2 2 a a = = 10! 10! 10° oe ke US BAMA IES ee Le < > RG 2S © < ee SS GS x Se CU Vata nO ON CF FF FEF SF OS F KS Wo etny GN ee er ee en MO ae ae On ay o on ? - ie 2° 1" STATION 5 _ 103 g HIFLOOD = 102 MEBB z oO = 101 ¢ < Deas a aie(< © < \a \a Ve vr YS oO ve A Fig. 3. Densities of ©. coli (MPN/100 ml) during flood and ebb tidal flows, February 2003-2004. The “‘less than’? symbol (<) indicates densities below the method detection level for the dilution used. flows at all stations, ranging from 10? to 10° MPN/100 ml with the greater den- sities occurring during runoff events (Tables 3 and 4). However, the greatest den- sity of this FIB group (41,060 MPN/100 ml) was measured at Station 4 on Sep- tember 30, 2003 during dry weather. When looking at individual station histo- grams for E. coli (Fig. 3), flood densities exceeded ebb densities more than 50% of the time (Table 5) with the greatest percentages (80%) at Stations 1-3. Enterococci. Mean Enterococci densities (Table 3) were slightly greater than those of E. coli, ranging from 10° to 10*; the greatest density occurred during wet weather at Station 4 on March 16, 2003, where the count was measured at 141,360 MPN/100 ml. During dry weather, enterococci densities in flood flows tended to be greater on average than ebb flows, but this trend was not statistically significant (Table 3). Tests among replicated events did show a significant increase in En- terococci during the ebb flow at Station 2 during the March 16" wet weather event (Table 4). When individual stations histograms are examined, flood densities exceeded ebb densities greater than 50% of the time at all stations (Table 5). Discussion The central question in this study is whether or not the Ballona Wetlands act as a sink or source for FIB groups of bacteria. If acting as a sink, densities of FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS 67 ENTEROCOCCI HOE STATION 1 10° STATION 2 — o rs =k o > MPN/100 ml MPN/100ML e — o a oO Os Wee eS SKS SS sige 2 ¢ Qiao). OS ¢ ¢ < RNs R\g \al Va .> fe) a 74 X ey FT © Oy a ae Ge Se eg qs CS GIS AS ry FS aes SF OC Oo < Aa a o oe ae fe ee 2 5 10° STATION 3 108 meee —_ o + —_ So > MPN/100ML MPN/100mI 10! STATION 5 MIEBB Fig. 4. Densities of Enterococci (MPN/100 ml) during flood and ebb tidal flows, February 2003— 2004. The “‘less than’’ symbol (<) indicates densities below the method detection level for the dilution used. FIB would be greater in flood tidal flows entering the marsh system from the Ballona Creek estuary. After entering the wetlands, FIB densities would be re- duced through natural processes associated with sedimentation within vegetated areas (e.g. Wong and Geiger 1997, Dixon et al. 2003, Karathanasis et al. 2003) and deactivation by sunlight (e.g. Mayo 1995, Stinton 2002). Conversely, if the wetlands were acting as a source, then densities would be greater during ebb flows, and be most apparent in water out welling from the tidal gates into the Ballona Creek estuary. This situation has been found in Huntington Beach, Cal- ifornia where enterococci out welling from the Talbert Marsh impacted adjacent coastal beaches (Grant et al. 2001). In Talbert Marsh, enterococci probably orig- inated from bird feces and contaminated sediments suspended through tidal action. Results presented herein suggest that the wetlands may act as a sink in that FIB densities tended to be greater during flood flows into the wetlands, but less in water draining out of the system during ebb flows. However, this condition was not consistently met, especially at stations farthest from the tide gates. These sites could be reflecting increased FIB densities through regrowth within sedi- ments and other unidentified sources. Tidal amplitudes appear to be linked to FIB densities during ebb flows as 68 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Table 3. Mean densities (+ 1 S.D.) of indicator bacteria (MPN/100 ml) at each station during flood and ebb tidal flows over the entire sampling period. Sta n Total Coliforms, Dry Weather: l 12 2. 12 3) 12 4 12 =) 1 Total Coliforms, Wet Weather: | 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 E. coli, Dry Weather: l ( 2 12 3 [2 4 12 5 11 E. coli, Wet Weather: 1 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 5 4 Enterococci, Dry Weather: l Wp 2 lp 3 1 4 12 SS 11 Enterococci, Wet Weather | 4 2 4 3 4 4 4 > 4 Mean 13,038 10,877 9,682 41,400 95691 703,955 480,705 628,780 i 7eD55 340,205 107 DDD 567 3,646 206 2,254 6,716 2S 22010 8,429 DG, 236 186 342 299 14,757 18,247 B2,95)) 45,914 35,100 Flood = SD 72233 8,587 4,826 42,057 7,6 353,555 167,677 263,431 335,020 91,354 46 ig) 3) 1,547 11,794 107 tee 74 1,424 1,264 1,068 2,084 290 263 214 621 565 2,258 4,240 32,882 63,806 42,023 Range 3,280—24,192 1 ,690—33,250 2,690—16,070 1,460—129,970 3,090—28,510 241,920—980,400 241,920—613,100 241,920-—8 16,400 241,920—980,400 241,920—461,100 10—200 10—1,112 20—5,475 10—41,060 41-410 1,210—4,106 4,884—-8,010 1,990—4,611 1,340—3,654 5,370—9,804 10—1,100 10—970 10-790 10—2,254 31—1,990 12,033—17,329 14,136—24,192 12,997—-8 1,640 8,297—141,360 12,033—98,040 ' Values of p were derived from a t-test using log,, transformed data and assuming equal variances; mean FIB densities tested between flood and ebb flows at each station during dry- and wet-weather periods. evident from the FIB Flood:Ebb ratios (Fig. 6), and may be caused by bank washing during spring tides as hypothesized in Fig. 7. During neap tides the tidal range is relatively small, so little water washes the banks in the wetlands. Bacteria are carried into the system on the flood tides from Ballona Creek where they subsequently are reduced in numbers, probably from sunlight and other natural wetland process. Subsequently, densities are lower in the ebb tide flows. As the FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS Table 3. Extended. 69 n Mean +SD Range Dp 12 6,548 2,669 1,490—10,462 0.007 ‘i 11 13,423 6,308 2,770—24,192 0.130 NS 12 30,790 46,424 3,094—173,290 0.025 - 12 86,601 77,948 4,245—198,630 0.068 NS 11 4,188 3,463 900 —172,033 0.005 - 4 731,066 589,950 10,462—1,413,600 0.280 NS + 547,258 385,239 38,730—920,800 0.382 NS + 503,128 SC OT7 46,1 10—770,100 0.245 NS 4 295,995 298,66 | 30,760-613,100 0.066 " 4 377,955 233,024 241,920—770, 100 0.083 NS 12 163 282 20-1053 0.494 NS 12 209 346 10—1,243 0.410 NS 12 202 a92 10—1,434 0.165 NS r2 242 44] 20—1,625 0.363 NS 11 292. 51D 52-1, 816 0.320 NS 1,078 674 12—1;610 0.093 NS - 1,631 894 354—2,400 0.006 i 4 1,340 639 399=15750 0.050 # 4 1,106 558 272—1,460 0.072 NS 4 6,350 7,360 15990-17329 0.118 NS 12 89 80 1O=259 0.064 NS 12 141 265 10—940 0.050 : 12 84 50 10-152 0.210 NS 12 103 81 10-223 0.110 NS Fl 107 83 L0—272 0.082 NS 127281 8,204 733—19,863 0.206 NS + 56;136 37,421 1,014—8 1,640 O379 NS 4 47,557 32591 987—77,010 0.472 NS 4 39,766 28,176 933—62,940 0.374 NS 4 12,929 5,626 A 2 le, 329 0.144 NS tidal cycle shifts into spring tide conditions, the tidal range increases. During high tide, contaminated Ballona Creek water is able to flood some areas in the wetlands (see Fig. 7). When the tide turns and flows back out into Ballona Creek, sediment particles with attached FIB species can be resuspended, thus adding to the ebb flows. Recent investigations by Ferguson et al. (2005) showed that densities of enterococci were much greater in sediments impacted by contaminated runoff, indicating retention and regrowth. They pointed out that resuspension of these sediments into the overlying water column was of concern since the attached densities of enterococci could be sufficient to exceed bathing water standards. 70 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Table 4. Results of t-tests between mean FIB densities during flood and ebb flows during sampling events where replicate (n = 3) samples were collected at each station. For testing, variances were assumed to be unequal; only significant results (p = 0.05) are presented in this table. Mean density (MPN/100 ml) Date Sta FIB Grp Flood Ebb p 3/16/03 + Totals 876,100 384,407 0.039 3/16/03 S Totals 372,967 689,967 0.004 3/16/03 2 E. coli Hoa! 2,057 0.001 3/16/03 3 E.coli 2037) E653 0.011 3/16/03 5) 13, COlll 71,970 2,690 0.017 3/16/03 2: Enterococci 18,592 74,510 0.001 Stronger tidal flows associated with spring tide conditions may resuspend sedi- ments, thus adding to FIB concentrations in the water column. Steets and Holden (2003) considered hydraulic resuspension of FIB contaminated sediments to be an important component in a model they developed to predict out welling of fecal coliforms from a small coastal lagoon in Santa Barbara, California. If this ““‘bank washing”’ model is operating in the wetlands, then increased tidal flows through restoration actions could have mixed outcomes with regard to FIB densities. As the tidal flow is increased within the wetland system, the mud banks of the tidal channels could broaden, and more vegetative banks would be sub- merged during high tides. More extensive mud bank exposure to tidal flows could resuspend greater loads of sediments, thus FIB. Conversely, during daylight hours at higher tidal levels, greater quantities of water contaminated with FIB would be exposed to sterilizing UV light as it lies over the submerged bank, thus reducing FIB densities. Ballona Creek may be a significant source of FIB entering the Ballona Wet- lands. Densities of FIB groups in flood tide flows entering the wetlands at Station 1 were within the ranges measured by others in Ballona Creek. Stein and Tiefen- thaler (2004) measured dry weather densities of total coliforms, FE. coli, and en- terococci along the entire 12.7 km length of Ballona Creek. Highest densities were measured at sites immediately upstream of the tidal prism, and at the head of the open channel where it daylights, with geometric mean densities (MPN/100 ml) ranging from 107-10 for E. coli and enterococci, and 10* for total coliforms. Along the lower reaches of Ballona Creek and the upper portions of the Estuary, Table 5. Percent of sampling events (n = 10) where FIB densities during flood flows were = ebb flows. Percentages based on histograms in Figures 2—4. FIB group Total Sta coliforms E. coli Enterococci | 90 80 70 D 40 80 60 3 50 80 60 4 50 70 70 5 70 60 60 FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS 71 SALINITY vs. FIBs AT STATIONS 1-5 E. coli, STA1 aD ENTEROCOCCI, STA 1 TOTAL COLIFORMS, STA 1 aa 7 oe - a af r2=0.0801 = 20000) r2=0.0246 p =0.3066 NS S 1500 p =0.5768 NS 5 es 500 = . 7 a 0 10 20 30 40 acon, TOTAL COLIFORMS, STA 2 1500, E. coli, STA2 30000} r2-<9.0001 7 nt _, 25000} p =0.9774 NS = 100 r=0.3479 = p =0.0207 * S = a = a E. coli, STA3 a ENTEROCOCCI, STA3 200000 a z 120 r2=0.2030 2 peveno r*=0.3293 200] p =0.0919 NS =0.0253 * S 100000 800 P = a = 50000 0 ssoo00 , TOTAL COLIFORMS, STA 4 x00 E. coli, STA 4 de ENTEROCOCCI, STA 4 - Es r?=0.0276 . 200000 a 150 = p =0.5543 NS = 150000 r?=0.5664 r2=0.0553 S 7 p =0.0012 * 100 p =0.3991 NS > a = 15000. TOTALS COLIFORMS, STA 5 2000 E. coli, STAS5 =0.0747 wi A 2000 a = 100004 p =0.3662 NS Regeer 15004 f°=0.0179 3 p =0.0915 NS RESSEaIING = s 5000 0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 SALINITY (ppt) SALINITY (ppt) SALINITY (ppt) Fig. 5. Regression analyses of dry-weather salinity against each FIB group at Stations | through 4 in the wetlands, and Station 5 in Ballona Creek. Dorsey and Lindaman (2004) measured similar FIB densities with total coliforms averaging 10*—10° and E. coli and enterococci ranging from 107—10? MPN/100 ml. During wet weather events, densities of the FIB groups in Ballona Creek in- crease several orders of magnitude as contaminated water enters the Creek system from storm drains throughout the watershed (Los Angeles County Department of Public Works 2002 and _ http://ladpw.org/wmd/NPDES/2001—02-_report; Dorsey 72 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Ratio of Flood:Ebb FIB Density vs.Tidal Range > 3.5 Total coliforms 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > 35 Enterococci 7) % (= ® O 25 le} a r2=0.2573 3 154 p =0.1633 9 5 @ e) = e a i 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 ve 8 Tidal Range (ft) Fig. 6. Regression of tidal ranges versus the ratios of flood:ebb FIB densities for each indicator at Station 1, Ballona Wetlands. The wet-weather outlier from 2-3-04 was removed from the analyses. and Lindaman 2004). Subsequently, this contaminated water enters the wetland system, lowering salinity to freshwater levels (Table 2) and increasing FIB den- sities by several orders of magnitude. Additional FIB sources would include bac- teria attached to sediments carried by runoff from the salt marsh flats and the bluffs bordering the wetlands to the south. Although data presented herein suggest that the wetlands may be acting as a FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS 43 FLOOD:EBB RATIO OF BACTERIAL DENSITY NEAP SPRING TIDAL RANGE ne ce aS Fig. 7. Hypothesized bank-washing model (see text for explanation). Photographs are from Station 1 where the bank is covered with water during spring high tides. sink for FIB, and that Ballona Creek may be a significant source for these bacteria, these premises were based on only 16 days of sampling at five stations over a one year period. Future studies need to focus on establishing overall hydrody- namics and tidal flushing of the wetlands, and determining mass balance of FIB entering and leaving this system during varying tidal cycles. Twenty-four hour studies employing frequent sampling will better determine the flux of FIB, es- pecially during daylight hours when UV light can presumably reduce densities. More research is needed to determine the fate and transport of FIB within this system, retention and regrowth in wetland sediments, and purifying process within the tidal channels and on tidally submerged vegetation. As restoration actions are implemented, changes may occur in the dynamics of the wetland habitat and ecosystem conducive to water purification and FIB removal. At the same time, populations of vertebrates, especially birds, may significantly increase, thus in- creasing FIB densities. Therefore, we need to track these changing conditions and populations to better understand the consequences of restoration actions as this wetland returns to a more natural condition. Acknowledgements Kili Sueda (Loyola Marymount University), Sachiko Chyan (Marlborough High School) and Swati Yanadamala (Chadwick High School) played key roles in this study by helping with field and lab work. It was rewarding to work with 74 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES these fine students; they were always enthusiastic, even at dawn during rainstorms. Many thanks to Ken Shiff (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project) for kindly reviewing the manuscript and offering excellent suggestions to improve its quality, and to the anonymous reviewers for their excellent recommendations. This work was supported through LMU Summer Research grants and funding from the LMU Department of Natural Science. Literature Cited American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and Water Environment Federation. 1998. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20" Ed. American Public Health Association, 1015 fifteenth St., NW, Washington, DC. Camp, Dresser & McKee, 1998. Playa Vista Area A and Area B Wetland Surface Water and Sediment Monitoring Draft Report, October, 1998. Dixon, A., M. Simon, and T. Burkitt. 2003. Assessing the environmental impact of two options for small-scale wastewater treatment: comparing a reedbed and an aerated biological filter using a life cycle approach. Ecol. Engineering, 20(4): 297-308. Dorsey, J.H., and E. Lindaman. 2004. Water quality. Pp. 62—81 in Ballona Creek Trail and Bikeway: Environmental and Recreational Enhancement Study. (D. McNeill and J. Landry, ed’s), Report to the State Legislature, Baldwin Hills Conservancy, Los Angeles, CA. Ferguson, D.M., D.E Moore, M.A. Getrich and M.H. Zhowandai. 2005. Enumeration and speciation of enterococci found in marine and intertidal sediments and coastal water in southern California. J. Applied Microbiology 99:598—608. Grant, S.B., B.E Sanders, A.B. Boehm, J.A. Redman, J.H. Kim, R.D. Mrse, A.K. Chu, M. Gouldin, C.D. McGee, N.A. Gardiner, B.H. Jones, J. Svejkovsky, G.V. Leipzig, and A. Brown. 2001. Generation of enterococci bacteria in a coastal saltwater marsh and its impact on surf zone water quality. Env. Sci. & Tech. 35(12): 2407-2416. Kadlec, R.H., and R.L. Knight. 1996. Treatment Wetlands. CRC Press, Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Ie: Karathanasis, A.D., C.L. Potter, and M.S. Coyne. 2003. Vegetation effects on fecal bacteria, BOD, and suspended solid removal in constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater. Ecol. En- gineering, 20(2): 157-169. Keddy, PA. 2000. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation. Cambridge Studies in Ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. 2002. Los Angeles County 2001—2002 Storm Water Quality Monitoring Report. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, 900 South Fre- mont Avenue, Alhambra, California 91803. 26 p. + tables, figures, appendices. Mayo, A.W. 1995. Modeling coliform mortality in waste stabilization ponds. J. Environ. Engin. 121(2): 140-152. Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands. 3" Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY. Schueler, T-R., and H.K. Holland. 2000. The Practice of Watershed Protection: Techniques for Pro- tecting our Nation’s streams, Lakes, Rivers and Estuaries. Center for Watershed Protection, 8391 Main St., Ellicott City, MD. Steets, B.M., and PA. Holden. 2003. A mechanistic model of runoff-associated fecal coliform fate and transport through a coastal lagoon. Wat. Res. 37 (2003) 589—608. Stein, E.D., and L.L. Tiefenthaler. 2004. Characterization and source identification of dry weather metals and bacteria in Ballona Creek. Pp. 180-191 in Southern California Coastal Water Re- search Project Biennial Report 2003-2004. (S.B. Weisberg, ed.) Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Ln., Westminster, CA. Sinton, L.W., C.H. Hall, PA. Lynch, and R.J. Davis-Colley. 2002. Sunlight inactivation of fecal in- dicator bacteria and bacteriophages from waste stabilization pond effluent in fresh and saline waters. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68(3): 1122-1131. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1999. Draft Environmental assessment. Ballona Wetlands 1135 En- vironmental Restoration Project. Los Angeles County, California. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, 911 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS TS West, J. 2001. Ballona Wetland. Pp. 10—20 in Handbook for Restoring Tidal Wetlands (J. B. Zedler, ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. Wong, T.H.F, and W.E Geiger. 1997. Adaptation of wastewater surface flow wetland formulae for application in constructed stormwater wetlands. Ecol. Engineering, 9(1997):187—202. Accepted for publication 13 February 2006. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(2), 2006, pp. 76—84 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 Interspecific Competition Between Coleogyne ramosissima Seedlings and Bromus rubens Simon A. Lei Department of Biology, Nevada State College, 1125 Nevada State Drive, Henderson, Nevada 89015 Abstract.—Interactive effects of red brome grass (Bromus rubens) density and time of establishment on the early survival and growth of blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) seedlings were quantitatively investigated. Seeds of Coleogyne and Bromus were collected from Cold Creek of the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada. A series of pot trial experiments were conducted in a controlled envi- ronmental glasshouse. In mixed culture pots when Coleogyne seedlings planted four weeks later than Bromus at medium and high density levels, survival of Coleogyne seedlings (experimental populations) was greatly reduced compared to single Coleogyne seedlings that grew alone (control population). Significant in- teractions were detected between neighboring Bromus density and time of planting for shoot height, root/shoot ratio, leaf length, and shoot water potential of exper- imental Coleogyne populations. When Bromus density was examined indepen- dently, all measured growth parameters of experimental Coleogyne populations were significantly reduced compared to the control population. When time of planting was examined independently, shoot height, root/shoot ratio, shoot bio- mass, leaf length, and water potential of experimental Coleogyne populations were significantly reduced. Results of this study revealed that some Coleogyne mor- talities occurred in the absence of interspecific competition, and that growth among surviving seedlings were significantly reduced under conditions of in- creased density of neighboring Bromus and early Bromus establishment. Seed germination alone does not mean that a plant has become successfully established in a community. The seedling stage in plant life histories is the most vulnerable stage in development. During the developmental state, competition for space and resources does not occur between all plants in a population, but rather between the individual in question and the plants immediately surrounding the individual (Harper 1977; Antonovics and Levin 1980; Florentine and Fox 2003). Competition between plant species can be investigated directly by using pot trial experiments to minimize variation in all other factors that can independently and/ or jointly affect survival and growth (Florentine and Fox 2003). Competition in plant communities implies that the supply of light, water, or nutrients to plants is diminished by the presence of neighbors and the proximity of plants to plants of either the same or different species (Harper 1977; Tilman 1982). The intensity of interspecific competition is highly dependent on the number of neighbors already present to capture the available space and resources (Florentine and Fox 2003). When plant density is high, individual plants can interfere with each other both aboveground and belowground (Mack and Harper 1977). Interspecific competition occurs within shrublands between shrubs and grasses 76 INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN SEEDLINGS V7 that differ in life history traits, including life cycles and growth patterns (Flor- entine and Fox 2003). In general, seedlings of woody species do not compete well with adjacent herbaceous species (Van Auken and Bush 1988). Grasses can use soil moisture and mineral nutrients faster than perennial shrubs (Jackson and Roy 1986). In mixed cultures of two species involving a woody and a herbaceous plant, the mean yield of woody species is heavily dependent on the relative density and percent cover of adjacent herbaceous species (Harper 1977; Florentine and Fox 2003). Red brome grass (Bromus rubens) was introduced into the western United States during the mid-nineteenth century, but did not spread into the Mojave Desert until the early twentieth century (Hunter 1991). Bromus invaded springs, roadsides, and disturbed areas of the Mojave Desert during 1920’s. It was not common, however, until after 1950 (Hunter 1991). Bromus is common in some locations around 4,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation at the Nevada Test Site (Hunter 1991). It is often a dominant herbaceous species found below 5,000 feet in Co- leogyne and creosote bush-white bursage (Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa) shrublands of southern Nevada (Beatley 1966; Newman 1991). Competition for soil moisture from cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), a closely related species to red brome grass, is a major cause in the reduction of Coleogyne seedling establish- ment at high and medium soil fertility levels under controlled laboratory condi- tions (Pendleton et al. 1999). Fertilization as a restoration technique may increase Coleogyne growth but, at the same time, can reduce survival and result in com- petitive exclusion of Coleogyne in the presence of B. tectorum (Pendleton et al. OOO): Recruitment of Coleogyne is episodic in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada. Growth activities in Coleogyne generally occur from March through mid-June when soil moisture is available in southern Utah (Bowns and West 1976) and southern Nevada (Lei and Walker 1997). Large numbers of Bromus also emerge around this period of time. By early to mid-June, Bromus have completed their entire life cycle, leaving abundant standing dead stems that persist for a year or two in the field (Hunter 1991; Newman 2001). The survival and growth of newly emerged Coleogyne seedlings are variable in time and space under natural field conditions. If Coleogyne seeds germinate among dense carpets of Bromus, they may have a reduced chance of survival with a limited seedling growth due to competition effects compared to fewer, or no other, individuals of Bromus present. An understanding of the interspecific competition between Coleogyne and Bromus 1s critical to determine the cycle of seed germination, seedling establishment, and early mortality of Coleogyne. From casual observations, seedling densities and frequencies of Coleogyne are not high in natural fields. This phenomenon suggests that either Coleogyne seed production is very low, or that competition with other species for limited space and/or re- sources is high in southern Nevada. This study investigated interspecific competition between Coleogyne seedlings and Bromus at different densities and times of planting under controlled environ- mental conditions using a series of pot trial experiments. Two hypotheses were made prior to data collection. First, the survival and growth of Coleogyne seed- lings (experimental populations) were reduced with increasing Bromus density or early Bromus establishment (time of planting) relative to Coleogyne seedlings that 78 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES grew alone (control population). Second, there were interactions between neigh- boring Bromus density and time of planting for many growth characteristics of Coleogyne seedlings. Methods Seed Collection Site Seeds of Coleogyne and Bromus were collected at mid-elevations of a nearly monospecific Coleogyne shrubland in Cold Creek (36°25'N and 115°28'W; 1,250 to 1,405 m in elevation), located on the eastern slope of the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada. A total of 300 Coleogyne and 800 Bromus seeds, along with their corresponding field soils from the upper 10 cm, were collected in late July 2004. From casual observations, flattened, wrinkled, or empty (potentially invi- able) seeds of both. species were discarded in the field before transporting to a laboratory at Nevada State College (NSC). Germination Experiments After initial screenings, seeds were placed at room temperature (22°C) for stor- age. Bromus and Coleogyne seeds were placed in a cool chamber (dry chilled) at 4°C for two and six weeks without light, respectively, prior to the initiation of germination and pot trial experiments. Ungerminated seeds that were firm and turgid were recorded as potentially viable. During the germination period, 20 seeds of the same species were placed be- tween two layers of filter papers moistened with tap water inside a 10-cm diameter Petri dish. Stacks of Petri dishes were placed in transparent plastic bags in the cool chamber to decrease evaporative water loss, and water was added as nec- essary to maintain saturation of filter papers during incubation. Coleogyne seeds were incubated at 4°C, while Bromus seeds were incubated at 22°C in the dark except for an occasional, brief exposure to fluorescent lights. Radicle emergence = 1 mm was the criterion for seed germination (Lei 1997). Germination occurred between 2—3 weeks at a 87% rate for Coleogyne, and occurred within two weeks at a 90% rate for Bromus. Pot Trial Experiments Transplanting commenced on November 14, 2004 for the early germinating Bromus and completed on January 9, 2005 for the later Bromus in the glasshouse. All other seedlings were introduced into pots on December 12. Bromus was se- lected because it has often coexisted with Coleogyne as a common herbaceous species at mid-elevations of southern Nevada. Three densities of Bromus: low, medium, and high were represented by two, four, and six individual plants, re- spectively, with a single Coleogyne seedling. Five-week old Coleogyne and three-week old Bromus seedlings were trans- planted into small, cone-shaped containers (plastic pots) that were 6.5 cm in di- ameter and 35 cm tall. Pots were placed in a glasshouse at the Henderson Campus of Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) from mid-November 2004 through early June 2005. Each pot contained one-third perlite and two-thirds nat- ural field soil, without adding fertilizers in order to maintain a low soil fertility level. Perlite was used to improve aeration and drainage (Lei 2004). INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN SEEDLINGS 7s) Plantings of Coleogyne and Bromus were made on three different dates. The first planting date was on the “‘same day” when both Coleogyne and Bromus were introduced into pots simultaneously on December 12, 2004. The second planting date was “‘early grass”, in which Bromus was initially introduced into pots on December 12, and 28 days later Coleogyne was introduced (January 9, 2005). The third date was “‘late grass’, in which Coleogyne was planted first on November 14, 2004, and the Bromus was planted later on December 12. Coleo- gyne was planted first in order to promote seedling survival and growth. Coleo- gyne seedlings were placed in the center of each pot, while individuals of Bromus were placed on the periphery. All 15 replicates of each treatment received the Same amount of irrigation and liquid fungicide, as well as the same intensity of incoming sunlight (experimental populations). Single Coleogyne seedlings without the presence of Bromus were served as a control population, and were used to compare with various density levels and times of planting (experimental popu- lations). Prior to planting, care was taken to allocate seedlings by size to various ex- perimental treatments, so that no single treatment had disproportionally large or small seedlings. Pots were lightly moistened with tap water for 20 weeks (five months) in the glasshouse. Initially, seedlings were watered twice a week for the first three weeks, and thereafter once a week until the end of pot trial experiments. A small amount of liquid fungicide was applied monthly. Any deaths observed during the first few days were immediately replaced with new Coleogyne seed- lings. A mortality rate in each experimental treatment was recorded. Water status of each Coleogyne seedling was determined using a portable pres- sure chamber (Plant Moisture Stress Instrument Company; Covallis, OR) as de- scribed by Scholander et al. (1965) in order to quantify the soil water environment encountered by the root system. The chamber was pressurized with nitrogen gas. Once the shoots were incised, water potential measurements were made imme- diately in the glasshouse to decrease evaporation loss. Shoots were sealed into the chamber, and the pressure indicated at the first sign of water at the cut end was recorded as an estimate of shoot water potential (Lei 2004). All surviving Coleogyne seedlings were harvested five months after planting by carefully removing them from pots, and soil was gently rinsed away with slow-flowing tap water. Intertwined roots of Bromus and Coleogyne were carefully separated while their roots were submerged in water. Coleogyne were separated into root and shoot components. Root length, shoot length, and basal shoot di- ameter were measured with a metric ruler. Root and shoot biomass were obtained after oven-drying at 65°C for 36 hours. Statistical Analyses Germination was computed on the basis of percentages of potentially viable seeds. Mortalities of Coleogyne seedlings with respect to neighboring Bromus density and time of planting were expressed with percentages. A two-way Anal- ysis of Variance (ANOVA; Analytical Software 1994) was conducted to detect significant differences in shoot height, root/shoot ratio, basal shoot diameter, root and shoot biomass, leaf length, and shoot water potential (growth characteristics) of Coleogyne seedlings, with neighboring Bromus density and time of planting 80 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Table 1. Mortality and harvest values (mean + SE, n = 15 per density level per growth charac- teristic) of Coleogyne seedlings grown in mixed cultures with Bromus when Bromus individuals were planted four weeks earlier. Low, medium, and high densities represent two, four, and six individuals of Bromus per pot, respectively. Statistical comparisons and significance are indicated in Table 4. Number of Bromus individuals per pot Growth variable Control 2 4 6 Mortality (%) [353 26.7 46.7 53.3 Shoot height (cm) Olt a 1h pe Sah! aa Se walleil 3.8 rl Root/shoot ratio (297-701 D Die OD DA ENO 2.6y 0a Shoot diameter (mm) 3.62240) 2S =O DAs (A 20 “10a Shoot biomass (g) OAL7 = O05 O15, 22 0:06 Oa 0:05 0.09 + 0.04 Root biomass (g) 0.04 + 0.01 0.05: @:01 0107 == OOF 0.09 + 0.01 Leaf length (mm) 6.2) = 0:8 520, O57 5.3 == O16 rae ye eee (f))e5) Water potential (MPa) =F 2 OF == 229" 0D — oe = 3:02 as main effects. Mean values were presented with standard errors, and statistical significance was determined at p = 0.05 level. Results Low mortality was observed when Coleogyne seedlings grew alone in the ab- sence of interspecific competition (13.3%; Table 1). Highest mortality was found (53.3%) when individuals of Bromus were established four weeks before Coleo- gyne in high density than in low density of control pots (Table 1). All Coleogyne growth parameters with medium Bromus density had intermediate values (Table 2) between high and low densities (Tables | and 3, respectively). When Coleogyne was planted four weeks before Bromus, substantial deaths still occurred at the high density level (26.7%; Table 3). Density of neighboring Bromus had a significant effect on growth of experi- mental Coleogyne populations irrespective of establishment time. High Bromus density significantly increased root/shoot ratio, but decreased shoot height, basal shoot diameter, root and shoot biomass, leaf length, and shoot water potential of experimental populations compared to the control population (p = 0.05; Table 4). Table 2. Mortality and harvest values (mean + SE, n = 15 per density level per growth charac- teristic) of Coleogyne seedlings grown in mixed cultures with Bromus when both species were planted simultaneously. Low, medium, and high densities represent two, four, and six individuals of Bromus per pot, respectively. Statistical comparisons and significance are indicated in Table 4. Number of Bromus individuals per pot Growth variable Control 2; 4 6 Mortality (%) 13.3 20.0 33.3 40.0 Shoot height (cm) (Se Ae Glues 1S Spore wal 50. ae Root/shoot ratio [Ose 1O ZA OD pies aps alsl (PO 2.) = Oe Shoot diameter (mm) 36 2 O22 ar 2 OZ 7 ie lige A 2.3) ENO Shoot biomass (g) OT" O205 0.15 + 0.04 O.13*="0:03 0.1L +0:02 Root biomass (g) 0.04 + 0.01 0.05 + 0.01 O:0'7; 30:01 0.08 + 0:02 Leaf length (mm) 672225 10:8 5.9.2 Od 5.6% 10:6 Sp eae) Water potential (MPa) ec ste ORL Ne Sy Dae = 25) Ou = 2.8 ane INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN SEEDLINGS 81 Table 3. Mortality and harvest values (mean + SE, n = 15 per density level per growth characteristic) of Coleogyne seedlings grown in mixed cultures with Bromus when Coleogyne individuals were planted four weeks earlier. Low, medium, and high densities represent two, four, and six individuals of Bromus per pot, respectively. Statistical comparisons and significance are indicated in Table 4. Number of Bromus individuals per pot Growth variable Control wy) 4 6 Mortality (%) 1323 20.0 20.0 26a) Shoot height (cm) ON aah 2 64 = 153 6:0. 133 Saal 2 Root/shoot ratio 95s Os1 DE. (2. Dean, a OED Dogs Weed (VI Shoot diameter (mm) R26 = 0.2 ie eng OP DOU seVOsT 2p uO Shoot biomass (g) On7-0.05 OG==70:06 O15" 22 0:05 0.13 + 0.04 Root biomass (g) 0.04 + 0.01 O05, => 0.01 0:06 = 0.01 O10ne 2210) On Leaf length (mm) 622-=109S 6.0: 0:7 56) = OO 5.5.0 Water potential (MPa) sade. =O al ail Spa 0:2 ae ee | =} B\ags= (EY Time of planting also had a significant effect on certain growth parameters of experimental Coloegyne seedlings irrespective of neighboring Bromus density. Early Bromus establishment significantly reduced shoot height, shoot biomass, leaf length, and water potential, but increased root/shoot ratio of Coleogyne seed- lings compared to Bromus established four weeks after Coleogyne (p = 0.05; Table 4). Nevertheless, basal shoot diameter, as well as root and shoot biomass of did not differ significantly between control and experimental populations, with respect to time of planting (p > 0.05; Table 4). Growth of Coleogyne seedlings was significantly affected by interactive effects of neighboring Bromus density and time of establishment. A two-way ANOVA revealed that neighboring Bromus density * time of planting interaction was sta- tistically significant for shoot height, root/shoot ratio, leaf length, and shoot water potential of Coleogyne seedlings (p = 0.05; Table 4). A combination of high Bromus density and early Bromus emergence significantly decreased these four growth parameters of experimental seedlings (p = 0.05; Table 4). However, the Bromus density * time of time was not statistically significant for basal shoot diameter, as well as root and shoot biomass of Coleogyne seedlings (p > 0.05; Table 4). Table 4. Summary of two-way ANOVA showing effects of neighboring Bromus density, time of planting, and their interactions on various growth characteristics of Coleogyne seedlings. Statistical significance was determined at p = 0.05. df = 2 for time of planting, df = 3 for neighboring Bromus density, and df = 6 for Bromus density and time of planting combination. Bromus density Time of planting Density * time Variable FE P F P F P Shoot height 198.65 <0.0001 72.95 <0.0001 14239 0.0001 Root/shoot ratio 173.44 <0.0001 27.00 0.0001 Spy 0.0090 Shoot diameter GANG 0.0006 1.78 0.2297 0.44 0.7740 Shoot biomass 68.40 <0.0001 14.93 0.0007 DAS 0.1285 Root biomass 17.68 0.0002 2.00 0.1810 1.64 0.2247 Leaf length 102.45 <0.0001 13.94 0.0010 5.63 0.0068 Water potential LOU17 <0.0001 42.51 <0.0001 3.39 00337 82 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Discussion This study demonstrated that some Coleogyne mortalities occurred in the ab- sence of interspecific competition, but that early emergence of Bromus at the high density level significantly reduced the performance of experimental Coleogyne seedlings compared to control seedlings. Due to different life history strategies, experimental Coleogyne populations experienced major disadvantages in compet- ing for space and moisture when planting simultaneously with Bromus seedlings, or when planted four weeks after Bromus establishment. In this study, Bromus at high density was shown to have early, adverse impact on various growth parameters of experimental Coleogyne seedling populations, including increased root/shoot ratio, and decreased shoot growth and water po- tential values. Increased mortality and decreased growth among experimental pop- ulations were indications of water stress, as evidenced by significantly lower (more negative) shoot water potential values under local crowding compared to the control population. Time of planting also played a major role in early Coleogyne mortality and reduced growth of experimental seedling populations. Among the three periods of planting, mortality of experimental Coleogyne seedlings was highest when established four weeks after Bromus. The species that germinates first is likely to have a competitive advantage (Florentine and Fox 2003). In this study, Coleogyne must become established at least four weeks prior to the emergence of Bromus in order to gain a competitive advantage. Earlier establishment of Coleogyne seedlings than the competing Bromus suggested that early germination of Coleo- gyne would enhance seedling survival and subsequent growth, primarily through a more rapid development of root biomass. For this reason, early germinants would be superior competitors relative to later germinants (Fowler 1986; Flor- entine and Fox 2003). One reason for the observed reduction of Coleogyne shoot growth in the pres- ence of B. tectorum may be found in the biomass allocation patterns (Pendleton et al. 1999). Interspecific competition resulted in an altered allocation pattern for Coleogyne (Pendleton et al. 1999). In mixture with Bromus, Coleogyne root length and root/shoot ratio increased when grown with Bromus in this study. In the absence of competition from Bromus, root/shoot ratio of Coleogyne was reduced. However, when competition was introduced, the root/shoot ratio of Coleogyne actually increased (Pendleton et al. 1999), which is in agreement with this study. Therefore, root competition in the very early stages of seedling growth would be an important factor contributing to the death of Coleogyne seedlings (Lei 2004). The timing of germination in Coleogyne varies in time and space, depending on the seasonal moisture availability. Under field conditions where soil moisture is sufficient for seedling recruitment of Coleogyne, Bromus is also stimulated (Lei, personal observation). Consequently, newly emerged Coleogyne seedlings are of- ten concealed among dense carpets of Bromus and other herbaceous plant species. Early emergence would give Coleogyne seedlings the best possible opportunity to gain more control of available space and resources compared to establishment of Bromus four weeks after, or at the same time as, Coleogyne seedlings. Avail- ability of soil moisture, along with early seed germination at least four weeks INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN SEEDLINGS 83 prior to Bromus emergence would be two ideal conditions for Coleogyne seedlings to establish and survive with low mortality rates. This pot trial study demonstrated that interactive effects of Bromus density and time of planting significantly, reduce the early survival and growth of experi- mental Coleogyne seedlings. A combination of increasing neighboring Bromus density and early Bromus emergence resulted in a direct reduction in the survival and growth of Coleogyne seedlings. Competition is ubiquitous, and can be ex- amined directly in both monocultures and mixed cultures. This study also revealed that single seedlings of Coleogyne that grew alone had the lowest mortality rate, grew significantly better, and produced more biomass than Coleogyne seedlings that were locally crowded and/or established four weeks after Bromus emergence. However, the Bromus density * time of planting interaction was not statistically significant for basal shoot diameter, as well as root and shoot biomass of Coleo- gyne seedlings, indicating that both high density and early emergence of Bromus had a similar adverse effect on biomass and shoot diameter of early Coleogyne seedling populations. Ecological Implications In this pot trial study, early mortality and limited growth reflect the poor com- petitive ability of Coleogyne seedlings in the natural field. Attempting to reveg- etate Coleogyne in natural habitats has a limited success. Two contributing factors are competition with invasive, ruderal (exotic) species and the extremely slow growth of Coleogyne (Pendleton et al. 1999). Because of different life history strategies, Coleogyne seedlings generally did not compete well with species of Bromus. Although a common reclamation practice, fertilization may place slow-growing Coleogyne at a competitive disadvantage (Pendleton et al. 1999). Laboratory stud- ies also demonstrate that Coleogyne seedlings exhibited reduced survivorship and competitive ability when grown in competition with neighboring B. tectorum un- der high level of fertilization. The rapid growth of B. tectorum in response to fertilization shaded out the slow-growing Coleogyne, resulting in stunted growth or death of Coleogyne (Pendleton et al. 1999). For these reasons, early seed germination and seedling establishment of Coleogyne at least four weeks prior to the emergence of Bromus and other ruderal species at low soil fertility would be ideal conditions for them to establish and survive. Finally, one must realize that Coleogyne seedlings grown in mixed cultures were at densities lower than those normally encountered in field situations. Ex- trapolating from controlled experimental results to field conditions should be done with caution because there are many biotic and abiotic factors interacting with each other, and because there are multiple limiting factors in the field (Florentine and Fox 2003; Lei 2004). During the period of growth associated with establish- ment, competition for limited space and resources (water, nutrients, and light) may intensify as individual plants develop (Florentine and Fox 2003). Although Coleogyne are at a competitive disadvantage in disturbed sites dominated by ru- deral vegetation, long-term field and laboratory research studies are required to determine exactly which resources these Coleogyne and Bromus are competing for. This study, however, is an attempt to mimic natural field conditions, and to 84 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES understand how newly recruited Coleogyne seedlings compete with various co- horts of Bromus, with respect to neighboring density and time of planting. Acknowledgments I gratefully acknowledge Steven Lei, David Valenzuela, and Shevaun Valen- zuela for collecting Coleogyne and Bromus seeds and corresponding soils in the field. Steven Lei assisted with statistical analysis. Stephen Ferris provided helpful comments on earlier versions of this manuscript. The Biology Departments at Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN) and Nevada State College (NSC) provided logistical support. Literature Cited Analytical Software, 1994. Statistix 4.1, an interactive statistical program for microcomputers. Ana- lytical Software, St. Paul, MN. Antonovics, J. and D.A. Levin. 1980. The ecological and genetic consequences of density-dependent regulation in plants. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 11: 411-452. Beatley, J.C. 1966. Ecological status of introduced brome grass (Bromus spp.) in desert vegetation of southern Nevada. Ecology 47:548—554. Bowns J. and N. West. 1976. Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torr.) on southern Utah rangelands. Department of Range Science. Utah State University. Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Research Report 27. Florentine, S.K. and J.E. Fox 2003. Competition between Eucalyptus victrix seedlings and grass spe- cies. Ecological Research 18:25—39. Fowler, N. 1986. The role of competition in arid and semi-arid regions. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 17: 89-110. Harper, J.L. 1977. Population biology of plants. Academic Press, London, United Kingdom. Hunter, R. 1991. Bromus invasions on the Nevada Test Site: Present status of B. rubens and B. tectorum with notes on their relationship to disturbance and altitude. Great Basin Naturalist 51: 176—182. Jackson, E. L. and J. Roy. 1986. Growth patterns of Mediterranean annual and perennial grasses under simulated rainfall regimes of southern France and California. Oecologia Plantarium 7:191—212. Lei, S. A. and L. R. Walker 1997. Biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution of Coleogyne communities in southern Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 57:163—171. Lei, S. A. 1997. Variation in germination response to temperature and water availability in blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) and its ecological significance. Great Basin Naturalist 57:172—177. Lei, S.A. 2004. Intraspecific competition among blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) seedlings 1n a controlled environmental glasshouse. Journal of the Arizona-~Nevada Academy of Science 37: 100-104. Mack, R. N. and J. L. Harper. 1977. Interference in dune annuals: Spatial pattern and neighborhood effects. Journal of Ecology 65:345—363. Newman, D. 1991. Element Stewardship abstract for Bromus rubens. The Nature Conservancy, Ar- lington, Virginia. Pendleton, R.L. B. K. Pendleton, and S.D. Warren. 1999. Response of blackbrush (Coleogyne ramo- sissima) seedlings to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In: McArthur, E. Durant, Ostler, W. Kent, and Carl. L. Wambolt, comps. Pp. 245—251. Proceedings: Shrubland Ecotones; 1998 August 12-14. Ephraim, UT. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Ogden, UT. Scholander, PE, H.T. Hammel, E. D. Bradstreet, and E.A. Hemmingsen. 1965. Sap pressure in vascular plants. Science 148:339—346. Tilman, R.F 1982. Resources competition and community structure. Monographs in Population Bi- ology No. 17. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. Van Auken, O.W. and J.K. Bush. 1988. Competition between Schizachyrium scoparium and Prosopis glandulosa. American Journal of Botany 75:512—-516. Accepted for publication 3 February 2006. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(2), 2006, pp. 85—90 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 Research Notes A Miocene Chimaeroid Fin Spine from Kern County, California Gary T. Takeuchi’ and Richard W. Huddleston? ! 'Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007 2 Scientific Research Systems, 11044 McGirk Avenue, El Monte, California 91731 Chimaeroids are cartilaginous marine fishes with continuously growing tooth plates in the upper and lower jaws, and have long been regarded as an obscure lineage (Didier 1995). They first appear in the fossil record in the Early Jurassic (Ward and Duffin 1989; Stahl 1999) and reached a peak of diversity during the Mesozoic. The group dwindled during the Cenozoic and survive today in only six extant genera assigned to three families (Didier 1995). Fossil chimaeroids are typically preserved as isolated dental plates, dorsal fin spines, and very rarely as complete specimens. In the absence of skeletal elements, chimaeroid species are diagnosed on the characteristics of dental plates. Dorsal fin spines are not diag- nostic to species when they are not directly associated with dental or skeletal elements. There is little specific variation in size, length, or ornamentation of fin spines (Case and Herman 1973). A well-preserved dorsal fin spine of the extinct chimaeroid genus Edaphodon Buckland 1838, was recovered from the upper Olcese Sand (late Early Miocene) of California, and is the geochronologically youngest reported occurrence of Eda- phodon from the fossil record of North America. The fin spine, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM) 40211, was collected from the Barker’s Ranch area in the southeastern San Joaquin Basin, approximately 13 km northeast of Bakersfield, Kern County, California, and north of the Kern River. The beds in this area contain a gastropod-rich molluscan fauna (the Barker’s Ranch Fauna) that serves as a standard of reference for the Miocene provisional mega-inverte- brate ““Temblor Stage”? of Addicott (1972). The locality, LACM locality 6602, is in one of several north-south trending canyons in the NW !/, of Sec. 33, T. 28 S., R. 29 E., Rio Bravo Quadrangle, 7.5 Minute Series (U.S. Geological Survey topographic map). A late Early Miocene age (ca. 16—18 Ma) for this horizon is based on molluscan biochronology (Addicott 1970), biostratigraphic correlation (Savage and Barnes 1972), benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy (Olson 1990), and strontium isotope data (Olson 1988). The published strontium isotope dates of Olson (1988) yield a mean age of 16.7 Ma near the top of the upper Olcese Sand and are compatible with benthic foraminifera, which suggest an upper Re- lizian age. There is some uncertainty surrounding the exact stratigraphic provenance of LACM locality 6602. Clarke and Fitch (1979:492) placed the locality in the “‘up- per part of the Olcese Sand.’’ However, Barnes and Mitchell (1984:17) referred the locality to the “lower part of the Round Mountain Silt, below the Sharktooth 85 86 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Hill bone bed.”’ Neither provided accurate stratigraphic nor locality data. In the Barker’s Ranch area, the upper Olcese Sand is composed of fossiliferous very fine to fine-grained, marine sandstone to sandy siltstone, with interbeds of trans- ported shells, whereas the lowermost Round Mountain Silt is a mottled siltstone (Olson 1990). The specimen was found in a shell bed directly below a calcare- ously cemented sandstone that is approximately 14 m stratigraphically below a mottled siltstone. The Edaphodon specimen described herein is considered to be from sediments of the upper Olcese Sand. In the 1960’s, the late John E. Fitch lead numerous collecting trips to the Barker’s Ranch area, and over a period of several years removed and processed nearly 1,800 kg of fossiliferous matrix from the upper Olcese Sand. This material has produced, in addition to LACM 40211, more than 100,000 teleostean otoliths (saccular), which represent as many as 65 species belonging to 30 or more fam- ilies, several thousand teeth of sharks, skates, and rays, Cetorhinus (basking shark) gill rakers, and hundreds of squid statoliths (Clarke and Fitch 1979). Abundant otoliths of sciaenids (drums and croakers), pleuronectids and bothids (right- and left-eyed flatfishes), serranids (basses), atherinids (silversides), mugilids (mullets), clupeids (herrings), and several other families that suggest a nearshore environ- ment, are also present. Otoliths of deepwater forms such as morids (morid cods), melamphaids (bigscale fishes), and myctophids (lanternfishes) are relatively rare. Systematic Paleontology Class Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880 Subclass Subterbranchialia Zangerl, 1979 Superorder Holocephali Bonaparte, 1832 Order Chimaeriformes Obruchev, 1953 Suborder Chimaeroidei Patterson, 1965 Family Callohynchidae Garman, 1901 Subfamily Edaphodontinae Stahl, 1999 Genus Edaphodon Buckland, 1838 Edaphodon sp. Figs. 1-2 Material.—LACM 40211, incomplete distal end of dorsal fin spine, collected by one of the authors (RWH) in 1969 from LACM locality 6602, Barker’s Ranch, Kern County, California. Description.—Partial dorsal fin spine (Fig. 1), measuring 115 mm in preserved length, with undetermined amount of basal portion missing. Laterally compressed, subovate in cross-section, and only slightly curved posteriorly, with faint longi- tudinal striations on lateral faces. Anterior margin with sharp keel; posterior mar- gin with double row of small, evenly spaced, ventrally curved denticles, separated from each other by a shallow median groove extending for nearly the entire preserved length. In cross-section (Fig. 2), anterior area of spine consists of a thick layer of trabecular tissue with vascular canals; a thin layer of trabecular tissue with vascular canals present on posterior and posterolateral area; a thin layer of lamellar tissue lacking vascular canals present on lateral area of spine; and large subovate pulp cavity present in central region of spine. A MIOCENE CHIMAEROID FIN SPINE 7) Fig. 1. Incomplete dorsal fin spine of Edaphodon sp., LACM 40211. A. right lateral view; B. posterior view. Scale bars equal 2 cm. aly Fig. 2. Cross-section drawing of dorsal fin spine of Edaphodon sp., LACM 40211. Scale bar equals 0.5 cm. Abbreviations: lam, lamellar tissue; p.c, pulp cavity; t.dn, trabecular tissue; v.can, vascular canals. 88 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Comparisons.—LACM 40211 is referable to the extinct chimaeroid genus Eda- phodon. Assignment of this specimen to a species is unwise based upon such limited material. The dorsal fin spine of Edaphodon closely resembles that of the extinct genus Jschyodus Egerton 1843, but differs from the latter genus by dis- playing a weakly compressed subovate fin spine with a large subovate pulp cavity, and an incomplete trabecular tissue layer confined to the anterior and posterior spine edge. The fin spine of /schyodus, in contrast, is strongly compressed lat- erally, with a narrow rectangular pulp cavity, and the trabecular tissue layer com- pletely surrounds the outer margin of the spine. For description and figure for the fin spine of Jschyodus compare also Patterson (1965:113, fig. 4). In recent chi- maeroids, the trabecular tissue is restricted to the anterior edge of the spine (Stahl 1): Discussion Edaphodon is known only from tooth plates and fragments of dorsal fin spines, from Early Cretaceous to Pliocene age deposits of Europe, North America, Aus- tralia, and Africa (Stahl 1999). In North America, the genus is largely known from Maastrichtian age deposits, and they survived the biotic stresses of Late Cretaceous time to persist into the early part of the Cenozoic. The callorhynchids were thought to have disappeared from the Northern Hemisphere at the end of the Eocene, and persisted in Southern Hemisphere seas throughout the Tertiary (Stahl and Chatterjee 2002). The Edaphodon specimen described herein extends the range of the genus in North America to the Early Miocene, and represents the first occurrence of the genus around the eastern north Pacific Rim. This is only the second description of a fossil chimaeroid from California, and reported occurrences of chimaeroids from western North America are very rare. Applegate (1975) described /schyodus zinsmeisteri, a mandibular tooth plate of Paleocene age, from Simi Hills, Ventura County, California. Ward and Grande (1991) re- garded features used by Applegate (1975) as ontogenetic, and they considered /. zinsmeisteri as a junior synonym of J. dolloi Leriche 1902. Dorsal fin spines generally referred to Edaphodon have been typically described as gently arched, slightly compressed, and smooth-walled, except for fine parallel longitudinal striations with a row of denticles along each of its two posterolateral edges, but none along the anterior keel. Duffin and Reynders (1995) reported a complete fin spine referable to Edaphodon with a single row of anterior denticles as well as the posterolateral rows. Stahl and Parris (2004) reported fragmentary distal ends of two fin spines associated with a complete dentition of E. mirificus Leidy 1856, showing a series of minute enameloid-covered structures on the an- terior keel that closely resemble the denticles that Duffin and Reynders (1995) reported. However, on neither of the fin spine fragments was the series of anterior denticles complete. In LACM 40211, denticles are absent from the anterior margin of the preserved half, and it is likely that, as in many chimaeroid fin spines referred to Edaphodon, denticles are absent proximally from both the anterior and posterolateral margins. We believe that LACM 40211 is referable to this genus, and further study to determine the significance of the variant patterns of denticle development is required. Stahl (1999) noted that fossil chimaeroid remains are found in shallow water environments, but it is not certain these fishes actually inhabited such environ- A MIOCENE CHIMAEROID FIN SPINE 89 ments. Extant chimaeroids inhabit deepwaters, with some species being known to venture into shallower areas offshore to feed, or even to come nearshore to breed (Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). Obruchev (1967) reported egg cases, but no skel- etal remains, of chimaeroids in Mesozoic shallow marine deposits; he believed the egg cases were deposited by species of deepwater chimaeroids that are pres- ently unknown from the fossil record. It is possible that Edaphodon, like extant chimaeroids, normally inhabited moderately deepwater environments, but occa- sionally ventured into the shallows, and this may explain why after extensive sampling only a single chimaeroid specimen has been recovered from the upper Olcese Sand. Acknowledgments The late J. E. Fitch first found the locality, initiated excavation, and assisted one of the authors (RWH) in collection of the specimen described in this paper. Comments by L. G. Barnes and C. A. Shaw, and reviews by Kenshu Shimada and two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the clarity of this paper. Many thanks also to S. A. McLeod and J. D. Stewart for access to the collections. Literature Cited Addicott, W. O. 1970. Miocene gastropods and biostratigraphy of the Kern River area, California. U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 642:1—174. . 1972. Provincial middle and late Tertiary molluscan stages, Temblor Range, California. Pp. 1—26 in Proceedings of the Pacific Coast Miocene Biostratigraphic Symposium. (E. H. Stine- meyer, ed.), SEPM, 364 pp. Applegate, S. P. 1975. A new species of Paleocene chimaeroid from California. Bull. So. Cal. Acad. Sci., 74(1):27-30. Barnes, L. G., and E. Mitchell. 1984. Kentriodon obscurus (Kellogg, 1931), a fossil dolphin (Mam- malia: Kentriodontidae) from the Miocene Sharktooth Hill bonebed in California. Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles County Contrib. Sci., 253:1—23. Bigelow, H., and W. C. Schroeder. 1953. Fishes of the Western Atlantic. Part Two: Sawfishes, Gui- tarfishes, Skates and Rays. Chimaeroids. Memoir of the Sears Foundation for Marine Research 1:1-588. Bonaparte, C. L. 1832. Selachorum tabula analytica. Nuov. Ann. Sci. Nat. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna, 1(2):195—214. Buckland, W. 1838. On the discovery of fossil fishes in the Bagshot Sands at Goldworth Hill, 4 miles north of Guilford. Proc. Geol. Soc. London, 2:687—688. Case, G. R., and J. Herman. 1973. A dorsal fin spine of the chimaeroid fish, Edaphodon cf. bucklandi (Agassiz) from the Eocene of Morocco. Bull. Soc. Belge, Géol., Paléontol., Hydrol., 82(3): 445-449. Clarke, M. E., and J. E. Fitch. 1979. Statoliths of Cenozoic teuthoid cephalopods from North America. Palaeontology, 22:479-511. Didier, D. A. 1995. The phylogenetic systematics of extant chimaeroid fishes (Holocephali, Chima- eroidei). Amer. Mus. Novitates, 3119:1—86. Duffin, C. J., and J. P H. Reynders. 1995. A fossil chimaeroid from the Gronsveld Member (late Maastrichtian, late Cretaceous) of northeastern Belgium. Belg. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 278:111— 156. Egerton, P. G. 1843. On some new species of fossil chimaeroid fishes, with remarks on their general affinities. Proc. Geol. Soc. London, 4:153—157. Garman, S. 1901. Genera and families of the chimaeroids. Proc. New England Zool. Club, 2:75—77. Huxley, T. H. 1880. A manual of the anatomy of vertebrated animals. D. Appleton and Company, New York, 431 pp. Leidy, J. 1856. Notice of the remains of extinct vertebrated animals of New Jersey, collected by Prof. 90 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Cook of the State Geological Survey under the direction of Dr. W. Kitchell. Proc. Acad. Natur. Sci. Philadelphia, 8:220—221. Leriche, M. 1902. Les poissons paléocenes de la Belgique. Mém. Mus. Hist. Natur. Belg., 2(1):1—48. Obruchev, D. V. 1953. Studies on edestids and the works of A. P. Karpinski. U.S.S.R. Acad. Sci., works of the Palaeont. Inst., 45:1—86. . 1967. Fossil chimaera egg capsules. Internatl. Geol. Rev., 9:567—573. Olson, H. C. 1988. Oligocene-middle Miocene depositional systems north of Bakersfield, California: eastern equivalents of the Temblor Formation. Pp. 189-205 in Studies of the Geology of the San Joaquin Basin. (S. A. Graham, ed.), Pacific Sec. SEPM 60, 351 pp. . 1990. Early and middle Miocene foraminiferal paleoenvironments, southeastern San Joaquin Basin, California. J. Foramin. Res., 20(4):289-311. Patterson, C. L. 1965. The phylogeny of the chimaeroids. Philos. Trans. Roy. Soc. London (B), 249: 101-219. Savage, D. E., and L. G. Barnes. 1972. Miocene vertebrate geochronology of the west coast of North America. Pp. 124—145 in Proceedings of the Pacific Coast Miocene Biostratigraphic Sympo- sium. (E. H. Stinemeyer, ed.), SEPM, 364 pp. Stahl, B. J. 1999. Chondrichthyes III. Holocephali. Pp. 1-164 in Handbook of Paleoichthyology 4. (H.—P. Schultze, ed.), Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Munich. , and S. Chatterjee. 2002. A Late Cretaceous callorhynchid (Chondrichthyes, Holocephali) from Seymour Island, Antarctica. J. Vert. Paleontol., 22(4):848—850. , and D. C. Parris. 2004. The complete dentition of Edaphodon mirificus (Chondrichthyes: Holocephali) from a single individual. J. Paleontol., 78(2):388—392. Ward, D. J., and C. J. Duffin. 1989. Mesozoic chimaeroids. 1. A new chimaeroid from the Early Jurassic of Gloucestershire, England. Mesozoic Res. (Leiden), 2(2):45—51. , and L. Grande. 1991. Chimaeroid fish remains from Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Antarctic Science, 3(3):323-—330. Zangerl, R. 1979. New Chondrichthyes from the Mazon Creek Fauna (Pennsylvanian) of Illinois. Pp. 449-500 in Mazon Creek fossils. (M. N. Nitecki, ed.), Academic Press, New York, 581 pp. Accepted for publication 27 September 2005. INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS The BULLETIN is published three times each year (April, August, and December) and includes articles in English in any field of science with an emphasis on the southern California area. Manuscripts submitted for publication should contain results of original research, embrace sound principles of scientific investigation, and present data in a clear and concise manner. The current AIBS Style Manual for Biological Journals is recommended as a guide for contributors. Consult also recent issues of the BULLETIN. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION The author should submit at least two additional copies with the original, on 8’ x 11 opaque, nonerasable paper, double spac- ing the entire manuscript. Do not break words at right-hand margin anywhere in the manuscript. Footnotes should be avoided. Manuscripts which do not conform to the style of the BULLETIN will be returned to the author. An abstract summarizing in concise terms the methods, findings, and implications discussed in the paper must accompany a feature article. Abstract should not exceed 100 words. A feature article comprises approximately five to thirty typewritten pages. Papers should usually be divided into the following sections: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusions, acknowledgments, literature cited, tables, figure legend page, and figures. Avoid using more than two levels of subheadings. A research note is usually one to six typewritten pages and rarely utilizes subheadings. Consult a recent issue of the BUL- LETIN for the format of notes. Abstracts are not used for notes. Abbreviations: Use of abbreviations and symbols can be determined by inspection of a recent issue of the BULLETIN. Omit periods after standard abbreviations: |.2 mm, 2 km, 30 cm, but Figs. 1-2. Use numerals before units of measurements: 5 ml, but nine spines (10 or numbers above, such as 13 spines). The metric system of weights and measurements should be used wherever possible. Taxonomic procedures: Authors are advised to adhere to the taxonomic procedures as outlined in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Lawjouw et al. 1956), the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria and Viruses (Buchanan et al. 1958), and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Ride et al. 1985). Special attention should be given to the description of new taxa, designation of holotype, etc. Reference to new taxa in titles and abstracts should be avoided. The literature cited: Entries for books and articles should take these forms. MeWilliams, K. L. 1970. Insect mimicry. Academic Press, vii+326 pp. Holmes, T. Jr., and S. Speak.1971.Reproductive biology of Myotis lucifugus. J. Mamm., 54:452-458. Brattstrom, B. H.1969.The Condor in California. Pp. 369-382 in Vertebrates of California. (S. E. Payne, ed.), Univ. California Press, x1i+635 pp. Tables should not repeat data in figures (/ine drawings, graphs, or black and white photographs) or contained in the text. The author must provide numbers and short legends for tables and figures and place reference to each of them in the text. Each table with legend must be on a separate sheet of paper. All figure legends should be placed together on a separate sheet. Ilustra- tions and lettering thereon should be of sufficient size and clarity to permit reduction to standard page size; ordinarily they should not exceed 8% by 11 inches in size and after final reduction lettering must equal or exceed the size of the typeset. All half-tone illustrations will have light screen (grey) backgrounds. Special handling such as dropout half-tones, special screens, etc., must be requested by and will be charged to authors. As changes may be required after review, the authors should retain the original figures in their files until acceptance of the manuscript for publication. Assemble the manuscript as follows: cover page (with title, authors’ names and addresses), abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, acknowledgements, literature cited, appendices, tables, figure legends, and figures. A cover illustration pertaining to an article in the issue or one of general scientific interest will be printed on the cover of each issue. Such illustrations along with a brief caption should be sent to the Editor for review. PROCEDURE All manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor, Daniel A. Guthrie, W. M. Keck Science Center, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711. Authors are requested to submit the names, addresses and specialities of three persons who are capable of reviewing the manuscript. Evaluation of a paper submitted to the BULLETIN begins with a critical reading by the Editor; several referees also check the paper for scientific content, originality, and clarity of presentation. Judgments as to the acceptability of the paper and suggestions for enhancing it are sent to the author at which time he or she may be requested to rework portions of the paper considering these recommendations. The paper then is resubmitted on disk in word format and may be re-evaluated before final acceptance. Proof: The galley proof and manuscript, as well as reprint order blanks, will be sent to the author. He or she should promptly and carefully read the proof sheets for errors and omissions in text, tables, illustrations, legends, and bibliographical references. He or she marks corrections on the galley (copy editing and proof procedures in Style Manual) and promptly returns both gal- ley and manuscript to the Editor. Manuscripts and original illustrations will not be returned unless requested at this time. All changes in galley proof attributable to the author (misspellings, inconsistent abbreviations, deviations from style, etc.) will be charged to the author. Reprint orders are placed with the printer, not the Editor. CONTENTS A Mid-Holocene Fauna from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, California. Jim I. Mead, Thomas W. McGinnis, and Jon E. Keeley Densities of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Tidal Waters of the Ballona Wetlands, Los Angeles County, California. John H. Dorsey Interspecific Competition Between Coleogyne ramosissima Seedlings and Bromus fubens::( Simon A. Dew, sar ae en oes A Miocene Chimaeroid Fin Spine from Kern County, California. Gary T. Takeuchi and Richard W. Huddleston Cover: Salamander trunk vertebrae from Bear Den Cave. Photos by Sandra L Swift. erials YH ISSN 0038-3872 369 mO5 no.2 uppl. 4116-80 Mew tREeERN, CALIFORNIA: ACADEMY OF . SCTENCES Volume 105 Supplement to Southern Academy of Sciences Bulletin Number 2 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS A soe cA Pepperdine University Malibu, California May 12-13, 2006 BCAS-A105(2, supplement 1—85) (2006) AUGUST 2006 Future SCAS Meetings 2007 — California State University, Fullerton Acknowlegements The Southern California Academy of Sciences wishes to acknowledge the following organizations and people for their support of the 2006 Annual Meeting. Sponsors National Science Foundation MBC Applied Environmental Science Port of Los Angeles Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Weston Solutions AMEC, Earth and Environmental Services Nautilus Environmental Pacific Ecorisk PSOMAS YSI Environmental Algalita Foundation In addition, special thanks to Dr. Karen Martin, whose work arranging facilities at Pepperdine University was instrumental in our preparation for this meeting. This meeting was a Joint Meeting between the Southern California Academy of Sciences and The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). Lan Wiborg of SETAC was instrumental in coordinating our efforts and organizing the SETAC portion of the meeting. SCAS Board Members and Officers Dr. John Dorsey, President Dr. Brad Blood, Vice President Dr. John Roberts, Secretary Dr. Daniel Guthrie, Editor and Treasurer Dr. Ralph G. Appy, Past President Robert Grove, Past President Dr. David G. Huckaby, Past President Dr. Daniel J. Pondella, IH, Past President Board of Directors 2003-2006 2004-2007 2005-2008 Dr. M. James Allen Brad Blood Andrea Murray Dr. John H. Dorsey Dr. Donald G. Buth Dr. Jonathan N. Baskin Dr. Judith Lemus Robert S. Grove Dr. John Roberts Dr. Karen Martin Kathy Keene Gloria J. Takahashi Dr. Susan Yoder Dr. Edith Reed Dr. Phillippa Drennan Junior Academy Board Members Bob Phalen Tetsuo Otsuki Richard and Martha Schwartz Dan Guthrie John Dorsey Gloria Takahashi, chair John Roberts Research Training Program Abstracts 161 - 187 represent the final product of the high school Research Training Program for 2005-06. ~ CALIFORNIA | IE ADEMY OF SCIENCES sep 5 «2006S 2 STUDENT AWARD WINNERS AT 2006 ANNUAL MEETING At the 2006 Annual Meeting, the following student paper§ and postérkBrdaR Y awards. a Awarded by the Southern California Academy of Sciences Best Posters: Ecology and Evolution: Jane Shevtsov and Richard EK Ambrose. Dept. of Ecol- ogy and Evolutionary Biology and Dept. of Health Sciences, UCLA AN APPLICATION OF ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY THEORY TO RI- PARIAN RESTORATION Molecular Biology and Physiology: Kurt W. Karageorge. Dept. of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach. Advisor. Dr. Raymond Wilson MICROSATELLITE DNA ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE PATERNI- TY IN THE VIVIPAROUS ROCKFISH SEBASTES MELANOPS Physical Sciences: Suzanne M. Baltzer and David R. Jessey. Geological Sci- ences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona LATE CENOZOIC VOLCANISM NEAR BAKER, CALIFORNIA Best Papers Ecology and Evolution: P.G. Matson and M.S. Edwards. Dept. of Biology, San Diego State University CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ... MORPHOLOGY? STIPE HOLLOWING IN EISENIA ARBOREA (PHAEOPHYCEAE) and R.P. Ferrer and R.K. Zimmer. Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA THE CALIFORNIA NEWT: NATURAL HISTORY AND CHEMICAL- LY-MEDIATED INTERACTIONS Molecular Biology and Physiology: John Christian Fox and Hee Sun Choi. Dept. of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine USE OF ULTRASOUND TO RISH-STRATIFY PREGNANCY OUT- COME IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS WITH FIRST TRIMESTER VAGINAL BLEEDING Awarded by the American Insitute of Fishery Research Biologists Julianne Kalman. Dept of Evology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA ECTOPARASITES OF FISHES ASSOCIATED WITH WASTEWATER DISCHARGE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT | 152 153 Southern California Academy of Sciences 2006 Session Schedule Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, Elkins Auditorium Session: Plastics in the Marine Environment Chair: Capt. Charles Moore, Algalita Marine Research Foundation 9:00 STANDARDIZED METHODS FOR MONITORING PLASTIC IN THE MA- RINE ENVIRONMENT. Zellers, Ann. Algalita Marine Research Foundation 1021 N Harbor Dr. Redondo Beach, CA 90277. 920 PLASTIC DEBRIS, RIVERS TO SEA: AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROP 13 FUNDED PROJECT “ASSESS AND REDUCE SOURCES OF PLASTIC AND TRASH IN URBAN AND COASTAL WATERS”. C.J. Moore, G.L. Lattin, A.E Zellers. Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. 9:40 UNRESOLVED TECHNICAL ISSUES IN PLASTICS IN THE MARINE ENVI- RONMENT. Tony Andrady PhD. Senior Research Scientist, Research Triangle Insti- tute, Durham, NC 27709. 10:00 MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DEEP SEA. C.O. Wirsen. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department Woods Hole, MA 02543. 10:20 BIODEGRADATION TESTING METHODS FOR POLYMERS IN THE MA- RINE ENVIRONMENT. J.A. Ratto, R. Stote, J. Herbert, C. Thellen, U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center, Natick, MA. C. Wirsen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA. E20 SEABIRDS AS INDICATORS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE NORTH PACIFIC. D. Hyrenbach, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516. C. Keiper, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge P.O. Box 979, Bolinas, CA 94924. H. Nevins, BeachCOMBERS, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039, and Oi- konos Ecosystem Knowledge. M. Hester, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge. C. Moore, Al- galita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. J. Harvey, BeachCOMBERS, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039. 1:40 DISTRIBUTION OF ANTHROPOGENIC AND NATURAL DEBRIS ON THE MAINLAND SHELF OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. S.L. Moore! and S.M. Walther’. ‘Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA, 92683; *Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Carson, CA 90745. 2:00 INTEGRATING CURRENT SCIENCE INTO SCHOOL CIRRICULUMS. Marcus Eriksen, Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. Amy Frame, Environmental Charter High School, 4234 W. 147th St., Lawndale, CA 90260. 2:20 HEALTH EFFECTS OF PLASTICS: AN OVERVIEW. S.S. Mosko. Earth Re- source Foundation, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 215 Session: Atmospheric Deposition Cham? Lisa Sabin> S€CWRP 3:20 NITROGEN DEPOSITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: IMPACTS ON PLANT AND FOREST HEALTH, NUTRIENT CYCLING, WATER QUALITY, AND ECOSYSTEM SUSTAINABILITY. Fenn, M.E.* USDA Forest Service, Pacific South- west Experiment Station, Riverside, CA. 3:40 DRY AND WET ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITIONS OF SELECTED INSECTI- CIDES IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK-NEWPORT BAY WATERSHED. Jay Gan,* Wenjian Lao, Svetlana Bondarenko, and Fredrick Ernst. Department of Environmental Sci- ence, University of California, Riverside. 2 PROGRAM 3 154 155 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 4:00 THE DRY DEPOSITION AND RESUSPENSION OF PARTICLE-ASSOCIAT- ED TRACE METALS NEAR A FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES. Lisa D. Sabin* and Kenneth C. Schiff, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA. Jeong Hee Lim, Maria Teresa Venezia, Arthur M. Winer, and Keith D. Stolzenbach, Uni- versity of California, Los Angeles, CA. 4:20 DEPOSITION AND RESUSPENSION PROCESSES ON SURFACE CONTAM- INATION AND AIR CONCENTRATION PROFILES. Jeong Hee Lim,* Keith D. Stol- zenbach. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 210 Session: Contributed Papers—Session 1 Chair: Judy Doino Lemus, Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies 9:00 CLUES IN A MATCHMAKING MYSTERY: LINKING THE SEXES OF GNA- THUD ISOPODS. L. Haney. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Marine Biology Laboratory, Carson, CA, 90745. 9:20 HOLOTHUROID AND ECHINOID AGGREGATE BEHAVIOR ON THE EASTERN PACIFIC ABYSSAL PLAIN. K.D. Trego. Nautilus Oceanic Institute, La Jol- la, CA 92037. 9:40 SCALES OF VARIATION IN SMALL FISH MERCURY CONTENT-INITIAL FINDINGS. A. Jahn, B.K. Greenfield, J.L. Grenier and S. Shonkoff. San Francisco Es- tuary Institute. 10:00 DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANCE OF AGE-0 ATHERINOPSID FISHES IN SOUTH-CENTRAL SAN FRANCISCO BAY. A. Jahn, C. Ehrler, and M.L. Elliott. An- drew Jahn Consulting, Ukiah, CA, Tenera Environmental, and PRBO Conservation Science. 10:20 INVESTIGATION OF THE VIRTUAL ELECTRIC CHARGE EFFECT. Jennifer Nguyen. Milpitas High School, 1285 Escuela Parkway, Milpitas, CA 95035. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 210 Session: Rocky Reefs Chair: Daniel Pondella III, Occidental College 1:20 EFFECTS OF VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION ON DISPERSAL POTENTIAL OF KELP SPORES. D.K. Cie and M.S. Edwards. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, San Diego, CA 92182. 1:40 CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ... MORPHOLOGY? STIPE HOL- LOWING IN EISENIA ARBOREA (PHAEOPHYCEAE). P.G. Matson and M.S. Ed- wards. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, San Diego, CA, 92182. 2:00 DELAYED RECOVERY OF GIANT KELP NEAR ITS SOUTHERN RANGE LIMIT IN THE NORTH PACIFIC FOLLOWING EL NINO. M.S. Edwards! and G. Her- nandez-Carmona. 'Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 USA; ?Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Ap. Postal 592. La Paz, Baja California Sur 23000, México, 2:20 SANTA MONICA BAY NEEDS YOUR KELP! Tom Ford and Laura Bod- ensteiner. Kelp Restoration and Monitoring Project, Santa Monica Baykeeper, P.O. Box 10096 Marina Del Rey, CA, 90295. 2:40 CAN WE SAVE THE BIG FISH? DJ. Pondella, I' and L.G. Allen’. 'Vantuna Research Group, Department of Biology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *De- partment of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303. 20 21 22, 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 320 REEF CHECK CALIFORNIA-—A TROPICAL MODEL OF COMMUNITY MONITORING IN A TEMPERATE ENVIRONMENT. C.S. Shuman. Reef Check Foundation, 17575 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA, 90272. 3:40 THE VALUE OF NET-CAGE MARICULTURE AS A FAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. C.T. Oakes and D.J. Pondella, HU. Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90041. 4:00 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF SALEMA XENISTIUS CALIFORNIENSIS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Eric Miller', Daniel Pondella?, and Kevin Herbinson*. 'MBC Applied Environmental Sciences, Costa Mesa, CA; *Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA; *Southern California Edison, Rosemead, CA. 4:20 INDICATORS OF GONAD STATE IN CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD (SEMI- COSSYPHUS PULCHER). Kerri A. Loke, Michael A. Sundberg, Kelly A. Young and Christopher G. Lowe. California State University Long Beach, Long Beach California. 4:40 DISTRIBUTION OF PLANKTON NEAR THE MONTEREY UPWELLING FRONT: RETHINKING THE CONCEPT OF PLANKTON AS INACTIVE “DRIFT- ERS”. A.K: Morris, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 240 Session: Contributed Papers—Session 2 Chair: Andrea Murray, CSU Fullerton 9:00 THE EFFECT OF THE SEA WATER WARMING TREND IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN ON THREE DIFFERENT BREEDING TYPES OF DEMERSAL MA- RINE FISHES. Mike McCarthy. CSU Fullerton. 9-20 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EL NINO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION EVENTS AND GROWTH OF JUVENILE WHITE SEABASS (ATRACTOSCION NO- BILIS). Jonathan P. Williams. California State University, Northridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA, 9. 9:40 LIFE HISTORY PARAMETERS AND COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR OF BLACK PERCH (EMBIOTOCA FACKSONI) WITHIN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. Froeschke, Bridgette F. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State Univer- sity, Northridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA, 91330. 10:00 THINK SMALL: BENEFITS OF APPROACHING THE POPULATION GE- NETICS OF THE TIDEWATER GOBY (EUCYCLOGOBIUS NEWBERRY] FROM THE LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL. Dent A. Earl, David K. Jacobs, Kristina D. Louie, Carolyne Bardeleben, Carles Vila & Camm C. Swift. Presenter’s Contact: UCLA, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095. 310-206-7885, daearl @ucla.edu. 10:20 THE EFFECTS OF DIEL AND TIDAL CYCLES ON THE ABUNDANCE OF HARBOR SEALS, PHOCA VITULINA RICHARDST, IN CHALK COVE, SANTA CAT- ALINA ISLAND. A. Floyd. Dept. of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840. 1-20 PLASMA TESTOSTERONE LEVELS CORRELATE WITH SPERMATOGEN- ESIS BUT NOT GSI IN MALE ROUND STINGRAYS (UROBATIS HALLER]. C.G. Mull, C.G. Lowe, and K.A. Young. Department of Biology, California State University, Long Beach 90840. 1:40 CRANIAL ENDOTHERMY IN THE MOOMFISH (LAMPRIS GUTTATUS). Runcie, Rosa M.', Dickson, Kathryn A.', Dewar, Heidi’, and Hawn, Don’. 'Department of Biological Science, CA State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831; *Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, CA 92037; 3National Marine Fisheries Service, Hon- olulu, HI 96814. PROGRAM 5 32 33 34 35 36 139 141 142 38 39 40 41 M 2:00 THE POTENTIAL FOR LACTATE PROCESSING IN WHITE MUSCLE OF ENDOTHERMIC AND ECTOTHERMIC SHARKS. J.-M. Backey and K.A. Dickson. California State University, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA, 92831. 2:20 ‘BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE LARVA’: SITE EF- FECTS IN CALCIFIED STRUCTURES USEFUL FOR LARVAL TRACKING STUDIES. D.C. Lloyd and D.Z. Zacherl, Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831. Georges Paradis and Mike Sheehy, MSI, University of California Santa Barbara. Robert Warner, EEMB, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106. 2:40 ECTOPARASITES OF FISHES ASSOCIATED WITH WASTEWATER DIS- CHARGE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. J.E. Kalman. University of California Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095, and Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. 3:20 THE OPTIC NERVE SHEATH DIAMETER IN ASSOCIATION WITH IN- CREASED INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE. Jarrod Larson, Mauricio Arcila, Elana Neches, John C. Fox, and Lynn Lulloff. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868. 3:40 THE RESPONSE OF FLYING INSECTS TO SCORPION FLUORESCENCE. C.T. Kloock. California State University, Bakersfield, Department of Biology, Bakersfield CA, 933 hi. 4:00 USE OF ULTRASOUND TO RISH-STRATIFY PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENTS WITH FIRST TRIMESTER VAGINAL BLEEDING. John Christian Fox, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine University of California, Irvine research group. Choi, Hee Sun, 200 South Manchester Orange, CA 92868. 4:20 HAS THE STATE BAN ON AQUARIUM CAULERPA SPECIES BEEN EFFEC- TIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? J.R. Smith', S.F Zaleski’, S. Diaz', L.J. Walters’, K. Brown’, and S.N. Murray!. 'Department of Biological Science, California State Univer- sity, Fullerton, CA 92834; *Sea Grant Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089; *Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816. 4:40 MUSCULATURE OF THE MODIFIED RIB FOUND IN CYPRINIFORM FISHES. R.L. Perry. California State University Bakersfield, Department of Biology, Bakersfield, CA O33. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 215 Session: Invasive Species Chair: Shelley Luce, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission 9:00 CHEMICAL AND NON-CHEMICAL METHODS FOR REMOVING INVA- SIVE PLANTS: TWO CASE STUDIES. Nat Cox. Environmental Scientist, California State Parks, Angeles District. 9:20 THE BRADLEY METHOD OF “BUSH” REGENERATION. Jo Kitz. Pro- gram Director, Mountains Restoration Trust. 9:40 USING INTEGRATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TO CONTROL NON- NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES AND RESTORE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS. Marti Whitter. Fire Ecologist, National Parks Service. 10:00 Ellen Mackey. Field Ecologist/Biologist, Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Wa- tershed Council. 10:20 Panel Discussion: Selecting Methods for Invasive Plant Management. Moderated by Shelley Luce, Director, Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, KSC 130 Session: Southern California Coastal Stream Vertebrates: Biology and Conservation Session Chair: Jonathan Baskin, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Introduction: Jonathan Baskin, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 1:40 ROLE OF WATERSHED-SCALE PHYSICAL PROCESSES IN SHAPING HAB- ITAT REQUIREMENTS OF RIPARIAN DEPENDENT FAUNA. E.D. Stein. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA, 92683. 2:00 STATUS AND DISTRUBUTION OF THE INLAND FISHES OF COASTAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Camm C. Swift, ENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003, (626) 447-5846. Jonathan N. Baskin, Biological Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., CA 91768, 909 869-4045, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. Robert Fisher, USGS, San Diego Field Station, U.S. Geological Survey, 4165 Spru- ance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101-0812, 619-225-6422. Thomas Haglund, Bio- logical Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., CA 91768, 818-906-3440, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. AY) STATUS, DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND POPULATION SIZE-STRUC- TURE ESTIMATES FOR THE THREATENED SANTA ANA SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS SANTAANAE). J.N. Baskin, S.H. Bryant, T.R. Haglund, Biological Sciences Depart- ment, Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. Camm C. Swift, ENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003. 2:40 STATUS OF THE SANTA ANA SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS SANTAANABE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN CONDITION INDEX AND HABITAT PREFERENCE THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE. J.N. Baskin, S.H. Bryant, T.R. Haglund. Biological Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Tem- ple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Green- wood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. 3:20 RARE OCCURRENCES OF A COMMON SPECIES: SPECKLED DACE AND THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. G. Abbas. San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S Commercenter Cir, San Bernardino, CA 92408. 3:40 TIDEWATER GOBY SEASONAL HABITAT PREFERENCES IN A NORTH- ERN CALIFORNIA LAGOON, WITH REFERENCE TO ARTIFICIAL BREACHING. C.A. Page and B.R. Norman. Aquatic Resource Specialists, Environmental Consultants, 12580 HWY 101, Smith River CA, 95567. 4:00 IMPACTS OF EXOTIC SPECIES ON NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES DISTRI- BUTION IN TWO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIVER SYSTEMS. T.P. Keegan. ECORP Consulting, Inc., 2260 Douglas Blvd., Suite 160, Roseville, CA 95661. 4:20 EXTENT OF FISHING AND FISH CONSUMPTION IN VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY WATERSHEDS IN 2005. M.J. Allen, E.T. Jarvis, V. Raco-Rands, and G. Lyons. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA 92683. 4:40 THE CALIFORNIA NEWT: NATURAL HISTORY AND CHEMICALLY-ME- DIATED INTERACTIONS. R.P. Ferrer and R.K. Zimmer. Zimmer Laboratory, UCLA, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095. PROGRAM 7 51 52 53 54 DD 56 57 58 59 60 Friday, May 12, 2006 Location Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 235 Session: Urban Watershed, Runoff Sampling Chair: Eric Stein, SCCWRP 9:00 USING STREAM CHEMISTRY TO UNDERSTAND WATERSHED DYNAMICS. Helen Jung, Terri Hogue, University of California at Los Angeles. Laura Rademacher, Uni- versity of Pacific. Sheila Morrissey, University of California at Santa Barbara. Tom Meixner, University of Arizona. 9:20 INNOVATIVE MONITORING TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS WATER QUALI- TY LOADINGS FROM NATURAL LANDSCAPES. Sean A. Porter and Jay Shrake. MACTEC Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc., San Diego, CA 92123. 9:40 WATERSHED-BASED SOURCES OF TOTAL COPPER, LEAD AND ZINC IN URBAN STORMWATER. L.L. Tiefenthaler, E.D. Stein and K. Schiff. Southern Cali- fornia Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA, 92683. 10:00 STORMWATER TOXICITY EVALUATION OF MAJOR RIVERS ENTERING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. John Rudolph', Chris Stransky', Howard Bailey', Steve Bay’, and Darrin Greenstein’. 'Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA, 92121; *Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA, 92683. 10:20 QUANTITATIVE MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING USING BACTEROIDA- LES AND HUMAN VIRUS MONITORING IN CALLEGUAS CREEK WATERSHED. Beverly Kildare and Stefan Wuertz, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. Dustin Bambic, Larry Walker Associates, 250 Lafayette Circle Suite 200, Lafayette, CA 94549. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 235 Session: River Dynamics and Runoff Plumes in Marine Environments Chair: Burton Jones, University of Southern California 1220 DRY WEATHER RIVER RUNOFF IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. Burton Jones. Marine Environmental Biology University of Southern California. 1:40 SATELLITE VIEW OF STORMWATER RUNOFF PLUMES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Nikolay P. Nezlin. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA 92683-5218 USA. 2:00 THE EFFECTS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF IN SANTA MONICA BAY. K.M. Reifel and B.H. Jones. University of Southern California, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 235 Session: Red Tides Moderator: Rick Pieper, Southern California Marine Institute AY HARMFUL ALGAE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT: PRESENT THREATS AND FUTURE CONCERNS. David A. Caron, Astrid Schnetzer, Rebecca Schaffner, Steffi Moorthi, Peter Countway, Beth Stauffer, Adriane Jones, Diane Kim and Billy Pan. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371. 2:40 PSEUDONITZSCHIA AND DOMOIC ACID IN THE LOS ANGELES HAR- BOR AND ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS. Astrid Schnetzer, David A. Caron, Peter E. Miller, Rebecca Schaffner, Adriane Jones, Diane Kim and Billy Pan, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los An- geles, CA 90089-0371. Stephen Weisberg, Southern California Coastal Water Research Pro- ject, Westminster, CA 92683. 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 320 DOMOIC ACID TOXICITY IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (ZALOPAUS CAL- IFORNIANUS) STRANDED IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA, 2002-2006. Richard Evans, Michele Hunter and Meg Jones. Pacific Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. 3:40 DOMOIC ACID POISONING IN SEABIRDS. Susan Kaveggia. International Bird Rescue Center, 3601 South Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. 4:00 RED TIDE BLOOMS (LIVNGULODINIUM POLYEDRA) IN SAN PEDRO BAY. Ivona Cetinic, Astrid Schnetzer, David A. Caron and Burt Jones. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA. 4:20 THE WATER QUALITY TASK FORCE IN REDONDO BEACH; HOW A SMALL COASTAL CITY IS DEALING WITH RED TIDES AND FISH KILLS. Chris Cagle. Councilman, City of Redondo Beach, 415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 9027 i. 4:40 SOME ASPECTS OF MONITORING FOR TOXIC AND NONTOXIC BLOOMS (THE HABS AND THE HAB-NOTS) IN CALIFORNIA. Gregg W. Langlois. California Department of Health Services, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Richmond, CA. 94804. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 205 Session: Sediment Quality Objectives Chair: Steve Bay, SCCWRP 126 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF CALIFORNIA’S SEDIMENT QUALITY OB- JECTIVES PROGRAM. Beegan, Chris. State Water Resources Control Board, Sacra- mento, California. 1:40 COMPARISON AND SELECTION OF SUBLETHAL SEDIMENT TOXICITY TESTS FOR USE IN EVALUATING SEDIMENT QUALITY. D. Young,* S.M. Bay, and D. Greenstein. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster CA. 2:00 A MEASURE OF BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY CONDITION FOR CALIFORNIA BAYS AND ESTUARIES. J.A. Ranasinghe', S.B. Weisberg’, R.W. Smith?, D.E. Montagne?, B. Thompson*, J.M. Oakden°, D.D. Huff®, and C. Beegan’. 'SCCWRP, Westminster, CA; 7Deceased; *County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles Coun- ty, Whittier, CA; *San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland, CA; *Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing, CA; °Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, Portland, OR; 7State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA. 2:20 DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL SQGS BASED ON BENTHIC MACROFAUNA RESPONSES TO SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY. Ke . Rit- ter,* Steven M. Bay, and Robert W. Smith. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA. 2:40 DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A MULTIPLE LINE OF EVIDENCE FRAMEWORK FOR INTEGRATING SEDIMENT QUALITY DATA. Steven M. Bay*, Stephen B. Weisberg, and Jeff Brown. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 235 Session: Volunteer Monitoring Chair: Lan Wiborg, City of San Diego 3:20 CITIZEN MONITORING STATUS AND TRENDS. Erick Burres. State Wa- ter Resources Control Board. 3:40 CITIZEN VOLUNTEER BASED BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE WA- TER QUALITY SAMPLING. Rob Roy.* Coordinator, San Diego Stream Team, San Diego, CA. PROGRAM 9 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 4:00 RECOVERY OF THE WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER AT SAND’S BEACH, COAL OIL POINT RESERVE, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA. Jennifer Stroh. Santa Barbara Audubon Society & University of California’s Natural Reserve System, Santa Barbara, California. 4:20 RAPID ACQUISITION OF CITIZEN SCIENTIST DATA ACROSS LARGE DISTANCES: GRUNION GREETERS AND THE INTERNET ALONG THE CALIFOR- NIA COAST. K.L. Martin, B. Cupp, C. Stivers, M. Studer. Pepperdine University, Nat- ural Science Division, Malibu, CA 90263-4321. 4:40 A THREE YEAR STUDY OF SEASONAL BACTERIAL CONCENTRATIONS USING VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE. L. Gilbane, K.A. Snow, S. Aizawa, K.E. Flah- erty, Y.J. Ralph, C.V. Wolfe, K. Kull and R.E. Pieper. Southern California Marine Institute, Terminal Island, CA, 90731. Friday, May 12, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, Fireside Room Session: Poster Session—Presenting SCAS and SETAC Posters FIRE-FLOOD-FISH: LOSS AND PERSISTENCE OF UPPER SANTA ANA RIVER SPECKLED DACE (RHINICHTHYS OSCULUS) IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE VALUE OF TIMELY HUMAN INTERVENTION. G. Abbas', J.N. Baskin’, R.N. Fisher’, R. Maloney-Rames*, A.E. Metcalf’, R. Rodriguez® and C.C. Swift’, Southern Cal- ifornia Native Freshwater Fauna Working Group. 'San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S Commerce Center Cir, San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-2620, gabbas @fs.fed.us; 7Cal Poly University Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, (626) 826-8226, jnbaskin@csupomona.edu; *U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101- 0812, 619-225-6422, rfisher@usgs.gov; *California Department of Fish and Game, 3602 Inland Empire Blvd., Ste C-220, Ontario, CA 91764, (909) 980-3818, rmaloney @dfg.ca. gov; °California State University San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407, (909) 537-7501, ametcalf@csusb.edu; °California Department of Fish and Game, 3602 Inland Empire Blvd., Ste C-220, Ontario, CA 91764, (909) 484-0523, rrodriguez @ dfg.ca.gov; 7“ENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003, (626) 447-5846, cswift@entrix.com. TOOTH FRACTURE AND WEAR COMPARED IN A RANCHO LA BREA SABER- TOOTHED CAT AND THE DIRE WOLF. [.E. Abellera, E.A. Ibrahim and W.J. Binder. Loyola Marymount University, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. EFFECTS OF OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE ACTIVITY ON THE MOJAVE DESERT BIOTA. Amy J. Arispe and Stephanie H. Diaz. Southern California Ecosystems Research Program, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton. LATE CENOZOIC VOLCANISM NEAR BAKER, CA. Baltzer, Suzanne M. and Jessey, David R. Geological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University—Pomona, Pomona, CA 91768. THE EFFECT OF FEMALE CRICKET CHEMICAL CUES ON THE AGGRESSIVE BE- HAVIOR OF MALE CRICKETS, ACHETA DOMESTICUS. Leslie J. Buena and Sean E. Walker. California State University, Fullerton. WATER AND SEDIMENT QUALITY EVALUATION OF THE SANTA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY-ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISCHARGE OF TREATED WASTEWATER. Colvin, Molly; Bailey, Howard C.; and Stransky, Chris. Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA. COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF THE ENTIRE MITOCHONDRIAL cox-I GENE SE- QUENCE ACROSS VARIOUS GENERA OF CHITONS. N.V. Dabbousi and D.J. Eer- nisse. Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850. SEX DIFFERENCES AND GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN BODY SIZE IN THE WOLF SPIDERS RABIDOSA RABIDA AND RABIDOSA PUNCTULATA (ARANEAE: LY- COSIDAE). Gerry Del Rio Cortes and Sean E. Walker. Department of Biological Sci- ences, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831. 10 84 M 85 P 86 87 88 M 89 90 E SH S27 93 M 94 F 95 M SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS TO DOPAMINE OXIDATION IN PC12 CELLS AND PRI- MARY ASTROCYTES: A MODEL FOR NEURODEGENERATION? Jessica De Gia- como', Jerome Garcia', and Enrique Cadenas’. 'Biology Department, School of Arts & Sciences, University of La Verne, Los Angeles, CA 91750, USA; ?7Molecular Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9008, USA PLEISTOCENE STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOENVIRONMENT OF BAHIA SAN QUINTIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. R.V. Di Fiori. Ecology and Paleoecology Research Group, Pasadena City College, Natural Science Division, Pasadena, CA 91106. EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE SANTA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY WITH RESPECT TO DISCHARGE OF TREATED EFFLUENT. Douglass, Sarah'*; Bailey, Howard C.'; Kamman, Greg’; and Pfeifer, Dan’. 'Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA; *>Kamman Hydrology and Engineering, Inc., San Rafael, CA; *City of San Buenaventura, Ventura, CA. TIERED AQUATIC LIFE USES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL STREAMS. Jerry Diamond, Ph.D., Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117, jerry.diamond @tetratech.com. Renee Purdy DeShazo, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013, rdeshazo@waterboards.ca.gov. Sabrina Drill, University of California Cooper- ative Extension, 4800 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90022, sldrill@ucdavis. edu. DETAILED COMPOSITIONAL COMPARISON OF ACIDIC NSO COMPOUNDS IN BIODEGRADED VERSUS NON-BIODEGRADED ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES US- ING NEGATIVE ION ELECTROSPRAY FOURIER TRANSFORM ION CYCLOTRON RESONANCE MASS SPECTROMETRY. S.A. Galasso and C.A. Hughey. Chapman University, Department of Physical Sciences, | University Dr., Orange, CA 92866. EFFECTS OF SALINITY CONCENTRATION ON RATES OF POLYP CLONING, GROWTH, AND STROBILATION IN THE AURELIA LABIATA (CNIDARIA, SCYPH- OZOA). Julie A. Guerin. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, CA 90731; Palos Ver- des Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274. ASSESSMENT OF THE SELF-PURIFICATION OF A CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS AND THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON THE BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY. LR. Hajjali, S.A. Cardenas, T.A. Voung, R.B. Shah, J.Z. Liu, W.S. Liang, M.R. Robles, J.E. Krayer, L.A. Del Valle, and A. Lam. Ecology and Paleoecology Research Group, Pasadena City College, Natural Science Division, Pasadena, CA. 91106. A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF PLASTICS POLUTION IN THE COASTAL WATERS AND BEACHES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA. ESTUDIOS PRELIMINARES DE CONTAMINACION POR PLASTICOS EN AGUAS COSTERAS Y PLAYAS DE LA PENINSULA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICO. Oce. A. Ratl Herrera-Gutiérrez, Cap. Charles Moore, M.C. Gustavo Riano-Sanchez. Algalita Research Foundation and Asesores en Biologia Pesquera, S.A. de C.V, BIOPESCA. ANGLING-INDUCED BAROTRAUMA AND INITIAL CATCH SURVIVAL OF SOUTH- ERN CALIFORNIA NEARSHORE AND SHELF ROCKFISHES (SCORPAENIDAE, SE- BASTES SPP.). Jarvis, E.T. and C.G. Lowe. California State University, Long Beach, Department of Biology, Long Beach, CA, 90840. CAN MEDICAL STUDENTS LEARN AND RETAIN BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND? THE EVALUATION OF A FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT ELECTIVE IN EMERGEN- CY ULTRASOUND. Jarrod Larson, Graciela Barajas and John C. Fox. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868. ECTOPARASITES OF THE CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISH, SCORPAENA GUTTATA, IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. J.E. Kalman. University of California Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095, and Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. MICROSATELLITE DNA ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE PATERNITY IN THE VIVPA- ROUS ROCKFISH SEBASTES MELANOPS. Kurt W. Karageorge. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840. PROGRAM 1] 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 B THE INFLUENCE OF ARTICHOKE THISTLE ON HUMMINGBIRD POPULA- TIONS. R,]J. Keber and S.A. Banack. Southern California Ecosystems Research Pro- gram, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA, 92834. RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF GALLBLADDER PATHOLOGY USING BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND. Jarrod Larson, Graciela Barajas, John C. Fox, and William Scruggs. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868. EUPHAUSIID SWARMS IN THE MONTEREY SUBMARINE CANYON AS SAMPLED WITH A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE. J.J. Lee. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. J. Ryan, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, 95039. W.M. Ham- ner, University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biol- ogy, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. G. Matsumoto, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, 95039. B. Robison, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, 95039. EFFECTS OF ALTERED SALINITY DURING INCUBATION ON CALIFORNIA GRUN- ION, LEURESTHES TENUIS. ].K. Matsumoto and K.L. Martin. Natural Science Di- vision, Pepperdine University, Malibu, 90263. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BODY SIZE AND SOUND PRODUCING STRUCTURES IN CRICKETS: DO BIG MALES HAVE BIG HARPS? N.R. Moradian and S.E. Walker. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92331: LINKING THE STATOLITH CHEMISTRY OF APLYSIA CALIFORNICA TO WATER- SHED DISCHARGE PLUMES ALONG THE OPEN COAST. M.O. Navarro, G. Par- adis, D.W. Lea, M. Sheehy, R.R. Warner, S.D. Gaines and D.C. Zacherl. California State University Fullerton, University of California Santa Barbara. PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF THE FLATFISH GENUS PLEURONICHTHYS. J.D. Olson. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angles, CA 90095-1606. AN IN VITRO RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF T CELLS IN C57BL/6 MICE. Joan Ordonez* and Christine Broussard, Ph.D. Department of Biology, The University of La Verne, La Verne, California SO DETECTION OF QUORUM-SENSING COMPOUNDS IN PLANT-ASSOCIATED MI- CROORGANISMS. M.R. Oseguera, N. Chinchillas and G. Brelles-Marino. Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91766. THE USE OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS TO EVALUATE THE GENETIC POPU- LATION STRUCTURE OF THE ROUND STINGRAY AT SEAL BEACH, CA. S.M. Plank, C.G. Lowe, J.A. Brusslan. California State University Long Beach, Department of Biological Sciences, Long Beach, CA 90840-3702. GSNO FORMATION IN ASTROCYTES AND NEURONS-IMPLICATION FOR NEU- ROTOXICITY. Taylor Pupka', Li-Peng Yap’, Jerome Garcia', and Enrique Cadenas?. 'Department of Biology, University of La Verne, 1950 3rd St. La Verne, CA 91750-4401; "Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-121. GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN 3 SPECIES OF SEA TURTLES, CHE- LONIA MYDAS AGASSIZ, LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA, AND CARETTA CAR- ETTA, FROM THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENNISULA. Kristine L. Richardson*', Su- san C. Gardner’, and Daniel Schlenk!. 'University of California—Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; *Centro de Investigaciones Biolégicas del Noroeste, S.C., La Paz, Baja Cali- fornia Sur CP 23090, Mexico. FIREBREAKS AND INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES. Moy Mckayla Sab, Ayse Bassari and Cheryl Swift. Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, 90608. AN OBSERVATION OF OYSTER SETTLEMENT OVER SEASONS FOR THE WEST COAST OYSTER, OSTREA CONCHAPHILA. E.M. Seale and D. Zacherl. Southern California Ecosystems Research Program, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Sciences, Fullerton, CA, 92831. 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AN APPLICATION OF ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY THEORY TO RIPARIAN RESTO- RATION. Jane Shevtsov and Richard EF Ambrose. UCLA, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095. PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE BIG PINE VOLCANIC FIELD, INYO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Varnell, Ashley E., and Jessey, David R. Geological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University—Pomona, Pomona, CA 91768. REAL-TIME OCEANOGRAPHIC MONITORING NEAR POINT FERMIN AND THE LOS ANGELES RIVER MOUTH. A. Vaux, L. Gilbane, R.E. Pieper, A. Willingham, K. Grubert, S. Kelly. Southern California Marine Institute, Terminal Island, CA, 90731. THE EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE FISHING PRESSURE ON THE POPULATION DYNAM- ICS AND LIFE HISTORY PARAMETERS OF THE CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD, SEM- ICOSSYPHUS PULCHER. Lynne Wetmore. Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90041. CHANGES IN DENSITIES OF FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA (FIB) OVER DIFFER- ING TIDAL FLOWS IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS, LOS ANGELES. S. Yana- madala!' and John H. Dorsey’. 'Chadwick High School, 26800 S. Academy Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, 90274; 7Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Sci- ences, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. USING SOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION TO DETERMINE THE BIOAVAILABIL- ITY OF PYRETHROID INSECTICIDES IN SEDIMENT. Hunter, Wesley S.* and Gan, Jay. University of California, Riverside, CA. ENANTIOSELECTIVE INHIBITION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE BY CHIRAL OR- GANOPHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDES. Mae Grace Nillos*, Gabriela Rodriguez-Fu- entes, Daniel Schlenk and Jay Gan. University of California, Riverside, CA. AN ANOLE LIZARD (SQUAMATA: POLYCHROTIDAE) PRESERVED IN COLOM- BIAN COPAL. W. Chun. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, Elkins Auditorium Session: Plastics in the Marine Environment Chair: Capt. Charles Moore, Algalita Marine Research Foundation 9:00 SYNTHETIC POLYMERS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT: WHAT WE KNOW-WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW. Charles Moore. Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. 9:20 CHARACTERIZING AND SURVEYING OCEANIC SOURCES AND SINKS OF MARINE DEBRIS. D.G. Foley, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii, 1000 Pope Rd., Honolulu, HI 96822. T. Veenstra, Airborne Technol- ogies Inc, Wasilla, AK. 9:40 LONG-TERM TRAJECTORIES OF PLASTIC FLOTSAM IN THE NORTH PA- CIFIC OCEAN CALCULATED BY THE “OCEAN SURFACE CURRENT SIMULA- TOR”—OSCURS. W. James Ingraham, Jr. (NOAA Fisheries, retired). DriftBusters Co., 720 Camano View Road, Camano Island, WA 98282. 10:00 QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF POPS IN PLASTIC DEBRIS IN THE OCEAN. Lorena M. Rios', Urja V. Narayan', Gerardo Castillo', Charles Moore? and Patrick R. Jones!. 'University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA; 7Algalita Marine Research Foun- dation, Long Beach, CA. 10:20 INTERNATIONAL PELLET WATCH: GLOBAL MONITORING OF PERSIS- TENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPs) BY USING BEACHED PLASTIC RESIN PEL- LETS. H. Takada, S. Iwasa, S. Endo. Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Tech- nology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. PROGRAM 13 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 1:40 SHIPS FOR SCRAP AT ALANG-SOSIYA: LOOMING OF SMALL PLASTICS IN MARINE SEDIMENTS. M. Srinivasa Reddy, S. Bhasha, S. Adimurthy and G. Ra- machandraiah.* Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar 364 002, Gujarat, India. 2:00 WHAT THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY MUST DO IF WE ARE TO KEEP PLASTIC OUT OF MARINE DEBRIS AND GET TO ZERO WASTE. R.V. Anthony. Richard An- thony Associates, Zero Waste Management, San Diego California 92109. Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, KSC 130 Session: Fresh Water Vertebrates Chair: Jim Edmundson, California Trout, Inc. 9:00 LAMPREYS SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION AND PERSPECTIVES FROM THE NORTH. S.B. Reid and D. Goodman. Western Fishes, 2045 East Main, Ashland, OR, 97520; U.S. Fish and Wildlife, 1655 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA, 95521. 9:20 THERMAL ECOLOGY OF STEELHEAD IN A WARM-WATER ENVIRONMENT. A.P. Spina. National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, California 90802. 9:40 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STEELHEAD: WHERE AND WHAT ARE THEY? Mark H. Capelli. National Marine Fisheries Service, Protected Resources Division, Santa Barbara, CA. 10:00 HABITAT EVALUATION FOR SOUTHERN POPULATIONS OF STEEL- HEAD TROUT, OVCORHYNCAUS MYKISS. Sabrina L. Drill, University of Cali- fornia Cooperative Extension, 4800 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90022. Mark Abramson, Heal the Bay, 1444 9th Street Santa Monica, CA 90401. Michelle Bates, TetraTech Inc., 4213 State St., Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. Rosi Dagit, RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains, 122 N. Topanga BI., Topanga, CA, 90290. Jim Edmonson, California Trout, Inc., 5436 Westview Court, Westlake Village, CA 91362. Elise Kelley, UC Santa Barbara, 619 Empire Ave., Ventura, CA 93003. John O’Brien, California Dept. of Fish and Game, 4665 Lampson Ave. C, Los Alamaitos, CA 90720. Matt Stoecker, Stoecker Ecolog- ical, 135 Campo, Portola Valley, CA 94028. Scott Volan, Cachuma Conservation and Re- lease Board, 3301 Laurel Canyon Rd., Santa Barabara, CA 93105. 10:20 SURVIVAL ON THE EDGE: THE PLIGHT OF THE SAN MATEO CREEK SOUTHERN STEELHEAD. T.E. Hovey. Native Fisheries Monitoring Program, Cali- fornia Department of Fish and Game, Santa Clarita, CA 91390. Chair: Glen Stewart, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 1:40 STATUS OF THE THREESPINE STICKLEBACK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. T.R. Haglund and J.N. Baskin. Biological Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona Univer- sity, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. 2:00 UPDATE ON RANA MUSCOSA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. R.N. Fisher, A.R. Backlin, C.J. Hitchcock, and S.A. Hathaway. USGS Western Ecological Research Center, San Diego Field Station, San Diego, CA. 2:20 AN UPDATE: ECOLOGY, STATUS, AND CONSERVATION OF THE WEST- ERN SPADEFOOT TOAD, SPEA HAMMONDIL. Edward L. Ervin. Merkel and As- sociates, 5434 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 02123. 2:40 STATUS OF THE CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG (RANA DRAYTONTD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Norman J. Scott. U.S. Geological Survey—Retired, Creston, California 93432. 520 CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF INTRODUCED AMPHIBIAN SPECIES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: INSATIABLE PREDATORS OR PLENTIFUL PREY. Edward L Ervin. Merkel & Associates, Inc. 5434 Ruffin Road, San Diego, CA 02123. 136 137 138 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 3:40 A PLACE-SPECIFIG EDUCATION PROGRAM TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF INTRODUCED STREAM PREDATORS AND THEIR ROLE IN NATIVE AMPHIB- IAN DECLINE. L.H. Jones, T.S. Watters, S.D. Dudley, G.J. Van Dragt, R.V. Van Dragt, and L.B. Kats. Pepperdine University, Natural Science Division, Malibu, CA, 90263. 4:00 GROWTH AND DEMOGRAPHY OF WESTERN POND TURTLES AT VAN- DENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. DJ. Germano, Department of Biology, California State University, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022. G.B. Rathbun, Department of Or- nithology and Mammalogy, California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Fran- cisco, % PO. Box 202, Cambria, CA 93428. 4:20 THE GARTER SNAKES OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. G.R. Stewart. Cal- ifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Biological Sciences Department, Pomona, CA, 91768. 4:40 GENETIC STRUCTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL STREAM VERTEBRATES: SANTA ANA SPECKLED DACE, THREESPINE STICKLEBACK, AND CALIFORNIA TREE FROG. A.E. Metcalf, Dept. of Biology California State University, San Bernardino 92407. I. Phillipsen, Dept. of Zoology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, S733. GROUP/PANEL DISCUSSION AS TIME ALLOWS This symposium grew out of discussions in the Southern California Native Freshwater Fauna Working Group. This is an informal group of individual biol- ogists that meets several times per year at Cal Poly University Pomona to discuss issues relating to the freshwater fauna of Southern California. Its goal is to pro- mote the understanding and long term survival of the Southern California fresh- water fauna in its natural habitat. 143 144 145 Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 245 Session: Endocrine Disruptor Compounds in the Southern California Bight Chair: Daniel Schlenk, U.C. Riverside 9:00 STRESS AND CONSEQUENCES IN THE URBAN OCEAN-ENVIRONMEN- TAL ENDOCRINOLOGY OF MARINE FISHES OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. K.M. Kelley', J.A. Reyes', J.E. Kalman'?, A.W. Hamilton', M.M. Galima', K. Sak!, C.G. Lowe! and J.L. Armstrong?. 'Environmental Endocrinology Lab, Dept. of Bio- logical Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840; ?Envi- ronmental Assessment Division, Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), Fountain Val- ley, CA, 92708. O20 EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN REPRODUCTIVE MET- RICS, GENDER AND VITELLOGENIN EXPRESSION IN DEMERSAL FLATFISH COL- LECTED NEAR THE MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL OF ORANGE COUN- TY, CALIFORNIA, USA. Rempel, Mary Ann'*; Reyes, Jesus’; Steinert, Scott?; Hwang, Wendy!'; Armstrong, Jeff*; Sakamoto, Ken*; Kelley, Kevin*?; Schlenk, Daniel’. 'University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA; ?California State University of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA; *CSC Biomarker Laboratory, San Diego, CA; *Orange County Sanitation Dis- trict, Fountain Valley, CA. 9:40 SEASONAL EVALUATION OF REPRODUCTIVE STATUS AND EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL ESTROGENS IN HORNYHEAD TURBOT AT THE MUNICI- PAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL OF ORANGE COUNTY. Xin Deng, Mary Ann Rempel and Daniel Schlenk. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Califor- nia, Riverside, CA 92507. PROGRAM 15 146 147 148 149 150 151 10:00 REGION-ASSOCIATED DISRUPTION OF FLATFISH ENDOCRINE SYS- TEMS-STUDIES IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. Jesus A. Reyes, Dawn M. Petschauer, and Kevin M. Kelley. Environmental Endocrinology Lab, Marine Biology Program, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840. 10:20 IN VIVO BIOASSAY GUIDED FRACTIONATION OF MARINE SEDIMENT EXTRACTS FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT FOR ESTROGENIC AC- TIVITY. D. Schlenk'*, Y. Sapozhnikova', M. Irwin', L. Xie', W. Hwang!, S. Reddy’, B.J. Brownawell?, J. Armstrong’, M. Kelly*, D.E. Montagne*, E.P. Kolodziej®, D. Sedlak°®, S. Snyder’. 'Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA; ?Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; ?Ocean Monitoring, Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA USA; *Ocean Monitoring, City of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; °Ocean Monitoring & Research Group, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Whittier, CA, USA; ‘Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; ‘Water Quality Research and Development Division, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nevada. Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 245 Plenary Session: Palos Verdes Shelf Remediation and Restoration Moderator: Joseph Gully, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts HISTORICAL AND LEGAL OVERVIEW. John Saurenman. California Department of Justice. A discussion of the history of DDT/PCB contamination on the shelf, the legal battles which were settled for 140 M dollars, and how that money was divided among the various remediation/restoration entities. INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS. Sharon Lin. Public Outreach and Education, USEPA Region 9. The institutional control (IC) program is focused on the protection of human populations at risk to DDT and PCB exposure from eating contaminated fish. The ICs program consists of public outreach to at risk populations, fish contamination monitoring, and white croaker commercial catch ban and bag limit enforcement. The ICs program has bee in full imple- mentation phase since 2002. The stakeholders of the PV Shelf project completed a series of workshops to develop a revised strategic plan for the ICs components in Fall 2005. The presenter will show a video describing the ICs program with an emphasis on the public outreach component of the program, the Fish Contamination Education Collaborative. The presenter will give a status update on the program and discuss any related subjects that are of interest to the meeting attendees. RESOURCE RESTORATION. Dave Witting. Montrose Settlement Restoration Pro- gram. Provide an overview of the recently released final plan for restoring natural resource injuries caused by DDTs and PCBs discharged onto the Palos Verdes shelf. The plan details how they intend to restore fishing services, fish habitat, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and seabirds to the Southern California Bight. The presentation will describe the status of a comprehensive fish contamination study for DDTs, PCBs and mercury and how results from this study will guide resource restoration projects. SITE REMEDIATION. Carmen White. Superfund Division, USEPA Region 9. Provide an overview of the studies conducted regarding characterization of the site and a discussion of the options being considered for site remediation. EPA is getting ready to release its remedial investigation report, which will show why there are no easy answers to cleaning up Palos Verdes Shelf. 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 245 Session: Environmental Pollution Chair: Lan Wiborg, City of San Diego 2:00 USE OF IN SITU HATCHBOX STUDIES TO EVALUATE WATER QUALITY EFFECTS. Howard Bailey'*, Ben Chalmers’, and James Elphick!. ‘Nautilus Environ- mental, San Diego, CA; 7Myra Falls Mine, Campbell River, British Columbia. DIY EVALUATION OF IMPACTS AND BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH DIS- CHARGE OF TREATED EFFLUENT TO THE SANTA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY. Bailey, Howard C.'; Stransky, Chris'; Kamman, Greg’; and Pfeifer, Dan*. 'Nautilus Envi- ronmental, San Diego, CA; 7>Kamman Hydrology and Engineering, Inc., San Rafael, CA; >City of San Buenaventura, Ventura, CA. 2:40 CHARACTERIZATION OF CHOLINESTERASES FROM TWO DEMERSAL FLATFISH COLLECTED NEAR A MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Gabriela Rodriguez-Fuentes'*, Daniel Schlenk' and Jeff Armstrong”. ‘University of California Riverside, Riverside CA; 7?OCSD, Fountain Valley, CA. 3:20 TOXICITY IDENTIFICATION EVALUATION (TIE) CASE STUDY OF A GEOTHERMAL ELECTRIC PLANT LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. John Rudolph, Chris Stransky, and Howard Bailey. Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA SDAA. 3:40 EXTENT AND MAGNITUDE OF COPPER CONTAMINATION IN MARINAS OF THE SAN DIEGO REGION. Kenneth Schiff*, Jeff Brown and Dario Diehl. South- ern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA. Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 210 Session: Research Training Program—Session 1 Chair: Richard Schwartz, RTP 9:00 PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHES AND HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE THEM: CONSIDERATIONS FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT PLANNING. Scott H. Grove. Sonora High School, La Habra, CA. 9320 TRANSPLANTED XY SPERMATOGONIA STEM CELLS COLONIZE IN THE SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES OF XXY MICE. B. Chuck, Calif. Inst. of Math and Sci- ence. Y. Lue, Department of Medicine, LABiomed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Tor- trance; CA. 90502. 9:40 COUNTING THE MICROINFARCT(S) IN SECTION R-19 OF A HUMAN BRAIN. Huynh, Tommy. Alhambra H.S., and Neuroscience Method Research Group, University of Southern California, Department of Neurology, Los Angeles, CA, 90242. 10:00 MUTAGENIC ANALYSIS OF THE CYTOCHROME P450 14a-DEMETHYLA- SE (CkCyp51p) TO AZOLE RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA KRUSEI. Da Eun In, Calif. Inst. of Math and Science, Trang Phan, Hyunsook Park. Scott G. Filler, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor- UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502. 10:20 FACTORS AFFECTING BALANCE AND PCP DISORDERS: THE INFLU- ENCE OF NATURAL STIMULI IN MICE UTRICLES YEAR 2. D.E. Lluncor, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. David Geffen, School of Medicine at UCLA, Division of Neurobiology Head and Neck Surgery Laboratory of Vestibular/Sensory Neurobiology, Los Angeles, CA 90095. PROGRAM 7 166 184 185 169 170 171 173 174 175 176 177 178 Chair: Martha Schwartz, RTP 1:40 EFFECTS OF STRESS AND EXERCISE IN BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPH- IC FACTOR EXPRESSION. H.T. Luu, Alhambra High School. M.J. Chen and A. Rus- so-Neustadt, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, 90032: 2:00 MAKING CAMKIISA BY THE ADENOVIRUS SYSTEM. Tea, Nicky-Chai, Yan Bai. University of Southern California, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Los Angeles, 90033. 2220 PHOTOOXIDATION OF COBALT-BOUND THIOLATO LIGANDS. May Chow, Alhambra High School. Mentor: 2:40 BIOARTIFICIAL HEART TISSUE: AN ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER FOR CARDIAC PATCHES. Karis R. Tang-Quan, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Roll- ing Hills Estates, CA 90274. Mentor: Dr. Ben Wu, UCLA, Department of Bioengineering, Los Angeles, CA 90095. 3220 MYOSTATIN EFFECT ON BODY COMPOSITION IN GENETICALY MODI- FIED MICE. D. Wu, Cypress H.S. B.D. Harvey, S. Porszasz-Reisz, College of Science and Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059. 3:40 HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 (HSP70) EXPRESSION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. Young, Amy, Alhambra H.S. Multiple Sclerosis Research Group, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, McKibben Hall, 1333 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA: 90033: 4:00 EXPOSURE TO HYPEROXIA DURING PERINATAL PERIOD DISRUPTS SPECIFIC PULMONARY ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL SIGNALING PATHWAYS. Sanyl Kabre, Sharon Sugano, Dr. John S. Torday, Dr. Virender, K. Rehan. Dept. of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Insti- tute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Saturday, May 13, 2006 Location: Seaver Undergraduate Campus, AC 205 Session: Research Training Program-—Session 2 Chair: Mrs Kathy Phelan 9:00 INVESTIGATING PROTOCOLS FOR HALIOTIS RUFESCENS EGG CRYO- PRESERVATION. Julie A. Guerin. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, CA 90731; Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274. 9:20 MEASURING THE PERCEIVED PREDATION RISKS IN HOUSE FINCHES IN DIFFERENT HABITAT TYPES. Singh, Deepak H., Whitney H.S. Fernandez-Juricic, Esteban, and Valcarcel, Anna, Department of Biological Sciences, California State Univer- sity, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840-3702. 9:40 EFFECTS OF TIDAL FLUCTUATIONS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF NITRO- GEN COMPOUNDS IN THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR. Sanjit Datta. Palos Verdes Peninsula H.S., Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, CA COTS. 10:00 A STUDY OF FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA (FIB) IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS AND DEL REY LAGOON, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. S. Yanamadala! and John H. Dorsey’. 'Chadwick High School, 26800 S. Academy Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, 90274; *Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. 10:20 ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LINEAR ACCELERATORS US- ING MATHEMATICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS. J. Luo, Alhambra H.S. O.O. Bernal, California State University Los Angeles, Department of Physics, Los Angeles, California, 90032. 179 180 186 182 183 187 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Chair: John Dorsey, LMU 1:40 THE NEW AND INNOVATIVE OPTIC ACCELEROMETER SENSOR. R. Purasinghe, Alhambra H.S. Dr. Feng and Dr. Kim, University of California Irvine, De- partment of Structural Engineering, Irvine, CA, 92697. 2:00 ATAXIA TELANGIECTASIA AND DOSAGES OF BLEOMYCIN. Sunghye Kim, Calif. Inst of Math and Science. Helen Chun, California State University of Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747. PPAY) THE EFFECTS OF THE HSR-OMEGA GENE IN DROSOPHILA MELANO- GASTER. William Martin. Benzer Lab, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CAS 91125: 2:40 PERCENT METHYLATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AGING. Shelly Tat, Alhambra H.S. Dr. Shibata, USC Norris Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033, Topping Tower 6410. 3220 COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF GRAINYHEAD-LIKE EPITHELIAL TRANSACTIVATOR (GET1) REGULATED GENES. Madhvi Venkatesh, University H.S. Ambica Bhandari and Bogi Andersen, University of California, Department of Biolog- ical Chemistry, Irvine, CA, 92697. 3:40 FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MBNL3 PROTEIN. Dan Qing Yan, University of Southern California, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033. ABSTRACTS—Program Order 1 STANDARDIZED METHODS FOR MONITORING PLASTIC IN THE MARINE ENVI- RONMENT Zellers, Ann. Algalita Marine Research Foundation 1021 N Harbor Dr. Redondo Beach, CA 90277 As marine debris has become the focus of an increasing number of studies since the 1970’s it has been found that this debris has a ubiquitous presence in almost every marine niche. At a 2005 con- ference titled “‘Plastic Debris Rivers to Sea”’ scientists from around the world confirmed the over- whelming presence of plastic in the marine environment. However, as a global problem, the quanti- fication of plastic marine debris is too large for any company or government agency to handle alone. In order to facilitate future analyses AMRF would like to propose a standardization of the data collection process, including guidelines for exchange of data and findings among interested parties. We propose such a “‘strawman”’ protocol for sorting plastic pollutants in water samples and in beach sand samples, based upon our experience over the last 7 years. Our suggested protocol addresses separating samples into their organic and non organic components, establishing size classes, color characteristics, material characteristics, etc. In the event pertinent data is acquired, either as a specific objective or as a by-product of other data collections in the field, we believe use of such a protocol would benefit a global body of researchers on an economical and timely basis. We would like to encourage the coordination and discussion of the use of such a standardized protocol. 2 PLASTIC DEBRIS, RIVERS TO SEA: AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROP 13 FUNDED PRO- JECT “ASSESS AND REDUCE SOURCES OF PLASTIC AND TRASH IN URBAN AND COASTAL WATERS” C.J. Moore, G.L. Lattin, A.E Zellers. Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803 Policies in California have been established to restrict trash and plastic greater than 5 mm in size through the process of regulating Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). In order to quantify debris not subject to regulation by TMDLS, a study was conducted by the Algalita Marine Research Foun- dation and the California Coastal Commission with funding by the State Water Resources Control Board to analyze plastic trash between 1 and 5mm in size as well as that >5mm from two Southern California Rivers; the Los Angeles River and the San Gabriel River. One of the most notable com- ponents of the plastic debris studied that is less than 5 mm was pre-production pellets. The results will be presented from the three areas of interest in the study: (1) Plastic industrial sites, (2) Mass Emission sites, and (3) Analysis of plastic particles for the sorbtion of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants). Plastic industry sites were studied to determine if voluntary Best Management Practices (BMP) had any affect on the amount of plastic debris found at the facility. The industrial site grounds where there was a potential for any runoff to reach the storm drain system and the nearest storm drain to each facility were sampled both pre and post BMP implementation and during both wet and dry weather conditions. Three mass emission stations; one on the Los Angeles River, and two on the San Gabirel River, were sampled using a Manta Trawl, Hand Nets, and a Streambed Sampler. Plastic particles and pre-production pellets between one and five millimeters in diameter were sampled from river banks and beaches in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers’ Watersheds, and subjected to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis. 3 UNRESOLVED TECHNICAL ISSUES IN PLASTICS IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT Tony Andrady PhD. Senior Research Scientist, Research Triangle Institute, Durham, NC 27709 Despite the widespread interest in plastics as a persistent pollutant in the world’s oceans, little is reported in the technical literature on the fate of the material in marine environments. The effectiveness 19 20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES of the environmental degradation mechanisms when operating under marine conditions has not been studied in sufficient detail. This presentation will review what is known about the routes for degradation of plastics debris in the marine environment, the fate of common plastics likely to find their way into the world’s oceans, and the impact of the partially-degraded plastic materials on marine life. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effect of microparticulate plastics on the marine ecosystem. While little is known on their interaction with marine life, the potential hazards associated with the material can be serious. There is an urgent need to generate the necessary data to either support of disprove these potential routes of damage to the marine ecosystem, the food web, and ultimately the fisheries resource. 4 MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DEEP SEA C.O. Wirsen. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department Woods Hole, MA 02543 The deep sea is the largest continuous biosphere on earth. The understanding of microbial processes and biodegradation activities occurring in the deep sea is fundamental to questions of both a basic and applied nature. Over the past 30 years our research has concentrated on studying microbial pop- ulations both in situ and as pure cultures of isolated microbes. While metabolic processes are signif- icantly reduced (several fold to more than an order of magnitude) in the deep sea compared to surface waters due to cold temperatures and high hydrostatic pressures, many microbes (psychrophilic and barophilic) found in this environment are specifically adapted to function well under these conditions. The deep sea is an oligotrophic or nutrient poor environment and it has been one of our approaches to study the growth of these populations and specific microbes using a variety of high pressure sampling and incubation equipment. A high degree of pressure adaptation can be found in organisms isolated from both nutrient rich (e.g. intestinal tracts) and nutrient poor environments in the deep sea. Certain biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as potential substitutes for conventional plastics have been shown to biodegrade in the marine environment, albeit faster under optimum laboratory conditions in comparison to open marine conditions. If these materials are to be discharge into the marine environment along with conventional organic wastes, their bio- degradability needs to be demonstrated and the discharge amounts should not follow previous ex- amples of concentrated discharge in any one designated area (e.g. organic sludge disposal sites). 5 BIODEGRADATION TESTING METHODS FOR POLYMERS IN THE MARINE ENVI- RONMENT J.A. Ratto, R. Stote, J. Herbert, C. Thellen, U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center, Natick, MA. C. Wirsen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center (NSC) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have done extensive research supported by the Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP), to evaluate biodegrad- ability and toxicity of polymers in the marine environment. The goal for the U.S. Navy is to replace some of the conventional plastic used on board ship with biodegradable plastics, therefore, diverting some of the current plastic waste to the food/paper category so it can be disposed of in the marine environment. A laboratory respirometry test, ASTM-6691-01, “Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment by a Defined Microbial Con- sortium”’ was developed to measure percent biodegradation as a function of time, using a consortium of marine microorganisms in an aerobic marine environment. Some of the biodegradable polymers tested to date exhibit acceptable biodegradation in comparison to some paper products currently being discharged into the ocean. ASTM D7081-05, “Standard Specification for Non-Floating Biodegradable Plastics in the Marine Environment’’ was also established to define plastic biodegradability in the marine environment. Closed (static) and open (dynamic) incubations, as well as coastal and deep sea mooring incubations can also be performed in conjunction with the ASTM method to evaluate levels of biodegradation. Data for each type of test method will be presented. Environmental Protection Agency approved toxicity tests have also been performed for a variety of polymers and none of the samples evaluated have shown any toxicity under the test conditions. Additionally, these biodegradable materials could be nutrient sources for microbes, plants and animals in the ocean. ABSTRACTS 72) 6 SEABIRDS AS INDICATORS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE NORTH PACIFIC D. Hyrenbach, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC 28516. C. Keiper, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge P.O. Box 979, Bolinas, CA 94924. H. Nevins, BeachCOMBERS, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039 and Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge. M. Hester, Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge. C. Moore, Alalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. J. Harvey, BeachCOMBERS, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA 95039 A variety of surface feeding seabirds that feed on fish, squid and zooplankton incidentally ingest floating plastic debris. Adults often feed these items to their chicks, with potentially detrimental effects on their growth and survival. Because far-ranging seabirds sample vast areas of the ocean, they can provide useful information about the incidence and distribution of marine plastic pollution. In the North Pacific Ocean, several surface-feeding seabirds, including the Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis), Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) and Red Phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) are especially susceptible to plastic ingestion. We review the literature for known impacts of plastic ingestion on selected North Pacific seabirds and identify several factors which contribute to increasing their susceptibility, including foraging mode, habitat, and body size. To illustrate the use of seabirds as bio-indicators of marine pollution, we present results of two studies: (1) plastic ingestion by beach-cast Northern Fulmars collected in California during 2003-2004 and (2) overlap of satellite-tracked Black-footed albatross (July—September 2004—2005) with the ‘‘Eastern Garbage Patch’’, a major area of debris accumulation in the Eastern North Pacific. The harmful effects of plastic ingestion, including the death of chicks and higher pollutant loads in adults, may further jeopardize the survival of the Black-footed Albatross, a species listed as endangered due to other human related sources of mortality associated with by-catch from longline fishing. Be- cause plastic debris ingestion is a pervasive and increasing problem for seabirds, the study and re- mediation of marine pollution has important implications for global conservation. Fi DISTRIBUTION OF ANTHROPOGENIC AND NATURAL DEBRIS ON THE MAINLAND SHELF OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT S.L. Moore! and S.M. Walther’. 'Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, West- minster, CA, 92683; *Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Carson, CA 90745 Many studies have been conducted to quantify debris found along beaches; however, little infor- mation has been compiled about debris found on the seafloor. Here we summarize three trawl studies done in the Southern California Bight in the summers of 1994, 1998, and 2003 and one trawl study done quarterly since 1996 off the Palos Verdes Peninsula. For each of these studies debris was cate- gorized, counted, and weighed. For the summer studies, natural and anthropogenic debris was wide- spread on the mainland shelf but was generally found in small amounts at any given site. Anthropo- genic debris was most common in the southern and central regions, on the outer shelf and upper shelf, and in areas near publicly owned treatment works (POTWSs). Plastic was the most common anthro- pogenic debris item found in both summer and quarterly trawls followed by metal debris and cans. Quarterly trawls show that anthropogenic debris is most commonly collected during the winter and least during the fall. The amount of debris collected during winter trawls is dependent upon the amount of rainfall for any given year. The deeper distribution of terrestrial debris for both summer and quarterly trawls, suggests that most of the anthropogenic debris in these areas may come from terrestrial sources. 8 INTEGRATING CURRENT SCIENCE INTO SCHOOL CIRRICULUMS Marcus Eriksen, Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 N. Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803. Amy Frame, Environmental Charter High School, 4234 W. 147th St., Lawndale, CA 90260 High school textbooks are typically the last place current scientific knowledge is published. Edu- cators that rely on textbooks as a primary resource to integrate science into the classroom may lose opportunities to interact with scientists and involve students in Ongoing research. A partnership be- tween the Algalita Marine Research Foundation (AMRF) and the Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, California, provides a model for integration of marine science into school curriculum. AMREF investigates the impact of marine debris on watersheds and the marine environment. Since ip: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2004, under the direction of AMRF staff, the inner-city high school students have investigated plastic debris on California beaches, wetlands, and inside seabirds. Results for students include greater interest and participation in science activities, relevance to their daily lives, and increased community activism. The success of this partnership relies on four characteristics: adequate funding, proximity between school and research lab, and receptivity of teachers and scientists. Several suggestions to create these partnerships include: (1) write both science and education components into grants, (2) create low-level internships for teachers or students, and (3) make student data significant to current research or com- munity issues. 9 HEALTH EFFECTS OF PLASTICS: AN OVERVIEW S.S. Mosko. Earth Resource Foundation, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Numerous potential health risks stemming from petroleum-derived plastics have come to light in the last decade based on a wealth of animal and human studies. Depending on the type of resin in question, plastics can represent health threats at all three stages in their life cycle: synthesis, period of use and disposal. Either the actual building blocks of the resins or various additives later “‘mixed- in” (i.e. non-covalently bonded, allowing migration to occur) can be the focus of concern. An overview is presented of the literature on toxicities (endocrine disruption, developmental toxicity, carcinogenic- ity) associated with four common plastics. a) Polyvinyl chloride —vinyl chloride monomer, a known carcinogen, is released during manufacture. —endocrine disrupting phthalate esters are added in large quantities as plasticizers. —toxic heavy metals additives serve as heat/UV light stabilizers. —dioxins are produced during manufacture and incineration. b) Polycarbonates —the building block is bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen. c) Non-stick (e.g. Teflon) coatings —perfluorooctanoate (PFOA or C-8), a known carcinogen that is used and produced during manufacture, is building up in human tissues. —dangerous vapors and particulates are released at high cooking temperatures. d) Polystyrene —polymerization is never complete, allowing leaching of the carcinogenic styrene monomer. —flame retardants (polybrominated dipheny]! ethers or PBDEs), known to act as carcinogens and developmental toxins, can be present in high concentrations. 10 CLUES IN A MATCHMAKING MYSTERY: LINKING THE SEXES OF GNATHIID ISO- PODS L. Haney. Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Marine Biology Laboratory, Carson, CA, 90745 Currently, 10 genera and 172 species of gnathiid isopods are recognized worldwide. These animals are widely distributed in marine habitats. They are found as free-living adults in benthic environments and as parasitic larvae on many teleost and elasmobranch fishes. In most instances, species designa- tions are based solely on the morphology of the adult male; generally, the female and larval stages are unresolved. Male gnathiids have specific characters that help distinguish species rather easily. Conversely, females share similar gross morphologies and lack obvious defining characters. The same is true for larval forms. For this reason, identifications of females and larval forms are typically left at Gnathiidae sp. This leads to a loss of reported diversity, numerical abundance, and ecological data for this family of isopods. An extensive review of gnathiid morphology has provided clues to matching the males and females of particular species in the Northeast Pacific (NEP). The NEP fauna includes two genera and 12 species, four of which are new to science. While specimens of all forms of each species have not been attainable, sufficient material was found to make trends within the family clearer. A suite of morphological characters, used in combination, exhibit high fidelity between males and females. Based on these patterns and material available, it was possible to link the sexes for roughly half of the species. Using similar character combinations may provide useful clues to identifying the remaining NEP species couplets, once material for those are encountered. N ey) ABSTRACTS 11 HOLOTHUROID AND ECHINOID AGGREGATE BEHAVIOR ON THE EASTERN PA- CIFIC ABYSSAL PLAIN K.D. Trego. Nautilus Oceanic Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 Trawl samples and benthic imagery indicate that certain holothurians (Abyssocucumis abyssorum, Oneirophanta mutabilis, Psychropotes longicauda, Scotoplanes globosa) and echinoids (Aporocidaris milleri, Cystechinus loveni, Cystocrepis setigera, Echinocrepis rostrata, Echinothuridae) are found on the abyssal plain of southern California and Baja California. Abyssal trawl samples rarely contain large numbers of these species (e.g. A. abyssorum, A. milleri, E. rostrata) and may indicate the presence of aggregate numbers. Benthic imagery indicates that aggregate behavior of these echino- derms may take place on the abyssal plain. Holothurian and echinoid aggregations in response to food supply (kelp falls, detritus deposits, cold seeps, whale falls) have been seen in shallower depths. Kelp falls on the abyssal plain are rare and consist only of fragments. Detritus deposits on the abyssal plain have been seen to attract the holothuroid A. abyssorum and the echinoid EF. rostrata. The holothuroid S. globosa has been seen at a cold seep location in the Peru-Chile Trench. Benthic ecologist Linda Kuhnz of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute reported the holothuroid S. globosa and the echinoid C. setigera were found at the whale fall in Monterey Canyon at a depth of 2890 meters. The holothuroid P. longicauda may be found in the vicinity of hydrothermal activity. A yellow color form of P. longicauda has been found in the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone at 5000 meters and this modification of the normal purple color may be due to exposure to sulfur in the substrate from a low hydrothermal flow. 12 SCALES OF VARIATION IN SMALL FISH MERCURY CONTENT-INITIAL FINDINGS A. Jahn, B.K. Greenfield, J.L. Grenier. and S. Shonkoff. San Francisco Estuary Institute Significant management actions are underway that have the potential to change mercury (Hg) con- centrations in fish from San Francisco Bay. There is concern that extensive tidal marsh restoration could increase mercury in the food web. Small fish are a useful tool for monitoring inter-annual changes in methylmercury in aquatic ecosystems. They integrate finer-scale spatial and temporal pat- terns of methylmercury uptake into the food web, while providing more localized data than large fish. From November through December of 2005, we sampled small fish (Atherinopsidae and Gobiidae) from two basic mobility types (vagile and sedentary) at eight locations in the Estuary. Multiple composite samples of five to ten individuals each were collected at each sampling location, weighed, measured, and sent for whole-body analysis of total mercury concentration. Sampling location and fish size both affected Hg tissue concentration. With these factors accounted for, Mississippi silverside still had higher Hg concentration than other species tested, and silversides at southern sites had more Hg than fish in northern reaches of the bay. Cheekspot goby had higher Hg at Alviso Slough than at other south bay sites, but was not captured in North Bay. In topsmelt, samples from Alviso slough and Eden landing were highest in Hg, and those from Oakland Harbor were lowest, but fish from the most northern site, Benicia, were indistinguishable from those sampled at Newark Slough and Bird Island in the south. Bay goby, the only strictly subtidal species tested, had significantly lower Hg concentration than the intertidal species. 13 DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANCE OF AGE-0 ATHERINOPSID FISHES IN SOUTH- CENTRAL SAN FRANCISCO BAY A. Jahn, C. Ehrler, and M.L. Elliott. Andrew Jahn Consulting, Ukiah, CA, Tenera Environmen- tal, and PRBO Conservation Science Through 20 years of dropped fish collections at the Alameda Point (San Francisco Bay) least tern colony, atherinopsids combined (but mainly jacksmelt) have comprised > 60% by number and (when measured) biomass. A sampling program using beach seines, purse seines, and neuston nets comple- mented a four-year study of tern chick provisioning. Fish accepted by chicks were mostly = 83 mm TL and averaged about 15 mm smaller than the collected dropped fish. The median length of fish accepted by newly hatched chicks was about 40 mm. We rarely captured atherinopsids of this size in deep (> 8 m) areas of the bay. Larvae and small juveniles of all three native atherinopsids (jacksmelt, topsmelt, grunion) were captured in highest numbers throughout the summer in the intertidal zone and in two small embayments. The thalweg of San Leandro Bay, bordered by mudflat, produced the highest 24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES purse seine catches per unit effort, comparable to the highest densities taken by beach seine. At Crown Beach, the longest sand beach within the known foraging area for terns nesting at Alameda, catch rates of atherinopsids in the tern-diet size range were about 100 times greater at high tide than at low tide. The inferred, periodic movements of these fish appear to be a mechanism to avoid stranding on the adjacent tidal flat. Age-O jacksmelt lose their affinity for the shoals, becoming ubiquitous over the bay after reaching about 70 mm TL. Their wider distribution and larger size-at-age appears to account for the numerical dominance of jacksmelt in the dropped-fish collections. 14 INVESTIGATION OF THE VIRTUAL ELECTRIC CHARGE EFFECT Jennifer Nguyen. Milpitas High School, 1285 Escuela Parkway, Milpitas, CA 95035 The purpose of this investigation is to document the behavior and characteristics of a newly ob- served magnetic effect on charged particles. Based upon the behavior of electrons interacting with the effect, it is termed the Virtual Electric Charge Effect (VECE). Traditionally, the motion of charged particles in magnetic fields is governed by the Lorentz Force and visualized with the Right Hand Rule. Observations showed that the effect occurs under limited conditions and does not follow the Lorentz Force Law. The discovery of this new effect may explain other phenomenon involving magnetism, including the AB effect. This project used directed testing to evaluate the nature of the Virtual Electric Charge Effect. A particle accelerator was improvised using an Oscilloscope CRT. In addition, magnetic field simulation software was used to validate expected results. Several permanent magnets of varying strength were tested repeatedly to show the effect of the magnet’s poles on the motion and shape of the electron beam. The VECE had the North Pole repel electrons away from the pole and the South Pole attract electrons to the pole. The North and South Poles had distinctly opposite effects (i.e. one pole attracts and one repels). Notably, under VECE conditions, the Right Hand Rule demonstration fails when the magnet’s pole is against the screen of the oscilloscope. Basically, when the VECE is apparent, electrons are affected by the pole in contrast to the typical demonstrations. Moreover, I discovered that as the strength of the magnet increased, the new effect became more pronounced. 15 EFFECTS OF VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION ON DISPERSAL POTENTIAL OF KELP SPORES D.K. Cie and M.S. Edwards. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, San Diego, CA 92182 Kelp forests are among the world’s most productive ecosystems and serve as a key source of food and shelter for a wide range of species. Presently, the widely accepted theory of kelp propagation is that reproductive spores are passively dispersed along the benthos via advective and diffusive transport. However, it is possible that these spores can also be dispersed vertically towards the surface, encoun- tering stronger unidirectional flow which may allow them to travel away from an existing kelp stand. The aim of this study is to address the effects of vertical distribution on dispersal potential of kelp spores. To address this theory, we developed a novel technique employing a vertical spore profiler (VSP) to collect settled spores at various heights off the substrate. Our preliminary data has shown that in addition to being dispersed within the first meter above the substrate, spores were able to travel as high as 10 meters from the benthos. To our knowledge, this is the first report of its kind. Currently, we are also investigating the effects of irradiance and grazing pressure throughout various levels in the water column. Information gained from this research may help elucidate the methods of vertical dispersal and the recovery of kelp populations, thereby contributing to the proper management of these natural ecosystems, and the understory communities that rely upon them. 16 CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ... MORPHOLOGY? STIPE HOLLOWING IN EISENIA ARBOREA (PHAEOPHYCEAE) P.G. Matson and M.S. Edwards. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, San Diego, CA, 92182 Morphological variation is common in kelps (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales) and often results from differences in environmental conditions. Stipe hollowing, in particular, occurs in several kelp species worldwide but to date has been investigated for only a few species and primarily at local scales. Here N Nn ABSTRACTS we describe the patterns of stipe hollowing both within and among populations of Eisenia arborea across 800 km of its distribution along the west coast of North America. Our results indicate that there are large latitudinal differences among populations in both the occurrence of stipe hollowing (i.e. frequency of hollow stipes within a population) and hollowing extent (i.e. length of the hollow cavity relative to stipe length) in E. arborea sporophytes. Stipe length varied among our study locations with the most southern population exhibiting the tallest stipes, the most northern population exhibiting the shortest stipes, and the three central populations exhibiting intermediate stipe lengths. The occur- rence of stipe hollowing and hollowing extent also varied along a latitudinal gradient, with the more southern populations exhibiting both increased frequencies of hollowing and greater hollowing extents. In fact, while hollowing occurred in almost all (97%) of the sporophytes examined at the most southern location, it was absent in the sporophytes examined at the most northern location. Finally, although stipe hollowing was more common in larger stipes across all locations, due to the overwhelming effect of location on the occurrence of stipe hollowing, stipe length alone is not a suitable predictor when considered across this species range. iy, DELAYED RECOVERY OF GIANT KELP NEAR ITS SOUTHERN RANGE LIMIT IN THE NORTH PACIFIC FOLLOWING EL NINO M.S. Edwards! and G. Hernandez-Carmona. 'Department of Biology, San Diego State Univer- sity, San Diego, CA 92182 USA; ?Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas. Ap. Postal 592. La Paz, Baja California Sur 23000. México The giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera forms extensive forests along the coastal zones of North Amer- ica from central California, USA to central Baja California, México. Although the northern limit of the species’ range is relatively stable near Point Ano Nuevo, California, its southern limit has been dynamic during the past 20 years, varying over hundreds of kilometers along the Baja California peninsula. El Nino Southern Oscillations are a major source of this variability, causing devastating losses to giant kelp over hundreds of kilometers of coastline. Recovery following El Nino can delayed and generally reduced by competition from the stipitate kelp, Eisenia arborea, which appears more tolerant of El Nino’s low nutrient conditions and is able to recover more rapidly, form dense canopies, and prevent giant kelp from recovering to its pre-E] Nifio southern limit following El Nino. Following the experimental removal of the E. arborea canopies, however, M. pyrifera can recover to its pre-El Nino southern limit and form thick surface canopies. Results from this study suggest that while M. pyrifera’s long-term ‘true’ southern limit is set by unfavorable temperature and nutrient conditions and the availability of rocky substrates, shorter-term variability near this limit is regulated by increased mortality and recruitment failure from unfavorable temperature and nutrients, episodic events such as El Ninos, and competition with E. arborea. 18 SANTA MONICA BAY NEEDS YOUR KELP! Tom Ford and Laura Bodensteiner. Kelp Restoration and Monitoring Project, Santa Monica Baykeeper, P.O. Box 10096 Marina Del Rey, CA, 90295 The Kelp Restoration and Monitoring Project continues to expand its efforts both spatially and temporally along the rocky subtidal of Santa Monica Bay. Descriptions of our efforts and results will be the focus of the presentation. The first generation of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, individuals in our restoration sites off of Escondido Beach Malibu has reached maturity in two years. A one acre kelp bed has been produced through a combination of sea urchin relocation actions and assisted natural recruitment of kelp. This restored bed has been noted by aerial surveys performed by the Central Region Kelp Survey Consortium in 2004 and 2005. Restoration of another historic kelp bed was initiated off of Long Point, Palos Verdes in October 2005, where early results are already being realized. 19 CAN WE SAVE THE BIG FISH? D. J. Pondella, I’ and L.G. Allen’. 'Vantuna Research Group, Department of Biology, Occi- dental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041; 7Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303 Fisheries collapse and the decline of large fishes in marine ecosystems is a critical debate on a global scale. To address one aspect of this debate, we report on a single event, the removal of gill 26 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES nets from the nearshore arena in the southern California bight, and examine this effect on large marine fishes from this ecosystem. The populations of four apex predators from coastal reef communities had either completely collapsed or severely declined due to over fishing prior to this management action. Both fisheries dependent and independent monitoring programs demonstrated a return of white seabass (Sciaenidae: Atractoscion nobilis), soupfin shark (Triakidae: Galeorhinus galeus), leopard shark (Triak- idae: Triakis semifasciata) and giant seabass (Polyprionidae: Stereolepis gigas). 20 REEF CHECK CALIFORNIA—A TROPICAL MODEL OF COMMUNITY MONITORING IN A TEMPERATE ENVIRONMENT C.S. Shuman. Reef Check Foundation, 17575 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA, 90272 For nine years, the Reef Check Foundation has trained volunteers to monitor coral reefs around the world and has engaged local communities in sustainable management programs. Noting that the threats to California’s nearshore rocky reef ecosystem are similar to those faced by coral reefs, Reef Check is developing a new community-based rocky reef monitoring program in California. The development of the new monitoring protocol has involved important decisions such as which organisms could serve as the best indicators and the level of scientific rigor that is suitable for volunteer divers. Utilizing teams of trained volunteers, Reef Check California is building a statewide monitoring network to help collect the data needed to make informed management decisions while simultaneously building a constituency supportive of science-based management. 21 THE VALUE OF NET-CAGE MARICULTURE AS A FAD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA C.T. Oakes and D.J. Pondella, H. Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90041. Aquaculture impact studies are only beginning to assess the value of net-cages as habitats for wild fishes. Divers conducted monthly fish surveys for one year, from October 12, 2004 to November 17, 2005, determining species composition, abundance and size of all conspicuous fishes aggregating at a net-cage mariculture site in Catalina Harbor, California. Researchers observed high diversity (H’ = 2.29) and abundance of fishes below the net-cage; 10,234 total with a mean annual density of 142 (SE +30)/100 m?. At an adjacent reference reef, we counted 8,452 fishes with a mean annual density of 117 (SE +20). The second reference reef was a control located 500 m away that had 8,958 total fishes with a mean density of 124 (SE +20). The soft-bottom habitat below the net-cage shared 1/3 of its species with both reference reefs, and mean density was not statistically different between the net-cage and reference reef 2, however it was greater than reference reef 1 (H, 369 = 13.25; p = 0.0013), suggesting fish attraction from the nearby habitat. Data on exploited fishes like Paralabrax clathratus, suggest an increase in species biomass at the reference reef adjacent the net-cage compared to the net-cage and distant reference reef (H) j29 = 3.76; p < 0.01). The net-cage also attracted a greater biomass of planktivores such as Chromis punctipinnis (Z'>\. = 2.60; p = 0.03). Similar densities with increased biomass may represent en- hancement of the resources available to the fish community. This also represents a possible increase in fishing potential of the area outside the immediate impact zone of this mariculture operation. 22 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF SALEMA XENISTIUS CALIFORNIENSIS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Eric Miller’, Daniel Pondella?, and Kevin Herbinson*. 'MBC Applied Environmental Sciences, Costa Mesa, CA; *Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA; *Southern California Edison, Rosmead, CA Despite their commonality within southern California kelp beds, little information regarding the life history of salema (Xenistius californiensis) is available. Preliminary investigations into the age and growth of southern California salema suggest a species experiencing principal growth within the first two years before leveling off. The maximum verified age in southern California samples is 10 years. The von Bertalannafy growth parameters for all samples analyzed were k = 1.9, ty = 0.332, and L,, = 162.209 mm. Analysis of growth parameters by sex indicates females are typically larger than their male counterpart in each age class. Analysis of abundances per net from a nearshore gillnet survey ABSTRACTS P| ranging from Newport Beach to Santa Barbara, including Santa Catalina Island, conducted from 1995— 2004 suggests denser aggregations ranging from Palos Verdes Peninsula south as well as relatively robust aggregations around Santa Catalina Island. Annual abundances per net also suggest greater reproductive output during ENSO events, as indicated by marked increases in the years following the 1997-1998 El Nino. Further indications of this warm-water preference are exhibited by the sharp decline in mean standard length of gillnet collected individuals in 1999, before a gradual increase over the next three years. Impingement sampling at local generating stations shows similar results with Age-II sized individuals constituting the majority of the 2000 sample. Females comprised a significant proportion of the sample observed during 2004. Gonosomatic indices suggest spawning principally occurs from late spring through summer before noticeably diminishing in early fall. 2923 INDICATORS OF GONAD STATE IN CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD (SEMICOSSYPHUS PULCHER) Kerri A. Loke, Michael A. Sundberg, Kelly A. Young and Christopher G. Lowe. California State University Long Beach, Long Beach California California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher, are commercially valuable, protogynous hermaph- rodites whose external morphology (color and head shape) changes as they transition. This study determined the reliability of using external morphology and sex steroid concentrations to predict gonad state and sought to find morphometric measures that would make sex determination in the field more accurate. Thirty sheephead were collected at Santa Catalina Island, external morphology was docu- mented and gonads and blood were collected. A histological assessment of gonadal tissue was used to determine whether the fish was immature, female, transitional, or male, and whether they possessed functional gonads. Analysis of morphometric data showed morphology cannot be accurately used to sex sheephead; however, testosterone and estradiol concentrations, determined by radioimmunoassays on blood plasma were correlated to gonadal sex. Contrary to previous findings, non-breeding transi- tional fish were found during the breeding season. Estradiol concentrations were not detected among immature nor transitional fish; however, estradiol was detected in active males. Breeding female sheep- head had the highest levels of estradiol. Testosterone concentrations were observed in all sexes caught during summer and did not differ among immature, female, and transitional fish; however, testosterone concentrations increased 4.4-fold in male blood samples as compared to these other groups. Therefore, steroid concentrations during the breeding season may be used to determine sexual state in this her- maphrodite. In addition, the presence of transitionals in the summer suggests that fishing pressure may have skewed sex change during the breeding season, which could reduce overall reproductive output. [Supported by CA Dept. of Fish & Game 07304905]. 24 DISTRIBUTION OF PLANKTON NEAR THE MONTEREY UPWELLING FRONT: RE- THINKING THE CONCEPT OF PLANKTON AS INACTIVE “DRIFTERS” A.K. Morris. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095 The accumulation of zooplankton at fronts has been known to science for centuries. However, zooplankton behavior is generally under-appreciated as a factor contributing to the observed aggre- gation of species. I examined zooplankton distributions in the vicinity of the Monterey Bay upwelling shadow front in an effort to resolve whether or not passive advection was the only factor in determining the distribution of different species along the front. On three transects, physical data were gathered to characterize the flow field within the study site, and vertical net tows were gathered in an array encompassing the front to reveal distributional patterns of plankton species. The distribution of plank- tonic eggs of both fish and invertebrates, which served as passive tracers, demonstrated that the front was strongly convergent along two of the transects, but exhibited transverse shear flow along the third transect where eggs skewed away from the front. Despite differences in flow patterns along the tran- sects, the aggregation of zooplankton always occurred along the front, and the aggregation was stronger in some species than in others. Additionally, the extent to which particular species exhibited a distri- butional bias near the front was generally correlated with swimming speeds reported in the literature, whether the taxa was holoplanktonic or meroplanktonic, and the ontogenetic stage in question. These data indirectly suggest that plankton behavior, rather than passive advection alone, might account for some of the distributional bias near the front. 28 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 25 THE EFFECT OF THE SEA WATER WARMING TREND IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN ON THREE DIFFERENT BREEDING TYPES OF DEMERSAL MARINE FISHES Mike McCarthy. Dept of Biology, CSU Fullerton Sea water temperature change may be the single most important ecological parameter in the life cycle of marine fishes. It is well documented that sea water temperatures in the eastern Pacific have increased significantly over the last 40 to 50 years. An attempt was made to examine the effect of this warming trend on three different breeding types of demersal fishes—the viviparous (live bearing) Pink Seaperch (Zalembius rosaceus), the ovoviviparous (larvae bearing) Stripetail Rockfish (Sebastes saxicola) and the oviparous (release of unfertilized sperm and eggs) Pacific Sanddab (Citharicthys sodidus). The data examined for this study were water temperature from Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), Scripps Institute of Oceanography Newport Beach sea surface data, and fish abun- dance data from OCSD. Correlation analyses were conducted with historical sea surface temperature data from Newport Beach dating back to the 1930s with OCSD’s more recent historical data. The correlation analysis between the two water temperature data bases was excellent. A warming trend as stated in other documentation was revealed, although more recent data countered with cooler temper- atures. Fish abundance was definitely affected by ENSO events, but a clear advantage to one breeding type of fish was not established. 26 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EL NINO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION EVENTS AND GROWTH OF JUVENILE WHITE SEABASS (4 TRACTOSCION NOBILIS) Jonathan P. Williams. California State University, Northridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA, 91604 Since 1995, the Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program (NMEFRP) at CSUN has been under contract with the California Department of Fish and Game and the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program to sample and determine the spatial and size distributions, seasonality, and abundance of white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) in the shallow, nearshore waters of Southern Cal- ifornia. One hundred sagittal otoliths were aged from each sampling year between 1997 and 2004. The hatch year of each fish was back calculated using the age at catch and the catch year. Growth rates are determined by using the means of standard length at age for each hatch year. Linear regression equations for each set of hatch year data provide a general growth rate for the first few years of life. The large time span of this study includes several El Nifio/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events of varying strengths, all of which caused noticeable changes in the sea surface temperature in the South- ern California Bight. This study relates the growth rate of juvenile white seabass and the changes in the local ocean temperatures due to ENSO conditions. 27 LIFE HISTORY PARAMETERS AND COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR OF BLACK PERCH (£M- BIOTOCA FACKSONI) WITHIN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT Froeschke, Bridgette F. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, Northridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA, 91330 Black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni) are a common reef fish associated with nearshore habitats along California with the majority of the population occurring within the southern California Bight. Black perch were collected monthly from January 2004 to January 2005 with a Hawaiian Sling, as by-catch from the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) for white seabass and as by-catch from power plant collections. Animals were collected throughout southern California from Santa Barbara to Carlsbad including Santa Catalina Island. Specimens were collected and processed to determine their physical characteristics, growth, sex ratio, periodicity of reproduction and gestation. Additionally, courtship observations were conducted on SCUBA along the King Harbor Breakwall in Redondo Beach, California from January 2004 to December 2005 to verify periodicity of courting and the associated behaviors. Specimens ranged from 75—215 mm standard length and from 18—487 g in total body weight. Seven age classes were determined with the majority of the growth occurring between age class zero and one. The majority of specimens captured ranged form age class one to three. Pregnant individuals were recorded from December to May with the youngest pregnant female being age class one. Mean monthly GSI for males peaked ‘from July to November with the highest mean occurring in October (GSI = 1.47). Courtship behaviors were seen among aggregations and in ABSTRACTS 28) pairs from July to November, with the males being the primary aggressors. Courtship postures occurred along the bottom of the reef with pairs departing into caves for final copulation. 28 THINK SMALL: BENEFITS OF APPROACHING THE POPULATION GENETICS OF THE TIDEWATER GOBY (EUCYCLOGOBIUS NEWBERRYI) FROM THE LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL Dent A. Earl, David K. Jacobs, Kristina D. Louie, Carolyne Bardeleben, Carles Vila & Camm C. Swift. Presenter’s Contact: UCLA, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095. 310-206-7885, daearl @ucla.edu In traditional population genetics, population level statistics have been used to describe relationships between populations. These traditional metrics, such as Fst, can provide insight into levels of gene flow between populations. However, in complex and dynamic population settings, such as seen in the tidewater goby (Eucy- clogobius newberryi, Federally Endangered) metapopuation, these traditional metrics do not describe relationships between populations with sufficient resolution and the metrics can make no statements at the individual level. As a result of these limitations we have applied methods that consider individual fish in addition to traditional whole population metrics. To this end we have applied the software package STRUCTURE to microsatellite data from tide- water gobies collected in the Santa Barbara region of California. Both of these packages make use of assignment tests, which cluster individual samples due to genetic similarity. We have compiled a detailed picture of apparent movement between goby populations using the output of this program, field data and natural processes information. These findings reveal a genetic structure that reflects the extinction-recolonization metapopulation process rather than a simple geographic structure. Approach- ing the data with more sensitive tests has helped further our understanding at both the level of indi- vidual migration and also within the scale of metapopulation dynamics. 29 THE EFFECTS OF DIEL AND TIDAL CYCLES ON THE ABUNDANCE OF HARBOR SEALS, PHOCA VITULINA RICHARDSI, IN CHALK COVE, SANTA CATALINA IS- LAND A. Floyd. Dept. of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840 The abundance and behavior of Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi) was observed at Chalk Cove, Santa Catalina Island to determine how the seals use the cove. Seals were counted and observed over 24 hr periods and their behaviors were analyzed to determine whether there was evi- dence of diel or tidal cyclicity. There was no difference in the number of seals hauled out versus in the water; however, there were significantly more seals in the cove during the daylight hours than during dawn/dusk or night hours. The highest abundance of seals hauled out were observed during medium to medium-low falling tides and no seals hauled out during high tides due to the submerged rocks. Harbor seals show distinct diel and tidal patterns, which do not appear to be affected by human related activities (boating and kayaking) immediately adjacent to or within Chalk Cove. 30 PLASMA TESTOSTERONE LEVELS CORRELATE WITH SPERMATOGENESIS BUT NOT GSI IN MALE ROUND STINGRAYS (UROBATIS HALLER) C.G. Mull, C.G. Lowe, and K.A. Young. Department of Biology, California State University, Long Beach 90840 Round stingrays are a common near shore elasmobranch in southern California and are known to breed annually during the late spring—early summer. While breeding behavior, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and hormone levels correlate in some species, this 1s not true of all elasmobranchs. Previous studies have characterized the life history of the round stingray, while this is the first study to con- currently examine androgen levels and gonadal development in this species. We hypothesized that the annual cycle of testosterone in a wild population of male round stingrays was correlated with seasonal gonad development and spermatogenesis. Round rays were collected monthly for 12 months in Seal Beach, CA. Gonadal tissue and blood samples were collected for each ray, and processed for histo- logical examination and analyses by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Seasonal changes in testes struc- 30 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ture were categorized into three phases: inactive (May—July), recrudescent (August—October), and degenerative (November—April). The inactive phase is characterized by suppressed androgen levels and reduced GSI. During the recrudescent phase testosterone and GSI increases, and spermatogenesis is characterized by a transition from primary spermatagonia to later stages. The degenerative phase is characterized by a reduction in GSI and a further increase in testosterone levels. Interestingly, GSI peaked in October, 5 months before the established mating season, and peak sperm production occurred in December, two months after peak GSI and 3 months prior to mating. These results suggest that plasma testosterone is a more reliable indicator of seasonal maturation of testes in round stingrays than GSI. 31 CRANIAL ENDOTHERMY IN THE MOOMFISH (LAMPRIS GUTTATUS) Runcie, Rosa M.,', Dickson, Kathryn A.', Dewar, Heidi’, and Hawn, Don’. 'Department of Biological Science, CA State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831; *Inter-American Trop- ical Tuna Commission, La Jolla, CA 92037; *National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, HI 96814 Billfishes, butterfly mackerel, tunas and lamnid sharks have evolved cranial endothermy by con- vergence. The moonfish (Lampris guttatus) shares certain behaviors and characteristics with these fishes: they migrate vertically within the water column, experiencing a wide range of seawater tem- peratures and rapid ambient temperature changes. The purpose of this study was to identify the heat producing structure and the heat retention mechanism necessary for cranial endothermy in moonfish. To identify the heat source and the heat retention mechanism we dissected several moonfish heads, and examined tissue samples using light microscopy and electron microscopy. To visualize and doc- ument the three-dimensional arrangement of these structures we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To identify highly aerobic tissue that may serve as the heat source we measured citrate synthase (CS) activity from each extra-ocular muscle. The proximal lateral rectus extra-ocular muscle (PLRM) appears to be the primary heat source because it is adjacent to the brain, it has a high CS activity (an index of mitochondrial density and oxidative capacity), and it is perfused by blood vessels arranged as a putative counter-current heat exchanger (made up of numerous sets of thick-walled arteries sur- rounded by thinner-walled veins). We also found that the PLRM is well insulated by a thick layer of adipose tissue that reduces conductive heat loss from the PLRM to the water. By showing that moonfish possess a heat source and a heat retention mechanism necessary for cranial endothermy, this study contributes to our understanding of the convergent evolution of endothermy in fishes. 32 THE POTENTIAL FOR LACTATE PROCESSING IN WHITE MUSCLE OF ENDOTHER- MIC AND ECTOTHERMIC SHARKS J.M. Backey and K.A. Dickson. California State University, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA, 92831 During burst swimming, powered by anaerobic metabolism, lactate accumulates in the fast, glyco- lytic (white) locomotor muscle (WM) of fishes. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, an index of fish anaerobic capacity, is higher in the shortfin mako shark than in leopard and blue sharks. The purpose of this study was to determine if the mako shark has a correspondingly higher capacity to reconvert lactate to glycogen during recovery from burst activity and if the WM has a higher capacity to resynthesize glycogen than the liver, red muscle (RM), or heart. Glycogen resynthesis requires pyruvate carboxylase (PC) or malic enzyme (ME) and phosphoenolpyruvate-carboxykinase (PEPCK) to synthesize phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) to synthesize fructose-6-phosphate (F6P). We found no evidence that the WM can convert lactate to PEP because there was no detectable PC or PEPCK activity in any of the three shark species. Furthermore, PC was not detected in any tissue studied. In both mako and blue sharks, the liver, RM, and heart all had measurable ME, PEPCK, and FBPase activities, and thus should be able to resynthesize glycogen from lactate, but at low rates. In the leopard shark, RM and heart can convert lactate to PEP (both have ME and PEPCK), and the liver and WM can synthesize F6P (both have FBPase). Liver PEPCK and heart ME activities were significantly higher in the mako than in the blue and leopard sharks, indicating that the mako shark may have a higher capacity, for glycogen resynthesis, corresponding with its higher ability to produce lactate. ABSTRACTS onl 33 ‘BUT YOU CAN’T TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE LARVA’: SITE EFFECTS IN CALCIFIED STRUCTURES USEFUL FOR LARVAL TRACKING STUDIES D.C. Lloyd and D.Z. Zacherl, Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92831. Georges Paradis and Mike Sheehy, MSI, University of California Santa Barbara. Robert Warner, EEMB, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106 Statolith chemistry can be used to discriminate between sites of origin in Kelletia kelletii larvae. Previously, scientists assumed that variation in calcified part chemistry was largely determined by factors such as seawater element concentration and temperature. This assumption is well supported by laboratory culturing experiments; however recent field studies show weak concordance between seawater and calcified part chemistry. We hypothesize that natal site may affect statolith chemistry, and performed field and laboratory culturing studies to examine the effects of natal site, temperature and seawater element concentration on statolith chemistry. We reciprocally transplanted egg cases among three sites (Salta Verde Pt, Catalina, White Point, Palos Verdes, and Los Angeles Harbor) in the field, and among water from those sites in the laboratory. Culture temperatures varied from 10 to 18 °C. Newly laid eggs were used for culturing, and a subset was frozen prior to analysis to tease apart effects of intra-capsular element content versus other site effects. Analyses were via laser-ablation or solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Seawater element concentration sig- nificantly affected barium and lead, and temperature was negatively correlated to strontium, barium and lead concentrations in statoliths. Site significantly affected lead and magnesium; L.A. Harbor statoliths had lower lead concentrations regardless of the temperature or seawater they were cultured in, possibly due to physiological exclusion of lead. We show that temperature, seawater and natal site influence statolith chemistry, with important implications for environmental history reconstruction, and for use of calcified structures in larval tracking studies. 34 ECTOPARASITES OF FISHES ASSOCIATED WITH WASTEWATER DISCHARGE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT J.E. Kalman. University of California Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095 and Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 The southern California coastal marine environment has been subjected to numerous inputs of pollution, however little is known about pollution effects on infestation of parasites on fishes. Pollution exposures may result in stress, potentially decreasing the immune response in fishes and increasing their susceptibility to diseases and parasites. A variety of marine organisms and tissues have been evaluated as potential biological indicators of pollution. However, due to the range of contaminants, contaminant concentrations, and exposure time that marine organisms experience, it is unclear which fishes and/or anomalies are relevant. During the Southern California Bight 2003 Regional Marine Monitoring Survey (Bight °03), selected marine fishes were collected using otter trawls from 79 stations adjacent to and away from four large wastewater outfalls and inspected for ectoparasites. This study evaluated the conditions around wastewater outfalls in terms of infestation of ectoparasites on fishes and examined if specific parasite and/or host species could be used as bioindicators of environ- mental stress in the Southern California Bight. Results showed many parasites had high host specificity, implying coevolution with their fish hosts, and high attachment-site specificity. Parasite prevalence and intensity varied according to host species, which suggests that some host species may be more resistant to parasitization or have evolutionarily lost their parasites. Hosts examined totaled 15,848 individuals representing 34 species, and ectoparasites removed totaled 14,620 individuals, comprised of monogeneans, leeches, branchiurans, copepods, and isopods. 35 THE OPTIC NERVE SHEATH DIAMETER IN ASSOCIATION WITH INCREASED IN- TRACRANIAL PRESSURE Jarrod Larson, Mauricio Arcila, Elana Neches, John C. Fox, and Lynn Lulloff. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868 The objective of this research project is to determine if emergency department (ED) physicians can use bedside ultrasound (BUS) to accurately diagnose elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Elevated ICP often forms from intracranial hemorrhages, cerebral edemas, or intracranial masses, such as tu- oS) ii) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES mors. Previous studies conducted have shown a correlation between elevated ICP and an increase in the size of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD); however, only a limited amount of research has been performed in which BUS is used to determine the ONSD. In this research study BUS was used to measure the ONSD. The BUS results were then compared to the head CT scan results to determine whether a correlation was evident between the BUS scan and any elevated ICP findings from the head CT scan. Both BUS and head CT scans suggest that a patient with an ONSD greater than 5.1mm may have elevated ICP. From April 2005 to September 2005, 100 patients met the study’s inclusion criteria. The study results determined that the mean ONSD of the left and right eyes were 4.7869mm (Standard Deviation [SD] 1.1779) and 4.7364mm (SD 1.2381) respectively. Five of the study’s patients were found to have elevated ICP, and the mean ONSD of their left and right eyes were 5.08mm (SD 1.3554) and 5.12mm (SD 0.8349) respectively. The results from this research are ongoing, as not enough patients have been enrolled to positively conclude whether or not measuring the ONSD by use of BUS can be an effective modality in the diagnosis of elevated ICP. 36 THE RESPONSE OF FLYING INSECTS TO SCORPION FLUORESCENCE C.T. Kloock. California State University, Bakersfield, Department of Biology, Bakersfield CA, 33a Scorpions fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light. However, since most scorpions are nocturnal, the idea that this fluorescence has an ecological function has not been explored. A first step in deter- mining the plausibility of any hypothesis having to do with an ecological function of scorpion fluo- rescence is to determine whether other organisms respond to scorpion fluorescence under natural conditions. To determine whether or not some potential prey, specifically flying insects, respond to scorpion fluorescence under natural conditions, I compared the number of flying insects captured on sticky traps containing fluorescent scorpions to the number captured on traps containing non-fluores- cent scorpions during both full and new moons. The results show that aerial insects avoid fluorescing scorpions during the full moon, when nocturnal UV light is at its peak, but not during the new moon when it is weakest. 38 CHEMICAL AND NON-CHEMICAL METHODS FOR REMOVING INVASIVE PLANTS: TWO CASE STUDIES Nat Cox. Environmental Scientist, California State Parks, Angeles District Invasive non-native vegetation poses a real threat to the integrity of indigenous plant and animal communities. The most damaging invasive species can fundamentally alter the composition of species in a community through direct or indirect competition for resources such as nutrients, water, sunlight, and space. The end product is a change to the functionality of the ecosystem as a whole at the expense of the native biota and quite often the physical features of the landscape itself. Natural resource managers in the state parks system have been given the daunting task of assessing the extent of weed infestations in their parks. In doing so they must also prioritize which weed species and which individual weed populations pose the greatest threat to park resources. Projects are then designed to curtail the spread of the highest priority infestations into surrounding unaffected areas as well as to eliminate infestations altogether when economically feasible. The methodologies most fre- quently employed involve vegetation removal via mechanical means, chemical means, or some com- bination of the two. At Pt. Dume State Preserve, ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) was effectively removed by a combi- nation of mechanical and chemical treatments. Solid mats of ice plant were sprayed in late summer/ fall with a low concentration herbicide mixture of glyphosate and triclopyr. The edges of the ice plant mats were pulled free from the surrounding native vegetation and placed in the middle of the chem- ically treated area. The ice plant was left in place where it died. Natural recruitment of native species rapidly filled in the voids left from the dead ice plant In Malibu Creek State Park, an ongoing effort is under way to remove non-native vegetation from riparian corridors primarily through mechanical means. Species such as periwinkle (vinca major) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) are removed with hand tools, and cleared areas are subsequently planted with native riparian species such as California blackberry (Rubus ursinus), California rose (Rosa californica), bay laurel (Umbelularia californicum), and mugwort (Artemisia duglasiana). ABSTRACTS Oo es) 39 THE BRADLEY METHOD OF “BUSH” REGENERATION Jo Kitz, Program Director, Mountains Restoration Trust Abstract not received 40 USING INTEGRATED VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TO CONTROL NON-NATIVE IN- VASIVE SPECIES AND RESTORE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS” Marti Whitter. Fire Ecologist, National Parks Service Abstract not received 41 Title and abstract not received Ellen Mackey. Field Ecologist/Biologist, Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council 42 ROLE OF WATERSHED-SCALE PHYSICAL PROCESSES IN SHAPING HABITAT RE- QUIREMENTS OF RIPARIAN DEPENDENT FAUNA E.D. Stein. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westmin- ster, CA, 92683 Watershed planning is becoming an increasingly common approach to management of aquatic re- sources and their sensitive fauna. Although watershed plans often address physical processes that affect the integrity of wetland habitats, they often fail to draw a direct connection between these processes and the habitat requirements for various life stages of sensitive wetland fauna. In this study, we evaluated the requisite physical habitat components for five Federally-endangered wetland and riparian dependent species and related them to the key hydrologic and geomorphic processes that influence the habitat viability for various life-stages. The species analyzed represented several taxa: tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi; an estuarine fish), southern steelhead (Oncorhynchus my- kiss; an anadromous fish), the arroyo toad (Bufo californicus; an amphibian), and two migratory bird species, least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillti extimus). The physical habitat components necessary to provide key life functions of all the species analyzed were controlled by four geomorphic processes—hillslope sediment yield, mass movements and debris flows, in-channel sediment transport, and sediment storage, and three hydrologic process- es—infiltration and interflow, runoff, and discharges from springs, seeps, and shallow aquifers. These processes operate at broad spatial and temporal scales and ultimately control the distribution of species within the watershed. Understanding the link between physical processes and habitat components is critical to the long-term protection and appropriate habitat restoration for these species. 43 STATUS AND DISTRUBUTION OF THE INLAND FISHES OF COASTAL SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Camm C. Swift, ENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003. Jonathan N. Baskin, Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768. Robert Fisher, USGS, San Diego Field Station, U.S. Geological Survey, 4165 Spru- ance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101-0812. Thomas Haglund, Independent Consultant, 3627 Valley Meadow Road, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-4842 The approximately nine species of inland fishes of coastal southern California include two elements: (1) the southern extreme of a temperate coastal fauna (steelhead, anadromous lampreys, sticklebacks, sculpins) and, (2) relict, cool water, endemic freshwater species of the Los Angeles Basin (freshwater lamprey and the South Coast Minnow Sucker community [SCMSC] of Santa Ana sucker, arroyo chub, and Santa Ana speckled dace), dating from ancient hydrological connections with the Colorado River (to the east) and the Central Valley (to the north). The coastal forms often range as far south as northern Baja California. Most of the species were originally widespread on the well-watered Los Angeles basin and environs. Today the three SCMSC species occur together in only two places, lower Big Tujunga Wash (Haines Creek, Los Angeles River drainage) and the upper San Gabriel system (East, West, and North Forks, San Gabriel River). Santa Ana sucker and arroyo chub also occur in 34 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES the middle Santa Ana River; farther upstream speckled dace occur in eight to ten scattered localities at the base of the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Santa Ana, and San Jacinto mountains. Arroyo chubs also occur in a few drainages adjacent to the Los Angeles Basin and have been widely introduced elsewhere in coastal drainages. Ironically introductions have created extralimital fish communities more diverse than currently exist within their original ranges. In the thirteen years since the last summary, most of the local species have acquired special conservation status by being listed at the State or Federal level. +4 STATUS, DISTRIBUTION, HABITAT AND POPULATION SIZE-STRUCTURE ESTIMATES FOR THE THREATENED SANTA ANA SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS SANTAANABE) J.N. Baskin, S.H. Bryant, T-R. Haglund, Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108. Camm C. Swift, ENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003. (626) 447-5846 The federally Threatened Santa Ana sucker occurs presently in the lowland floodplain of the Santa Ana River, and mainly in the upland, mountain tributaries of the San Gabriel and Los Angeles rivers. An unlisted population is in the Santa Clara River, where it is thought to be introduced. An overview of the habitat of various life history stages (egg, larval, juvenile and adult) is given. A comparison of the results of population estimates by multiple pass depletion studies in the San Gabriel and Santa Ana Rivers are presented. Population estimates in the summer months in the Santa Ana River by the multiple pass depletion method at three 100 meter sites showed no significant change over 5 years. For 3 of these years populations were also examined by snorkeling in the same river reach. Both methods yielded a rough estimate of one fish per meter over the approximately 7.6 kilometer study area. Populations are de- scribed in various important habitats, and recommendations for habitat protection and enhancement, and species recovery are suggested. 45 STATUS OF THE SANTA ANA SUCKER (CATOSTOMUS SANTAANAE) IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN CONDITION INDEX AND HABITAT PREF- ERENCE THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE J.N. Baskin, S.-H. Bryant, T.R. Haglund. Cal Poly Pomona University, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, 560 South Greenwood Ave., San Marino, CA 91108 Five years of standardized samples of Catostomus santaanae (Santa Ana sucker) in the Santa Ana River (SAR) were compared among years, and with other lowland (Los Angeles and Santa Clara Rivers basins) and mountain (East Fork, San Gabriel River) populations. Using all fish collected each year, there appear to be significant differences in condition (two measures: mass divided by standard length [gmm condition] and observed divided by predicted mass [oe condition]) among years for the SAR samples (Kruskal-Wallis; p = 0). However, there appear to be two size classes among the SAR samples, and after separating these data into the two size classes, there appears to be no difference among the small size class fish for oe condition (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.14). For the large size class for both condition measures, and for the small size class for gmm condition, there were significant differences among years (Kruskal-Wallis p = O for all three of these). There appears to be a small and non-monotonic decline in gmm condition over the sampling years, and very little of this decline is accounted for by year. Comparing all fish from various sites, it appears that fish from the East Fork of the San Gabriel River have higher gmm condition than lowland fish. Attempting to explain these findings, we document and compare habitat conditions. Based on sep- arate habitat selectivity studies of suckers in lowland and mountain sites we find much more of the favored habitat present in the mountain sites, e.g. boulder-cobble-gravel substrate, greater depth and velocity. 46 RARE OCCURRENCES OF A COMMON SPECIES: SPECKLED DACE AND THEIR STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA G. Abbas. San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S Commercenter Cir, San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-2620, gabbas @fs.fed.us. Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) are possibly the most widely distributed fish in western North America, occurring in nearly every major drainage from British Columbia, Canada to Sonora, Mexico. ABSTRACTS 35 Until recently, descriptions of different forms of speckled dace have been difficult due to the wide range of habitats it occupies and high variability in body form. Of seven unofficially recognized subspecies statewide, only one is found south of Point Conception. Santa Ana speckled dace histori- cally inhabited the upper portions of the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana River systems. It currently occupies only remnants of its historic range, with a limited distribution restricted almost entirely to the headwaters of the Santa Ana and San Gabriel Rivers. It was petitioned for listing as endangered in 1994, but was denied because the subspecies was not formally described. A review of speckled dace natural history, regional taxonomy, and known local distributions are presented along with information from ongoing work to better define its taxonomic designation, present status and conservation needs. 47 TIDEWATER GOBY SEASONAL HABITAT PREFERENCES IN A NORTHERN CALIFOR- NIA LAGOON, WITH REFERENCE TO ARTIFICIAL BREACHING C.A. Page and B.R. Norman. Aquatic Resource Specialists, Environmental Consultants, 12580 HWY 101, Smith River CA, 95567 Environmental factors contributing to seasonal tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) habitat selection were investigated in the Lake Earl and Tolowa Lagoon system in Del Norte County. Lagoon morphology provides for a wide variety of water quality and habitat types available to tidewater goby during most of the year. Substrate type, vegetative cover, depth, water quality variables, artificial breaching of the sandbar, and other seasonal factors were analyzed in relation to all goby life-stages. Seasonal habitat preferences for spawning tidewater goby and sub-adult foraging, planktonic larval refugia locations, and stranding pools were identified. Initial results provide information on life history requirements characterization and habitat preferences for tidewater goby. A 25-square meter Block- Net drop trap sampling protocol provided a landscape-scale sampling tool for a more accurate mea- surement of species richness and diversity in shallower open water conditions. This study demonstrates the importance of a properly designed and implemented sampling program to assess species population densities with minimum disturbance and fish escapement. Four hundred and eighty sites were sampled during twelve months, providing a robust database on the seasonal ecology of invertebrate and fish assemblages in the lagoon system. Artificial breaching consequences on tidewater goby, such as strand- ing, were assessed seasonally. 48 IMPACTS OF EXOTIC SPECIES ON NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES DISTRIBUTION IN TWO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIVER SYSTEMS Thomas P. Keegan. ECORP Consulting, Inc., 2260 Douglas Blvd., Suite 160, Roseville, CA 95661, 916-782-9100, tkeegan @ecorpconsulting.com. ECORP Consulting, Inc. (ECORP) conducted two years of exotic aquatic species assessment and removal technique evaluation in two river systems in southern California; San Mateo Creek and Santa Margarita River and San Mateo Creek. In 2004 and 2005, ECORP conducted habitat assessments and removal of exotic aquatic species in the lower Santa Margarita River and Estuary from March through September, 2004 and 2005. This effort was conducted to 1) reduce the potential for predation of tidewater goby, and 2) improve conditions for re-establishment of tidewater goby. The Santa Margarita River historically supported four native freshwater fish species, including the partially armored threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Pacific lamprey (Lampetra triden- tata), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and the Arroyo chub (Gila orcutti). The river is currently dominated by exotic species, such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio), black bulihead (Ameiurus melas), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), largemouth bass (Microp- terus salmoides), redeye bass (M. coosae), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), bullfrog (Rana catesbei- ana), and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia). In contrast, the Santa Margarita estuary historically contained many native fish species, including the federally endangered tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi). The estuary also contains several non-native estuarine species, such as the yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus) and several non- native freshwater fish species, mostly ictalurids and centrarchids that enter the estuary seasonally from upstream sources. In August 2003, ECORP conducted habitat assessment surveys along 10 miles of San Mateo Creek in the Cleveland National Forest, followed by exotic species removal efforts in the upper 2.2 miles 36 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES of the surveyed stream in November and December, 2003, and again in September and October, 2004. The study area included 46 pools that were treated using a variety of techniques. Five introduced aquatic species were encountered both in 2003 and 2004, including: bullfrog, black bullhead, bluegill, mosquitofish, and red swamp crayfish. Four native amphibian and aquatic reptile species were also observed, including Pacific treefrog (Hyla regilla), California treefrog (H. cadaverina), California newt (Taricha torosa), and western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata). The current populations of exotic and native species from the two stream systems are compared and contrasting impacts on the native species are examined. 49 EXTENT OF FISHING AND FISH CONSUMPTION IN VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY WATERSHEDS IN 2005 MJ. Allen, E.T. Jarvis, V. Raco-Rands, and G. Lyons. Southern California Coastal Water Re- search Project, Westminster, CA 92683 Although fishing is an important recreational activity in southern California, there is no recent description of its distribution in the watersheds. With increased focus on pollution control, there is a need for understanding the extent of fishing and fish consumption as a beneficial use in these water- sheds. This study describes the extent of fishing and fish consumption in six watersheds of Ventura and Los Angeles County: Ventura River, Santa Clara River, Calleguas Creek, Malibu Creek, Los Angeles River, and San Gabriel River. Of about 46 freshwater fish species in these watersheds, 85% are introduced species. We conducted a field survey during January—December 2005 to census fishers by fishing areas (estuary/river mouth, coastal terrace streams, urban lakes, mountain reservoirs, and mountain streams) in the watersheds. Fishers were interviewed to obtain fish consumption information. Teams of two interviewers conducted surveys on four week days and five weekend days per month during this period. Sites were selected from a stratified random sampling design. In all, 273 site visits were conducted at 85 sites. We observed 1,244 fishers and 496 were interviewed; of these, 238 consumed fish they caught. Most fishers and consumers were at urban lakes and mountain reservoirs, fewer at mountain streams and estuary/river mouths, and least at coastal terrace streams. Stocked rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), channel catfish (ctalurus punctatus), and largemouth bass (Mi- cropterus salmoides) were the most frequently consumed species. Information, including consumption rates, from this study will be used in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) assessments of these watersheds. 50 THE CALIFORNIA NEWT: NATURAL HISTORY AND CHEMICALLY-MEDIATED IN- TERACTIONS R.P. Ferrer and R.K. Zimmer. Zimmer Laboratory, UCLA, Department of Ecology and Evo- lutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095 The California newt (Taricha torosa) is a chemically-defended amphibian that spends several months out of the year on land, but returns to freshwater ponds and streams for several months to breed. During this annual aquatic stage, adult newts feed on a diverse diet including both invertebrates and conspecific embryos and larvae. Although much attention has been given to the conservation of this animal due to its listing as a Species of Special Concern, recent investigations have focused on the role of the newt’s chemical defense, tetrodotoxin (TTX) in ecological interactions. It appears that the toxin serves multiple functions, facilitating predator deterrence, cannibal detection, and mating attraction. Furthermore, larval and adult newt olfaction provides an intriguing physiological mecha- nism for context-sensitive behaviors such as predator avoidance and food search. 51 USING STREAM CHEMISTRY TO UNDERSTAND WATERSHED DYNAMICS Helen Jung, Terri Hogue, University of California at Los Angeles. Laura Rademacher, Univer- sity of Pacific. Sheila Morrissey, University of California at Santa Barbara. Tom Meixner, University of Arizona Urban-wildland areas are periodically affected by wildfires. Post-fire changes in land cover (e.g. vegetation and soils) affect water quality as well as alter watershed flowpaths. The study of two burned watersheds located in the San Bernardino Mountains (City, Creek and Devils Canyon) will further understanding of watershed response and long-term recovery in the wake of wildfires. The two wa- ABSTRACTS 37 tersheds are very close in proximity (~10km) and precipitation data, discharge patterns, geochemistry, and elevation are similar. Increased hydrophobicity alters hydrologic flowpaths by increasing overland flow and decreasing infiltration to the subsurface. Watershed chemistry can be utilized to understand the subsequent changes in hydrologic processes and explore the mixture of representative streamwater components. Geochemical data collected from streamwater, springs, soilwater and precipitation are used to determine the distribution of water and solutes in the contributing flowpaths within the wa- tersheds. A chemistry analysis shows increases in cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and decreases in Chloride in the stream after the fire. An End Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA) was used to predict the contribution of three components (soil water, groundwater and overland flow) in Devils Canyon from both pre- and post-burn periods during the rainy season (December to April). Stream water samples from immediate post-burn indicate components more similar to the precipitation end member, whereas samples from the pre-burn period are more similar to the groundwater member. Gradual recovery of the watershed is being evidenced by a return to soil and groundwater compositions. 52 INNOVATIVE MONITORING TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS WATER QUALITY LOADINGS FROM NATURAL LANDSCAPES Sean A. Porter and Jay Shrake. MACTEC Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc., San Diego, CA. 92123 One of the challenges in developing TMDLs and estimating pollutant loads in dry and wet weather discharges from coastal watersheds is accounting for the natural contribution of certain constituents from undeveloped catchments. The underlying geology in a watershed can directly affect constituent concentrations. Because of limited data on the contributions of pollutants from undeveloped lands, many TMDLs are written with load allocations based on data from other parts of the country, or anecdotal data from previous time periods. This can result in TMDLs with overly stringent load allocations. To meet the challenges associated with remote watershed monitoring, MACTEC Engi- neering and Consulting, Inc. has been working closely with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) for the past 5 years developing innovate flow monitoring and automated sampling techniques to sample in remote watersheds to obtain natural, background concentrations of constituents. This presentation discusses some of the innovate techniques developed to successfully sample previously un-sampled undeveloped catchments during wet weather conditions. In addition, two distinct watersheds, monitoring strategies, and associated sampling methodologies will be dis- cussed. Multiple bottle pollutograph sampling is conducted if 10 or more grab samples are required and/or the site is safe for field crews. Hybrid automated sampling is the preferred method if site safety or lower analytical costs are a concern. 53 WATERSHED-BASED SOURCES OF TOTAL COPPER, LEAD AND ZINC IN URBAN STORMWATER L.L. Tiefenthaler, E.D. Stein and K. Schiff. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA, 92683 Emissions of trace metals as wash-off during rain events have been shown to produce large loads in urban stormwater runoff. Little is known, however, about the watershed-based sources and factors that influence temporal patterns of watershed-based metals loading in surface waters throughout the urban Los Angeles region. This knowledge is important for developing predictive models and man- agement strategies to affect overall watershed loading. The goals of this study were (1) to examine trace metal event mean concentrations (EMC), fluxes, and mass loadings associated with stormwater runoff from urban (developed) and undeveloped watersheds, and specific land uses; (2) to evaluate how trace metal loadings compare to loadings from point sources, and (3) to assess how the concen- trations of total metals in runoff compare to published water-quality criteria. To achieve these goals, trace metal concentrations (e.g. copper, lead and zinc) were measured from eight different land use types over |1 storm events in the Ballona Creek, Dominguez Channel, Los Angeles River and Santa Monica Bay watersheds during the 2000/01—2004/05 storm seasons. In addition, runoff samples were also collected from eight mass emission sites (in-river) during 15 different storm events. For all storms sampled, the highest metal concentrations occurred during the early phases of stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff of trace metals from watersheds produced a similar range of annual loads based on comparisons to annual load estimates from point sources. Mean fluxes at land use sites ranged 38 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES from 23.6 to 1238, 0.1 to 1272.2, 6.1 to 33,189.3 (g/km?) for total copper, total lead and total zinc respectively. Industrial land use sites, contributed higher storm event mean concentrations (EMC) and fluxes of all trace metals than other land use types and were significantly different (p < 0.0001) from all land use sites except recreational. Mean mass emissions (ME) of total copper, total lead and total zinc were highest at agricultural, industrial and commercial sites. Nearly all land use sites revealed greater than 50% of total copper and total zinc runoff samples exceeding the California Toxics Rules (CTR) for acute freshwater criteria. Seasonal differences in metals loading were observed at both mass emission and land use sites. Early season storms produced significantly higher (p < 0.0001) metal loads than late season storms. Storm size was also significant (p < 0.0001) but only at land use sites. 54 STORMWATER TOXICITY EVALUATION OF MAJOR RIVERS ENTERING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT John Rudolph’, Chris Stransky', Howard Bailey', Steve Bay’, and Darrin Greenstein’. 'Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA, 92121; 7Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA, 92683 In an effort to assess the overall ecological condition of the Southern California Bight, this project was designed to address the magnitude and persistence of toxicity in nine river discharges and a stormwater plume in Southern California coastal waters using gametes of the purple urchin Strongy- locentrotus purpuratus. Magnitude of runoff toxicity was determined by collecting and testing samples from each river near its ocean discharge point and its offshore stormwater plume. Samples were collected during three storm events (20.25 in.), which occurred on February 23, 2004 (eight rivers), February 12, 2005 (two rivers), and March 24, 2005 (seven rivers). Persistence of toxicity following a storm event was evaluated by testing samples collected one, three, and five days following each storm. Sample holding time effects were evaluated by re-testing selected samples on multiple occasions after collection. Test results and data analyses (e.g., among rivers and between years) are presented. Toxicity was observed in several rivers, but the degree of toxicity, when present, often varied sub- stantially between samples collected immediately following each storm, between storm events, and during sample holding. DS QUANTITATIVE MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING USING BACTEROIDALES AND HUMAN VIRUS MONITORING IN CALLEGUAS CREEK WATERSHED Beverly Kildare and Stefan Wuertz, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Uni- versity of California, Davis, CA 95616. Dustin Bambic, Larry Walker Associates, 250 Lafayette Circle Suite 200, Lafayette, CA 94549 A new probabilistic microbial source tracking (MST) approach based on Bacteroidales and human- specific viruses was applied to provide quantitative, host-specific fecal source information for the development of a bacteria total maximum daily load (TMDL) for the arid Calleguas Creek Watershed in Southern California. This field study was the first to utilize a suite of TaqMan quantitative poly- merase chain reaction (PCR) systems for Bacteroidales; targeting genetic markers for a universal sequence, as well as specific markers for inputs from humans, cows/horses, and dogs. Hollow-fiber ultrafiltration was used to simultaneously concentrate these anaerobic bacteria, along with adenovirus and enterovirus, in 73 100-liter samples collected from the watershed over the course of eleven months. Field- and laboratory-based validation tests using fecal and aqueous samples demonstrated the efficacy of each Bacteroidales marker. The marker sequence for universal Bacteroidales was detected in 100% of samples, allowing for the calculation of host-specific to universal Bacteroidales ratios, which are indicative of the relative abundance of each marker over space and time. One of the most prominent features of the MST dataset was the distinct bifurcation between wet and dry weather; cow/horse and dog concentrations and ratios were significantly higher during wet weather, while human ratios were lower. Such patterns suggest that frequent indicator bacteria water quality objective exceedances during wet weather are due to loading from non-human sources. Our MST ‘“‘toolkit” of quantitative MST with Bacteroidales and human-specific virus monitoring proved useful for development of watershed- scale conceptual models of the fate and transport of bacteria. derived from wastewater, domestic ani- mals and livestock. ABSTRACTS 39 56 DRY WEATHER RIVER RUNOFF IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT Burton Jones. Marine Environmental Biology University of Southern California Dry weather river flow in southern California is generally not considered a major environmental concern in contrast to the considerable concern for wet weather runoff. While our major sewage outfalls are a type of river inflow, southern California, and in particular the region of San Pedro has significant continuous surface river inflow from the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers. Because of their proximity, these two sources often appear as a single river plume extending along the coast from Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors. While not readily obvious in ocean color observations, the plume is clearly defined by its lower salinity compared to the ambient surface water. The plume is significant because of its potential to impact the physical dynamics of the nearshore region, phyto- plankton blooms that may include harmful algal blooms, as a potential pathway for contaminants from the watersheds to the coastal ocean, and perhaps the beaches. oF SATELLITE VIEW OF STORMWATER RUNOFF PLUMES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Nikolay P. Nezlin. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project 7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA 92683-5218 USA Spatio-temporal dynamics of stormwater plumes is being studied in different coastal zones of the Southern California Bight using SeaWiFS and MODIS satellite imagery. The total volume of precip- itated water is a primary factor regulating plume size. This relationship is quantitatively different in different regions, and can be explained by the differences in watershed size, terrain, and land-use. The direction of plume propagation results from the near-shore circulation. In particular, during spring transition typical to California Current System, equatorward currents associated with wind-driven upwelling can transport stormwater plumes downcoast. The most pronounced plumes, characterized by high concentration of suspended inorganic matter, were observed within two-three days after rain- storms; later color shifts in the plumes indicate the presence of phytoplankton biomass resulting from their response to the nutrient loading of the plumes. 58 THE EFFECTS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF IN SANTA MONICA BAY K.M. Reifel and B.H. Jones. University of Southern California, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371 Urbanization within the Los Angeles region has resulted in increased stormwater inputs to the coast. Stormwater runoff creates distinct plumes that are easily detected by their low salinity and high turbidity signatures. Several aspects of these plumes have been studied, such as increases in contam- inants and human pathogens, but few studies have attempted to directly test the links between storm- water plumes and changes in the phytoplankton community. Shifts in the phytoplankton community have great potential to alter the functioning of coastal foodwebs. In addition, it is unknown how long and far these stormwater plumes may travel once they are formed, thus their effects may extend well beyond their local discharge region. During recent storm events, we collected water samples of storm- water from Ballona Creek and from several sites within Santa Monica Bay. The samples were analyzed for their nutrient concentrations, bio-optical properties, and phytoplankton composition. Nitrate con- centration, total suspended solids, and colored dissolved organic matter were high in stormwater samples (approximately 35 um, 46 mg |"', and 3.9 relative fluorescence units, respectively). In addi- tion, preliminary analysis of phytoplankton samples from several sites within the bay revealed the presence of several potentially toxic species including Pseudonitzschia sp., Dinophysis spp., Amphi- dinium sp., Cochlodinium sp., and Lingulodinium polyedrum. 59 HARMFUL ALGAE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT: PRESENT THREATS AND FUTURE CONCERNS David A. Caron, Astrid Schnetzer, Rebecca Schaffner, Steffi Moorthi, Peter Countway, Beth Stauffer, Adriane Jones, Diane Kim and Billy Pan. Department of Biological Sciences, Uni- versity of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371. The coastline of southern California has not been immune to the perceived increase in the occurrence of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters globally. Resident harmful algae in the Southern California 4O SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Bight include species of the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium (a source of PSP) and the diatom genus Pseudonitzschia (a source of domoic acid). Most notably, blooms of Pseudonitzschia spp. and out- breaks of domoic acid toxicity have occurred in the Bight during the last five years. These outbreaks have lead to significant mortality events for marine mammals and coastal bird populations. In addition to these known problems, occasional blooms of a variety of potentially harmful algae occur in the Bight, including dinoflagellates in the genera Lingulodinium, Cochlodinium, Dinophysis and Proro- centrum. These algae have the potential for toxin production but as yet none has been attributed to these species in local waters. Lingulodinium polyedrum, in particular, has caused massive (but thus far inocuous), red tides along the coast of southern California, and ‘nuisance blooms’ of species within the prymnesiophyte genus Phaeocystis have begun to appear. This talk will provide a brief overview of the known and potential problems facing coastal waters of southern California, and outline potential causes and concerns raised by the presence and increased frequency of these events. 60 | PSEUDONITZSCHIA AND DOMOIC ACID IN THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR AND AD- JACENT COASTAL WATERS Astrid Schnetzer, David A. Caron, Peter E. Miller, Rebecca Schaffner, Adriane Jones, Diane Kim and Billy Pan, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371. Stephen Weisberg, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA 92683 The Los Angeles harbor and adjacent coastal ocean have proven as a ‘hot zone’ for Pseudonitzschia and domoic acid over recent years. Since 2003, the region has become the focal point of several research efforts to investigate these toxic blooms. The impact that episodic river discharge into the San Pedro Bay may have on Pseudonitzschia growth and toxin production is the focal point of an ECOHAB program that encompasses a 400 km? study area from the Palos Verdes peninsula to Newport Beach. This area is periodically influenced by runoff from the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River and Santa Ana River. Multiple surveys have been conducted to investigate the temporal and spatial relationship between nutrient input via river discharge as well as coastal upwelling and Pseudonitzschia abundance and domoic acid concentrations. We will present some of the findings from this research and discuss the environmental factors that may play a key role in the development of toxic events within the coastal waters off Los Angeles and Orange Counties. 61 DOMOIC ACID TOXICITY IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNI- ANUS) STRANDED IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA, 2002-2006 Richard Evans, Michele Hunter and Meg Jones. Pacific Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Domoic acid, a biotoxin most commonly produced by diatoms in the genus Pseudonitzschia, has sickened or killed more than 250 California sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Orange County, CA since 2002. Affected animals characteristically are in good body condition, exhibiting seizures, tremors, disorientation, ataxia, head-weaving and/or a combination of these symptoms. Com- mon pathological lesions associated with domoic acid intoxication will be discussed and illustrated. 62 DOMOIC ACID POISONING IN SEABIRDS Susan Kaveggia. International Bird Rescue Center, 3601 South Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 There was no confirmation or documentation that domoic acid affected birds until 1991. In Septem- ber of that year large numbers of ill Brown Pelicans and cormorants were observed along the California coast. Shortly thereafter the etiology was connected to the recent algae bloom of Pseudonitzschia australis. Since then there has been an alarming increase in domoic acid poisoning among the avian species. Little is still understood about the pathology between domoic acid and seabirds. A brief discussion of this subject will cover symptoms, treatments, and post-mortem findings that have been elucidated in the past few years. ABSTRACTS Al 63 RED TIDE BLOOMS (LIVGULODINIUM POLYEDRA) IN SAN PEDRO BAY Ivona Cetinic, Astrid Schnetzer, David A. Caron and Burt Jones. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA During the period from March to September 2005, phytoplankton abundance, and physical and chemical parameters were measured at 5 stations in surface and subsurface chlorophyll maximum in San Pedro basin as a part of the ECOHAB study. During that time, large red tide blooms were observed, dominated by HAB dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra. Evolution of the phytoplankton community in the water column of the coastal ocean may be driven by a combination of natural and anthropogenic processes. Some of the measured environmental variables driven by the mentioned processes, when coupled to observed blooms, point out possible triggers of red tide bloom initiation in San Pedro Bay. 64 THE WATER QUALITY TASK FORCE IN REDONDO BEACH; HOW A SMALL COAST- AL CITY IS DEALING WITH RED TIDES AND FISH KILLS Chris Cagle. Councilman, City of Redondo Beach, 415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 Clean water is one of the keys to maintaining the health, safety and the economic well-being of residents, businesses and visitors. As a coastal community with a harbor, beaches and regional storm water facilities, Redondo Beach has unique challenges to protecting surface waters and ocean quality. Redondo Beach Councilman Chris Cagle will share his City’s experience with Red Tides and the effect it has had on their harbor. He will explain what his community is doing about it and the work in progress of their Water Quality Task Force. He will also describe a community volunteer program being set up to deal with fish kills resulting from reoccurring Red Tides in King Harbor. 65 SOME ASPECTS OF MONITORING FOR TOXIC AND NONTOXIC BLOOMS (THE HABS AND THE HAB-NOTS) IN CALIFORNIA Gregg W. Langlois. California Department of Health Services, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Rich- mond, CA 94804 California has the distinction of having the longest established monitoring program for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in the U.S., dating back to 1927. The traditional monitoring method em- ployed by all states has relied on the analysis of bivalve shellfish samples for the presence of one or more known toxins. In the fall of 1991 domoic acid was identified in Monterey Bay. In response, the California Department of Health Services began analyzing samples for this toxin and concurrently developed a volunteer-based phytoplankton monitoring program as a potential early warning tool. Establishment of the phytoplankton monitoring program has resulted in the early detection of both toxic and non-toxic blooms as well as the quick determination of the causative organisms. This information has proven valuable for health officials responsible for managing toxic events and for informing the public about visible blooms. A review of the shellfish PSP toxicity data reveals a seasonal pattern with distinct periods of elevated toxicity. Analysis of this data in conjunction with remote sensing information and phytoplankton distribution and abundance data provides interesting new insight into potential environmental cues for toxigenic blooms. There is also tremendous vari- ability in PSP toxin levels and spatial distribution from year to year. Analysis of domoic acid data also reveals a seasonal pattern of peak toxicity. Domoic acid concentrations in shellfish from nearshore monitoring sites have increased dramatically since 2000. The majority of Pseudonitzschia blooms, with the resultant increase of domoic acid levels in shellfish, have occurred between Santa Cruz and Los Angeles. 66 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF CALIFORNIA’S SEDIMENT QUALITY OBJECTIVES PRO- GRAM Beegan, Chris. State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, California The State Water Resources Control Board is developing sediment quality objectives and implemen- tation policy for enclosed bays and estuaries. The two greatest hurdles associated with the development of sediment quality objectives are the limited ability to link sediment chemistry concentrations to 42 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES biological impairment and the uncertainty associated with currently available tools and indicators. As a result sediments cannot be assessed, managed or regulated using the single line of evidence approach traditionally used in water quality programs. Instead this program will rely on a multiple line of evidence approach to make station level and station network assessment decisions. The goals of this program are to 1) establish a condition that is considered protective, and then develop, refine and validate the tools so that the condition of each station can be measured relative to the protected condition and 2) use multiple lines of evidence to assess the condition of sediment and 3) promote consistency and minimize the reliance on best professional judgment. 67 COMPARISON AND SELECTION OF SUBLETHAL SEDIMENT TOXICITY TESTS FOR USE IN EVALUATING SEDIMENT QUALITY D. Young,* S.M. Bay, and D. Greenstein. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster CA The use of aquatic invertebrates for acute sediment toxicity testing to assess sediment quality is widespread and well standardized. Sublethal tests have the potential to detect effects at lower levels of contamination than acute tests. Sublethal toxicity tests have been developed for many different aquatic species, yet little is known about their comparability and reliability. The objective of this study was to identify a suite of sublethal toxicity tests that are reliable, ecological relevant, with diverse endpoints and exposure conditions. Several tests were investigated for their the sensitivities, compa- rability and applicability in a variety of situations. Six of the sublethal tests; (amphipod, Leptocheirus plumulosus 28-day survival, growth and reproduction; polychaete, Neanthes arenaceodentata 28-day survival and growth; benthic copepod, Amphiascus tenuiremis, 14-day life-cycle; seed clam, Mercen- aria mercenaria 7-day growth; lysosomal destabilization using the oyster, Crassostrea virginica; and sediment-water interface testing with embryos of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis) were compared. The sublethal tests varied in their relative sensitivity and they were not always more sensitive to the sediments than the acute tests. More information regarding the presence of sediment toxicity was usually gained by using the acute and sublethal tests in concert, compared to using either type of test alone. The Neanthes arenaceodentata 28-day survival and growth or sediment-water interface testing with embryos of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were recommended as sublethal tests for as- sessing sediment quality. 68 A MEASURE OF BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY CONDITION FOR CALI- FORNIA BAYS AND ESTUARIES J.A. Ranasinghe', S.B. Weisberg!, R.W. Smith?, D.E. Montagne?, B. Thompson‘, J.M. Oakden>?, D.D. Huff*, and C. Beegan’. 'SCCWRP, Westminster, CA; *Deceased; *County Sanitation Dis- tricts of Los Angeles County, Whittier, CA; *San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland, CA; *Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, Moss Landing, CA; Oregon Dept. of Environmental Qual- ity, Portland, OR; ’State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA An indicator of benthic community condition that combines four existing benthic index approaches was developed for California bays and estuaries. Habitat-specific versions of five benthic indices were developed for two soft-bottom benthic habitats. In each habitat, performance of the indices was eval- uated individually and in combination using independent data rated by nine benthic ecologists. The five index approaches were based on (a) community measures, (b) presence, abundance and pollution tolerance of several species, or (c) mixtures of (a) and (b). A four-index combination (Benthic Re- sponse Index (BRI), Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), Relative Benthic Index (RBI) and River Inverte- brate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS)) had the highest accuracy and was selected as the indicator of benthic condition. This combination correctly classified as affected or unaffected 91.7% of the evaluation samples from the southern California euhaline bays habitat and 100% from the polyhaline San Francisco Bay habitat. The indicator was developed only in these two habitats because sufficient data for indicator development were available only here. Future indicator development in other habitats is anticipated once additional data are collected. ABSTRACTS 43 69 DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL SOGS BASED ON BENTHIC MAC- ROFAUNA RESPONSES TO SEDIMENT CHEMISTRY Kerry J. Ritter*, Steven M. Bay, and Robert W. Smith. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA Resource managers often rely on chemical indicators referred to as sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) to assist them in assessing the level of sediment contamination in our coastal waters. SQGs are typically derived from large data sets containing paired chemistry and toxicity data. However, calibrating SQGs to toxicity data, such as the survival of amphipods, to various contaminant concen- trations in the sediment may not accurately reflect how benthic macrofauna, indigenous to the specific region or area, respond to the same chemical profiles. For example, some studies have shown that benthos may be more sensitive to anthropogenic impact than toxicity. In our presentation we consider the effectiveness of current SQGs for predicting the state of benthos and quantify some of the differ- ences in responses between benthos and amphipod survival with regard to different chemical concen- trations. Finally we present an alternative chemical SQG specific to predicting the state of benthos in marine sediments. 70 DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A MULTIPLE LINE OF EVIDENCE FRAME- WORK FOR INTEGRATING SEDIMENT QUALITY DATA Steven M. Bay*, Stephen B. Weisberg, and Jeff Brown. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA Many assessment frameworks have been developed for the characterization of sediment quality, most of which are based on the sediment quality triad of sediment contamination, toxicity, and impacts on resident biota. These multiple line of evidence approaches have been used extensively in site- specific assessments, but they are typically based on best professional judgment. This is difficult to replicate and is therefore problematic for applications such as sediment quality objectives that must be standardized across a wide variety of sites. A framework for integrating multiple lines of evidence (LOE) in a standardized manner was developed for use in California’s sediment quality objectives program. The framework is composed of three steps: classification of each LOE into one of several categories based on response magnitude and certainty, integration of the LOE categories to evaluate the potential for chemically-mediated impacts and the severity of biological effects, and a final step of assigning an impact category to the data. The framework was validated by comparing the results for a subset of stations to the assessment obtained based on the best professional judgment of indi- viduals with extensive sediment quality assessment experience. There was a high level of agreement between the impact category for a station obtained using the framework and the consensus category obtained using best professional judgment. The error rate in classification using the framework was similar to that present among professionals and there was no evidence of bias. FAL CITIZEN MONITORING STATUS AND TRENDS Erick Burres. State Water Resources Control Board Surface water quality continues to be major issue across the state and the nation. The great threat is non-point pollution. Citizen monitoring can and has addressed both data and pollution reduction. The Clean Water Team is the State Water Resources Control Board’s citizen monitoring program. This presentation will give an introduction to citizen monitoring, its history within California, an update on current activities and its future roles. 72 CITIZEN VOLUNTEER BASED BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE WATER QUALITY SAMPLING Rob Roy.* Coordinator, San Diego Stream Team, San Diego, CA The San Diego Stream Team (SDST) is a citizen volunteer based non-profit organization that con- ducts benthic macroinvertebrate sampling for water quality analysis using the Southern California Index of Biotic Integrity. The SDST identifies valued characteristics, the status and trends of biological resources in and around the aquatic environment, and evaluates the effects of various land uses on 44 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES water quality. This presentation will give an overview of the history of the SDST and examples of the challenges and achievements of citizen monitoring. 73 RECOVERY OF THE WESTERN SNOWY PLOVER AT SAND’S BEACH, COAL OIL POINT RESERVE, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA Jennifer Stroh. Santa Barbara Audubon Society & University of California’s Natural Reserve System, Santa Barbara, California The Western Snowy Plover (SnPl1) is a small, threatened shorebird. The coastal population roosts and breeds on sandy beaches throughout the west coast from southern Washington to Baja California, Mexico. Habitat destruction and increased human recreation on these beaches have caused their dra- matic decline over the past few decades, leading to their protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1993. Throughout its range, the SnPl depends on particular sites such as wide, flat beaches around river mouths or estuaries, and beaches that are backed by sand dunes and supplied with kelp. Sand’s Beach, part of Coal Oil Point Reserve (COPR), is one of these sites. Due to habitat degradation and distur- bance, SnPls had abandoned Sand’s Beach as a breeding site in the late 1970’s, but would return every year during the winter. Active management was implemented for SnPI conservation in 2001. Five years later, over 400 SnPls winter at Sand’s Beach, double the number found when the program began. During spring and summer, one can observe up to 25 nesting pairs. COPR is first to demonstrate that breeding SnPls may recover when appropriate management is applied. COPR SnPI management in- cludes restoration, fencing, signage, and a docent program. Disturbance research indicates that the recovery would not have occurred without volunteer docents. SnPl Docents are crucial for the pro- tection of SnPls through friendly contact and education of beach users. By promoting public awareness, docents increase the effectiveness of other management efforts, such as signs and barriers. These combined management tools have made it possible to maintain beach access and recreation for the public while preserving habitat for the SnPIls. 74 RAPID ACQUISITION OF CITIZEN SCIENTIST DATA ACROSS LARGE DISTANCES: GRUNION GREETERS AND THE INTERNET ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST K.L. Martin, B. Cupp, C. Stivers, M. Studer. Pepperdine University, Natural Science Division, Malibu, CA 90263-4321 Now in its fifth year, the Grunion Greeter Project involves citizen scientists monitoring sandy beaches throughout California for the elusive grunion, Leuresthes tenuis. Hundreds of volunteers attend workshops each year to learn how to observe this beach spawning fish during the peak season. We coordinate the project with our web site, www.Grunion.Org, in several ways. First, the site provides basic information about grunion and our citizen scientists, with links to news articles, photographs, and other media. Second, we recruit volunteers and show dates of training workshops, community partnerships, and detailed flyers. Third, after training, volunteers sign up for observations at specific times on designated beaches by using a password-protected pull-down menu. For each date, county and beach site, numbers of volunteers are displayed live, permitting individuals to determine where they are needed up to the time of monitoring. Fourth, the site contains an interactive questionnaire that Grunion Greeters complete after each observation, prompting input on the numbers of fish seen, any predators, weather and wave descriptions, and other comments, stored in an electronic database. Fifth, we post bi-weekly web updates throughout the grunion season with photographs and quotes from the Grunion Greeters, beach workers, and others, providing rapid feedback and a common ex- perience between the different areas of the state. Finally, questions, comments, and results are rapidly exchanged via e-mail. This use of high-tech web-based communication allows centralized rapid, con- sistent data acquisition from many observers over a large geographic area. Funded by California Sea Grant College, NFWE and NOAA. 75 A THREE YEAR STUDY OF SEASONAL BACTERIAL CONCENTRATIONS USING VOL- UNTEER ASSISTANCE L. Gilbane, K.A. Snow, S. Aizawa, K.E. Flaherty, Y.J. Ralph, C.V. Wolfe, K. Kull and R.E. Pieper. Southern California Marine Institute, Terminal Island, CA, 90731 Freshwater outlets in southern California, such as channelized rivers and storm drains, often have bacterial concentrations that exceed health standards, particularly after rain events. The goal of this ABSTRACTS 45 study was to organize volunteer help in order to determine how bacterial concentrations of freshwater outlets influenced coastal waters. Sampling focused mainly on the Los Angles River, its receiving waters of Long Beach Harbor, and adjacent recreational beaches. From 2003 to 2005, samples were collected seasonally and after the first flush (> 0.5 inches rainfall) for total coliforms, E. coli, and enterococcus. Results revealed that coastal waters were subject to high levels of bacteria, with the extent of contamination varying among years. Distinct wet and dry patterns in bacterial concentrations were seen with the largest number of stations in exceedance of health standards occurring during the first flush. Health exceedances occurred during all wet weather sampling at 25 to 100% of the sites. Exceedances were also detected during three dry weather sampling events. Freshwater outlets into coastal waters showed plume-like effects over all three years, with high bacteria concentrations that abated as increased salinity and mixing occurred. Bacterial concentrations 1.5 miles offshore from the Los Angeles River were detected in exceedance concentrations during the every first flush. Volunteers made an important contribution to this study by collecting samples and reduced the total project cost. This study demonstrates the successful integration of volunteers in a multi-year study to collect needed data on seasonal and yearly variation of bacterial concentrations effecting coastal recreational waters. 76 FIRE-FLOOD-FISH: LOSS AND PERSISTENCE OF UPPER SANTA ANA RIVER SPECK- LED DACE (RHINICHTHYS OSCULUS) IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE VAL- UE OF TIMELY HUMAN INTERVENTION G. Abbas', J.N. Baskin’, R.N. Fisher’, R. Maloney-Rames*t, A.E. Metcalf®, R. Rodriguez® and C.C. Swift’, Southern California Native Freshwater Fauna Working Group. 'San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S Commerce Center Cir, San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-2620, gabbas @fs.fed.us; *Cal Poly University Pomona, 3801 W. Temple Ave., Pomona, CA 91768, and San Marino Environmental Associates, (626) 826-8226, jnbaskin@csupomona.edu; 7U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101-0812, 619-225-6422, rfisher@usgs.gov; *California Department of Fish and Game, 3602 Inland Empire Blvd., Ste C-220, Ontario, CA 91764, (909) 980-3818, rmaloney @dfg.ca.gov; °California State University San Bernardino, 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407, (909) 537-7501, ametcalf@csusb.edu; °California Department of Fish and Game, 3602 Inland Empire Blvd., Ste C-220, Ontario, CA 91764, (909) 484-0523, rrodriguez @dfg.ca.gov; 7TENTRIX, Inc., 2140 Eastman Avenue, Suite 200, Ventura, CA 93003, (626) 447-5846, cswift @entrix.com The advent of unusually extensive fires (10/21—11/4, 2003) followed by excessively damaging floods in 2003—04 in the upper Santa Ana River watershed stimulated discussions in resource agencies and the Southern California Native Freshwater Fauna Working Group about the advisability of fish rescue. In October 2004 Santa Ana speckled dace were taken from 3 streams (Plunge, Lytle, Cajon) and placed in the care of Kerwin Russell of the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District, By this time significant flooding had already occurred in two other streams (City and Strawberry/Twin) where dace seemed to have been extirpated. Dace have persisted in the first three streams from which reserve populations were taken, but recent efforts to locate them in the other two heavily flooded streams have failed. Evidence of dace presence in all of these streams immediately prior to floods is presented. Debate continues on the advisability of reintroducing dace where extirpated. Historical and recent data is presented on patterns of fire, precipitation, flood and sedimentation intensity, and the nature of the habitat, geomorphology and anthropogenic events in the five stream basins to determine possible reasons for loss or retention of populations. Less, or non-fire/flood impacted streams were also ex- amined. Fishes were only eliminated at sites with record peak flows, not rainfall, following 95% watershed burn. The Working Group, which meets quarterly at Cal Poly University Pomona, provides an informal forum for individuals from agencies and academia to reach consensus on conservation and other issues. Tg TOOTH FRACTURE AND WEAR COMPARED IN A RANCHO LA BREA SABER- TOOTHED CAT AND THE DIRE WOLF I.E. Abellera, E.A. Ibrahim and W.J. Binder. Loyola Marymount University, Department of Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90045 Several extinct carnivores preserved in the Pleistocene Rancho La Brea deposits display a high incidence of teeth broken during life as compared with modern species. This might reflect greater 46 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES prey consumption in the Pleistocene relative to the present. This possibility was considered in a previous study on Canis dirus which explored tooth fracture and wear between two localities at Rancho La Brea, in which significant differences were found. In this study, we compared tooth fracture fre- quencies and tooth wear in a different carnivore, Smilodon fatalis. Unlike many species of canids, felids tend to feed entirely on meat. We were interested in how a hypercarnivore would compare to a canid in terms of tooth wear and breakage, as canids may eat harder diets including items such as bone. Our results indicated that while S. fatalis fractured their teeth about a third more often than in a comparison locality, the difference was not significant. They did not exhibit heavier tooth wear either. This was a departure from the C. dirus data, and supports the likelihood of a difference in diet between the two species. In order to be sure that the age distributions of the two species are similar, and to eliminate the possibility of an age effect, we estimated individual age S. fatalis from pulp cavity dimensions of lower canine teeth. Like the C. dirus sample, pulp cavity analysis indicated no significant difference between pits in the age structure of the preserved populations. 78 EFFECTS OF OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE ACTIVITY ON THE MOJAVE DESERT BIOTA Amy J. Arispe and Stephanie H. Diaz. Southern California Ecosystems Research Program, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton The frequent use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) within the eastern Mojave Desert may lead to the destruction of plant and animal habitats. The effects of OHV activity on the eastern Mojave Desert community were investigated by measuring the percent coverage of perennial plants and vehicle tracks, and the abundance of lizards and ant nests. OHV active areas were compared with protected National Park Services (NPS) land, which is closed to OHV activity. Measurements were taken over two days at two separate sites along an access road that divides protected land from land open to OHV activity. Community composition on both sides of the road was similar, validating a comparison between the sites. Six line transects (100 m in length) at each site were used to measure the percent coverage of vehicle tracks and perennial plants. The abundance of lizards and ant nests was measured with belt transects (10 m wide and 100 m long). All two tailed t-tests between open and closed sites showed no significant differences for the measurements taken. The NPS land is recovering from past OHV use; the land has been protected since 1994, making the measured NPS and OHV sites both disturbed communities. The data were in the predicted direction yet no significance could be determined. How- ever, future studies of broader regions may show an effect of OHV activity on the desert biota. 79 LATE CENOZOIC VOLCANISM NEAR BAKER, CA Baltzer, Suzanne M. and Jessey, David R. Geological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University—Pomona, Pomona, CA 91768 Late Cenozoic volcanism in the eastern Mojave Desert, near Baker California, spans 13 million years. The earliest event from 12.8 to 13.0 Ma resulted in the emplacement of a hypabyssal sill of rhyolitic to trachydacitic composition. This was followed at 12.1 Ma by multiple flows of trachyan- desite (pyroxene andesite), approximately 15 km to the west in the Halloran Hills. The most recent activity began about 7.5 Ma and has continued to the Holocene. The result has been trachybasalts (hawalites) and basaltic trachyandesites (mugearites) of the Cima volcanic field. This study analyzed over 100 rock samples from three areas for 21 major, minor and trace elements. The data define a trend of high K,0 + Na,O rocks that show minimal decease in alkalis with decreasing silica content over time. Trace elements analyses for some of the pyroxene andesites and many of the basalts reveal that crustal contamination has played a role in their current geochemistry. It is suggested that Cenozoic volcanism began during initial stages of late Miocene detachment and has continued to Recent time as upwelling asthenosphere has occupied the void created by the thinning lithosphere. The compositional variations reflect progressively deeper melting, from shallow crustal rhyolite and trachydacite to lower crustal pyroxene andesite, to lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle basalts. While past researchers have stressed the role of MORB-like partial melts generated from an underplated East Pacific Rise (EPR), this research suggests the volcanism is most likely a manifestation of crustal thinning and not directly related to subduction of the EPR. ABSTRACTS AT 80 THE EFFECT OF FEMALE CRICKET CHEMICAL CUES ON THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAV- IOR OF MALE CRICKETS, ACHETA DOMESTICUS Leslie J. Buena and Sean E. Walker. California State University, Fullerton Male house crickets, Acheta domesticus, show aggressive behavior to gain opportunities for mating events over other males. Female cricket chemical cues along with residency status should influence male aggression. I predicted that aggression would increase with higher levels of female chemical cues. Resident males should be more likely to exhibit aggression in the presence of female cues than in their absence. I observed male behavior in 14 cm X 26 cm containers with a sand substrate. These containers had previously housed zero females, one virgin female, two virgin females, or three virgin females for 48 h prior to trials. More encounters occurred when there were chemical cues from three females than from zero, one, or two females. Resident males showed more aggression and had more wins as female chemical cues increased. I also found that the intensity of aggression could be predicted based on the age of resident and intruder males. Older residents and younger intruders were more likely to be aggressive. These data suggest that perceived resource value is an important factor influ- encing a male’s decision to fight. I believe that male crickets are more active when they perceive high resource value and are more willing to take the risks that come with engaging in aggressive encounters when benefits outweigh the cost. The data also suggest that age and residency status may be important, influencing factors. This pattern may be a product of younger intruders having nothing to lose and the cost of territory loss for older residents. 81 WATER AND SEDIMENT QUALITY EVALUATION OF THE SANTA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY-—ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISCHARGE OF TREAT- ED WASTEWATER Colvin, Molly; Bailey, Howard C.; and Stransky, Chris. Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA The City of San Buenaventura currently discharges a monthly average of approximately 7 mgd of tertiary treated effluent into Santa Clara River estuary. The discharge has been ongoing for approxi- mately 45 years. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether chemicals in the effluent may be affecting water and sediment quality within the estuary. Extensive testing with a variety of both marine and freshwater species showed a low incidence and degree of toxicity, and limited exceedences of water quality criteria. The discharge generally did not appear to be associated with toxicity; causes of toxicity appeared to be localized, variable, and related to upstream sources or groundwater influence. The sediment quality evaluation indicated that contaminants of concern were generally below sediment quality guidelines, and most of the responses in the sediment toxicity tests were related to coarse substrate. Copper is a primary constituent of concern for the treatment plant based on frequent ex- ceedence of current marine water quality criteria. However, relationships between copper and toxicity, in addition to a series of water-effect ratio (WER) studies suggest that concentrations of copper in both the WWTP discharge and estuary are below those of potential biological concern. 82 COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF THE ENTIRE MITOCHONDRIAL cox-I GENE SE- QUENCE ACROSS VARIOUS GENERA OF CHITONS N.V. Dabbousi and D.J. Eernisse. Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850 Chitons (Polyplacophora) are very ancient and morphologically conservative members of Mollusca, characterized by having eight shell plates, a creeping foot, and radular teeth coated with magnetite. Sequence comparisons of partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox-I) gene sequence are extremely popular and thousands have already been obtained for chitons, but there are few studies where the entire gene has been sequenced for a selection of closely related genera. In ongoing studies, we are attempting this for a broad selection of the 90 genera of living chitons with the goal of investigating how this protein subunit is free to vary within chitons. We expect that a comparative analysis of the inferred COX-I amino acid sequences will reveal where natural modifications have survived the continuous process of natural selection, presumably without altering any critical COX-I function. Humans and other animals also have this gene and it is well known that amino acid mutations within a conserved region can result in developing genetic disorders within the human body. Variation within COX can lead to human disorders specifically mitochondrial disorders (providing energy for 48 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES organelles) such as myoglobinuria, thus, we expect that chiton cox-I could serve as an appropriate model for understanding the protein in general. By designing new PCR primers that amplify between the sequenced cox-I portion and adjacent mitochondrial genes we have already obtained complete cox- I sequences for selected chitons and are presently expanding this sampling of genera. 83 SEX DIFFERENCES AND GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN BODY SIZE IN THE WOLF SPIDERS RABIDOSA RABIDA AND RABIDOSA PUNCTULATA (ARANEAE: LYCOSI- DAE) Gerry Del Rio Cortes and Sean E. Walker. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831 Spiders are a classic example of sexual dimorphism and numerous hypotheses have been put forward to explain the extreme sexual size dimorphism seen in some species. However, little work has evaluated geographic variation in sex differences in spiders. Utilizing specimens from museum collections and from our own collections in Texas and Ohio, we examined variation in carapace width, chelicerae length, and the length of leg I and IV in two different species of wolf spider, Rabidosa rabida and Rabidosa punctulata. Rabidosa rabida and R. punctulata are two closely related species that occur in old-field habitats and both forage from vegetation. We found significant differences in body-size between sexes, locations in both species. Females were generally larger than males, and spiders col- lected in Texas were larger than those from Ohio. In addition, there was a significant difference in sexual dimorphism across locations in R. punctulata. Females of the species are much larger than males in Texas and females are not significantly larger than males in Ohio. We also examined chelic- erae size, a characteristic associated with prey capture, in both species. After controlling for size differences, females generally had larger chelicerae than males and in R. rabida there is a larger sex difference in chelicerae size in Texas when compared to Ohio. In R. punctulata, females have larger chelicerae than males but there are no differences among locations. Our results indicate that different populations of the same species can be different in their degree of sexual dimorphism. 84 DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS TO DOPAMINE OXIDATION IN PC12 CELLS AND PRIMARY ASTROCYTES: A MODEL FOR NEURODEGENERATION? Jessica De Giacomo', Jerome Garcia', and Enrique Cadenas?. 'Biology Department, School of Arts & Sciences, University of La Verne, Los Angeles, CA 91750, USA; *7Molecular Pharma- cology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 9008, USA Among the various neurodegenerative diseases that affect many people, one that is gaining more recognition is Parkinson’s disease. It is the destruction of the substantia nigra that leads to the pro- gression and development of this disease. What is killing the neurons in the substantia nigra? The main culprits are reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). Looking at Parkinson’s disease from a biochemical standpoint, observations support the generation of ROS and RNS by a marked increase in the presence of superoxide dismutase and a decrease in glutathione (GSH). The oxidative state of the substantia nigra leads to the accumulation of free radical generators, like iron, low anti- oxidants, and damage and/or inhibition of complex I, through the production of ROS and RNS. While exposing PC12 cells and primary astrocytes to varying concentrations of dopamine, results from MTT viability assay established the physiological concentration used in future experiments. There was no change in astrocyte viability, but an inverse relationship between PC12 cell viability and dopamine concentration. Data support the notion that in a co-culture system, astrocytes not only cope with the stress associated with dopamine but also protect the PC12 cells either through uptake and/or breakdown of dopamine, or through the release of GSH to prevent oxidation. This is evident by an increase in PC12 cell viability when placed in a co-culture system. As a consequence of protecting the PC12 cells, the astrocytes up-regulate iNOS. Despite the occurrence of NO toxicity, this is incom- parable to the harmful effects of dopamine oxidation. 85 PLEISTOCENE STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOENVIRONMENT OF BAHIA SAN QUIN- TIN, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO R.V. Di Fiori, Ecology and Paleoecology Research Group, Pasadena City College, Natural Science Division, Pasadena, CA. 91106 A previously undescribed Pleistocene marine sedimentary, deposit around Bahia San Quintin (Baja California, Mexico) was described and mapped to begin to reconstruct the paleoenvironment and the ABSTRACTS 49 nature and the sequence of the depositional events.. This unit is unique in that it is extraordinarily rich in fossils and has sedimentary structures that indicate dynamic coastal processes related to chang- ing sea level and the volcanic origin of the bay over the past 180,000 years. Using stratigraphic data and preliminary maps of the area an interpretation of the paleoenvironment has been constructed. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that these sediments may be a record of the Sangamon Interglacial high stand of sea level. 86 EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE SAN- TA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY WITH RESPECT TO DISCHARGE OF TREATED EFFLU- ENT Douglass, Sarah'*; Bailey, Howard C.'; Kamman, Greg’; and Pfeifer, Dan*. 'Nautilus Environ- mental, San Diego, CA; *>Kamman Hydrology and Engineering, Inc., San Rafael, CA; *City of San Buenaventura, Ventura, CA The purpose of this study was to identify areas in which the discharge of treated wastewater to the Santa Clara River Estuary may enhance beneficial uses. Key components of this study included eval- uation of changes in habitat type and community assemblages over time, as well as changes in hy- drological function. The estuary supports a number of species of regulatory interest, including the federally listed tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi). Moreover, it is located in a semi-arid region of California that has been subjected to intensive habitat and water development over time, making it problematic to establish baseline conditions. The ecological investigation relied on extensive historical information including USGS maps, aerial photographs, and anecdotal accounts from a variety of sources. Analysis of aerial photographs demonstrated that there were minimal changes in the relative composition of habitat types between 1929 and 2002. Most changes in flora and fauna could be attributed to development of the floodplain that has resulted in a decrease in estuary size of approx- imately 90%. The hydrological analysis used historical data, anecdotal evidence, and modeling to develop estimates for monthly flows under natural conditions. This analysis showed that the discharge accounts for a portion of the river flows that would historically have reached the estuary, but which have been diverted for other uses upstream. Overall, the analysis indicated that the discharge supports beneficial uses of the estuary, particularly by maintaining water quality and habitat. 87 TIERED AQUATIC LIFE USES FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL STREAMS Jerry Diamond, Ph.D., Tetra Tech, Inc., 400 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 200, Owings Mills, MD 21117, jerry.diamond @tetratech.com. Renee Purdy DeShazo, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90013, rdeshazo@ waterboards.ca.gov. Sabrina Drill, University of California Cooperative Extension, 4800 E. Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90022, sldrill@ucdavis.edu The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Plan identifies beneficial aquatic life uses and sets water quality standards to protect them based on the type of organisms present in a water body, i.e. cold water fish, estuarine species, etc. Tiered Aquatic Life Uses (TALU) is another approach to assigning habitat beneficial uses. The TALU framework tailors aquatic uses for a particular ecosystem by identifying tiers of use based on an analysis of (1) what aquatic life zs present and (2) what could be there, i.e. what is the highest attainable use. The highest attainable use is set based on examination of historical conditions and healthy reference sites. Science, public input, and the regulatory agencies’ priorities combine to determine goals for each water body. There are many potential benefits of TALU. By assigning beneficial uses more precisely, regulatory agencies can protect high quality waters and flag vulnerable waters where the biological condition is good but where significant stressors are pre- sent. Identification of these stressors may lead to prescriptions for improvement. TALU allows regu- lators to set more realistic goals for degraded waters and encourage incremental improvements. A TALU framework for southern California is being developed by USEPA, the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board, and an advisory group of aquatic ecologists. This project links to two USEPA initiatives: (1) Use of Biological Information to Better Define Designated Aquatic Life Uses in State and Tribal Water Quality Standards: Tiered Aquatic Life Uses, and (2) Designated Use Plan, dem- onstrating how a region can tailor the national model to local conditions. 50 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 88 DETAILED COMPOSITIONAL COMPARISON OF ACIDIC NSO COMPOUNDS IN BIO- DEGRADED VERSUS NON-BIODEGRADED ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES USING NEG- ATIVE ION ELECTROSPRAY FOURIER TRANSFORM ION CYCLOTRON RESONANCE MASS SPECTROMETRY S.A. Galasso and C.A. Hughey. Chapman University, Department of Physical Sciences, 1 Uni- versity Dr., Orange, CA 92866 Knowledge of compositional changes due to crude oil biodegradation currently comes from geo- chemical research of oil reservoirs—not from surface contamination. Acidic NSO compounds, such as phenols and acids, have been used as indicators of microbial alteration. If these compounds provide evidence of biodegradation in the oil reservoir, one can infer that they may also provide clues to biodegradation in surface environments. Here we compare the compositional changes of acidic NSO compounds in a crude oil before and after biodegradation in the environment using ESI FT-ICR MS. Negative ion ESI allows for the selective ionization of acidic compounds while FT-ICR MS affords high enough resolution for a detailed analysis of a complex environmental sample. Crude oil contam- inated soil samples were collected from an active biozone. In the non-degraded crude oil, nitrogen- containing compounds (e.g. N, N,, NS, NO) comprised ~70% of the total relative ion abundance. Among these, carbazole-like compounds (N-containing compounds) accounted for ~50% of the rel- ative abundance. In the more degraded crude oil samples, oxygen-containing compounds dominated the mass spectra. These surface samples are likely the most biodegraded as the bacteria have ample supplies of oxygen and nutrients added to facilitate bioremediation. For the most shallow samples, O,-containing compounds accounted for 55—60% of the total relative ion abundance—a ~50% increase from the non-degraded oil. As the degree of oxygenation increased, the relative abundance of nitrogen- containing compounds decreased by a factor of 5 (to ~10%). Consequently, the relative abundance of NO-containing compounds increased by a factor of 2. 89 EFFECTS OF SALINITY CONCENTRATION ON RATES OF POLYP CLONING, GROWTH, AND STROBILATION IN THE AURELIA LABIATA (CNIDARIA, SCYPHO- ZOA) Julie A. Guerin. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, CA 90731; Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 The purpose of this study was to determine how increased and decreased salinity concentrations affect the developmental asexual stage in the life cycle of the Aurelia labiata. This species of jellyfish is known to be adaptable in the changing marine environments of coastal and harbor ecosystems, but environmental factors could influence their reproduction rates. After culturing from fertilized eggs, 10 similarly developed polyps on settlement plates were suspended in closed system tanks having salinity concentrations of 2.5%, 3.5% (control), and 4.5%. Four overlapping trials of 9-12 weeks were con- ducted, two using a freshwater base and two with a seawater base. Observations were made weekly and recorded onto templates of each plate. Results in the trials with a freshwater base were inconclusive due to unexpected distress and detachment losses of the control polyps, resulting in the decision to conduct two other trials with a seawater base and RO water. In the seawater based trials, all polyps in the 2.5% and 3.5% salinities survived and formed colonies. The rate of cloning, colonizing, stro- bilation and release of ephyrae was faster in the 2.5% salinity than in the control group, proving my hypothesis wrong that rates would be slower. No polyps in the 4.5% salinity level survived the lengths of the trials, as was expected. Results indicate that a lower salinity induces polyp cloning and stro- bilation. Investigating salinity ranges in the field where Aurelia are found, and salinity effects in combination with other environmental variations such as effects of increased ocean absorption of CO2 (higher acidity) would be subjects of further research. 90 ASSESSMENT OF THE SELF-PURIFICATION OF A CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS AND THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON THE BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY I.R. Hajjali, S.A. Cardenas, T.A. Voung, R.B. Shah, J.Z. Liu, W.S. Liang, M.R. Robles, J.E. Krayer, L.A. Del Valle, and A. Lam. Ecology and Paleoecology Research Group, Pasadena City College, Natural Science Division, Pasadena, CA 91106 In a world where life thrives on water, it is important to have methods that will secure the quality of water and provide the nourishment that the environment requires. In this study we observed the ABSTRACTS 51 effects of pollution on a constructed wetland to determine the wetland’s ability to reduce pollution levels. Through chemical tests and biological surveys, we were able to determine our wetland’s effi- ciency in pollution reduction. Through chemical testing we found pollution reduction levels of up to twenty percent for phosphate, six percent for nitrate, one hundred percent for iron and ninety-two percent for copper. From the biological surveys taken, the bacterial counts and average diversity showed a substantial increase after the introduction of pollution. The protist population initially showed a substantial drop in numbers followed by a notable increase. Our research has proven that the con- structed wetland has the ability for self-purification. 91. A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF PLASTICS POLUTION IN THE COASTAL WATERS AND BEACHES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA ESTUDIOS PRELIMINARES DE CONTAMINACION POR PLASTICOS EN AGUAS COS- TERAS Y PLAYAS DE LA PENINSULA DE BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICO Oce. A. Raul Herrera-Gutierrez, Cap. Charles Moore, M.C. Gustavo Riano-Sanchez. Algalita Research Foundation and Asesores en Biologia Pesquera, S.A. de C.V, BIOPESCA A study was conducted of the coastal waters and beaches from Ensenada Baja California to La Paz Baja California Sur, during the months of November and December 2005. The goal of the study was to assess the concentrations of plastics in Mexican waters and on Mexican beaches. Beach sediment samples were taken by hand, and zooplankton samples by manta trawl on board the ORV Alguita. Plastics were found all along the Baja California Peninsula including some beach areas that are considered as natural reserves, were minimal human activity is supposed to take place. The point origin of most of these plastics is most likely nearby populated areas, but point of origin of some of these plastics is much farther away Se realiz6 un estudio por las costas de la peninsula de Baja California desde las costas de Ensenada, hasta La Paz Baja California Sur, durante los meses de Noviembre y Diciembre del 2005. El objetivo de esta investigaci6n fue obtener una idea de las concentraciones de plasticos presentes en aguas y playas mexicanas. Se Ilevo acabo diversos muestreos a lo largo de las aguas y playas de la Peninsula de Baja California, a través de muestreos de zooplancton y de sedimentos de playas a bordo de la embarcacion ORV Alguita. Se encontraron rastros de plasticos en todas las estaciones a lo largo de la peninsula de Baja California, inclusive en algunas zonas asignadas como reservas ecoldgicas, en las cuales la actividad humana es minima. 92 ANGLING-INDUCED BAROTRAUMA AND INITIAL CATCH SURVIVAL OF SOUTH- ERN CALIFORNIA NEARSHORE AND SHELF ROCKFISHES (SCORPAENIDAE, SEBAS- TES SPP.) Jarvis, E.T. and C.G. Lowe. California State University, Long Beach, Department of Biology, Long Beach, CA, 90840 Minimum size limits have not been considered a practical management tool for rockfishes because most rockfish suffer decompression injury (barotruama) and positive buoyancy upon capture. However, little documentation exists regarding whether barotrauma in rockfishes is fatal. We collected nearshore and shelf rockfishes by hook-and-line in southern California between 18—177 m depth to characterize external and internal signs of barotrauma by species and depth, and to quantify initial survival 10 min after capture. The most common signs of barotrauma occurring in 166 rockfish (21 species) were subcutaneous gas (70%), hemorrhage (64%), and stomach eversion (63%). The incidence and extent of barotrauma was species-specific with species caught in deeper water (>58 m) generally showing a higher incidence of 4 or more traumas than species caught shallow (<58 m). Overall capture survival (n = 145) was 68%; however, species-specific survival generally did not decrease with depth. Of species with a sample size greater than 10, halfbanded rockfish (Sebastes semicinctus), flag rockfish (Sebastes rubrivinctus), and vermilion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus) showed the highest survival (>87%), while rosy rockfish (Sebastes rosaceous) and olive rockfish (Sebastes serranoides) showed the lowest (<10%). The majority of rockfish showing signs of barotrauma survived, suggesting that evidence of barotrauma upon capture is not necessarily an indication of rockfish mortality. Assuming rockfish can be rapidly released back to the depth of capture, the potential for post-release survival may be greater than previously thought. 59 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 93 CAN MEDICAL STUDENTS LEARN AND RETAIN BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND? THE EVALUATION OF A FOURTH YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT ELECTIVE IN EMERGENCY ULTRASOUND Jarrod Larson, Graciela Barajas and John C. Fox. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868 While bedside ultrasound (BUS) has been incorporated into residency training in Emergency Med- icine and has become an asset to emergency departments (ED) across the country, current U.S. medical school curriculum offers limited ultrasound training. In 2002, UC Irvine established the first medical student rotation in BUS in the ED. Through this rotation we tested whether or not medical students were able to learn and retain ultrasound skills. To complete this study, each student was given a thirty- five question test with an interactive DVD prior to and at the end of their rotation, as well as six months after the completion of their rotation. The test was also administered to a control group of students at the same time intervals without prior training. Over a nineteen-month period we enrolled 25 two-week rotation students and 20 four-week rotation students. When data analysis was complete, the mean pre-test score (PreTS) for all rotators was 46.9%, the mean Post-Test Score (PostTS) for all rotators was 75.7% (p < 0.005). The mean PostTS for the two-week students was 71.7%, while the four-week students scored 80.9% (p = 0.003). The mean scores on the 6-month follow-up exam were 69.1% for the two-week rotators, while the four-week rotators scored 76.9% (p = 0.008). The control group PreTS and PostTS were similar to the PreTS of the rotators (p = 0.42). The difference between the pre and post-test for the control group was not significant (p = 0.116). This study indicates that medical students can learn and retain BUS techniques through a structured rotation. 94 ECTOPARASITES OF THE CALIFORNIA SCORPIONFISH, SCORPAENA GUTTATA, IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT J. E. Kalman. University of California Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90095 and Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 It is unclear to what degree parasites cause stress to their host and what long term damage occurs to host physiological responses. Chronic stress can inhibit an organism’s normal physiological response to the environment. The California scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata, is common in the Southern Cal- ifornia Bight (SCB) and is frequently infested with ectoparasites. Of the 216 individuals sampled throughout the SCB, 210 were parasitized for an overall prevalence of 97.2% with an overall mean intensity of 48.2. This host harbored as many as eight species of parasites ranging in prevalence from 0.5%, Elthusa californica (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) to 88.4%, Lepeophtheirus rotundipes (Copepoda: Caligidae). The mean intensity of individual parasite species on S. guttata ranged from 1.0, Holobom- olochus spinulus, E. californica, and Elthusa vulgaris (Copepoda: Bomolochidae, Isopoda: Cymo- thoidae, respectively) to 54.3, Naobranchia scorpaenae (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae). The range of intensity of the parasitic copepod N. scorpaenae was from 0 to 321 individuals on a single fish. It was not uncommon to find fish with more than 100 individuals of this copepod parasitizing the gill filaments. The prevalence of N. scorpaenae at 78.2% was equally prominent. Naobranchia scorpaenae is a lernaeopodid copepod that is highly adapted to attach to the host’s gill filaments using its modified maxilla. Most of the individuals recovered in this study had visible blood in the gut, presumably from the host’s gill tissue. Infestation levels of ectoparasites were compared from scorpionfish collected at various predetermined stations in southern California, including those collected near wastewater out- falls. 95 MICROSATELLITE DNA ASSESSMENT OF MULTIPLE PATERNITY IN THE VIVPA- ROUS ROCKFISH SEBASTES MELANOPS Kurt W. Karageorge. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840 Three polymorphic microsatellite loci are being optimized and employed in a natural population of the viviparous Pacific rockfish Sebastes melanops to determine if multiple paternity occurs in brooded females, and to quantify the incidence of female mating behaviors. Brooded females of S$. melanops (n = 14) were collected from nearshore reefs off Oregon to genotype mothers and samples of their ABSTRACTS Nn eS) brooded offspring (zygotes, embryos or larvae). DNA was extracted from three females and their progeny (n = 90 per female), amplified by PCR, and assayed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using a Li-COR DNA sequencing system. A one-sire null hypothesis (female monogamy and full- sibling relationships among brooded progeny) is being tested by conducting paternal allele counts and examining Mendelian segregation patterns in observed versus expected genotypic offspring ratios for the one-sire model. Early results of genotyped progeny from the first fully assayed female revealed four paternal alleles at one tetranucleotide- repeat locus, and three paternal alleles at a pentanucleotide- repeat locus; both loci revealing evidence of at least two fathers and polyandry in S. melanops. Brooded females of brown rockfish, S. auriculatus, from Washington and rosy rockfish, S$. rosaceus, starry rockfish, S. constellatus, and greenspotted rockfish, S. chlorosticus from southern California have also been collected for future tests of multiple paternity across the species-rich genus Sebastes. 96 THE INFLUENCE OF ARTICHOKE THISTLE ON HUMMINGBIRD POPULATIONS R,J. Keber and S.A. Banack. Southern California Ecosystems Research Program, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA, 92834. Artichoke thistle (Cynara cardunculus L.), an invasive plant species disrupting coastal southern California, has been competing with rare, native plants in recent years. Hummingbirds feed on the artichoke thistle’s large purple inflorescences, however preliminary observations suggested that hum- mingbird nests built on these plants often fail. It was hypothesized that hummingbird nesting success on live artichoke thistles would be lower than on native vegetation, mainly due to plant tensile strength. Nest searches and data collection were carried out from April to June, 2004 and May to July, 2005. A total of 59 active nests were found, all on artichoke thistle. Species using the nests were Costa’s hummingbirds (Calypte costae), Anna’s hummingbirds (Calypte anna), and Black-chinned humming- birds (Archilochus alexandri). Thirty-eight nests were built on the dead stalks or inflorescences of artichoke thistle, and 21 nests were built on live artichoke thistle leaves. Approximately 24% of all nests were successful, which was within normal values presented in previous publications. Leaf and stem strength tests revealed that all nest locations were strong enough to hold a nest with two young, plus the mother. Failure of nests built on dead thistle was largely due to predation, but not to plant strength alone. In contrast, failure of nests built on live thistle was hypothesized to be mainly due to plant strength and structure combined with nest placement, predation, and extreme temperature. Al- though artichoke thistle disturbs native plant species, it may ultimately provide a benefit for hum- mingbirds as both a nectar source and a nesting source. 97 A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF GALLBLADDER PATHOLOGY USING BEDSIDE UL- TRASOUND Jarrod Larson, Graciela Barajas, John C. Fox, and William Scruggs. University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Orange, CA, 92868 The objective of this research was to determine if emergency department (ED) sonographers could use bedside ultrasound scans (BUS) to determine gallbladder pathology. Pigmented and cholesterol based gallstones are thought to be the cause of most gallbladder conditions resulting in right upper quadrant pain. Both cholelithiasis, indicating gallstones within the gallbladder, and choledocholithiasis, indicating the presence of gallstones within the common bile duct were visualized using BUS. This study retrospectively reviewed 37 consecutive months of ED gallbladder BUS at a Level I trauma center. The ED Ultrasound Process Improvement Committee (EDUPIC) reviews all BUS to ensure proper BUS diagnoses. BUS results were compared to the EDUPIC and radiology results, and the EDUPIC results were compared to radiology as well. Of the 1690 gallbladder BUS that met the study’s inclusion criteria, 575 received radiological imaging. When compared to the EDUPIC, sonographers were 88% sensitive (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 85-90) and 97% specific (95% CI, 95—98). When compared to radiology, sonographers were 88% sensitive (95% CI, 84-91) and 87% specific (95% CI, 82-91). The EDUPIC interpretation was 90% sensitive (95% CI, 87-93) and 90% specific (95% CI, 85—93) when compared to radiology. The results indicate ED sonographers are both sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of gallstones. These results also suggest that patients do not need to be subjected to the biological hazards resulting from CT scan radiation. Additionally, patients can benefit from a quicker and less expensive alternative when compared to radiological imaging, the most com- mon modality for determining gallbladder pathology. 54 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 98 EUPHAUSHD SWARMS IN THE MONTEREY SUBMARINE CANYON AS SAMPLED WITH A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE J. J. Lee, University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Bi- ology, Los Angeles, CA 90095. J. Ryan, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA 95039. W.M. Hamner, University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. G. Matsumoto, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, 95039. B. Robison, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, 95039. Euphausiids in the Monterey Submarine Canyon routinely form aggregations often exploited by numerous predator species. Our study examined influences of advection and variability in the species composition of euphausiid swarms at the shelf-break. In situ observations made in June, July and November, 2001 and August, 2002 with a Remotely Operated Vehicle permitted precise location of sampled swarms. Dominant euphausiid species were Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa spinifera. We observed significant overlap of their populations near the shelf-break, including dramatic variations in swarm species composition over small spatial scales (hundreds of meters), and over short time scales at the same location (daily). These observations, as well as moored acoustic data from a 12- day deployment at the shelf-break suggest the importance of advective mixing of krill populations at this location. Influence of advection on the fine-scale distributions of krill was also indicated by acoustic scattering layers 1-5 m thick along the periphery of tidal flow maxima. These unique obser- vations emphasize the importance of resolving plankton ecology at fine scales in dynamic shelf-break environments, where multiple species of this critical trophic level overlap. 99 EFFECTS OF ALTERED SALINITY DURING INCUBATION ON CALIFORNIA GRUN- ION, LEURESTHES TENUIS J.K. Matsumoto and K.L. Martin. Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, 90263 From early spring to late summer, California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) ride with the high tides onto the shores of Southern California to spawn. The female fish dig into the sand and deposit their eggs, while the males deposit their milt around the females to fertilize the clutches. The clutches of eggs remain out of water incubating in the sand until the next high tide, synchronized with the lunar cycle. Although there are considerable advantages to non-aqueous egg incubation, there are also po- tential disadvantages, one of which is possible changes in osmolarity in the surrounding medium. The effects of different salinity levels on grunion eggs during incubation were experimentally tested, by comparing the embryo survival and hatching competence of eggs incubated in sand moistened with artificial seawater of five different salinities, including normal seawater at 34 ppt, and water of 15, 24, 41, and 49 ppt. Each set of grunion eggs were tested for hatching competence in two different hatching media: normal sea water and the salinity of incubation. Grunion embryos tolerated decreased salinity better than increased salinity during incubation, and hatched at significantly lower rates when the salinity was above normal. The hatching medium did not alter hatching competence of eggs within each treatment. This study has potential implications for possible effects on grunion for implementation of desalination plants on the coast, because after desalinization, concentrated seawater is released into the ocean. Funded by California Sea Grant College and Pepperdine University. 100 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BODY SIZE AND SOUND PRODUCING STRUCTURES IN CRICKETS:DO BIG MALES HAVE BIG HARPS? N.R. Moradian and S.E. Walker. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831 The conspicuous acoustic signals of crickets are used to attract mates and to deter potential rivals. As such, there may be correlations between indicators of male quality or fighting ability (e.g. body size) and male signals. These are created when a male cricket closes his wings rapidly and a file and scraper mechanism cause an area of the wing called the harp to vibrate. Since the harp acts as a mechanical resonator, increases in harp area will result in decreases in the frequency of sound pro- duced. If there is a positive relationship between harp area and body size, this would provide a mechanism which explains the often found correlation between body size and carrier frequency. We ABSTRACTS 55 examined this in four different species of cricket, Acheta domesticus, Gryllus bimaculatus, Gryllus rubens, and Teleogryllus oceanicus. For each species we measured pronotum width as an index of body size, tibia length, and the area of the whole forewing and of the harp. There were significant differences among species in their morphological characteristics. In all but one species, tibia length, wing area, and the area of the harp were significantly correlated with body size. However, as body size increased harp area did not increase proportionally. This was expected because, in most species, females exhibit strong stabilizing selection on the carrier frequency produced by males and might constrain the evolution of structures involved in male signaling. In conclusion, our data provide a potential mechanism linking decreases in song frequency with body size in male crickets. 101 LINKING THE STATOLITH CHEMISTRY OF APLYSIA CALIFORNICA TO WATER- SHED DISCHARGE PLUMES ALONG THE OPEN COAST M.O. Navarro, G. Paradis, D.W. Lea, M. Sheehy, R.R. Warner, S.D. Gaines and D.C. Zacherl. California State University Fullerton, University of California Santa Barbara Biologists must identify the larval dispersal trajectories of marine organisms inhabiting marine protected areas (MPAs) in order to understand recruitment variability and population connectivity. Currently larval trajectories from populations inhabiting southern Californian MPAs, typically 2—3 km in length, remain unknown. However, the use of calcified structures such as fish otoliths and inver- tebrate statoliths as natural tags has enabled tracking of some marine larvae. Prior research indicates that along the open coast tags might exist at spatial scales of 10s of kilometers. We propose to validate whether or not watershed discharge plumes generate detectable watershed-specific tags at a spatial scale (<10 km) relevant for tracking larvae from MPA populations in southern California. In October 2005, we out-planted egg-masses of a model invertebrate species, Aplysia californica, at three MPA sites influenced by watershed discharge plumes along the open coast of southern California. Concur- rently at each site, seawater chemistry, temperature and salinity were sampled to correlate statolith chemistry to seawater characteristics. Statoliths and seawater samples will be analyzed for elemental concentrations by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the University of Cal- ifornia Santa Barbara in July 2006. We predict that the out-planted A. californica statoliths will have watershed-specific tags. If detectable tags are validated, A. californica could be used in future studies as a model species to track larval dispersal among MPAs along the open coast of Southern California. Further, environmentally induced natural tags may be useful to track larval trajectories in other spa- tially close (<5 km) areas influenced by watershed discharge. 102 PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF THE FLATFISH GENUS PLEURONICHTHYS J.D. Olson. University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angles, CA 90095-1606 The genus Pleuronichthys consists of seven species of right-eyed flatfishes found in the Pacific Ocean, five found of the coast of southern California. Although these fishes have been included in several family and order level phylogenetic studies, the relationships of the species within the genus are often incomplete and unresolved. I have attempted to gain better phylogenetic resolution by fo- cusing specifically on the genus as the ingroup. I have collected seventy-four measurements and ten counts for all seven species in the genus as well as for seven pleuronectid outgroup taxa. I used gap coding to obtain discrete characters and a multiple outgroup approach to polarize the data. Using parsimony analysis, I generated trees using ordered and unordered characters. Ordering the characters yielded a tree with a monophyletic ingroup, a consistency index (CI) of 0.558 and a retention index (RI) of 0.6571. The unordered characters resulted in a similar tree (CI = 0.740, RI = 0.561) with two main differences: the placement of Pleuronichthys cornutus and the rooting of the tree. The resolved trees and implications of the differences between them will be discussed. 103 AN IV VITRORISK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF T CELLS IN C57BL/6 MICE Joan Ordonez* and Christine Broussard, Ph.D. Department of Biology, The University of La Verne, La Verne, California 91750 Environmental toxicants, such as pesticides, have had severe consequences on the environment and the organisms that live in it. Although the effects of many pesticides on the reproductive system have been thoroughly studied, few scientists have tackled the study of their effects on the immune system. 56 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES These studies are important because statistics have shown that today children are more prone to develop asthma and allergies compared to 10 years ago. The consensus among immunologists is that this is due in part to environmental influences on their developing immune systems, including during gestation. Previous studies of pesticides on the development of the immune system utilized gross assays of immune function, like cell counts and static immunophenotyping. We have undertaken the development of an accurate, sensitive in vitro risk assessment model for the effects of environmental toxicants on the development of the immune system. Our risk assessment model assays the conse- quences of prenatal pesticide exposure on the development of T cells. Our methodology uses day 16 or 17 embryos from C57BL/6 pregnant mice. Harvested thymocytes are exposed in vitro to combi- nations of antibodies that have been shown to induce the differentiation of thymocytes into mature T cells. Different concentrations of pesticide are added to the cells in the presence or absence of anti- bodies. Flow cytometric analysis is used to determine the phenotype of the resulting T cells. We have selected the pesticide methoxychlor as the first pesticide for analysis based on its established role as an endocrine mimic and known immune-endocrine interactions. 104 DETECTION OF QUORUM-SENSING COMPOUNDS IN PLANT-ASSOCIATED MICRO- ORGANISMS M.R. Oseguera, N. Chinchillas and G. Brelles-Marino. Biological Sciences Department, Cali- fornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91766 The mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS) is an environmental sensing system that allows bacteria to monitor their own population density and to couple cell population density with gene expression. Genes transcribed in response to QS mechanisms are diverse and involved in biolumines- cence production, antibiotic biosynthesis, plant nodulation, biofilm formation, exopolysaccaride bio- synthesis, and production of virulence factors, among others. In Gram-negative bacteria, most but not all, of the autoinducers belong to the family of N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs). In the last decade, a considerable amount of QS compounds (or autoinducers) has been detected in plant-associated bacteria. Most of these studies have been carried out with bacteria isolated from roots of temperate legumes. As far as we know, there are no screenings regarding the production of QS compounds on microsymbionts isolated from tropical plants. AHLs compounds are signal molecules and produced in very low concentrations. Therefore, they cannot be detected by chemical methods. The general aim of this work was to detect QS compounds in plant-associated bacteria from the tropics. We will show results about the use of different types of biosensors to detect AHL activity in supernatants of the bacterial strains. 105 THE USE OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS TO EVALUATE THE GENETIC POPULA- TION STRUCTURE OF THE ROUND STINGRAY AT SEAL BEACH, CA S.M. Plank, C.G. Lowe, J.A. Brusslan. California State University Long Beach, Department of Biological Sciences, Long Beach, CA 90840-3702 Round stingrays (Urobatis halleri) are small, benthic elasmobranches with a range from Eureka, CA to Panama with high abundance in southern California. Most of the 500 stingray related injuries that occur annually during summer months are attributed to this particular species and the venomous barb located at the base of the tail. As part of an ongoing project to increase our knowledge about these animals, round stingrays were sampled monthly by beach seines from Seal Beach, CA from August of 2004 to December of 2005. Microsatellite markers were used to determine if the population at this location was the same year round, or if there were population shifts as previous tagging data have suggested. Out of 2,183 tagged stingrays, only 13 were recaptured within 1 km of Seal Beach. Thus far, one polymorphic microsatellite marker has been developed (Uha 170), and 28 different alleles have been recovered from the Seal Beach population over the sampling period of about 1.5 years. The allele frequencies for this locus show no major changes during the sampling period (F = 0.72, p = 0.65). We are in the process of developing new markers to strengthen our data set which suggests that the Urobatis halleri population is stable over time. We are also continuing our sampling during 2006, and we will present these data as well. ABSTRACTS 57 106 GSNO FORMATION IN ASTROCYTES AND NEURONS-IMPLICATION FOR NEURO- TOXICITY Taylor Pupka', Li-Peng Yap’, Jerome Garcia', and Enrique Cadenas?. 'Department of Biology, University of La Verne, 1950 3rd St. La Verne, CA 91750-4401; 7Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089- 12] S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) has been proposed to function as a modulator of the action of NO. GSNO has potentially significant roles in cell signaling and biological process through S-nitrosylation of proteins and modulation of redox status of cells by altering the GSH pool. To investigate GSNO formation under conditions that mimic NO production by iNOS during inflammation, we exposed primary astrocytes and cortical neurons to a long acting nitric oxide donor (DETA-NO), and measured GSH, GSNO and GSSG by HPLC. Exposure of both astrocytes and neurons to DETA-NO showed formation of GSNO and GSSG. Comparison of GSH/GSNO and GSH/GSSG ratios in both astrocytes and neurons showed both ratios decreased with increasing concentrations of DETA-NO. However, decreases in GSH/GSNO and GSH/GSSG ratios were more dramatic in neurons than in astrocytes, thus indicating a difference in rates of GSNO metabolism and GSSG reduction. Subsequently, the activities of GSNO and GSSG reductase were measured and compared. The activity of both the GSNO reductase and GSSG reductase in astrocytes were significantly higher than in neurons. Analysis of GSNO consumption in neurons and astrocytes by HPLC also showed a subsequent increase in the formation of GSSG. Taken together, the data suggest that the glutathione defense system in astrocytes is an efficient defense against nitrosative stress. This is especially important in the context of neuro- degenerative disease associated with neuroinflammation where there is selective loss of neurons con- comitant with a long lasting activation of iNOS. 107 GLUTATHIONE TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN 3 SPECIES OF SEA TURTLES, CHELON- IA MYDAS AGASSIZIT, LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA, AND CARETTA CARETTA, FROM THE BAJA CALIFORNIA PENNISULA Kristine L. Richardson*', Susan C. Gardner’, and Daniel Schlenk!. 'University of California— Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; ?Centro de Investigaciones Biologicas del Noroeste, S.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur CP 23090, Mexico Sea turtles, all species of which are critically threatened or endangered, exhibit different dietary preferences based on life stage and species. Exposure to various toxicants may vary and require different detoxification strategies. Glutathione conjugation is an important detoxification mechanism for halogenated organic compounds which may be anthropogenic or natural. We examined the kinetics of basal glutathione transferase (GST) activity in liver tissue from 3 species of sea turtles—the her- bivorous Eastern Pacific green, known locally as black (Chelonia mydas agassizii) and the carnivorous olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Preliminary data suggest higher basal GST activity in C. caretta relative to the other species. Additionally, enzyme kinetic parameters (K,, and V,,,,) for glutathione, as well as the relative affinity (V,,,,/K,,) of GST for this substrate seem higher in L. olivacea than in C. mydas. These results suggest a possible difference in GST activity among species and may indicate a potential relationship between detoxification mechanisms and tro- phic level. Future research will include further examination of GST kinetics in sea turtles species, quantification of body burden of halogenated toxicants, and investigation of the biotransformation of natural halogenated products of dietary origin. 108 FIREBREAKS AND INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES Moy Mckayla Sab, Ayse Bassari and Cheryl Swift. Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, 90608 Firebreaks are used by fuels management programs to stop, suppress or control fire behavior by manipulating plant in order to prevent costly damage. Previous studies have linked firebreaks to the establishment of nonnative invasive plants as a result of changing light levels, hydrology, and nutrient levels. Invasive species increase in abundance when an area is mowed or ploughed as a result of rapid growth rates and increased seed production which create persistent seed banks. The establishment of nonnative invasive plants within fuel treatments is a serious concern within the Whittier Hill-Puente 58 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Hill corridor because treated areas abut intact coastal sage scrub stands. We established belt transects across fire break/coastal sage scrub interfaces in order to examine the effect of fire breaks on cover, growth, seed production and seed banks of non-native species. We predict that non-native species will show increased growth rates and increased seed production in the firebreaks, and that seedbanks will be greater in firebreaks as a result. We also predict that the penetration of non-natives into coastal sage scrub will be related to the seed production and seedbanks present in adjacent fire breaks. Increased seed sources in a firebreak adjacent to coastal sage scrub may make coastal sage scrub more susceptible to invasion following large scale disturbance such as natural or prescribed fires. This is of particular concern because prescribed fires have been proposed as an alternative method of fuel control in the Whittier-Puente Hill Corridor. 109 AN OBSERVATION OF OYSTER SETTLEMENT OVER SEASONS FOR THE WEST COAST OYSTER, OSTREA CONCHAPHILA E.M. Seale and D. Zacherl. Southern California Ecosystems Research Program, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Sciences, Fullerton, CA, 92831 Declines in populations of the native oyster, Ostrea conchaphila, have piqued recent interest in restoring its populations. Local population dynamics and persistence are influenced by the magnitude and timing of larval settlement. Thus, we examined factors such as temperature and salinity, which may influence larval setthkement and examined settlement as a function of season. O. conchaphila settlement is thought to peak in the spring and fall months in California and Baja. Salinity and temperature vary in estuaries due to rainfall, freshwater input, distance from open ocean, oyster ex- posure to air temperature and water depth of oyster settlement. Salinity and water temperature ranges are crucial for adult survival and cue synchronized male spawning during reproduction. To observe variation in larval settlement density over seasons, artificial substrate tiles were placed in two separate estuarine locations in Newport Bay, CA and Carlsbad, CA. Temperature was monitored at each site every 15 minutes and salinity was measured by hand with a salinity probe at each tile collection. Tiles were collected and oyster settlers counted every two weeks during spring tides to pinpoint pulses in settlement. Preliminary results indicate that settlement is significantly higher at Newport Bay than at Aqua Hedionda only when pulses in settlement occur, and larval settlement is variable among months. 110 AN APPLICATION OF ISLAND BIOGEOGRAPHY THEORY TO RIPARIAN RESTORA- TION Jane Shevtsov and Richard E Ambrose. UCLA, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Bi- ology and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095 The theory of island biogeography says that species diversity on an island is controlled by its size and distance from the mainland. If a degraded landscape can be thought of as an “‘ocean’’ inhospitable to many species, restored and natural areas provide “‘islands”’ of habitat. If island biogeography theory applies to habitat restoration, there should be a relationship between species diversity at a restored site and its distance from the nearest established site. At five southern California riparian restoration sites, transects were used to measure plant species richness. The closest upstream established site to the restoration was located using a combination of fieldwork and aerial photographs. Distance between this site and the restoration (“‘site distance’’) was measured and a regression analysis of distance vs. species richness per meter transect length (S/m) was performed. The S/m vs. site distance regression yielded a significant negative relationship (p = 0.04) once seasonality and landscape factors were taken into account. These findings are tentative due to small sample size but, if confirmed, will have implications for restoration planning. 111 PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE BIG PINE VOLCANIC FIELD, INYO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Varnell, Ashley E, and Jessey, David R. Geological Sciences Department, California State Poly- technic University—Pomona, Pomona, CA 91768 The Big Pine volcanic field encompasses 1000 square kilometers of the northern Owens Valley. It is comprised of 30 basaltic cones and flows emplaced over the past 1.2 million years. In thin section, Big Pine (BP) basalts display marked differences. Some samples contain phenocrysts ABSTRACTS a9 of plagioclase, resorbed olivine and orthopyroxene and minor nepheline. Others have abundant pla- gioclase and pyroxene phenocrysts, but sparse olivine and no nepheline. There is also a noticeable difference in phenocryst size. Some basalts are comprised of phenocrysts that exceed 1mm in diameter, while others have much smaller (200-fold (e.g., with capture and captivity) and remain elevated if the stressor(s) persists. Secondary physiological impacts of the cortisol response include impairment of the HPI axis itself, disruption of the growth endocrine system, and inhibited defense mechanisms, particularly under situations of chronic stress. The regu- lation and observed dysregulation of stress responses in urban ocean fish will be discussed in terms of underlying steroidogenic mechanisms and potential impacts on other physiological systems. [Sup- port in part by Southern California Sea Grant & California Sea Grant College Programs. ] ABSTRACTS ah 144. EVALUATION OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN REPRODUCTIVE METRICS, GENDER AND VITELLOGENIN EXPRESSION IN DEMERSAL FLATFISH COLLECTED NEAR THE MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL OF ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, USA Rempel, Mary Ann'*; Reyes, Jesus’; Steinert, Scott?; Hwang, Wendy'; Armstrong, Jeff*; Sak- amoto, Ken*; Kelley, Kevin’; Schlenk, Daniel'. 'University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA; ?California State University of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA; 3CSC Biomarker Laboratory, San Diego, CA; *Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA Estrogenic activity in fish has primarily been evaluated using vitellogenin (vtg) expression in male and juvenile animals. Although the response has been widespread in field and laboratory studies, the relevance of the response to higher-level adverse effects, particularly in the field, is less than clear. Previous evaluations of vtg within flatfish species collected near the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) outfall and stations as far as 7.7 km down current indicated bioavailable estrogens within demersal flatfish populations. In order to evaluate the persistence of estrogenic activity and relation- ships to reproduction and development, fish were sampled in the winter and summer of 2003 and 2004 from the same locations and vtg, plasma estradiol (E2) concentrations, gonadosomatic indices (GSI), sperm DNA damage, development and gender ratios were measured in English Sole (Pleuro- nectes vetulus) and Hornyhead Turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis). Variable levels of vtg were contin- ually observed in plasma samples from fish collected in the locations analyzed. Vtg expression and plasma E2 levels were significantly correlated in females of both species. A positive relationship was demonstrated between plasma E2 levels and sperm DNA damage. Rather than an expected femini- zation of populations, a trend toward masculinization was observed particularly at the OCSD outfall, as indicated by gender ratios and significantly higher GSI in males versus males from the reference station. These results are consistent with previous studies showing vtg expression in male flatfish, but no alteration in overall flatfish abundance at the sampled sites. 145 SEASONAL EVALUATION OF REPRODUCTIVE STATUS AND EXPOSURE TO ENVI- RONMENTAL ESTROGENS IN HORNYHEAD TURBOT AT THE MUNICIPAL WASTE- WATER OUTFALL OF ORANGE COUNTY Xin Deng, Mary Ann Rempel and Daniel Schlenk. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA 92507 In the sediments near the outfall of Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), detectable levels of 17-estradiol, alkylphenol ethoxylates and alkylphenols, raise concerns about the heath of biota. Hor- nyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis), a flatfish dwelling in the sediment and feeding on benthos, may experience significant exposure via water, sediment and prey to environmental estrogens. As part of a multi-year monitoring project, fish collected in February, August and November 2005 at the outfall (T1) and a farfield site (T11) 7.7 km north of the outfall were analyzed for condition factor (CF), gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma vitellogenin (Vtg) concentrations, and histopathology of gonads (August and November samples only). The above endpoints were evaluated to determine whether reproductive status changed seasonally and to identify the suitability of T11 as a reference site. The results indicated that site differences were not statistically detected for CK GSI, develop- mental status, and Vtg concentrations of females but seasonal changes were well pronounced in most of the cases. Incidences of ovarian atresia were observed in 4 of 5 females collected at T11 in August but no incidence of ova-testis was observed. Vtg concentrations in males were significantly different between the two sites with higher values in T11 in February and August but lower values in November. With the exception of male samples collected at T1 1 in November, the average male Vtg concentrations of all the sampling events exceeded the concentrations of purged control animals and male animals collected at Dana Point in February 2006. Over all, the results exhibited estrogenic responses and similar developmental status in male hornyhead turbot at Tl and T11. With undetectable Vtg concen- trations similar to purged control animals, males collected at Dana Point in February suggest that this location has potential as a reference site for further evaluation. 42 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 146 REGION-ASSOCIATED DISRUPTION OF FLATFISH ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS-STUDIES IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT Jesus A. Reyes, Dawn M. Petschauer, and Kevin M. Kelley. Environmental Endocrinology Lab, Marine Biology Program, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840 Despite the enormous human population affecting southern California’s marine environment, the issue Of environmental endocrine disruption in marine wildlife has been poorly studied in this region. Our work and that of our collaborators has uncovered evidence of endocrine-disrupted states in flatfish living in locales affected by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfalls, as compared with fish at more distal “‘reference”’ sites. Among these pieces of evidence are a blunted endocrine stress response (impaired hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal axis) and significantly reduced levels of the important growth-regulatory peptide, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Additionally, in a non-migratory flatfish species (hornyhead turbot, Pleuronichthyes verticalis), levels of the sex steroids, 17f-estradiol and testosterone are significantly altered in association with proximity to WWTP outfalls. These observed endocrine alterations will be discussed in terms of potential underlying causes and interactions between endocrine systems in these fishes. [Support by Southern California Sea Grant College Program. ] 147. IN VIVO BIOASSAY GUIDED FRACTIONATION OF MARINE SEDIMENT EXTRACTS FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT FOR ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY D. Schlenk!'*, Y. Sapozhnikova', M. Irwin', L. Xie', W. Hwang!, S. Reddy’, B.J. Brownawell’, J. Armstrong’, M. Kelly*, D. E. Montagne?, E.P. Kolodziej°®, D. Sedlak®, S. Snyder’. 'Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA; 7Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA; *Ocean Monitoring, Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, CA USA; *Ocean Monitoring, City of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; °Ocean Monitoring & Research Group, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Whittier, CA, USA; °Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; ’Water Quality Research and Development Division, South- ern Nevada Water Authority, Las Vegas, Nevada The exposure and uptake of environmental estrogenic compounds have been reported in previous studies of demersal flatfish species in the central Southern California Bight (SCB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the feminizing activity of marine sediments from the SCB by using in vivo vitellogenin (Vtg) assays in male or juvenile fish. In 2003, sediments were collected near wastewater outfalls serving the counties of Los Angeles (LACSD) and Orange (OCSD), and the city of San Diego (SD). Cultured male California Halibut (CH) (Paralichthys californicus) were either directly exposed to sediments for 7 days or treated with two intraperitoneal injections of sediment extract over seven days. 17®-Estradiol (E2) equivalent values ranged from 1—90ug/kg with LACSD > SD > OCSD. Measurable concentrations of E2 were observed in all sediment extracts. Estrone (El) was only ob- served in sediments near the LACSD outfall. Alkylphenols and alkylphenol ethoxylates were observed in all sediment samples but were highest near the OCSD outfall. Fractionation studies of the LACSD sediment extract failed to demonstrate relationships between Vtg expression and 62 analytes including E2, which was observed in whole extract (2.9 ng/g). Oxybenzone (1.6 ng/g) was identified in bioactive fractions as well as unknown compounds of relatively high polarity. These results indicate estrogenic compounds other than classic natural and xenoestrogens may contribute to estrogenic activity of sed- iments from the SCB. 148. PALOS VERDES SHELF REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION PLENAR Y—-HISTORICAL AND LEGAL OVERVIEW John Saurenman, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, California Department of Justice A discussion of the history of DDT/PCB contamination on the shelf, the legal battles which were settled for 140 M dollars, and how that money was divided.among the various remediation/restoration entities. ABSTRACTS 73 149 PALOS VERDES SHELF REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION PLENARY-INSTITU- TIONAL CONTROLS Sharon Lin, Remedial Project Manager, Public Outreach and Education, USEPA Region 9 The institutional control (IC) program is focused on the protection of human populations at risk to DDT and PCB exposure from eating contaminated fish. The ICs program consists of public outreach to at risk populations, fish contamination monitoring, and white croaker commercial catch ban and bag limit enforcement. The ICs program has bee in full implementation phase since 2002. The stake- holders of the PV Shelf project completed a series of workshops to develop a revised strategic plan for the ICs components in Fall 2005. The presenter will show a video describing the ICs program with an emphasis on the public outreach component of the program, the Fish Contamination Education Collaborative. The presenter will give a status update on the program and discuss any related subjects that are of interest to the meeting attendees. 150 PALOS VERDES SHELF REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION PLENARY—RESOURCE RESTORATION Dave Witting, Montrose Settlement Restoration Program Provide an overview of the recently released final plan for restoring natural resource injuries caused by DDTs and PCBs discharged onto the Palos Verdes shelf. The plan details how they intend to restore fishing services, fish habitat, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and seabirds to the Southern California Bight. The presentation will describe the status of a comprehensive fish contamination study for DDTs, PCBs and mercury and how results from this study will guide resource restoration projects. 151 PALOS VERDES SHELF REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION PLENARY-SITE REME- DIATION Carmen White, Remedial Project Manager, Superfund Division, USEPA Region 9 Provide an overview of the studies conducted regarding characterization of the site and a discussion of the options being considered for site remediation. EPA is getting ready to release its remedial investigation report, which will show why there are no easy answers to cleaning up Palos Verdes Shelf. Discussion of remedial options is encouraged. 152 NITROGEN DEPOSITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: IMPACTS ON PLANT AND FOREST HEALTH, NUTRIENT CYCLING, WATER QUALITY, AND ECOSYSTEM SUS- TAINABILITY Fenn, M.E.* USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Experiment Station, Riverside, CA Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition to montane sites in the South Coast (Los Angeles) Air Basin is the highest reported in North America. Although NOx emissions have declined dramatically in recent years, N deposition yet remains unusually high in montane areas directly exposed to incoming smog. Dry deposition is often the major input form because of long smoggy dry periods. However, in sites with regular fog occurrence, N deposition in fog is also a major N deposition input to forests. Nitrogenous emissions generally come from urban sources comprised of the transportation sector as well as industrial and domestic emissions. In some areas agricultural emissions are still an important but declining source as agricultural land is converted to suburban uses. Nitrogen oxide emissions are precursors to ozone formation; thus N deposition and ozone exposure co-occur in polluted areas. Ozone is phytotoxic while N is generally a plant growth promoter. The combined effects of these pollutant types on forests causes fundamental perturbations in nutrient cycling, tree physiology, fuel accumu- lation and forest sustainability. The other major environmental impact of chronic N deposition is increased nitrate levels in runoff and groundwater from montane watersheds, decreasing water quality. Accumulated N from atmospheric deposition is affecting low elevation coastal sage scrub ecosystems, chaparral catchments, forest health, and Class I Wilderness areas in southern California. 74 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 153 DRY AND WET ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITIONS OF SELECTED INSECTICIDES IN THE SAN DIEGO CREEK-NEWPORT BAY WATERSHED Jay Gan,* Wenjian Lao, Svetlana Bondarenko, and Fredrick Ernst. Department of Environmen- tal Science, University of California, Riverside A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for diazinon and chlorpyrifos in the Newport Bay watershed was promulgated by USEPA in June 2002 and adopted by the Regional Board in April 2003. Similarly, a TMDL for organochlorine compounds including DDT was promulgated by USEPA and is scheduled for adoption by the Regional Board in 2007. The TMDL implementation plan requires that a study be performed to characterize the significance of atmospheric deposition of selected insecticides in the Upper Newport Bay. In this study we measured levels of selected pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion, carbaryl, organochlorine pesticides, and synthetic pyrethroids in the near-surface atmosphere, in dust, and in precipitation at locations in the Newport Bay watershed. Air samples were taken using a high volume sampler with polyurethane foam plugs at four locations in the summer months of 2005. Dust samples were collected using a flat panel at three locations under dry weather conditions. Rain samples were collected through the winter of 2005 and 2006 at three locations in the watershed. Samples were extracted and analyzed using standard methods. Preliminary results in con- centrations will be presented and discussed at the meeting. 154 THE DRY DEPOSITION AND RESUSPENSION OF PARTICLE-ASSOCIATED TRACE METALS NEAR A FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES Lisa D. Sabin* and Kenneth C. Schiff, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA. Jeong Hee Lim, Maria Teresa Venezia, Arthur M. Winer, and Keith D. Stol- zenbach, University of California, Los Angeles, CA Dry atmospheric deposition represents a potentially large source of trace metal contamination in urban stormwater runoff, yet there is a limited amount of research on the relationship between at- mospheric emissions and water quality problems in urban areas. In Los Angeles, which has among the worst air quality in the nation, significant quantities of toxic materials are released into the at- mosphere every day, and paved road dust represents the largest source of particle-associated trace metal emissions to the atmosphere. In order to better understand the role of roadways as a source of localized trace metal deposition, we characterized the horizontal dry deposition patterns of chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc upwind and at increasing distances downwind of the I-405 Freeway in coastal Los Angeles. Dry deposition fluxes and atmospheric concentrations of these metals were highest at the site closest to the freeway, and reduced to approximately urban background concentra- tions within 150 m downwind of the freeway. Compared with urban background, atmospheric particle size distributions indicated the freeway was a significant source of trace metals on large particles > 6 wm in diameter, which deposit close to their source and account for the increased dry deposition flux rates observed near the freeway. The spatial pattern of measured deposition flux was well predicted by a relatively simple line-source Gaussian plume model modified to include particle deposition and resuspension. The model results indicated dilution by vertical dispersion of the plume was the most important mechanism regulating downwind concentrations and deposition. 155 DEPOSITION AND RESUSPENSION PROCESSES ON SURFACE CONTAMINATION AND AIR CONCENTRATION PROFILES Jeong Hee Lim*, Keith D. Stolzenbach. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Uni- versity of California, Los Angeles, CA A formulated line-source Gaussian plume model was used to estimate vertical and horizontal air concentration profiles and horizontal fluxes of surface contamination. The model included both de- position and resuspension parameters. A rapid reduction of air concentration was observed below a height of 5 m and within a 200 m horizontal distance from the source. The ground level concentration was highest when there was no deposition and resuspension, but rapidly decreased with horizontal distance from the source. As deposition velocity increased, the time for surface contamination to reach steady state increased proportionally. The net accumulation of surface contamination increased as the dependence of the resuspension rate on wind speed decreased. ABSTRACTS VS 156 USE OF IN SITU HATCHBOX STUDIES TO EVALUATE WATER QUALITY EFFECTS Howard Bailey'*, Ben Chalmers’, and James Elphick'. ‘Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA; ?Myra Falls Mine, Campbell River, British Columbia Laboratory toxicity tests have been criticized on the basis that their results may not reflect site- specific conditions. Conversely, interpreting the results of bioassessment studies may be problematic due to the inability to control for the movements of organisms in the receiving environment, as well as difficulties distinguishing between water quality and habitat effects. Thus, the use of in situ studies may provide an opportunity to quantitatively evaluate the potential effects of a discharge under the conditions found in the actual receiving environment. This presentation describes the approach used at the Myra Falls mine to evaluate the potential for discharge effects in the receiving environment. Eyed trout embryos were placed in hatchboxes at different locations to identify any potential for toxicity in Myra Creek. The reference site was located upstream of the discharge, and potential impact sites were located downstream of the discharge. Hatchboxes were also placed at selected locations to identify possible inputs of contaminated subsurface flows. Both lethal and sub-lethal endpoints were evaluated, including survival, hatching success, and growth. Last year’s presentation focused on meth- ods and perceived benefits associated with this approach; this year’s presentation will focus on some of the practical issues and the results. 157 EVALUATION OF IMPACTS AND BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH DISCHARGE OF TREATED EFFLUENT TO THE SANTA CLARA RIVER ESTUARY Bailey, Howard C.'; Stransky, Chris'; Kamman, Greg’; and Pfeifer, Dan’. 'Nautilus Environ- mental, San Diego, CA; *Kamman Hydrology and Engineering, Inc., San Rafael, CA; *City of San Buenaventura, Ventura, CA The objective of this study was to evaluate impacts and benefits associated with discharge of treated wastewater to the Santa Clara River Estuary. The estuary is located in a semi-arid region of California that has been subjected to intensive habitat and water development over time. The analysis included evaluation of effluent toxicity and sediment quality, as well as investigations of ecological and hydro- logical function. The frequency and magnitude of toxicity in samples from the estuary was minimal, and not related to the discharge. In addition, the sediment quality investigation indicated that contam- inants of concern were not accumulating in estuary sediments, and that the intermittent adverse effects observed in sediment toxicity tests were largely due to grain size effects. The ecological investigation showed that changes in flora and fauna could be attributed to changes in land use that resulted in a decrease in estuary size of approximately 90% between the late 1800s and 2003. The hydrological analysis demonstrated that the discharge accounts for a portion of the river flows that would have historically reached the estuary, but which have been diverted for other uses upstream. Overall, the study demonstrated that the discharge has no demonstrable negative impacts on the estuary, and supports beneficial uses by maintaining water quality and habitat. In a broader perspective, this study is an example of a robust approach that integrates several environmental disciplines to evaluate the extent of impacts (both positive and negative) to a given receiving environment. 158 CHARACTERIZATION OF CHOLINESTERASES FROM TWO DEMERSAL FLATFISH COLLECTED NEAR A MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER OUTFALL IN SOUTHERN CALI- FORNIA Gabriela Rodriguez-Fuentes'*, Daniel Schlenk! and Jeff Armstrong’. 'University of California Riverside, Riverside CA; 7?OCSD, Fountain Valley, CA Two cholinesterases (ChE) present in vertebrates, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholines- terase (BChE) are distributed in tissues in species-specific patterns. English sole and Horneyhead turbot muscle ChE activities were measured from in two locations off the coast of Southern California. Biochemical characterization in both species was done according to differences in size or gender. To characterize the ChEs two substrates were tested: acetylthiocholine iodide (ASChI) and butyrylthioch- oline iodide (BSChI). Eserine, BW284c51, and iso-OMPA were used as selective inhibitors for ChE, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), respectively. Pesticide sensitivity was evaluated with Aldicarb and Paraoxon. English sole muscle ChE correlated with total fish length (r = —0.3271). No significant differences 76 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES were observed between genders and sampling sites. Substrate preference assay shown that both ChE are found in muscle, BChE represents about 36% of the total ChE activity. Data resulting from the use of selective inhibitors suggested the presence of an atypical BChE because its kinetic parameters had characteristics of both ChEs. Higher sensitivity to pesticide inhibition was observed in ChEs from smaller size fish. Horneyhead turbot muscle ChE activities presented significant differences between males and fe- males but no correlation was found with total length. No significant differences were observed between sampling sites. Both ChEs were also present with BChE activity constituting 88% of the total ChE activity. Selective inhibitor results indicated the presence of an atypical ChE. Male ChE were more sensitive to pesticide inhibition. Species, size and gender dependent differences in ChE may contribute to differences in susceptibility to ChE-inhibiting toxicants encountered in the environment. 159 TOXICITY IDENTIFICATION EVALUATION (TIE) CASE STUDY OF A GEOTHERMAL ELECTRIC PLANT LOCATED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA John Rudolph, Chris Stransky, and Howard Bailey. Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA 92121 . A geothermal electric plant located in Southern California has consistently exhibited toxicity in their monthly NPDES monitoring to the Cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia, whereas the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, has not generally shown toxicity. Upon performing acute testing with C. dubia, it was determined that samples collected within days of each other were extremely variable in their toxicity. Routine Phase I TIE treatments were generally ineffective at removing toxicity; however, it was determined that the toxicity of the samples was inversely related to pH. In addition, the presence of ammonia complicated interpretation of the TIE results because there was sufficient ammonia present in at least some of the samples to result in toxicity if the pH was increased to 9. TIE testing on several samples collected during a site visit to the plant demonstrated that sulfides and ammonia could be major contributors to the toxicity. However, further investigations into plant operations revealed that frequent chlorination events could be oxidizing ammonia to nitrite. Nitrite analysis of all archived samples indicated that, with few exceptions, a tight relationship existed between nitrite levels and toxicity. Phase II TIE investigations have identified nitrite as the primary toxicant of concern, with ammonia being a secondary toxicant (depending on the pH of the sample). Elevated TDS remains an issue with respect to chronic toxicity to C. dubia, and hydrogen sulfide could become a concern depending on seasonal changes in influent streams. Routine monthly testing is continuing in order to confirm these relationships. 160 EXTENT AND MAGNITUDE OF COPPER CONTAMINATION IN MARINAS OF THE SAN DIEGO REGION Kenneth Schiff*, Jeff Brown and Dario Diehl. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA Marinas are areas of special water quality concern because of the potential for pollutant accumu- lation within their protected waters. Perhaps the largest contaminant source to marinas is antifouling paints that leach copper to prevent the growth of encrusting organisms on vessel bottoms. Despite the potential environmental risk in marinas, particularly in San Diego, California, where as many as 17,000 recreational vessels are berthed, very little monitoring of marinas has been conducted. The objective of this study was two-fold: 1) Determine the extent and magnitude of dissolved copper concentrations in marinas throughout the San Diego region, and 2) Determine if elevated copper concentrations in marinas of the San Diego region are resulting in adverse biological impacts. A probabilistic study design was used to sample water-column copper concentrations and toxicity (using Mytilus gallo- provincialis) at 30 stations. Results indicated that exceedance of state water quality objectives was widespread (86% of marina area), but that toxicity was much less prevalent (21% of marina area). Toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) conducted at the most toxic sites indicated that toxicity was largely due to trace metals, most likely copper. Toxicity was reduced using TIE treatments that chelated trace metals such as cation exchange column, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium thio- sulfate (STS). Moreover, increasing dissolved copper concentrations correlated with increasing toxicity and these copper concentrations were high enough to account for virtually all of the observed toxicity. ABSTRACTS a7 161 PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHES AND HOW PEOPLE PER- CEIVE THEM: CONSIDERATIONS FOR BEACH NOURISHMENT PLANNING Scott H. Grove, Sonora High School, La Habra, CA Beaches are California’s number one tourist and recreational destination. This study of Southern California beaches has two parts. Part | provides a snap shot of the beaches of Southern California, recording comparative physical properties at intervals along the 200-mile shoreline from Point Con- ception to the San Diego boarder. Results of the first part of this study show that beaches in Southern California have a dramatic variety of widths as well as sand types, colors, and textures. Part 2 of the study surveys people’s opinions of Southern California beaches. To accomplish this, a ‘“‘Beach Sand Survey”’ was given to 225 people who were divided into three groups: 1) the public—beach users; 2) coastal resource scientists, agency professionals, and educators; and 3) coastal engineers and geolo- gists. The survey was designed to assess what physical beach factors are considered important. Survey results revealed that people have a wide variety of reasons why they enjoy going to the beach and a wide set of perceptions concerning our beaches. For example: While most prefer moderately wide beaches with fine texture sand, some favor very narrow and pebbly beaches, noting that these types of beaches may be adjacent to the best places for either surfing or tidepooling. The “‘Beach Sand Survey” also asks whether people are in favor of restoring Southern California beaches using beach nourishment if erosion has unfavorably narrowed them. People had mixed opinions regarding bringing new sand onto the beaches, but with the majority favoring nourishment and the majority willing to pay an extra tax to have their beaches restored. 162 TRANSPLANTED XY SPERMATOGONIA STEM CELLS COLONIZE IN THE SEMINIF- EROUS TUBULES OF XXY MICE B. Chuck, California Academy of Maths and Science. Y. Lue, Department of Medicine, LA- Biomed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502 Klinefelter syndrome (XXY males) is the most common sex chromosome aneuploidy, occurring in about 1.2 per 1000 liveborn male births. An experimental XXY mouse model has been developed and characterized for the purpose of uncovering the molecular mechanism of KS. It has been dem- onstrated that adult XXY mice have absence of germ cells, decreased serum testosterone levels, elevated serum FSH levels and impaired learning and memory. Furthermore, it has been shown that massive germ cell loss occurs within 10 days after birth, indicating that testicular failure begins early in XXY mice. It was hypothesized that in addition to germ cell defect, Sertoli cell dysfunction may contribute to the spermatogenetic failure in XXY mice. To test this hypothesis, testicular cells from 4-6 wks old transgenic mice (XY) were harvested and engineered to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). These cells were then injected them directly into the seminiferous tubules of adult XX Y mice and busulfan-treated recipient testes of wild-type (XY) mice. Ten weeks after transplantation, these recipient mice testes were removed. Decapsulated testes were examined under fluorescence microscopy to detect the GFP labelled cells. Immunohistochemistry was performed for detection of cells with GFP expression. Under fluorescent microscopy, green fluorescence (GFP positive cells) was present within seminiferous tubules of busulfan-treated XY mice, but not in XXY mice. Immunohistochem- istry on serial testicular sections demonstrated that GFP positive spermatogonia present in some of the seminiferous tubules of XXY mice, but more abundant in busulfan-treated XY mice. In some recipients, GFP positive Leydig cells were found in the interstitium of both XY and XXY mice. This demonstrates that XY testicular cells transplanted into XXY testes are able to survive for 10 weeks. Donor XY spermatogonia could colonize in the seminiferous tubules and donor Leydig cells reside in the interstitium of XXY testis (presumably arriving through puncture or rupture of tubules). It has been concluded that 1) XXY testicular environment allows XY Leydig cells to seed in the interstitium and 2) XXY Sertoli cells are sufficiently functional for XY spermatogonia to reside in the XXY seminiferous tubules. (Supported in part by LABiomed Seed Grant to Y. Lue.) 163 COUNTING THE MICROINFARCT(S) IN SECTION R-19 OF A HUMAN BRAIN Huynh, Tommy, Alhambra High School, and Neuroscience Method Research Group, University of Southern California, Department of Neurology, Los Angeles, CA, 90242 Ischemic vascular dementia (IVD) is a relatively uncommon entity, in the course of which multiple ischemic brain lesions result in progressive memory impairment. Ischemic brain lesions may also 78 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES aggravate the neuropsychologic deficit of Alzheimer disease (AD). The most commonly observed neuropathologic abnormalities were lacunar infarcts and microinfarcts (Vinters, 2000). Microinfarcts are by lesions not visible on gross inspection of the brain slices but are apparent on subsequent microscopic review of the case. Microinfarcts can be easily seen by routine hematoxylin and eosin- stained sections. A method was developed in processing entire sections of the human brain using an Aliquot Mixer, therefore allowing the staining of the tissue. In the nineteenth section of this non-I[VD brain, microinfarcts were not prevalent in the diagrammed regions in both the cortical and white matter, thus showing that microinfarcts are not in great numbers in patients without IVD. 164 MUTAGENIC ANALYSIS OF THE CYTOCHROME P450 14a-DEMETHYLASE (CkCyp51p) TO AZOLE RESISTANCE IN CANDIDA KRUSEI Da Eun Im, California Academy of Math and Science. Trang Phan, Hyunsook Park, and Scott G. Filler, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502 Candida krusei is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause serious infections in immunocompro- mised patients. Because C. krusei is intrinsically resistant to azole, this organism is a significant concern with the rise in the use of azole antifungal agents. Our previous study indicates that the main mechanism of fluconazole resistance in C. krusei is the alternation in the target enzyme, cytochrome P450 14a-demethylase (CkKCYP5/, CkKERG16), which is inhibited by azoles to cause an accumulation of C,, methylated sterols that disrupts membrane structure. In this study, we have compared the amino acid sequence of CkCyp5/p, which is resistant to azoles and C. albicans Ergl6p, which is azole- susceptible. We hypothesized that the mutation of some amino acid in conserved region makes C. krusei become more resistant to azole drug during evolution. To prove this hypothesis, we introduced point mutations in CkCYP51/ by in vitro mutagenesis, potentially changing the active pockets for azole binding. We compared the susceptibility of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, which expressed these mutated proteins, to voriconazole and fluconazole and that of the strains expressing CaERG/6. We identified that the protein possessing mutations in ckCYP51/: Ile437 to Val, Vall156 to Phe, and Ile404 to Val caused altered drug sensitivity to twofold more compared to wild type CkCYP51. This result indicates that this region is critically important in governing drug resistance; however, the point mu- tation may not be enough for diminishing azole-resistance. Further work will involve deletion of the functional domain of CkCYP5/ 165 FACTORS AFFECTING BALANCE AND PCP DISORDERS: THE INFLUENCE OF NAT- URAL STIMULI IN MICE UTRICLES YEAR 2 D.E. Lluncor, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Division of Neurobiology Head and Neck Surgery Laboratory of Vestibular/Sensory Neurobiology, Los Angeles, CA 90095 One otolithic organ, the utricle, has otoconia which acts upon the hair cells distinct polarization of cilia, called the morphological polarization vector (MPV). This project examines the effect of otoconia as stimuli upon the MPV orientation. The het/het and tlt/tlt mutation inhibits otoconia formation. When compared to the wild type and het/plus mice, otoconia is the experimental variable. The tissue was prepared and imaged for confocal microscopy. A highly analytical methodology was created to assess precise MPV orientation. The data was collected from twelve mice utricles, totaling 5837 traced MPV angles. Using the independent variable two sample t-test, 78.5% of the 28 het/het and het/plus regions and 68.5% of the 35 tlt/tlt and wild type regions had equal MPVs. The majority of angle distributions were equal, suggesting MPV organization is stimuli independent. This experiment might have specified a class of factors contributing to MPV maintenance. 166 EFFECTS OF STRESS AND EXERCISE IN BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR EXPRESSION H.T. Luu, Alhambra High School. M.J. Chen, and A. Russo-Neustadt, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA, 90032 [i was previously shown that chronic restraint stress induces an upregulation of activated Bcl-2 Associated protein X (Bax), a molecule that promotes neuronal apoptosis. Exercise served to lower ABSTRACTS 79 levels of Bax, the reason for which was hypothesized to be elevation in trophic factor expression, in particular brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNE markedly expressed in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for spatial learning and memory, is a protein that serves as a neu- rotransmitter regulator and aids in long-term potentiation and learning. BDNF can also activate phos- phatidylinositol 3-kinase, mitogen-associated protein kinase, and other cell survival pathways; it has the potential to protect against stress-induced harm in neurons. In the current study, rat models were subjected to acute stress by immobilization and/or allowed to exercise by a running wheel 14 days prior. Four treatment groups were compared: stress-only, exercise-only, exercise with stress, and con- trol (with neither stress nor exercise). Hippocampal BDNF mRNA levels were analyzed via in-situ hybridization. In the CA3 region of the hippocampus, the exercise-only group showed higher BDNF mRNA levels than those of the stress-only group. This comparison is consistent with data from earlier studies in this lab. Also consistent with Bax levels, these data suggest that BDNF plays some role in countering the harmful effects of stress. 169 BIOARTIFICIAL HEART TISSUE: AN ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER FOR CARDIAC PATCHES Karis R. Tang-Quan, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274. Mentor: Dr. Ben Wu, UCLA, Department of Bioengineering, Los Angeles, CA 90095 Tissue engineering seeks to replace heart infarcts with functional engineered heart tissue. The project aimed to study the effects of mechanical and electrical stimulation for engineering cardiac patches. The project investigated further the effectiveness of a polymer and scaffold for cardiac tissue engi- neering. Electrospinning of polyurethane (PU) created an elastic scaffold. An electroactive polymer was developed to provide stimulation. Eleven trials of 30 samples of human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) and cardiomyocytes were cultured. Immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to collect images. The design of the polymer is novel but unstable. Morphology and directional orientation of the layers of cells indicate proper cell signaling. The properties of PU are unique to the needs of cardio- myocytes because the fibers participate in contraction with the cells, instead of inhibiting it. The effects of electrical and mechanical stimulation on cardiomyocytes using an electroactive poly- mer could not be studied. However, a greater discovery was made in the second part of the project objective—the application of PU as a scaffold. Electrospinning brought out novel advantages to using PU in engineering cardiac patches. 170 MYOSTATIN EFFECT ON BODY COMPOSITION IN GENETICALY MODIFIED MICE D. Wu, Cypress High School. B.D. Harvey, S. Porszasz-Reisz, College of Science and Health, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, 1731 E. 120th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 Purpose: Myostatin (Mst), a member of the TGF-B superfamily, is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. In animals and humans, inactivation of Mst is associated with an increase in skeletal muscle mass while increased levels of Mst result in significant muscle loss. Aging is associated with the increase of Mst levels and fat mass. We hypothesized that the regulation of skeletal muscle and fat mass is partially coordinated by Mst. The purpose of this study was to delineate the role of Mst, and its effect on body composition, using Mst overexpressing transgenic and knock out mice in the age-dependent process. Methods: Transgenic animals were generated by pronuclei injection of muscle creatine kinase pro- moter driven Mst cDNA construct into C57/Bl6 inbreed mouse strain. Mst knock out (KO) animals were generated at John Hopkins University. In each study group, we used 5 animals, twelve months of age. Animals were positioned into a MicroCAT II CT scan. The three dimensional reconstructed animals were sliced for quantification and comparison. Results: The Mst transgenic animals were 10% heavier, had 27% less hind limb muscle mass, and 3.2 time more abdominal fat, compared to controls. The Mst KO mice were 22% heavier, had 67% more hind limb muscle mass, and 70% less abdominal fat mass. To our knowledge, this is the first quantitative demonstration of changes in muscle and fat mass caused by overexpression or inhibition of the Mst protein. 80 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Conclusions: These data suggest that Mst has a remarkable effect on body composition during aging. The consequences of these data may be related with muscle dysfunction, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and heart failure. With age advancement, individuals lose lean protein tissue and gain adipose tissue. Thus, skeletal muscle protein is particularly susceptible to aging. The animals used in this project may be an excellent model for studying the aging process. 171 HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 70 (HSP70) EXPRESSION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Young, Amy. Alhambra High School, Multiple Sclerosis Research Group. University of South- ern California, Keck School of Medicine, McKibben Hall, 1333 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033 Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which results in signif- icant areas of demyelination, caused by the immune system attacking the myelin, thinking it’s a foreign antigen. There are three main neural lineage cell types in the brain; neurons, astrocytes, and oligo- dendrocytes. Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are essential to the everyday survival of cells but play a significant role in the protection of all cellular proteins following stress, by binding to and ensuring they retain their shape and activity. Hsp can also work as immune stimulators, taking these cellular proteins to the immune system and causing increased immune responses to these proteins. The data describes the identification of a typical active MS lesion where the demyelination has occurred. In and around this lesion are many mononuclear cells, including macrophages and also a large number of cells expressing one of the major Hsp, namely Hsp70. Using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, I was able to successfully identify the three different lineages of neural cells in the tissues, with differential expression of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes observed on and around the lesions. The ability to detect Hsp70 in and around MS lesions and the staining of different lineages of neural cells provide an important basis for the ongoing research to determining which neural cells overexpress Hsp70 in the MS lesion. 173. EXPOSURE TO HYPEROXIA DURING PERINATAL PERIOD DISRUPTS SPECIFIC PUL- MONARY ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL SIGNALING PATHWAYS Sanyl Kabre, Hawthorne High School. Sharon Sugano, Dr. John S. Torday, Dr. Virender K. Rehan, Dept. of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the pre- mature infant. Although exposure to hyperoxia is commonly implicated in BPD pathogenesis, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. There is increasing evidence that lipid interstitial fibroblasts play a key role in injury-repair mechanisms in a variety of organ systems. In the lung, pulmonary interstitial fibroblasts are classified into lipid containing lipofibroblasts and non-lipid con- taining interstitial cells, myofibroblast, that are located more peripherally in the alveolar septum. Lipofibroblasts are characterized by the expression of biomarkers, such as PTHrPR, ADRP, and PPARg. Myofibroblast phenotypes are characterized by the expression of a-SMA and the absence of lipid storage. Although the functional role of pulmonary fibroblasts remain incompletely understood, lipofibroblasts synthesize and secrete growth factors necessary for normal lung growth and develop- ment; provide substrate for surfactant phospholipid synthesis, and store neutral lipids that act as an- tioxidants. In contrast, myofibroblasts play a major role in chronic inflammation and pulmonary fi- brosis. Exposure to hyperoxia exacerbates change from lipofibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Specifically down- regulating Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) mediated alveolar signaling. With excessive me- chanical stress to lipofibroblasts, expression of PTHrP-R and other lipogenic markers decreased and lipofibroblasts transdifferntiated to myofibroblast. However, the effect of oxygen exposure on this lipo- to-myofibroblast transdifferntiation is unknown. Our objective was to examine the effect of O2 on the transdifferentiation of pulmonary lipofibrob- lasts cultured from preterm and near term fetal lung. Gestational day 18 and 21 fetal rat lung fibroblasts were obtained from time-mated Sprague Dawley rats. We speculate that this is a critical molecular event underlying the hyperoxic lung injury, and in the pathogenesis of BPD. Further, induction of adipogenic transcription factors may not only prevent but, in fact, reverse the myogenic fibroblast to an adipogenic phenotype. ABSTRACTS 81 174. INVESTIGATING PROTOCOLS FOR HALIOTIS RUFESCENS EGG CRYOPRESERVA- TION Julie A. Guerin. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, CA 90731; Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 The purpose of this study was to investigate cryopreservation protocols which would yield results for normal red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) egg phenotype after thawing. The objectives were to determine whether eggs can be successfully cryopreserved using a stepwise cooling and thawing procedure, which cryoprotectant agent (CPA) is most effective, and whether a non-permeating cryo- protectant (sucrose) can aid in the thawing and rehydration process. After induced spawning and egg collection, four freezing trials were conducted using CPA ‘Freezing Medium’ (FM) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 8 and 16 mins stepwise gradual cooling and non- stepwise | min cooling, before plunging into liquid nitrogen. A total of 45 stepwise and non-stepwise thawing protocols were tested with and without sucrose. Best results were found in protocols using DMSO at 8 and 16 mins stepwise cooling, and stepwise thawing with sucrose amounts of 1.25g or 2.5g, yielding 25% to 50% (8mins) and 50% to 75% (16mins) normal egg phenotypes. Non-stepwise protocols resulted in 75% to 100% eggs bursting with the remainder abnormal. Thawing protocols without sucrose resulted in 100% eggs bursting. Protocols using FM resulted in 50% tol00% eggs bursting, with the remainder abnormal. Stepwise cooling and thawing, DMSO as CPA, and the use of sucrose in acting as a non-permeating buffer in diminishing effects of rapid rehydration, contribute to maintain normal egg phenotype after cryopreservation, which supports my hypothesis. However, it is unknown whether eggs were still viable. The intention was to verify the survivabilty of eggs with live sperm, but male spawning was unsuccessful. Further research will include in vitro fertilization studies, and cryogenic studies on the endangered white and threatened black abalone. 175 MEASURING THE PERCEIVED PREDATION RISKS IN HOUSE FINCHES IN DIFFERENT HABITAT TYPES Singh, Deepak H, Whitney High School. Fernandez-Juricic, Esteban, and Valcarcel, Anna, De- partment of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840-3702 Animals use different strategies to minimize predation risk; such as foraging in tighter groups to benefit from dilution or select habitats with lower abundance of predators to reduce the number of predator-prey interactions. We tested whether two indicators of anti-predator behavior (scanning rate and scan bout duration) of house finch Carpodacus Mexicanus were influenced by neighbor distance (O m, 3 m) and habitat type (less urban, highly urban with human disturbance, highly urban without human disturbance). We conducted this study using semi-natural experiments, which allowed us to manipulate environmental conditions while keeping animals foraging on natural grounds. Preliminary results suggest that house finches are indeed affected by the distance to flock mates, but not by habitat type. When animals forage farther from flock mates, they increase the allocation of time to scanning, probably to increase the chances of detecting potential predators. 176 EFFECTS OF TIDAL FLUCTUATIONS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF NITROGEN COM- POUNDS IN THE LOS ANGELES HARBOR Sanjit Datta. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro, CA 90731 Due to high shipping volume in the Los Angeles Harbor and the subsequent pollution of this semi- enclosed environment, the density of life in the Harbor has been steadily decreasing due to a lack of available nutrients. To remedy the problem, active study is needed in order to discover patterns in nutrient concentration fluctuations and to determine what environmental characteristics within an en- closed coastal environment. This study attempted to correlate changes in tide with concentrations of nitrites in two coastal environments of the Los Angeles Harbor: a boat launch area and a salt marsh. Water samples were collected from these two locations at alternate five-minute intervals and analyzed for nitrite concen- 82 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES trations. These data were compared to a graph of tide height at the time of collection to determine any correlation. There was no apparent link found between tidal fluctuations and nitrite concentrations. The nitrite concentrations seemed to be relatively randomly distributed, changing by mere thousandths of ppm. However, the nutrient concentrations in the salt marsh fluctuated more than those in the boat launch, suggesting that the boat launch environment would provide a more stable environment for life to grow. However, the almost complete lack of human influence in the salt marsh (something that is not feasible for a busy harbor) has rendered it much more conducive to life. The tides, however, seem to have no effect on the nutrient concentrations. 177. A STUDY OF FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA (FIB) IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS AND DEL REY LAGOON, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA S. Yanamadala!' and John H. Dorsey’. 'Chadwick High School, 26800 S. Academy Drive, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, 90274; 7Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, 90045 Wetland areas and beaches adjacent to them are a great concern due to their interaction and the presence of sources of fecal contamination. The purpose of this study is to compare densities of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in tidal water flowing two adjacent aquatic ecosystems, the Ballona Wetlands and Del Rey Lagoon. During four surveys in 2005, each site was sampled during ebb tide flows of spring low tides. Samples were collected inside the Ballona Wetlands and in Del Rey Lagoon. At each site, water quality measurements (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH) were made using a YSI 600R sonde, five replicate samples of water were collected for turbidity (HACH 2100N turbi- dimeter) and FIB determinations and counts of birds feeding or resting on nearby intertidal mudflats were made. FIB were tested for total coliforms and E. coli using the Idexx defined substrate test kits (Quantitray-2000 test trays, Colilert-18 media). Bacteria were further characterized using the API 20E Identification System for Enterobacteriaceae. E. coli densities were greater in water flowing from the lagoon compare to the wetlands on three occasions, two of which were significantly different (p < 0.05). The Del Rey Lagoon was observed to have higher concentrations of water fowl than seen in the main channel of the Ballona Wetlands, so the greater E. coli densities in the lagoon may be associated with greater bird densities. Based on the metabolic responses indicated by the API system, the E. coli measurements obtained using the IDEXX system may represent a variety of Enterobacte- riacede species. 178 ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LINEAR ACCELERATORS USING MATH- EMATICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS J. Luo, Alhambra High School. O.O. Bernal, California State University Los Angeles, Depart- ment of Physics, Los Angeles, California, 90032 One of the most interesting applications of magnetism is accelerating objects at tremendous speeds. The two most prominent magnetic accelerators are Gauss Guns and Rail Guns. The research focus lies in analyzing the interaction between the physical dimensions of these accelerators and the pro- jectiles and their influence on the velocity and efficiency to promote specific amplification. This is done both mathematically and experimentally. It was found that the Gauss Gun can be amplified not through an increase of length, but rather by an increase in width. Furthermore, increased resistance in the coils demonstrates higher projectile velocity due to a mathematic model created. The Rail Gun has infinite possible amplification in terms of length due to the ability to continually provide force and acceleration down the rails. Also, the use of different rail compositions alters performance. Carbon rails were found to be most efficient for larger-scale implementation due to sustainability, whereas aluminum and copper rails were best suited for small and medium-scale implementation. In addition, the shape of the launch opening is best designed towards the specific shape of the projectile to create better connectivity. In terms of the projectile, multiple connections made in conjunction with the rails provided more aerodynamic stability and decreased rail erosion. ABSTRACTS 83 179 THE NEW AND INNOVATIVE OPTIC ACCELEROMETER SENSOR R. Purasinghe, Alhambra High School. Dr. Feng and Dr. Kim, University of California Irvine, Department of Structural Engineering, Irvine, CA, 92697 The optic sensor being created is to replace the inaccurate electrical sensor being used today in many fields of engineering due to the fact that its internals cause an altercation in the movement and data it picks up. This altercation happens when the electrical sensor is used in a location with a high abundance of electricity. The two sensors are placed on a shake table that moves at a known accel- eration sine value and show the difference in what the optic sensor picks up for the movement. Because the electrical sensor is not near any high current or electricity whilst on the shake table, the electrical sensor's movement read is said to be correct. Thus this will provide two acceleration sine graphs being: the optic sensor’s reading of what the movement of the shake table is, and the electrical sensor’s reading of what the movement of the shake table is. The graphs of each sine curve are analyzed together, showing where the optical sensor has a natural frequency. The tests show that at 21 hertz, the optic sensor picks up the most vibrations (this particular sensor’s natural frequency) and at this movement is the most inaccurate/insufficient. For use of this sensor, more will need to be made but with different masses, so that the natural frequency changes. And a group of sensors with different masses can be used on one location for best results. 180 ATAXIA TELANGIECTASIA AND DOSAGES OF BLEOMYCIN Sunghye Kim, California Academy of Math and Science. Helen Chun, California State Uni- versity of Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747 Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the gene, ATM (ataxia telangiectasia, mutated). Symptoms of this disease include the degeneration of the brain, telangiectasia (enlarged blood vessels) around the eyes, lack of muscle coordination, higher chances of developing cancer, a weak immune system, and sensitivity to radiation. ATM plays a crucial part of the repair process for double-stranded breaks in DNA by finding breaks in DNA strands. In unaffected people, ATM autophosphorylates after DNA breakage, starting a chain of reactions that lead to the phosphorylation of other proteins such as p53, a protein required for the G1 checkpoint. However, for AT patients, ATM does not autophosphorylate and thus p53 is not phosphorylated, meaning that the GI checkpoint does not occur. DNA is not repaired and can cause damage to the affected patient. Double-stranded breakage can be caused by radiation. Breakage can also be induced by doses of bleomycin, a drug used in chemotherapy. Bleomycin was used in the experiment to treat white blood cells from normal and A-T affected people. Dosages of bleomycin were changed in order to find the feasible amount of bleomycin should be used in order to prevent overdosage. 182) PERCENT METHYLATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH AGING Shelly Tat, Alhambra High School. Dr. Shibata, USC Norris Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033, Topping Tower 6410 Aging, tissue deteriorating over time was evaluated using DNA methylation, a level of control, which regulates gene expression by adding a methyl group to cytosine, one of the bases of DNA. By measuring the DNA methylation patterns in buccal cells in the CpG islands of the CSX gene, it is hypothesized that as aging develops, there are numerous incorrect gene expressions Causing an increase in DNA methylation patterns. Thus, the goal of this study is to determine an individual’s age by calculating the percentage of methylation found in DNA in buccal cells. Using bisulfite treatment, which is necessary to determine the presence of DNA methylation, unmethylated cytosine is converted into uracil in the extracted DNA. DNA extracted buccal cells was amplified by PCR and cloned for reading. Further research and a significant amount of new trials must be performed before accurately concluding whether or not DNA methylation patterns using buccal cells, correlates with one’s aging. 84 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 183 COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF GRAINYHEAD-LIKE EPITHELIAL TRANSACTIVA- TOR (GET1) REGULATED GENES Madhvi Venkatesh, University High School, Irvine, CA, 92612. Mentors: Bogi Andersen and Ambica Bhandari, University of California, Department of Biological Chemistry, Irvine, CA, 92697 Grainyhead-like epithelial transactivator (Getl/Grhl3) is a conserved mammalian homolog of Grainyhead, which plays an important role in the cuticle development in Drosophila. It has been shown that Get-1 plays a critical role in the terminal differentiation of the skin epidermis and is essential for barrier function in mice. Microarray gene expression analysis of Get-1 knockout mice indicates that it regulates a broad array of epidermal differentiation genes encoding structural proteins, lipid metabolizing enzymes and cell adhesion molecules. In order to identify the direct target genes of Get-1, we looked for potential Get-1 sites conserved in the upstream, downstream and intronic regions of mouse and human genes using the ConSite program. Only those genes that had conserved sites in larger conserved regions were considered for further analysis. We considered only those sites that were also present in significantly conserved regions. We analyzed the top fourty differentially expressed genes from the microarray data. Get-1 binding sites were found in eight upregulated and sixteen downregulated genes, indicating that Get-1 directly regulates some genes involved in epidermal differentiation. The fact that both up and downregulated genes contain Get-1 binding sites suggests that Get-1 can both activate and repress transcription 184. MAKING CAMKII6A BY THE ADENOVIRUS SYSTEM Tea, Nicky-Chai, Alhambra High School. Yan Bai, University of Southern California, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Los Angeles, 90033 Breast cancer is the number two leading cause of death in women in the United States. Side effects of Doxorubicin (a chemotherapy used to treat breast cancer) has led to the research that better under- stands Doxorubicin and its role in the treatment of breast cancer. Using the Adenovirus system, a versatile system involving recombinant adenoviruses, replication of genes that may be involved is further analyzed. By studying CamI/K6A it was found that CamlIIK6B had a completely different result when treated with Doxorubicin. CamlIK6A stayed the same, no abnormal regulation while CamlIK6B (from previous research), unlike CamlIIK6A showed to reduce innumerably. 185 PHOTOOXIDATION OF COBALT-BOUND THIOLATO LIGANDS May Chow, Alhambra High School Singlet oxygen is the first excited state of oxygen that is a strong electrophile that can react with amino acids, peptides and other biologically relevant molecules. Here we study the oxidation of cobalt- sulfur compounds with singlet oxygen, 'O, to give the corresponding sulfenato. The cobalt complexes used are (2-mercaptoaniline-N,S)(en),Co(IIDtetraflouroborate and (cystamine-N,$)(en),Co(IIDtetra- flouroborate. Previous studies with organic thiolates have been shown to occur through a hydroperoxy intermediate. The quenching rates (K;) were measured by time-resolved laser spectroscopy experi- ments. The quenching rate of these Co compounds is ~10°8§ M~'!s~!, while the organic compounds have a rate in the range of 10-4-10 © M~'s~!. However, it has been found that this intermediate can be stabilized by hydrogen bonding, which should affect the rate reaction. Therefore, we measured the rates of reaction with singlet oxygen in three solvents of decreasing polarity: methanol (CD,OD), dimethyl formamide (DMF), and water (D,O). Results show that protic solvents significantly lower the rate of initial attack by singlet oxygen on the thiolato moiety, but conversely increase the rate of product formation from the peroxidic intermediate. 186 ‘THE EFFECTS OF THE HSR-OMEGA GENE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER William Martin, Alhambra High School, Benzer Lab, California Institute of Technology, Pas- adena, CA, 91125 ln my project, I use the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to study the creosote phenotype. The creosote phenotype is an inability to function due to a diet containing over nutrition. I study the genes that cause this creosote phenotype in the fruit fly and in my project the gene I am studying is HSR- ABSTRACTS 85 Omega. The HSR-Omega gene is an unusual non-protein-coding gene with multiple transcription products dynamically expressed in most cell types of Drosophila melanogaster and it is a member of the heat shock gene family. This gene has vital functions during times of stress. In my project, I test the effects of this gene by doing crosses under flies with certain P-Elements. In doing this project, I discovered that the P-element EP3269 does cause an expression of the creosote phenotype, but is not associated with the HSR-Omega gene. 187 FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MBNL3 PROTEIN Dan Qing Yan, Alhambra High School, University of Southern California, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033 DM1 (muscular dystrophy) is a neuromuscular disease associated with myotonia, caused by ex- panded CTG repeats in the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The expanded repeats aggregate within the nucleus as foci where several proteins bind to that repeats. MBNL3 muscleblind protein is one of these proteins found in the nuclear foci. In this context, to better understand the mechanism of the DM disease, characterization of MBNL3 is necessary. The protein will be produced using Adenovirus system as it is the most efficient and versatile system for producing this type of protein. The harvested proteins will then be expressed in muscle tissues, in vitro; to test the effects it has on Myotonic Dystrophy. The produced cells expressed in muscle tissue cells showed that MBNL3 has substantial effect on the disease and plays a critical role in the main- tenance of DM] integrity. i LY TI i i ‘ : ' ‘ 5 iF ot | 1 4 » . ~~. P oe FOG: ane . Breil 9 Vaio a » ¢ if Alphabetical List of all Presenters. Name Abstract No. Gar Abbas 46,76 Joseph Abellera 77 M. James Allen 49 Tony Andrady 3 Rich Anthony 124 Amy J. Arispe 78 Joan M. Backey 32 Howard C. Bailey 156, 157 Suzanne M. Baltzer 79 Dustin Bambic 35 Jonathan N. Baskin 44 Steven M. Bay 70 Chris Beegan 66 S.H.Bryant 45 Leslie J. Buena 80 Erick Burres Tl Chris Cagle 64 Mark H. Capelli 127 David A. Caron 59 Ivona Cetinic 63 Hee San Choi 139 May Chow 185 Brenton Chuck 162 Wesley Chun 117 Damien K. Cie 15 Molly Colvin 81 Gerry Del Rio Cortes 83 Nat Cox 38 Neven Dabbousi 82 Sanit Datta 176 Jessica DeGiacomo 84 Russell V. Di Fiori 85 Xin Deng 145 Sarah Douglass 86 Sabrina Drill 87, 128 Dent A. Earl 28 Matthew Edwards 17 Marcus Eriksen 8 Edward L. Ervin [32 Richard Evans 61 Mark E. Fenn 152 Ryan Ferrer 50 Alyssa Floyd 29 David G. Foley 9 Tom Ford 18 Amy Frame 8 Bridgette Froeschke Di Samantha Galasso 88 Jay Gan es, David J. Germano 136 Lisa Gilbane is) Scott H. Grove 161 Julie A Guerin 89,174 Thomas R. Haglund 130 Ibrahim Hajjali 90 Lisa Haney 10 Oce. A. Raul H. Gutierrez 9] Cynthia Hitchcock Name Tim E. Hovey Wesley S. Hunter Tommy Huynh Da Eun Im W. James Ingraham Andrew Jahn Erica T. Jarvis Burton Jones Laura Jones Helen YH Jung Sanyl Kabre Julianne E. Kalman Kurt Karageorge Susan Kaveggia Robin J. Keber Thomas Keegan Carol Keiper Kevin Kelley Sunghye Kim Jo Kitz Carl Kloock Gregg W. Langlois Jarrod Larson Gwen Lattin Jane Lee Jeong Hee Lim Sharon Lin Diana Lloyd David Lluncor Kerri Loke James Luo Henry Luu Ellen Mackey Karen Martin William Martin Paul Matson Juli Matsumoto Mike McCarthy Anthony Metcalf Eric Miller Charles Moore Shelly Moore ‘Nima Moradian A Kimo Morris Sarah S. Mosko Christopher Mull Michael O. Navarro Nicolay P. Nezlin Jennifer Nguyen Mae Grace Nillos Christopher T. Oakes Joshua D. Olson Joan Marie Ordonez Melva R. Osequera Carl Page Rick L. Perry Susanne Plank Daniel Pondella II Abstract No. 129 115 Name Abstract No. Sean A. Porter a2 Taylor L. Pupka 106 Ruwanka Purasinghe 179 G. Ramachandraiah [23 Ananda Ranasinghe 68 Stewart Reid 2S Kristen N. Reifel 58 Mary Ann Rempel 144 Jesus Reyes 146 Kristine L. Richardson 107 Lorena M. Rios 11 Kerry J. Ritter 69 Gabriela Rodriguez- Fuentes 158 Rob Roy d2 John Rudolph 159, 54 Rosa M. Runcie 31 Moy McKayla Sab 108 Lisa D. Sabin 154 John Saurenman 148 Kenneth Schiff 160 Daniel Schlenk 147 Astrid Schnetzer 60 Norman J. Scott P33 Erin M. Seale 109 Jane Shevtsov 110 Craig Shuman 20 Deepak Singh Ge) Jason Smith 141 Anthony P. Spina 126 Eric Stein 42 Glenn R. Stewart 137. Jennifer Stroh 1 Camm Swift 43 Hideshige Takada 122 Karis Tang-Quan 169 Shelly Tat 182 Nicky-Chai M. Tea 184 Christopher Thellen 5 LL: Tiefenthaler 53 Kent Trego 11 Ashley E. Varnell a Amy Vaux 12 Madhvi Venkatesh 183 Lynne Wetmore 3 Carmen White iS Mark Whitter 40 Jonathan P. Williams 26 Carl Wirsen 4 Dave Witting 150 Daniel Wu 170 Dan Qing Yan 187 Swati Yanamadala 114,177 Amy Young ye Diana Young 67 Ann Zellers CONTENTS Future Meetings Acknowlegements SCAS Officers Reasearch Training Program Student Award Winners Schedule of Program for 2006 Annual Meeting Abstracts, in program order Alphabetical list of Presenters at 2006 Annual Meeting COVER: Seal of the Academy. inside front cover inside front cover inside front cover inside front cover erials YH ISSN 0038-3872 $69 £105 10.3 4116-70 Sem rHeERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BOLLETIN Volume 105 Number 3 Marina del Rey Mar Vista & meters ste Ballona Creek es 5 73a 4 ve ad * is ha channel f a OE wee ’ ay | ae ” ’ ; 7 are Ss re ff, ; : Su Ballona Lagoon Playa Vista Playa del Rey Ballona Freshwater Marsh BCAS-A105(3) 91-144 (2006) December 2006 Southern California Academy of Sciences Founded 6 November 1891, incorporated 17 May 1907 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 OFFICERS Brad Blood, President Judith Lemus, Vice-President John Roberts, Secretary Daniel A. Guthrie, Treasurer Daniel A. Guthrie, Editor Ralph G. Appy, Past President Robert Grove, Past President Daniel J. Pondella, II, Past President John H. Dorsey, Past President BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2004—2007 2005-2008 2006-2009 Brad Blood Jonathan N. Baskin M. James Allen Donald G. Buth John Roberts Sabrina Drill Robert S. Grove Gloria J. Takahashi Judith Lemus Kathy Keene Andrea Murray Darren Sandquist Edith Reed Phillippa Drennan Susan Yoder Membership is open to scholars in the fields of natural and social sciences, and to any person interested in the advancement of science. Dues for membership, changes of address, and requests for missing numbers lost in shipment should be addressed to: Southern California Academy of Sciences, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Professional Members. 2 62.4) 4 evel ek SM Se Eee ee $35.00 Studemt Members: 5.) 6c! 5) eke ea) SS ae an pee ea rele ae ee ae 20.00 Memberships in other categories are available on request. Fellows: Elected by the Board of Directors for meritorious services. The Bulletin is published three times each year by the Academy. Manuscripts for publication should be sent to the appropriate editor as explained in “Instructions for Authors” on the inside back cover of each number. All other communications should be addressed to the Southern California Academy of Sciences in care of the Natural His- tory Museum of Los Angeles County, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California 90007-4000. Date of this issue 22 December 2006 This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | JAN 18 2007 VAZAGC Go aa > je NCO 1 RPORATED O Annual Meeting of the Southern California Academy of Sciences California State University, Fullerton June 1-2, 2007 FIRST CALL FOR SYMPOSIA AND PAPERS The Southern California Academy of Sciences will hold its annual Meeting for 2007 on the campus of California State University, Fullerton Friday and Saturday June 1-2. Presently the following symposia are in the planning stages. If you would like to organize a Symposia for this meeting, or have suggestions for a symposia topic, please contact John Dorsey at jdorsey@Imu.edu or Brad Blood at bblood@psomas.com. Organizers should have a list of participants and a plan for reaching the targeted audience. Proposed Symposia for 2007 Southern California Archaeology and Paleontology: Andrea Murray; amurray @exchange. fullerton.edu Ecology of Nearshore Reefs: Daniel Pondella; pondella@oxy.edu and Bob Grove; grovers @ scl.com Avian biology; Kathy Keane; keanebio@cs.com Red Tides: John Dorsey; jdorsey @Imu.edu Parasitology: Don Buth; dbuth@ucla.edu Aquatic Invasive Species: Sabrina Drill; sldrill@ucdavis.edu Contributed Papers and Posters: Both professionals and students are welcome to submit abstracts for a paper or poster in any area of science. Abstracts are required for all papers, as well as posters, and must be submitted in the format listed on the society webpage. Maximum poster size is 32 x 40 inches. In addition Junior Academy members will submit papers for Saturday sessions. Abstracts of presented papers and posters will be published as a supplement to the August issue of the Bulletin. Student Awards: Students who elect to participate are eligible for best paper or poster awards in the following categories: ecology and evolution, molecular biology, genetics and physiology, and physical sciences. In addition the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists will award best paper and poster in fisheries biology. A paper by any combination of student and professional co-authors will be considered eligible provided that it represents work done principally by student(s). In the case of an award to a co-authored paper, the monetary award and a sone year student membership to the Academy will be made to the first author only. For further information on posters, abstracts, registration and deadlines, see the Southern California Academy of Science web page at http://scas.jsd.claremont.edu/ Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(3), 2006, pp. 91-112 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 Annotated checklist of extirpated, reestablished, and newly-colonized avian taxa of the Ballona Valley, Los Angeles County, California Daniel S. Cooper Cooper Ecological Monitoring, Inc., 15 So. Raymond Ave., 2” Floor, Pasadena, California 91105 Abstract.—Successful ecological restoration depends on a clear understanding of the history of local species loss and colonization. One area of California where this can be uniquely achieved is the Ballona Wetlands, one of the best-studied coastal habitats in the state, recently acquired by the State of California for res- toration and protection as a proposed Ecological Reserve. Though birds are among the primary beneficiaries of this effort, the avifauna of Ballona Wetlands has not been critically examined in more than 60 years. In an effort to guide future res- toration projects, I present a review of bird taxa that have been extirpated, rees- tablished or that have newly colonized the Ballona area since 1900. This infor- mation should facilitate the development of target species to be monitored as the Ballona ecosystem is restored, and should help set local and regional restoration goals. The Ballona Valley, a large remnant open space area at the mouth of Ballona Creek that includes the Ballona Wetlands in southwestern Los Angeles County, is currently receiving an unprecedented infusion of funding for land acquisition and habitat restoration, coincident with the start of construction on a 462-acre housing and commercial development (“‘Playa Vista’’). In 2003, the California Wildlife Conservation Board acquired 483 acres—a little less than half the open space that remained in the valley through the 1990s—for conservation, including all the remaining intact salt marsh (Trust for Public Land 2003). This belatedly fulfilled a dream of local conservationists, birders, and public officials who have advocated for its protection since at least the early 1900s (Ellis 1926; Cooke 1946; Fuller 1955; Hise and Deverell 2000:220). As restoration projects to recreate or emulate historical natural conditions proceed, knowledge of the current and his- torical bird community is essential in determining appropriate restoration and conservation goals. Previous efforts at restoring degraded natural communities in the Ballona area have been marked by confusion over the composition of histor- ical plant communities as well as their distribution across what is now a seriously degraded and much-diminished landscape (see Longcore et al. 2000). Though much of the proposed restoration at Ballona has sought to improve conditions for birds (e.g., NAS 1986), synthesized information on the occurrence of birds and the composition of bird communities at Ballona is surprisingly sparse, being limited to a handful of unpublished surveys of varying quality. Not since the early 1940s (von Bloeker 1943) has any attempt been made to analyze the records of local birders and collectors (either unpublished or published). Drawing from historical and current sources, including museum records and field notes of experienced observers, I present a list of regularly occurring species, and provide 9] 92 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES detailed accounts for species known to have been lost in the Ballona Valley since the early 1900s, those that have since reestablished populations, and those that have newly colonized the Ballona Valley as nesting or wintering species. Knowl- edge of this avifaunal change at Ballona should help establish benchmarks of successful restoration, and may serve as an example for reconstruction of lost natural communities elsewhere. Methods and Site Description The term “‘Ballona Valley” here refers to the lowlands from the Westchester Bluffs north across Ballona Creek to the rise in elevation that roughly follows Washington Blvd. in the Venice and Mar Vista neighborhoods of Los Angeles (see Fig. 1). I identify the 10-lane 405 Freeway as the eastern boundary, and thus include the communities of Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa Vista and Playa del Rey. Historical collecting sites within the Ballona Valley include ‘Port Ballona”’ (an early bluff-top community at the northern end of the El] Segundo Dunes just south of Playa del Rey c. 1880s, per Robinson 1939); “*Ballona Harbor” (now Playa del Rey); ““Del Rey” (now Mar Vista, per Robertson 1990); and “‘Venice Marshes”’ (presumably the northern portion of historic wetlands now covered by Marina del Rey, east of Venice). Modern birding areas were described by Cooper (2005d). I consider taxa to be current breeders if one or more pairs have nested suc- cessfully for at least two consecutive years. Likewise, I consider winter residents to be any taxa for which two or more individuals have been present through the winter months for at least two consecutive years in the past five years. In one case (Elegant Tern) I consider the species to be a non-breeding summer resident, since large numbers (hundreds) are present continuously from early spring through fall. Taxa are considered “‘extirpated”’ if they once maintained consistent breeding or non-breeding populations in the Ballona Valley but no longer do. ““Reestab- lished”’ taxa have been extirpated in at least one role (winter, summer or both) for a period of several decades, but have resumed breeding, summering and/or wintering since the mid-1900s (the start of consistent record-keeping). “‘Colo- nists”’ are defined as any taxa that have established a consistent breeding or win- tering population since the mid-1900s (and that occurred only as transients or vagrants, if at all, prior to this). Because of the lack of standardized historical survey data during migration periods, taxa known only as transients are not treated here (see Cooper 2005c for a complete checklist), even though it is clear that many birds scarce or absent today were once frequently observed transients (e.g., Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor). 1 also omitted the Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus, given its strongly nocturnal habits. I do not treat the distinctive avifauna of the outer jetties, the breakwater, and the inshore marine environment at Playa del Rey, nor do | include the avifauna of residential Westchester on the bluffs to the south of the Ballona Valley, which, owing to its mature trees and landscaping, has developed a woodland-like avifauna distinct from that of the Ballona Valley (e.g., wintering Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi and Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis). BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS ‘WoT Joyua9 ye yoyed YSHIYM asi] & Se STQISIA st ued }[eS UIeU OY, “JOUUBYS YooID evUOT[eg oy) JO YINOS pue YyVOU ‘deUI JO 1a}Udd dy} UT vaIe uddo aS81e] OY) SI ..spueplay, vuOoTTeg,, ou, AM SOP 94} 0} WY Z Jsvd pud}xa Bore ApnNyjs oy} JO SalwpuNog YL 1X9} OY} UL POUONUSUT SUONRdSO] SUIPsIg se [JOM SB SYaaID vuoyeg JO yNOU sy) JkdU PIUIOFJI[eD JO aes ay Aq pormmboe Apuada1 aovds uado sMoYsS aseU! SIU, “AQ[VA VUOT[EG UJa}SOM JO MIA [RLIOY “| “SI ysivypy Joye mysoly euoyegd BISIA PALI uoosr’T] vuole jouuryo YoaID vuole VISTA Ie Ady [op vuLeyy 94 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES itablemr Summer, winter and year-round resident birds of the Ballona Valley (excludes transients). An asterisk (*) indicates consistent recent breeding. Year-round residents Gadwall Anas strepera *Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera *Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis *Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Brown Pelican Pelicanus occidentalis Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis *Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Ardea alba Snowy Egret Egretta thula *Green Heron Butorides virescens *Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii *Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis * American Kestrel Falco sparverius * American Coot Fulica americana *Killdeer Charadrius vociferus *Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani *Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus Western Gull Larus occidentalis Caspian Tern Sterna caspia *Rock Pigeon Columba livia Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis *Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Barn Owl Tyto alba *Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus *White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis *Anna’s Hummingbird Calypte anna *Allen’s Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin *Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans *Cassin’s Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans *Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica * American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Common Raven Corvus corax *Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor *Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus *Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos *Ruropean Starling Sturnus vulgaris *Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas *California Towhee Pipilo crissalis **Belding’s’’ Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi *Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia *Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus *“Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta *Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus *Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus *House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus *Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria *House Sparrow Passer domesticus *Orange Bishop Euplectes franciscanus Winter Residents American Wigeon Anas americana Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Surf Scoter Melanitta perspecillata Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Common Loon Gavia immer Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Western Grebe Aechmorphorus occidentalis Brandt’s Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Merlin Falco columbarius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Virginia Rail Rallus limicola Sora Porzana carolina Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Willet Catoptrophous semipalmatus Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala Surfbird Aphriza virgata Sanderling Calidris alba Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Dunlin Calidris alpina Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopa- ceus Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago gallinago Mew Gull Larus canus Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens Heermann’s Gull Larus heermanni Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia Royal Tern Sterna maxima Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Say’s Phoebe Sayornis saya Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus House Wren Troglodytes aedon Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 95 Table 1. Continued. Winter Residents (Continued) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula ““Large-billed” Savannah Sparrow Passerculus Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea sandwichensis rostratus Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii American Pipit Anthus rubescens White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata American Goldfinch Carduelis trisis Savannah Sparrow (migratory races) Passercu- lus sandwichensis Summer Residents Elegant Tern Sterna elegans *Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota *Least Tern Sterna antillarum *Barn Swallow rustica *Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis *Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater *Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopte- *Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus ryx serripennis *Bullock’s Oriole Icterus bullockii Results and Discussion A list of known regularly wintering, summering, and year-round resident birds in the Ballona Valley is presented in Table 1. Between the early 1900s and spring 2005, the data indicate that 38 taxa were extirpated from the Ballona Valley in at least one role, with 11 having since become reestablished in one or more roles. Twenty-two species have newly colonized the Ballona Valley either as summer or winter residents, including four non-native taxa. Ten species considered *‘data- deficient’”’ may have maintained populations at Ballona prior to 1900 but are known only from scattered reports or specimens; several were treated as present by von Bloeker (1943) but are possibly attributable to the adjacent El Segundo Dunes, described below. In the following species accounts, current local status is followed by historical status. Species order follows the American Ornithologists’ Union Checklist of North American Birds (A.O.U. 1998) and the most recent supplement (A.O.U. 2004). Standard abbreviations for museums are LACM (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County), MVZ (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley), and WFVZ (Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Camarillo, California). Other frequently-used abbreviations include BFM (Ballona Freshwater Marsh at Playa Vista, constructed 2003), CBC (Christmas Bird Count), LACBBA (Los Angeles County Breeding Bird Atlas, data housed at LACM), and PdR (Playa del Rey, exact location unspecified). Where possible, sight records are included only if published in Audubon Field Notes/(North) American Birds (hereafter “‘AFN’’) or in the Western Tanager (‘““WT’”’), or if the observer is known to the author. A handful of dedicated observers have kept field notes from regular visits to the study area for 5+ years, including Kimball L. Garrett (KLG; early 1970s to present), Robert Shanman (RSh; monthly from 1977 to 1987) and Art Pickus (AP; 1993 to 1998) along lower Ballona Creek; Barbara O. Courtois at the western Ballona Wetlands (BOC; 1998 to present); Chuck and Lillian Almdale at Ballona Lagoon (CLA; monthly from 1996 to present); and Russell and Dorothy Stone in the Westchester/Playa Vista area (RDS; 1996 to present). Other observers who have contributed numerous previously unpublished sight records to me directly, 96 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES or to Kimball L. Garrett (“LACM files’’), are cited below by name, or in the case of regular contributors Richard Barth, David Bell, Kevin Larson and Don Sterba, by initials. Extirpated and Reestablished Taxa Brant Branta bernicla. Extirpated as a winter resident; now an occasional spring transient (1—2/yr. early Feb.—late May); casual in summer and winter. Several spring sightings have involved birds in the tidal channels of the Ballona Wetlands (including a group of six on 03 Apr. 2001, BOC), indicating that Brant may still occasionally attempt to use Ballona as a stopover site. Two summer/fall records include sick or injured birds in 1980 (H. Brodkin, LACM files) and 1996 (DS). The Brant was historically much more common along the coast of southern California with birds in Los Angeles County wintering on kelp beds just offshore (Willett 1912, 1933), a phenomenon that no longer occurs. Though omitted by von Bloeker (1943), this may have been an oversight; groups of up to 12 birds attempted to winter at Ballona as late as the 1950s (WT 12:22; AFN 5:225; WT 18:23; AFN 7:234), and singles were recorded on the Los Angeles CBC through the 1950s (NAS 2002). One modern (post-1950s) wintering attempt involved what was presumably the same bird on 03 Dec. 2002 (BOC) and 12 Jan. 2003 (KL). Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata. Extirpated, then reestablished as a winter resident; currently fairly common in fall and winter at BFM; uncommon to rare elsewhere. Since the creation of BFM in 2003, fall transients have appeared at the end of August in 2003 and 2004, building to several dozen birds by midwinter (Cooper 2005a). I observed dozens feeding on the flooded saltpan of the Ballona Wetlands after heavy rains in Jan. 2005. The Northern Shoveler was not recorded by von Bloeker (1943) but was likely overlooked; early authors (e.g., Grinnell 1898, Willett 1933) have it common or abundant throughout coastal southern California, and a count of 200 presumably wintering birds was made at PdR on O5 Feb. 1947 (WT 13:28). A dramatic decline in the Ballona Valley apparently occurred after the 1950s (Table 2), and between the early 1970s and 2003, the species was recorded just eight times (RSh, KLG, AP). Northern Pintail Anas acuta. Extirpated as a breeding resident; reestablished as a winter resident; now uncommon in migration and winter. The first southbound birds trickle through in late August (two along Ballona Cr. 21 Aug. 2004, KL), and up to 10 remained through the winter 2003—04 (but were rare the following winter, Cooper 2005a). The status of the pintail in winter and migration has changed dramatically from its being historically very numerous (‘“‘abundant winter visitor on salt marsh lagoon,’’ von Bloeker 1943), declining through the late 1900s, then back to being irregularly present, albeit in greatly reduced numbers, at BFM. Examples of historical numbers include 2000 birds at a local gun club with freshwater impoundments in late summer 1952 (WT 19:4); and 1000 birds along Ballona Cr. on 12 Oct. 1953 (WT 20:15) and 04 Jan. 1954 (WT 20:30). This species was also historically more common offshore during migration (e.g., AFN 2:189), and it apparently nested in the historical Ballona Wetlands (Willett 1933). Though the Northern Pintail was still being recorded in large numbers on the Los Angeles CBC in the 1970s (NAS 2002), there are just seven known records between the 1950s and 2003. O77 BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 0) (6017) OI 0 (OTT) OL Ct (1) T (mE 1D) (OE 0 0 (ORE 0 DG 0 (6) § (8) C (61) 9 S066 I 0 (6LS1) 6 0 (91) 8 (@ I OP (7) (9) (7) (T) (py) SQ oS AVIAN ca (A CI Cpr (Ol) p (CG 0 SO86I 0 (6c6r) OT (Srl) OL (Z) ¢ (GIs (Ol) OL () CDG (ZO) v (¢) ¢ 0 (by) v 0 (OD) 2 (OL) (O8t) OI (GS) € (CZ) I SOLO61 0) (OO61) OT (Cy) v 0 (p) ¢ (CQ) iL (e) ¢ (Ib) 9 (OL) 6 CES ( (Cy 1) ()-@ (OC) 9 (OIT) 8 (Sp) 8 (COG SO96I (S) 0 (Ly) S 0 (7) 9 (QS WALD if (OLI) 6 (rIT) Ol 0 GD (V7) 8 0 (€) I (7) 9 (6cr' 07) OF (10SC) OT COI SOS6I (sasayjuoied ul jUNOD YSIy) pap1osa1 UaYyM aproap Jad sQqD Jo # (L) OF 0 (009) L 0 (¢ (Ov (ST) 6 (007) OI CLEP L (CS) G (€) 8 (6) OI KSID) (€) 6 (hI) 9 (Z9ET) OL (ees) OI (8) ¢ SOr6! (ZOOT SVN) JUeseid—OPp6] “WUNOD Pjlg seUNSLIYD sejasuy so oy) UO satdads payoa[as JO UOT}DAI0G MOLIedS yeuuPArs _ P2T[Ig-981e'T,, sulpieys uvadoing yie 7] peuloy PIIQsUIWIUIN] S,UaT]V [MO poales-110Yys [MO suUIMoLINg MIND pe[iq-suo 7] JOOOAY UPOLIOUTY IdA0[q AMOUS ISAO] g-UaPJOH sy1oeg [ley raddeya JOLUe YH UDUVION SIG] P9oPF-SHY MAM UDG UPOLIOUY pesypod [iequig UIOYLION Ia[9AOYS UIOYWON [[e“pey soroeds T S1QRL 98 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera. Extirpated as a breeding resident; colonized as a winter resident; now a fairly common transient and winter resident on fresh- water (mid-Aug.—May); uncommon in mid-summer. At BFM, fall migrants arrive in mid-August (a high of 25 by the end of August 2003, DSC) and remain in variable numbers through May (but have not yet bred). This teal apparently nested at Ballona during the early 1900s “‘in the salt marsh”’ (von Bloeker 1943), which would have included brackish wetlands and tule-lined ponds, but apparently had been reduced to a transient by the 1920s (Bird-Lore 26:347). Between the early 1900s and the construction of BFM in 2003 recorded only in early spring (up to 30 late Jan.—mid. Mar.) and fall (4 records Sept.—Nov.), with an anomalous sighting on 14 May 1998 (AP). Canvasback Aythya valisineria. Extirpated as a winter resident; two modern records of singles at’-PdR on 12 Jan. 1985 (RSh) and at BFM on 05 Oct. 2003 (DSC). Von Bloeker (1943) considered the Canvasback “fairly common in winter on the salt marsh lagoon,”’ a reference to the water body at the mouth of Ballona Cr. that was subsequently reduced in size and transformed to Del Rey Lagoon and Ballona Lagoon. The only other local mention is of an individual within a mixed-species raft of waterfowl in the ocean just off Playa del Rey (including Scaup, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail and Ruddy Duck) on 11 Dec. 1925 (Bird-Lore 27:22). Redhead Aythya americana. Extirpated, then reestablished as a winter resident; now uncommon in fall and winter. Von Bloeker considered this species ‘‘occa- sional in winter on the salt marsh lagoon” (1943). Oddly, Grinnell (1898) termed Redhead ‘“‘tolerably common in summer” in coastal Los Angeles Co., but this may have been a misprint for “‘winter,’’ (which he did not mention) when more expected in the region (see Willett 1912, 1933). From the early 1900s until the creation of BFM, the Redhead was known from just a handful of records Dec.— Feb. (WT 16:24; WT 18:34; AFN 10:56, where termed “‘irregular in numbers and occasional in this region’’); with just a single post-1960 sighting prior to 2003 (O02 Dec. 1994, AP). Since 2003, up to seven birds have wintered at BFM (Cooper 2005a, pers. obs.). Common Merganser Mergus merganser. Extirpated as a winter resident; two modern records: 16 Jan. 1998 (B. Elliot); and two females on 26 Jan. 2000 (RB). Considered a “moderately common’ winter visitor by von Bloeker (1943), this species now winters on large inland reservoirs in the region (Garrett and Dunn 1981) but was historically more common on the immediate coast (Willett 1933, Grinnell and Miller 1944). Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis. Extirpated, then reestablished as a breeder; now a fairly common breeding resident. Between the 1950s, when common in winter (e.g., 53 along Ballona Cr. on 31 Dec. 1954, WT 21:34) and the construc- tion of BFM in 2003, recorded in single digits during fall and winter, with peaks in late winter (Feb./Mar.) during the 1990s (AP) possibly involving early spring migrants. Since 2003, up to 30 birds have wintered at BFM (Cooper 2005a), with numbers lowest in early fall. Though breeding was known from the historical Ballona Wetlands (‘‘formerly nested in the salt marsh [also referable to brackish wetlands] and may still do so in small numbers,’’ von Bloeker 1943), it had apparently ceased doing so by the second half of the 20 century, when birds were present in winter only. With the construction of BFM in 2003, breeding was BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 99 reestablished (8 young observed on 24 June 2003; T-P. Ryan), with additional broods the following summers (Cooper 2004, Cooper 2005b). California Quail Callipepla californica. Extirpated as a breeding resident; three recent records. Von Bloeker (1943) considered quail a “‘common resident of the meadow (= grassland habitat) and meadow slope of the dunes. Nests here between middle April and late June,’’ and confirmed nesting as late as 1940. This popu- lation persisted into the 1970s (15 seen from the Culver Blvd. bridge over Ballona Cr. on 05 Jan. 1975; KLG), and Dock and Schreiber (1981) wrote of a ‘“‘small covey observed regularly throughout the year on (the area of Ballona Wetlands south of Culver Blvd.), and recorded sporadically (north of Culver Blvd. and north of Ballona Cr.).”’ Post-1980s records limited to a “‘flock’’ on what is now Playa Vista on 22 August 1998 (RDS); one on the Westchester Bluffs on 10 Apr. 1999 (B. Elliot); and a male and a female at BFM 17-18 Apr. 2004 (C. Day, RB, m. ob.), the male continuing to 26 July (RB). Quail remain common in the Baldwin Hills just east of the Ballona Valley (Garrett 2001). American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus. Extirpated as a winter resident; two modern (post-1960) records. One apparently wintered at BFM 23 Oct. 2004—03 Apr. 2005 (RB, B.G. Johnson), and another was at the Ballona Wetlands on 06 Dec. 1980 (RSh). This species was once much more numerous in winter and migration at PdR (von Bloeker 1943), and one on the early date of 06 Aug. 1924 (Bird-Lore 26:347) suggests the possibility of nesting. Birds were recorded on the Los Angeles CBC through the early 1950s (Table 2), and the last local record during this period is of one at PdR O7—20 Jan. 1952 (WT 18:28). Least Bittern /xobrychus exilis. Extirpated, then reestablished as a rare and localized resident, essentially confined to BFM. The first modern record was of one present at BFM 24 July—O5 Aug. 2003, and up to two have been recorded here year round since, including one heard singing at BFM through spring 2005 (Cooper 2005b). Historically, this species likely nested in the Ballona Valley; von Bloeker (1943) wrote “‘formerly rarely seen in late spring and summer in vicinity of tule-bordered ponds and sloughs in the salt marsh. As a result of the elimination of many of the tule patches (for agriculture, /bid), this species may no longer occur...’ Subsequent to that statement and before the 2003 record, the Least Bittern was recorded just once at Ballona: a probable transient at PdR on 07 Sept. 1950 (AFN 5:38). Green Heron Butorides virescens. Extirpated, then reestablished as a breeder; now an uncommon resident. Up to 4 birds per day have been recorded year round since the 1990s, with nesting first confirmed in 1995 (fledglings at a condominium complex near Ballona Lagoon on 16 July 1995; LACBBA). Breeding was noted at BFM in 2005 (Cooper 2005b). Until the 1930s, the Green Heron was a char- acteristic breeding bird of Ballona: six egg sets were collected between 1933 and 1935 (WFVZ), and Howsley (1936) estimated four pairs nesting in the area. Between then and the 1990s, however, records were restricted to fall and winter (RSh, LACM files). White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi. Extirpated as a winter resident; now an un- common fall transient (late Aug.—early Dec.), occasional in spring and early sum- mer. In 2003, up to 20 were present more or less continuously from 20 July (3, RB) through early November (1 to 09 Nov., m. ob.), with similar numbers present in the following autumn (2004). There have been six records of apparent spring 100 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES transients (12 Apr.—23 May) since 2003, mainly from BFM, as well as two recent June records. Only a handful of records were known between the 1940s and 2003, most involving fall migrants (incl. small flocks). Ibis were apparently regular in winter and spring through the 1920s (Bird-Lore 26:131; Bird-Lore 29:285), and Grinnell (1898:13) considered it ‘“‘of common occurrence in fall, winter and spring,’ adding *‘a few remain through the summer in the Ballona marshes, and A.M. Shields believes that they breed here.’’ By mid-century, it was irregular in winter (von Bloeker 1943), the last instances of over-wintering coming in the early 1940s (Bird-Lore 45:15; NAS 2002). Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. Extirpated as a winter resident; now an un- common transient. Recent (post-1990s) records have been concentrated in spring and mid-fall (Sept.—Oct.), coinciding with the peak movement through southern California (Rowe and Gallion 1996). Though over-wintering is unknown, spring migration begins as early as late Dec., with early sightings typically occurring during periods of warm, southerly air flow. A handful of late spring and summer records (e.g., Westchester on 14 June 2003, RDS) likely involve tardy migrants or wanderers rather than local breeders. Birds were apparently more common through the winter in previous decades (e.g., six birds on 12 Dec. 1981, RSh) and von Bloeker (1943) considered the Turkey Vulture a “‘common resident.”’ It later grew scarce, with AP recording just a handful in the 1990s, mostly in May and October. Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now an occasional fall and winter visitor (Oct.—Dec.). Harriers formerly occurred in winter in small but consistent numbers, but have not Over-wintered here since the mid- 1990s (AP, RDS). Up to two birds are recorded on the Los Angeles CBC each year (NAS 2002), and only one winter sighting per year at Ballona is now ex- pected. A high of seven was on the Ballona Wetlands O1 Jan. 1955 (WT 21:34), and harriers nested at Ballona as late as 1953 (WFVZ; other egg records from 1935 and 1947). Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris. Extirpated as a resident breeder. A resident population of the Light-footed Clapper Rail (R. /. levipes) persisted at least into the 1950s. Four were at PdR 09 Oct.—06 Nov. 1950 (AFN 4:35), and singles were recorded on the Los Angeles CBC in 1952, 1955, and 1956 (NAS 2002). This population had been long documented by specimen and egg collections (Grinnell 1898; WFVZ), with the last egg set collected 24 Apr. 1944 at “‘Del Rey”? (WFVZ). In the past fifty years there have been but two records, presumably of vagrants from extant populations in neighboring Ventura or Orange counties, in “‘Febru- ary’ 1966, a calling bird at the Ballona Wetlands near the tidal inlets from Ballona Cr. (fide MSM); two in “‘January”’ 1995 in this same tidal channel (D. De Lange, pers. comm.; photos of one reviewed by KLG but subsequently lost). Virginia Rail R. limicola. Extirpated as a resident breeder; reestablished as an uncommon transient and rare (or rarely-seen) winter visitor at BFM. Small num- bers have been recorded here since 2003, with dates extending from 23 Aug. to OS May (RB, KL). Von Bloeker (1943) considered the Virginia Rail “‘resident in the salt marsh’? (but note his expanded definition of salt marsh, which included freshwater and brackish marshes), and breeding ‘was documented in 1902 (“‘two egg sets taken by W.L. Chambers at Ballona, Los Angeles County, April 13, 1902,”” Willett 1933:32). The only other credible record from the 1900s was of BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 101 one observed at PdR on 19 Feb. 1952 (WT 18:38). Several sightings in atypical habitat reported by Dock and Schreiber (1981) are not credible and may pertain to Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago. Sora Porzana carolina. Extirpated as a breeding resident; reestablished as a fairly common transient and winter resident at BFM (July through May). The first modern record is of an early fall transient found mortally injured (possibly mobbed by crows or gulls) along Ballona Cr. on 29 Jul. 1998 (LACM 110576). All other recent records are from BFM since its opening in 2003 (five at BFM on 04 Jan. 2004), beginning with another fall transient on 31 July 2003 (RB). Von Bloeker (1943) considered the Sora “present in small numbers throughout the year in the salt marsh most frequently being found in vicinity of tule-bordered ponds and creeks,”’ and even breeding (in “‘April and May’’). Prior to the 1998 record, the last records of Sora in the Ballona Valley were from the early 1950s GARIN 5:2255) WT oli8:38). Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus. Extirpated as a (presumably) breeding resident; reestablished as an uncommon transient and winter visitor at BFM. The first modern record involved a transient at BFM on 19 Apr. 2003 (DSC), with subsequent records of up to two birds every month of the year (though no evi- dence of breeding or paired birds). This freshwater marsh obligate was apparently lost very early, for it was “seen frequently in a restricted area of the marsh”’ during April and May 1924 (Bird-Lore 26:278), with multiple birds present that fall (Bird-Lore 26:426). These two references comprise the entire historical record of this species at Ballona prior to 2003; its loss was apparently overlooked by von Bloeker (1943). American Coot Fulica americana. Extirpated, then reestablished as a breeder; now a common breeding resident at BFM; still a transient and winter resident elsewhere. Prior to the construction of BFM, coots were mainly winter visitors to freshwater portions of Ballona Cr. (upstream of Culver Blvd.) and on Del Rey Lagoon (peaks of >200 birds Sept.—Mar.; RSh). Breeding was noted at BFM its first year (T.P. Ryan) and in subsequent years (Cooper 2004, 2005b). Though von Bloeker (1943) found this species breeding from mid-April to mid-June, it had apparently ceased doing so by the time the area was surveyed by Dock and Schreiber (1981) and Corey (1992). Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva. Extirpated as a fall transient and winter resident. The Ballona Wetlands, including the saltpan and the modern Ballona Cr. channel, were the last Los Angeles County wintering area for this species (records 14 Sept.—09 Mar.), with nearly annual records (up to 6 birds) through 1983 dating back at least to the 1920s (Bicknell 1924, WT, AFN, LACM files). Snowy Plover Charadris alexandrinus. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now an occasional transient and rare winter visitor. Playa del Rey was historically an important wintering area (e.g., ““more than 100 returned for winter at upper beach at Playa del Rey” in late July 1926; Bird-Lore 28:355), and several dozen birds were recorded on Los Angeles CBC into the 1960s (Table 2). Numbers declined sharply in the late 1960s, but Page et al. (1986) still found up to eight birds on eight of nine winter counts in the Playa del Rey area 1978-1985. By the end of the 1980s, birds were no longer wintering at Ballona (fide RSh, AP), and there have been only two winter records since the start of near-daily coverage by birders in early 2003, both of small flocks: just south of the Ballona Cr. mouth on 09 102 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Jan. 2003 (10, KLG), and north of the Marina del Rey mouth 16—29 Dec. 2004 (up to 14, DB). Just to the south, a loose wintering flock has developed on Dockweiler State Beach since the 1990s (fide RB). Snowy Plovers historically bred on the sand spit that once separated the “‘Ballona swamp” from the ocean (Chambers 1904; Willett 1912), and though the last local egg set was collected on 18 June 1914 by J.E. Law (WFVZ), small numbers nested successfully as late as’ 1925) (Bird=Lore 27-273): Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus. Extirpated as a breeder; reestab- lished as a common perennial resident and localized breeder away from the im- mediate coast. Stilts are found year round in freshwater portions of Ballona Cr. at low tide, at seasonal ponds on Playa Vista, and at BFM. They nested at least once on the Ballona Wetlands proper in recent years: an occupied nest that pro- duced four young was found on 25 June 1998 (LACBBA). At BFM, a pair bred subsequently at BFM in 2003 (T-P. Ryan) but not since, but up to two pairs bred on nearby Playa Vista property (seasonal pools) in May 2004 (DSC). Historically, the Black-necked Stilt was much more common as a breeder, nesting noted through 1952 (AFN 6:299). Eight egg sets were collected on 11 May 1931 by L.R. Howsley, described in his journals (WFVZ) as being °‘3/4 mi east of Del Rey Hills Calif. (near Venice). Location in swamp area between main highway and the Del Rey Hills to the west. A colony of 9 or 10 nests here. Nest placed on top of salicornia [sic] so dense as to form a mat over a wide area and then died out leaving suitable ’platforms’ upon which to build nests—only an inch or two above the water.’’ During the latter half of the 1900s, however, the stilt occurred primarily as a transient and winter visitor. American Avocet Recurvirostra americana. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now an occasional transient. Since the mid-1980s, there have been about 10 rec- ords, mostly in late fall (26 Sept.—O1 Dec.), but also in spring (02 Mar.—27 May). Historically, the American Avocet was apparently resident, breeding at ‘““‘Del Rey” in 1923 (Willett 1933). An egg set from this colony, noted as being “‘on mud- hump in marsh”’ was collected on 29 Apr. 1923 (WF VZ), and adults accompanied by young were present here the next year on 27 July (Bird-Lore 26:347), making the last year of known nesting 1924 (contra Willett 1933). Numbers of fall mi- grants would build through late summer (Bird-Lore 29:438; WT 16:8), and winter counts of up to 200 birds were recorded into the late 1950s (Bird-Lore 26:131; WT 13:28; NAS 2002). The avocet apparently declined through the 1960s (NAS 2002); RSh (1977-1987) recorded birds mainly in single-digits in winter and migration, including highs of 20 birds in January and February. The last Los Angeles CBC record was in 1993 (NAS 2002), and the only winter record in the past ten years (10 Feb. 1996, AP) may have been a very early spring transient. Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus. Extirpated as a winter resident; now an occasional transient. Spring dates extend from 08 Mar. to 31 May, and fall records are between 03 July and 17 Oct. (nearly all involving single birds). During visits in the 1970s and 1980s, RSh recorded it just six times 27 August—04 Apr., with a record of 5 birds on 06 Dec. 1980 being the last known winter sighting for the Ballona Valley. Historically a common transient and winter resident (von Bloeker 1943, Bird-Lore 26:278, Bird-Lore 26:347), curlews were recorded in small numbers on most Los Angeles CBC (presumably at Ballona) through the mid-1970s, reaching double-digits as late as 1958 (NAS 2002). BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 103 Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now a rare transient in fall and winter. Birds are apparently still attempting to winter locally, as singles have appeared along lower Ballona Cr. in three consecutive recent winters, though none remained for the entire season: 14 Jan. 2003 (B. Elliot), 15—16 Dec. 2003 (RB) and 27 Nov. 2004 through late Dec. (L. Brown, DB, m. ob.). Recent records of presumed migrants include one on the Westchester Bluffs “‘near the LMU sign” in April 1990 (Corey 1992); one found dead in PdR on 03 Mar. 2003 (LACM 112292); and birds credibly reported by locals along lower Ballona Cr. to DSC on 31 Oct. 2003 (2) and to J.R. Coffin in “‘late August”’ 2004. Von Bloeker (1943) found this species to be a “‘common resident of the dunes, meadow, and drier portions of the salt marsh,’ recognizing two distinct areas of nesting: in grassland and dune vegetation, birds lived in old burrows of California Ground Squirrels Spermophilus beecheyi; and in what were likely old housing pads at the western edge of current-day Los Angeles International Air- port, he found them “‘in cavities excavated under the pavement.” From 1977 to 1985, RSh recorded this owl on 11 out of 62 monthly visits (spanning the year) along Ballona Cr., on the Ballona Wetlands proper, and on the ““Hughes Property”’ (now Playa Vista). Owls were recorded on Los Angeles CBC through the mid- 1980s but on only two counts in past two decades (NAS 2002). Dock and Schret- ber (1981) wrote of two pairs known nesting “‘in banks adjacent to Ballona Cr.” and of birds “‘probably”’ nesting along bluffs south of the “‘agricultural area”’ ( = Westchester Bluffs). The last known breeding occurred along Ballona Cr. in 1983 (‘family of 4 birds” on 12 Mar. and 10 Oct.; RSh, B. Elliot). Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus. Extirpated as a winter resident; now a casual transient. Historically observed using both the Ballona Wetlands proper as well as the grassland of the “‘Hughes property”’ (now Playa Vista). Both early (Bird- Lore 25:137; 30:137) and recent records indicate consistent wintering or attempts to winter, with sightings of up to three birds in fourteen winters between 1947 and 1996 (AFN, WT; contra Keane Biological Consulting 1996). The Short-eared Owl was consistently recorded on the Los Angeles CBC through the 1970s but the species has only been seen on one count since 1980 (NAS 2002). Since the last winter sighting (14 Feb. 1996, BOC), only two records of transients: Ballona Wetlands on 26 Oct. 2000 (BOC), and BFM on 20 Mar. 2004 (J. Fuhrman). Though there is no direct evidence of historical nesting, one was observed at “‘the Motordrome”’ (= Ballona Wetlands, near present-day BFM) on the late date of 11 May 1935 (field notes of L.B. Howsley, WFVZ). Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus. Extirpated as a breeder; now a common fall and early spring transient; fairly common through winter. Though modern records extend only from 23 Sept. to early Apr., this species apparently once bred in the area, having been described by von Bloeker (1943) as nesting “‘in willows or in telegraph poles, and in corners under eaves of old houses.’’ Early authors (e.g., Willett 1933) confirmed that this species was a common nesting resident in the lowlands of southern California. Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus. Extirpated as a breeder; now an un- common summer, fall, and winter resident (June—March). Long a characteristic resident of the Ballona Valley (e.g., von Bloeker 1943), the last locally nesting shrikes were recorded at the Ballona Wetlands in the mid-1990s, with an occupied nest on 29 Apr. 1995 and “‘two young fledglings”’ observed on 09 June 1996 104 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (LACBBA). Aggression or courtship displays were observed at the eastern end of the Playa Vista property on 14 June 1998 (LACBBA), and one was there in ‘April’? 2000 (RDS), but no breeding evidence was obtained. An exceptionally early adult accompanied by a juvenile was present for one day near BFM on 16 May 2004, but was not seen afterward (J.R. Coffin). Hutton’s Vireo Vireo huttoni. Extirpated as a winter resident. Von Bloeker (1943) considered this species an “‘occasional winter visitant in the brushy portion of the sand dunes and in the willow thickets of the Playa del Rey salt marsh. Also found in shrubbery and trees around houses.’? He mentioned a specimen collected ‘‘on the meadow slope of the dunes’’ on O5 Dec. 1931, but aside from this, there is no other record of the Hutton’s Vireo occurring at Ballona before or since, and no records from the Baldwin Hills (Garrett 2001). However, this species was probably at least a winter resident along Ballona Cr. before it was channel- ized, consistent with the species’ general status in the Los Angeles Basin when riparian habitat was more extensive there (see Grinnell 1898). Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now a casual fall transient. A flock of five over BFM on 14 Nov. 2004 (KL, RB) pro- vided the first record since fall 1994, when this species was recorded on 10 Oct. and 15 Nov. (AP, KLG). Once a characteristic resident of coastal dunes and fields in the Ballona’ Valley (e.g., 25 at the “Venice: Marshes’’ on 29: Jan: 1955;.Wa 22:41), the last suggestion of local breeding came in the mid-1970s (one “‘sky- larking’”’ on 21 Mar. 1975, KLG). Birds were consistently recorded on the Los Angeles CBC until the late 1970s (e.g., /45 in 1975), after which just one bird has been found on a single count (NAS 2002). Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus. Extirpated as a breeding resident; now a ca- sual fall and winter visitor. Only about one per decade is now expected; recent records include singles on 13 Sept. 1980 (RSh), “‘winter c. 1992-1993” (KL), and “‘late Oct.’? 2001 (RSh). Von Bloeker (1943) wrote that this wren was a ‘resident of the established fore-dune area at El Segundo and along cliffs at Palisades del Rey”? where they may have persisted until these bluffs were covered with houses in the 1960s and 70s. Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris. Extirpated as a breeder; now a fairly com- mon fall transient and winter resident. The first fall arrivals appear in late August (23 Aug. 2003, RB), and birds are gone by the end of March. Von Bloeker (1943) considered the Marsh Wren a breeder “‘in tule patches, along edges of ponds and sloughs from April to June;”’ egg sets extend to 1936 (10 May at Venice, WFVZ). Yellow-breasted Chat /cteria virens. Extirpated as a breeder; now an occasional transient. This species has been detected a handful of times both in fall (23 Sept.— O9 Oct.) and in spring (15 Apr.—l11 May), but local nesting, presumably in once- common willow thickets, is known only from a set of three eggs collected by J.H. Baumgardt on 20 May 1936 at “‘Venice” (WFVZ). “Large-billed’’ Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus Extir- pated as a winter resident; currently represented by one (rarely two) birds in winter. After decades of absence, the first modern record since the 1950s was furnished by a bird on the jetty at PdR from 09 Dec. 1998 to 27 Feb. 1999 (KLG), and it has been record nearly annually since, arriving as early as 15 August (in 2000, RB). Von Bloeker (1943) termed it a ‘““common winter visitant in the salt marsh and along the seaward slope of the dunes,”’ citing two specimens BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 105 from 26 Oct. 1939. One early account mentions “‘numbers of Large-billed Spar- rows all over jetties’’ on O5 Feb. 1947 (WT 13:28), and up to six individuals were recorded on the Los Angeles CBC until the mid-1950s (Table 2). Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus. Extirpated as a breeder; now a fairly common transient; rare summer resident. Recent spring records ex- tend into June, and fall birds have been seen as early as 05 August. Hamilton (1997) believed a male was on territory in willows at the base of the Westchester bluffs in summer of 1996, but subsequent searches here (by DSC and KL) have not revealed more records and no modern nesting evidence is known. Of this common southern California nester, von Bloeker wrote (1943) “‘moderately com- mon summer resident in willow bottoms of the salt marsh and along Ballona Creek. Nests chiefly in May.” American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis. Extirpated as a breeder; now an irregu- larly uncommon transient and winter visitor. There is no evidence that this bird breeds locally, although recent (2004 and 2005) records during April and May include apparent pairs, singing males, and immature birds along the eastern edge of the Ballona Wetlands and in residential Westchester. Von Bloeker (1943) termed this species a “‘common resident, nesting in the willows of the salt marsh and along Ballona Creek chiefly in May and June.’ Numerous egg sets were collected in willows in the Ballona Valley during April and May from 1934 to M36,(WEV Z): Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Extirpated as a win- ter resident; now a fairly common spring and rare fall transient at BFM. Since the creation of BFM (2003), this species has proven regular in mid-spring, oc- curring from early April to mid-May, with even large flocks occasionally present (200-300 birds on 23 Apr. 2004; DS, DSC). Though rare in fall (three records in Aug.—Sept. since 2003), it was apparently historically common at this season, even remaining through winter (e.g., “SO seen at their winter haunts in the marsh area”’ on 28 Sept. 1925; Bird-Lore 27:417). Through most of the 1900s, the species was known as rare transient with just six spring records and one in fall. New Colonists (see Above for Discussion of Cinnamon Teal) Gadwall Anas strepera. Colonized as a winter resident; now fairly common in winter and migration on freshwater, including rain pools; uncommon through the summer; one recent breeding record. Up to 20 birds were present at BFM during its first winter (2003—04), and several apparently paired birds remained through the summer of 2003, eventually breeding in 2005 (two pairs, incl. an adult with 4 chicks on 16 June, RB). Not mentioned by von Bloeker (1943) or earlier au- thors, this duck was apparently a casual winter and spring transient in the Ballona Valley during most of the 1900s (three records 1950—1990s), with wintering noted only in 1998, presumably along Ballona Cr. (AP). The Gadwall has been ex- panding its breeding range in southern California and in northwestern Baja Cal- ifornia, Mexico, most dramatically in the coastal lagoons of San Diego Co. (Unitt 2004). Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. Colonized as a breeder; now a common breeding resident at BFM. Though its status may be obscured by the presence of feral birds, this duck was only an “‘occasional winter visitor’ in the early 1900s (von Bloeker 1943), was absent on lower Ballona Cr./DRL from mid-Apr. to early 106 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Sept. from 1977 to 1987 (BSh), and was unrecorded in summer by Corey (1992). Surveys since 1996 at Ballona Lagoon have found up to 10 on May-July visits (CLA), and Mallards were summering along Ballona Cr. by 1998 (AP). Successful nesting was documented on the Ballona Wetlands as early as 1995 (adult with three young on 18 April, LACBBA) and several pairs have raised young at BFM each year since 2003 (Cooper 2004, 2005b). Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris. Colonized as a winter resident; uncommon at BFM through winter. A single (?) bird at PdR on 07 Dec. 1995 (AP) served as the sole local record until the creation of BFM in 2003, when up to two pairs were present during the first winter (from 03 Oct. 2003, JP) and the subsequent year (Cooper 2005a). This species was unrecorded by von Bloeker (1943), so its historical status locally is unclear. However, given its preference for relatively deep freshwater ponds and tendency to avoid the immediate coast in southern California, it appears to be a recent addition to the Ballona avifauna. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps. Colonized as a breeder; now a common and conspicuous breeding resident at BFM; fairly common fall transient and win- ter visitor in fresh and brackish water throughout. The first local nesting evidence came in 2003 and continued in subsequent summers (4 broods at BFM on 29 June, DSC; Cooper 2004, 2005b). Though the Pied-billed Grebe may have bred at Ballona historically, it was rare in summer in southern California during the early 1900s (Willett 1912, 1933), and was known only as a migrant and winter visitor here prior to 2003. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias. Colonized as a breeder; now a common breeding resident, most numerous in fall but localized in early spring when ac- tively breeding. Small numbers nested in the lone cottonwood on the western edge of the Ballona Wetlands at least in 1995 (Keane Biological Consulting 1996; BOC), but now breed in trees at Marina del Rey adjacent to Ballona Cr. (e.g., 10 nests on 16 Feb. 2002, KLG; at least 8 nests in March 2004, DSC). This heron’s historical breeding status is unknown, but it was only a transient and winter visitor by the 1920s (e.g., Bird-Lore 26:347). Von Bloeker (1943) found this heron “‘fre- quently observed in the meadow area and in the salt marsh”’ but did not mention breeding, and nor did subsequent authors (e.g., Dock and Schreiber 1981; Corey OSD): Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax. Colonized as a breeder; now a fairly common breeding resident. Nesting was first documented in a row of eucalyptus at the “‘Oxford Basin” along Washington Blvd. in Marina del Rey (3 nests, | with young, on 11 April 1995; LACBBA). This site is still occupied (20 nests on 04 Mar. 2005, DSC). Historically an uncommon perennial visitor; previous workers (e.g., von Bloeker 1943, Dock and Schreiber 1981, Corey 1992) found small numbers year round (increasing through the 1990s, per AP), but with no indication of local breeding. Merlin Falco columbarius. Colonized as a winter resident; now uncommon in migration and winter throughout the Ballona Valley and adjacent residential areas. Wintering dates since 1999 (fide RDS) have spanned 18 Sept. (2004, DSC) to 26 Apr. (2002, KL). Historically more frequently observed in inland areas in the Los Angeles Basin (Grinnell 1898, Willett 1933), I located only four Ballona records prior to 1997. Elegant Tern Sterna elegans. Colonized as a summer resident; now common BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 107 in spring, summer and fall along the immediate coast. Elegant Terns roost on the saltpan of the Ballona Wetlands and on the sandy beach in spring and summer, but are otherwise rarely seen away from salt water. Until the early 1980s, this tern was principally a post-breeding visitor to Ballona (30 Jul.—13 Nov.). How- ever, spring records increased in frequency through the 1990s, possibly the result of a regional increase in nesting birds (Collins et al. 1991). Current high counts include several hundred birds in spring (400—500 on 28 Apr. 2005, B.G. Johnson.) and early fall (300 on 05 Aug. 2004, DSC). The first known local records of this tern came with a flock of “upwards of 300 birds”? between 30 July and 28 August 1927 at PdR (Schneider 1927), but the species remained rare enough to be notable through the first half of the 20" century (von Bloeker 1943, Small 1950, WT 18:4). Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis. Colonized as a breeding resident; currently rare and local, nearing extirpation. This non-native species was established widely in Los Angeles by the 1920s (Willett 1933), but was first reported locally by Dock and Schreiber (1981). Common and numerous into the 1990s (W. Sakai, RDS, AP), only sporadic sightings are now made, primarily in ornamental plant- ings near Ballona Lagoon. The last known local breeding was documented in Marina del Rey along Washington Blvd. on 24 Apr. 1999 (LACBBA). Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri. Colonized as a breeding resident; cur- rently rare and local. This non-native species apparently arrived as a breeder during the 1990s, with a high count of 12 along Ballona Cr. at Beethoven St. on 18 Nov. 1995 (DS). One was excavating a cavity at a known nest site in PdR on O01 Feb. 1992 (KLG), which a pair then used for several years (M. Ingalls). Small numbers have since been present in PdR, mainly along Pershing Dr. (DSC). White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis. Colonized as a breeder; currently an irregularly common winter visitor (up to 100 birds Nov.—Feb.), less common during other times of year. Formerly present only in winter (e.g., von Bloeker 1943; RSh), nesting swifts apparently colonized as nesters in the late 1990s (con- firmed 1997, LACBBA), with birds occupying “‘weep-holes’’ on the underside of State Route 90, which was constructed in the late 1960s. Allen’s Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin. Colonized as a breeding resident. Long known only as a migrant (von Bloeker 1943), breeding records date back to two nests found in Marina del Rey 22 and 24 May 1980 (Garrett and Dunn 1981). One bird remained through the winter in 1980—81 (unusual at the time), and breeding was again confirmed (female on nest) on 18 Dec. 1985 (J. Johnson, LACM files). Since then, it has become very common, occurring year round. Cassin’s Kingbird 7yrannus vociferans. Colonized as a breeding resident; now uncommon year round mainly in eastern Ballona Valley; occasional migrant along immediate coast. The first Ballona Valley sighting was made at PdR on 13 Apr. 1995 (AP), and local breeding was first noted in 2002 along Jefferson Blvd. Since then, nesting has been observed in Mar Vista and near Loyola Marymount Uni- versity (KL, L.M. Fimian1). Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor. Colonized as a breeder; now a fairly com- mon transient, an uncommon winter visitor, and a local nester. Prior to the con- struction of BFM, this species occurred as a rare (or at least rarely-identified) spring transient, recorded on a handful of dates from 07 Feb. to 16 May. Since 2003, up to 100 have been observed at BFM during the peak of spring migration (February—Apr.), with lower numbers in fall (20 on 28 Nov. 2004, DSC) and 108 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES small numbers remaining through the winter. In May 2004, a pair colonized one of several new nest boxes put up earlier that year at BFM, fledging at least two young in June (RB). Nesting commenced in early April the following year, with young again produced in June (Cooper 2005b). Widely extirpated as a breeder in southern California during the late 1900s, this species has reestablished itself locally south to San Diego Co., often utilizing bird boxes (Unitt 2004). Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Colonized as a breeder; now a common spring transient and a fairly common summer resident and early fall transient. Breeding was first noted in 1995 (LACBBA) with birds occupying essentially the same cement bridge habitat as White-throated Swifts (see above). Considered ‘“‘occasional’’ in migration by von Bloeker (1943) and found just once by Dock and Schreiber (1981), RSh noted several into late April during the early 1980s, and Corey (1992) observed two in both May and June, suggesting that local breeding commenced before the 1990s. Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica. Colonized as a breeding resident; now fairly common throughout the Ballona Valley except on the immediate coast. This jay was apparently not present during the 1930s (von Bloeker 1943) and was recorded by RSh (1977-87) just three times in dozens of visits to PdR. Multiple jays were observed at the Ballona Wetlands at least as early as 1990 (Corey 1992), when breeding was confirmed along the Westchester Bluffs. BOC found them every month of the year at the western Ballona Wetlands by 2002 (and in subsequent years), but they remain scarce along the immediate coast in Marina del Rey (fide DB); the first record from Ballona Lagoon was not until 26 June 2004 (CLA). American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos. Colonized as a breeder; now a com- mon breeding resident. The crow was termed a “‘moderately common resident, not known to breed in the region”? by von Bloeker (1943) and was recorded just singly on a few occasions by Dock and Schreiber (1981). Breeding was confirmed in the late 1990s (LACBBA) but may have began decades prior. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Colonized as a breeding resident. Starlings are most numerous in summer and fall, when huge flocks of mainly first-year birds are recorded (e.g., 800 at the Ballona Wetlands on 03 July 2004, with 500+ continuing into August, DSC). Unrecorded by von Bloeker (1943), the first rec- ords of this introduced species in southern California were in the late 1940s, and it began an exponential increase in Los Angeles during the 1960s (Table 2), when it presumably became common in the Ballona Valley. Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater. Colonized as a breeder; now uncom- mon in migration and through summer; rare in winter. Though breeding was suspected in the Ballona area (location unknown) on 17 July 1995 (copulation observed, LACBBA), it was not confirmed until 2004 when a juvenile was ob- served being fed by Common Yellowthroats at BFM on 04 July (DSC). Only four credible records prior to the 1990s, all transients in spring and fall (first: 2 on 28 May 1976, KLG). One was purportedly collected by von Bloeker in Feb- ruary 1932, but on a day on which he reported collecting several questionable birds (e.g., Wrentit and Western Bluebird, both otherwise unknown from Ballona), possibly the result of a labeling error. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus. Colonized as a breeding resident. The first local record of this species was of a pair in flight over Westchester on BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 109 27Apr, 1997 (RDS): The next came’ on 09 Apr 2002 (BOC), but the “srackle ‘“‘invaded”’ Ballona in spring 2003, with nesting commencing that summer (42 birds at BFM on 30 July 2003, J. Pickus). This species is oddly scarce during August and September, suggesting a fall dispersal of local breeders out of the Ballona Valley. Hooded Oriole /cterus cucullatus. Colonized as a breeder; now fairly common through spring and early summer (06 March—31 August). Nesting was suspected during the late 1990s (LACBBA), but was confirmed only in 2004 (J.R. Coffin) in a eucalyptus along lower Ballona Cr. Von Bloeker (1943) considered this oriole only a transient, and subsequent observers (Corey 1992; CLA; RSh, AP) recorded only a handful through the 1990s, all in spring. Orange Bishop Euplectes franciscanus. Colonized as a breeder; currently fairly common March through November within a small area that includes BFM and the base of the Westchester Bluffs immediately to the south; occasional elsewhere in the Ballona Valley and in winter. The total population in the Ballona Valley may not exceed 20 individuals and appears to be confined to invasive pampas- grass Cortederia sellona. The first local record came in 1997 with one at the base of the Westchester Bluffs (RDS). Other early records include birds at the western Ballona Wetlands on 23 Oct. 2000 (6, R.A. Erickson) and 10 Oct. 2002 (BOC). The first record at BFM came on O01 June 2003 (3, DSC), and displaying males and hatch-year birds have been observed since then. Data-deficient Taxa—Historical Presence at Ballona Questionable Snow Goose Chen caerulescens. Modern records are now limited to about one per decade, the most recent in December 2001 at Del Rey Lagoon and adjacent Ballona Cr. (KL). Apparently unusual by the early 1900s (Bailey 1915), Grinnell (1898) described flocks feeding in the “‘Centinela grain fields’? and roosting at sea, but did not provide a specific location. Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis. Though von Bloeker (1943) considered this species a “‘rare resident,’’ he noted “‘there appear to be no recent records of the occurrence of this rail in this locality.”” Only two known records: 16 May 1895 (Grinnell 1898) and 25 Feb. 1928 (Ewan 1928). Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis. Cranes historically occurred (pre-1900) in winter throughout the Los Angeles Basin (see Grinnell 1898) but were considered rare by the 1930s (von Bloeker 1943), with the only known Ballona record in- volving a bird at the Recreation Gun Club (east of PdR) from 25 Jan. to 27 Feb. 1949 (WT 15:28). Mountain Plover Charadris montanus. This species was recorded on the Hughes airstrip (now Playa Vista) on 03 Dec. 1972 (J. Brandt); along Ballona Cr. on 30 Oct. 1976 (WT 43:6); and at PdR (2) on 02 Nov. 1979 (WT 46:8), but not before or since. Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus. Von Bloeker (1943) considered it a “resident of the meadow (= grassy areas inland from the saltmarsh and dunes) and sand dunes. Nests in April and May, usually in patches of cactus (Opuntia littoralis),’ but this may have pertained to the El Segundo Dunes to the south; only one record is specifically known from the Ballona Valley, a male at PdR on 29 Dec. 1908 (LACM 21866). Long-eared Owl Asio otus. Just two confirmed records: a “roadkill” (per von 110 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Bloeker 1943) at PdR on 31 Dec. 1929 (LACM 16842) and another specimen from Marina del Rey on 08 Jan. 1934 (LACM 87423). Dock and Schreiber’s (1981) remarkable report of 1—2 Long-eared Owls ‘“‘flushed out of trees” just north of Ballona Cr. in “‘October” 1980 was given without details and may not be credible given the species’ rarity at that time (Garrett and Dunn 1981). This owl was more common historically, even breeding in the Los Angeles Basin in the early 1900s (WFVZ). California Gnatcatcher Polioptila californica. One historical record: 07 Oct. 1888 (LACM 12790) from ‘Port Ballona,”’ a record evidently overlooked by von Bloeker (1943). The historical status of this species in the Ballona region is un- clear; there is no conclusive evidence of its ever occurring north of Redondo Beach along the coast, nor in the nearby Baldwin Hills, despite the presence of Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Cactus Wrens and other coastal scrub species there (Garrett 2001). Wrentit Chamaea fasciata. Von Bloeker (1943) considered Wrentit a “‘resident of the brush-covered portions of the dunes and meadow,”’ noting breeding in April and May. Though he cited a specimen “collected on the meadow [ = inland] slope of the dunes 13 Feb. 1932,” this is the only known reference to this species’ occurrence in the Ballona region (no egg records or specimens have been located), and it occurred on a date on which von Bloeker collected several unusual spec- imens (see above). Common in the Santa Monica Mtns., the Wrentit is unknown from the much more extensive scrub habitat of the Baldwin Hills and from the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but historically occurred in dense riparian thickets else- where on the floor of the Los Angeles Basin (Garrett and Dunn 1981; Garrett 2001). California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum. Two sightings in 2002: one on 08 June on the Westchester Bluffs (RDS) and another at the western edge of the Ballona Wetlands (at a seed feeder) in ‘“‘October’? (BOC). Von Bloeker (1943) considered the California Thrasher a fall and winter visitor, citing one caught in a rat trap on 25 Oct. 1931 (specimen not located), but this may have referred to the more extensive scrub of the El Segundo Dunes to the south. This sedentary species is casual in the nearby Baldwin Hills (Garrett 2001) and on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (fide KL), though a common resident to the north in the Santa Monica Mtns. Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli. No specific Ballona Valley records, although historically, the Bell’s Sage Sparrow (A. b. belli) may have been a post-breeding visitor to the El Segundo Dunes: birds were collected at ““‘Hyperion” on 16 July 1917 (LACM 1967); and at “‘“El Segundo” on 08 Jan. 1925 (MVZ 81542) and 22 Aug. 1931 (von Bloeker 1943). Field notes of PH. Robertson (WFVZ) mention ‘a few”? Bell’s Sparrows in dunes at ““Redondo” on 16 June 1899. Acknowledgments This work would not have been possible without the enthusiastic cooperation of numerous individuals, especially the local birders who have sent me sightings and updates since 2003. I am especially grateful to Chuck and Lillian Almdale, Barbara O. Courtois, Jean Pickus, Robert Shanman and Russell and Dorothy Stone for granting permission to mine their long-term databases of bird sightings from the Ballona region. Herb Clarke graciously lent me several historical photographs BALLONA VALLEY BIRDS 11] of the pre-Marina del Rey Ballona Wetlands and related helpful first-hand infor- mation about this vanished landscape. Edith Read of the Center for Natural Lands Management facilitated this effort in numerous ways, and Kimball L. Garrett accommodated many visits to conduct research at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Linnea Hall and Rene Corado of the Western Foundation for Vertebrate Zoology and Carla Cicero of the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California welcomed me at their institutions. Literature Cited American Ornithologists’ Union. 1998. Check-list of North American birds, 7° ed. Washington, D.C. . 2004. Forty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American birds. Auk 121:985—995. Bailey, EM. 1915. A populous shore. The Condor 18:100—110. Bicknell, ET. 1924. Golden Plover on the southern California coast. The Condor 26:77—78. Chambers, W.L. 1904. The Snowy Plover. The Condor 6:139—140. Collins, C.T., W.A. Schew and E. Burkett. 1991. Elegant Terns breeding in Orange County, California. American Birds 45:393—395. Cooke, T.D. 1946. The proposed bird sanctuary at Playa del Rey. Western Tanager 13:5. Cooper, D.S. 2004. 2004 Breeding bird survey, Ballona Freshwater Marsh at Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, California. Unpublished Report. Prepared for the Center for Natural Lands Management, Fallbrook, California, July 25, 2004. . 2005a. 2004—05 Winter bird survey. Ballona Freshwater Marsh at Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, California. Unpublished Report. Prepared for the Center for Natural Lands Management, Fall- brook, California, Feb. 8, 2005. . 2005b. 2005 Breeding bird survey, Ballona Freshwater Marsh at Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, California. Unpublished Report. Prepared for the Center for Natural Lands Management, Fall- brook, California, July 11, 2005. . 2005c. Checklist of birds of Ballona Valley, Los Angeles County, California (Online). Avail- able: http://www.ca.audubon.org/Ballona_checklist.pdf (Accessed 2005). . 2005d. Birding the Ballona Wetlands. Winging It. 17:1—4. Corey, K.A. 1992. Bird survey of Ballona Wetland, Playa del Rey, CA 1990-1991. Unpublished Report. April 30, 1992. Dock, C.F and R.W. Schreiber. 1981. The Birds of Ballona. Jn: R.W. Schreiber, ed. 1981 The biota of the Ballona region, Los Angeles County (Supplement I of Marina del Rey/Ballona Local Coastal Plan). Los Angeles County Natural History Museum Foundation. Ellis, E.H. 1926. Minutes of Cooper Club Meetings: southern division, September 1925. Condor 28: a): Ewan, J. 1928. California Black Rail in Los Angeles County. The Condor 30:247. Fuller, B.T. 1955. Help! Cry the Los Angeles County waterbirds. Western Tanager 22:17. Garrett, K.L. 2001. Birds of the Baldwin Hills. Jn: Molina, K., ed., Biota of the Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles County, California. Community Conservancy International and Natural History Mu- seum of Los Angeles County Foundation, Los Angeles, 77—126. .and J. Dunn. 1981. Birds of southern California: Status and distribution. Los Angeles Au- dubon Soc., Los Angeles. Grinnell, J. 1898. Birds of the Pacific slope of Los Angeles County. Pasadena Acad. Sci. 2. .and A.H. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California. Pac. Coast Avifauna 27. Hamilton, R.A. 1997. Playa Vista habitat mitigation and monitoring plan, recommended performance standards, bird use of wetland mitigation sites. Unpublished Report. Prepared for Maguire Thomas Partners—Playa Vista. Los Angeles, California. January 7, 1997. Hise, G. and W. Deverell. 2000. Eden by design: the 1930 Olmsted-Bartholomew plan for the Los Angeles Region. Univ. of California Press, ix + 314 pp. Howsley, L.B. 1936. Unusual sets of Bush-tit and Green Heron. The Condor 38:39. Keane Biological Consulting. 1996. Existing conditions—Avifauna of Playa Vista. Unpublished Re- port. Sept. 17, 1996. Longcore, T., R. Mattoni, G. Pratt and C. Rich. 2000. On the Perils of Ecological Restoration: Lessons 2 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES from the El Segundo Blue Butterfly. Pp. 281—286 in: Keeley, J., M. Baer-Keeley, and C. J. Fotheringham, eds. 2nd Interface Between Ecology and Land Development in California, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-62, Sacramento, CA. National Audubon Society. 1986. Ballona Wetland Habitat Management Plan. Draft. Prepared for the City of Los Angeles, November 1986. . 2002. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results (Online). Available: http:// www.audubon.org/bird/cbe (Accessed 2005). Page, G.W., EC. Bistrup, R.J. Ramer and L.E. Stenzel. 1986. Distribution of wintering snowy plovers in California and adjacent states. Western Birds 17:145—170. Robertson, J. 1990. La Ballona Wetlands and its environs. Map. Robinson, W.W. 1939. Culver City: A calendar of events, in which is included, also, the story of Palms and Playa del Rey together with Rancho La Ballona and Rancho Rincon de los Bueyes (Online). Available http://www.cheviothills.org/Ranchos.htm (Accessed 2005). Rowe S.P. and T. Gallion 1996. Fall migration of turkey vultures and raptors through the southern Sierra Nevada, California. Western Birds 27:48—53. Schneider, EB. 1927. Invasion of the southern California coast by Elegant Terns. The Condor 29:71. Small, A.S. 1950. An unusual concentration of Elegant Terns in southern California. The Condor 53: 154. Trust for Public Land. 2003. State acquires historic Ballona Wetlands property. Press release. Dec. 19, 2003 (Online). Available: http://resources.ca.gov/ballona_wetlands/Ballona_Wetlands-_ Purchase_Press_Release.pdf Unitt, P. 2004. San Diego County Bird Atlas. Proc. San Diego Soc. of Nat. Hist. 39. von Bloeker, J.C. 1943. The fauna and flora of the El Segundo Sand Dunes: Birds of El Segundo and Playa del Rey. Bull. So. Cal. Acad. Sci. Vol. 42, Part I (pp. 1-30) and Part II (pp. 90-103). Willett, G. 1912. Birds of the Pacific slope of southern California. Pac. Coast Avifauna 7. . 1933. A revised list of the birds of southwestern California. Pac. Coast Avifauna 21. Accepted for publication 13 February 2006. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(3), 2006, pp. 113-127 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 The Role of Increased Sea Surface Temperature on Eelgrass Leaf Dynamics: Onset of El Nino as a Proxy for Global Climate Change in San Quintin Bay, Baja California Héctor A. Echavarria-Heras! Elena Solana-Arellano,! and Ernesto Franco-Vizcaino2 Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y Educacion Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada Baja California México. Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana—Ensenada Codigo Postal 22860 Apdo. Postal 2732 Ensenada, B.C. México Mailing address: P.O Box 430222 San Diego, California 92143-0222, USA email: hechavar@ cicese.mx Abstract.—We present a quantitative study of the effects of sea surface temper- atures on eelgrass productivity variables. We compared standing stock variables for Zostera marina for the strong El Nino event of 1986—1987, previously pub- lished by other workers for San Quintin Bay, Baja California, to our previously unpublished data for the “‘normal year’? of 1992—1993. We found significant dif- ferences for most of the variables measured, which included Leaf Area Index, leaf length, width, dry weight and area, biomass, shoot density, and number of leaves per shoot. Inspection of the multivariate ENSO index (MEI) and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies for each of these years showed that the differences could be explained by the warm SSTs associated with the ENSO event. We were able to explain the observed differences from a dynamic perspective by using a leaf-growth model forced by SSTs. We conclude that sea surface temperature summarizes the fundamental environmental influences on eelgrass leaf dynamics observed in our study site. That is, higher SSTs explain the reduction in mean leaf lengths and the corresponding diminution in related productivity variables. This study also strengthens the view that the onset of an El Nino event provides anticipatory evidence for the effects that a rise in global temperature is expected to elicit in eelgrass beds. Human-induced increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are expected to exacerbate global temperature change (Ramanathan 1988). The associated alterations could be particularly deleterious for estuaries and coral reefs, currently under noticeable anthropogenic stress. These relatively shallow environments will be affected through alterations in abiotic variables like tem- perature and sea level, wind patterns and storminess, availability of precipitation water and runoff, and modifications in availability of nutrients (Dyer 1985; Eman- uel 1987; Wigley and Raper 1987; Bakum 1990; Peterson et a/. 1993; Watson et al 1996; Kennedy et al. 2002). Sea-surface temperature has been found to have a great influence in marine ecosystem dynamics (Tegner and Dayton 1987; Baumgartner et al. 1992; Beer and Koch, 1996; Holbrook et al. 1997; Johnson et al. 2003). In particular, warmer ' Departamento de Ecologia Marina. *Depatamento de Biologia de la Conservacion. 13 114 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES temperatures are expected to influence the biology of organisms by reducing the concentration of dissolved oxygen in seawater. Diurnal and annual temperature oscillations also influence the biology and distribution of aquatic angiosperms (Holmes & Klein, 1987). Several workers have reported that growth dynamics of the temperate seagrass Zostera marina L. is highly correlated with sea surface temperature (Short an Neckles 1999; Solana-Arellano et al. 1997, Poumian-Tapia & Ibarra-Obando 1999; Solana-Arellano et al. 2004). According to Setchel (1929) eelgrass can grow only within a fixed temperature range. Other authors (Ras- mussen 1977; Phillips and Backman 1983) have also shown that temperature is fundamentally important in controlling the seasonal growth cycle of eelgrass. The distribution and abundance of seagrasses in temperate littoral waters are also controlled by light availability (Backman and Barilotti 1976; Denninson and Alberte 1985; Bulthuis and Woelkerling 1983; Orth and Moore 1988; Zimmerman et al 1991). In particular, light has been shown to influence the distribution (Den- nison & Alberte 1985), density (Mukai et al. 1980), flowering (Phillips & Back- man 1983), biomass (Mukai et al. 1980) and production (Bulthuis 1987) of Zos- tera marina. Dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrients (including carbon) and water movements also modify photosynthesis in aquatic plants. While light, temperature and dis- solved oxygen regulate instantaneous photosynthetic rates, the availability of in- organic nutrients affects the long-term response of photosynthesis by controlling the levels of photosynthetic enzymes and pigments (Solana-Arellano et al. 1997). Eelgrass can absorb nutrients either from the roots or the leaves (McRoy et al. 1972). Hence, modifications in upwelling activity, stratification, and tidal dynam- ics could alter the availability of dissolved nutrients and thus affect seagrass pro- ductivity. In our study area (San Quintin Bay, Baja California, one of the last remaining ecologically functional estuaries in the California Bight), the onset of an ENSO event alters sea surface levels and temperatures, as well as tidal dy- namics and nutrient availability (Alvarez-Borrego 2004). Hence, it is reasonable to expect that ENSO-like conditions would influence eelgrass dynamics in the bay. Sea surface temperature provides a reasonable paradigm for an ENSO-like alteration. Since thermal expansion of the water column influences sea level var- lation (Wigley and Rapper 1987) sea level can be assumed to increase, thus mod- ifying light availability and changing tidal dynamics and circulation (Short and Neckles 1999). Also, thermally induced stratification would imply a deeper ther- mocline and nutricline, and modify upwelling transport of dissolved nutrients (Petterson et al. 1993). Hence we would expect sea surface temperature to be a variable that triggers changes in the dynamics of the principal environmental influences on eelgrass in our study site. To provide a basis for the assumption of significant causal linkage between an ENSO warming event and changes in the growth dynamics of eelgrass we dem- onstrate here that sea surface temperature accounts in a fundamental way for the observed variability of standing stock variables by comparing two whole-year- cycle data sets of Z. marina L. in the San Quintin Bay estuary. The first data set, for the ENSO event of 1987-1988, was previously published by Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997). The second data set was collected by our research group from November 1992 through November 1993. Both data sets consist of means for leaf TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS 115 length, width, dry weight and area, biomass and density per square meter, Leaf Area Index (LAI), and number of leaves per shoot. Due to the architecture of Z. marina, above-ground productivity is determined by the dynamics of leaf elongation. To show that temperature controls productiv- ity, we demonstrate a causal relationship between temperature and leaf length by using a leaf-growth model forced by sea surface temperature. We produced a consistent representation of leaf-length dynamics for both data sets and corrobo- rated that sea surface temperature can be considered a fundamental environmental forcing agent for productivity variables of eelgrass at our study site. An alteration of the normal variation range for this variable like that registered during the onset of an ENSO event provides anticipatory evidence for the effects that an equivalent change in global temperature would elicit on eelgrass beds at our study site. This agrees with the view on this causal relationship for seasgrasses discussed in Short and Neckles (1999). Study Site San Quintin Bay is a Y-shaped shallow coastal lagoon on the Pacific side of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico (30°30N—116°10'W), which has a total area of 42 km*. Evaporation exceeds runoff plus precipitation. In the Bay’s waters, tides are mixed and predominantly semidiurnal and are considered the main cause of temperature variability (Alvarez-Borrego 2004). Upwelling events bring nutri- ent-rich waters near the mouth of the bay (Dawson 1951) and tidal currents prop- agate those waters throughout the bay. To some extent, this accounts for the rather high nutrient content of its waters (Barnard 1962; Alvarez-Borrego and Alvarez- Borrego 1982). Organic matter is trapped and materials are re-mineralized, re- leasing nutrients back to the water column. These remineralization processes (Smith et al. 1991), along with turbulence induced by tidal currents and waves, control nutrient concentrations in the lagoon (Alvarez-Borrego 2004). Sampling and Exploratory Analysis The sampling site is a mudflat located in the west arm of the bay. We collected shoots monthly from sixteen 20 X 20 cm quadrats selected at random, from November 1992 through November 1993. Each sample was placed in individually labeled plastic bags and cooled until processed. Each shoot was cleaned with distilled water. We determined the number of shoots and leaves per unit area, the length (mm), width (mm) dry weight (g), and area (mm?) of each leaf. A total of 10,000 complete leaves were collected through the entire year cycle. Biomass per unit area and L.A.I estimations are presented in g m~ and m’ m ° respectively. For both data sets that were analyzed, underwater radiation at | meter under sea level was measured (Em ~’) by using a PAR and direct beam quantum radiometer- photometer (Li-Cor, Inc.) using an integration time of 1000 s. The integrated photon flux rate in a time interval centered at noon gives a reasonable estimate of the maximum radiation in the day. Daily variation can then be approximated by the Monteith sine law (Monteith 1965). /n situ temperatures for both data sets were also obtained (figure 5 b). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was de- veloped for all variables in both our data and that of Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997) to assess the importance of abiotic variables. Nutrient data are not available for 1992-1993 so we used upwelling index values as a proxy in accordance with 116 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Alvarez-Borrego (2004) that reports upwelling as the main source of dissolved nutrient availability in the site. Data in MEI values SST anomalies and Upwelling index were obtained from NOAA (http://www.cdc.noaa.gov.people.klauss.wolter/MEI/table.html, http://ferret. pmel.noaa.gov/NVODS/servlets/datasets and _ ftp://orpheus.pfge.noaa.gov/outgoing/ upwell/monthly/upindex.mon). Data on sea level values at San Quintin Bay were provided by the Laboratorio de Nivel del mar, Departamento de Oceanografia Fisica CICESE (http://nivelmar.cicese.mx/). Theoretical Methods Following Nadezhda et al. (2001) we considered that water temperature, light radiation and nutrients are the fundamental environmental influences on eelgrass growth. In accordance with Alvarez-Borrego (2004) we will consider that the availability of dissolved nutrients is controlled by upwelling activity at our study site. We designate sea surface temperature by 7(¢) at a time ¢. Similarly (7) means underwater light radiation and U(t) are values of the upwelling index. Let /(t) denote eelgrass leaf length. Then, leaf length rate dynamics will be assumed to follow the growth model, a k(a){l l 1 Bi (Ll. — (MI, (1) where /,, is the maximum possible value that leaf length can be attain. This con- stant is also known as the asymptotic upper bound for leaf growth. For leaf length values that are very close to L,,, vanishing leaf length rates are expected (Batschelet 1974). The scaling factor k(t) summarizes the fundamental environmental influ- ences on leaf dynamics. It can be formally represented through the expression KO) = SCO. oO; UM); (2) where f(t), b(t), U(t) is assumed to be continuous and differentiable in all of its arguments. Increasing water temperatures are known to affect eelgrass metabolism and the maintenance of a positive carbon balance (Zimmerman et al. 1989). Op- timum eelgrass photosynthesis is attained at temperatures below a seasonal max- imum (Biebl and McRoy 1971). Temperatures above the growth optimum to near the upper limit of thermal tolerance have resulted in reduced eelgrass productivity (Thayer et al. 1984; Moore et al. 1996). This conceptual framework, along with the assumption that a change in 7(f) triggers a response in the remaining variables of equation (2) is consistent with the assumption that k(t) can be represented in terms of mean sea surface temperature 7(t). The forcing factor k(t) can be assumed to have the polynomial form N k@) = >a, 0D): (3) n=1 Integration of equation (1) from f¢, to t,,, led us to the equation, iin any i li+] 1G) | srORE After a few algebraic steps equation (4) provides the regression expression, (4) = exp TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS Gy 320 5 1800 = 260 ry —E = " 1400 = 200 - = e a 1000; &: 2 1440 E S S ° vo s ‘3 600 « = 80 c c 6 Z 200 = 20 ; fe) e NDJFMAMJJASON NDJFMAMJ JASON Time (months) Time (months) Mean L.A. 1. 12 ¢ -O- Mean biomass (g m-) L oO -e Mean number of leaves per shoot 1 | 0 NeOied) (Fav AM Jd A-S--O.UN NDJ FMAMJ J AS ON Time (months) Time (months) Fig. 1. Mean monthly values for Zostera marina standing stock variables and leaf area index (LAI) measured in San Quintin Bay during the “‘normal’’ year of 1992-1993. Cap ada ria Gilera (3) where by virtue of equation (3) G(t,, ¢;,,) has the form: ti+1 N CC) aa Sy a; Tat (6) j=l tj In order to corroborate empirically the assumption of equation (3) we fitted equation (5) to available data on leaf length and sea surface temperature. Deter- mination coefficients, graphs of predicted vs observed values and residual analyses are presented in the results section. The mean square regression method and the statistical package STATISTICA were used in these fittings. Results Maximum leaf width was 4.6 mm and occurred in November 1992, and max- imum leaf length of 290 mm was reached in August 1993 (Fig 1). Leaf-widths close to maximum values also occurred in September and November 1993. Changes in mean leaf length and width followed the same variation pattern; the maximum for both measurements was attained by late summer (Fig. 1a). Similar results were obtained for mean leaf area and mean leaf biomass; both measure- ments reached their maximum in August, (Fig. 1b), these were 1543 m m? and 0.034 g respectively. Biomass per unit area reached a maximum of 57.02 g m ? in August, but another peak of 54.04 g m-? occurred in May (Fig. Ic). This was 118 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (3 =~ E E < = a 5 o 5 : : o ® S Ss J F MW pees, SOON FONOACMPYyT J A Stem Time (months) Time (months) 1600 E 1400 =< ~~ s 2 1200 5 2 1000 s %S 800 ® 8 600 = E 3 400 200 dE OM AuMuds dk SON JF MAM Jed AS lOmin Time (months) Time (months) Fig. 2. Comparison of mean values for variables in our study with those of the 1986—1987 El Nino year reported by Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997) data at the same depth. Dashed lines corresponds to our study and continuous lines to Ibarra-Obando et al. (op. cit) likely due to the period of reproduction, as a large number of reproductive shoots was observed at this time. Mean L.A.I had a maximum of 3.3 and was also attained in May. The inverse relationship between mean numbers of shoots and leaves is shown in Fig. 1d, such that minimum numbers of shoots (less than 400 shoots per square meter), occur when the number of leaves reaches its maximum of 6 leaves per shoot, and maximum number of shoots (1390 shoots m7) is reached almost at the same time the average number of leaves per shoot is declining to its minimum (2 leaves per shoot). This relationship could be explained by the autoecology of seagrasses (Kentula and McIntire, 1986), since light decreases during winter, the plant uses its energy to produce fewer shoots with a large number of leaves so they have more access to light. For the El Nifio year of 1986-1987, Poumian-Tapia & Ibarra-Obando (1999) reported smaller values for mean length, biomass, number of shoots and number of leaves per shoot than the ones found in our study for the same area (Fig 2.). We fitted a general linear model for upwelling index values in terms of dissolved nitrates and phosphates and their cross products, finding a determination coeffi- cient of R? = 0.88. All estimated parameters had p-values < 0.05 (0.0090 for nitrates, 0.009 for phosphates and 0.03 for the cross product of nitrates and phos- phates), meaning that the 3 terms contribute to the multiple correlation coefficient. This result also provides a quantitative basis for the linkage between dissolved nutrient concentration and upwelling index values. TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS io A Principal Components Analysis (PCA) for the 1987 data extracted a first component defined mainly by temperature, with a correlation coefficient of R = 0.95 and irradiance with a correlation coefficient of R = —0.74. This component explained 39% of the variability of biotic variables. Second and a third compo- nents were represented by nitrates and phosphates in that order, with coefficients of correlation R = 0.91 and R = —0.66 which explained 29% and 20% of the variability, respectively. For the 1992-1993 data we used upwelling index values as a proxy for dis- solved nutrient availability. In that PCA, we found a first principal abiotic factor defined by temperature and irradiance with correlation coefficient of R = 0.85 for temperature and —0.68 for irradiance. This factor explained 41.4% of the vari- ability of biotic variables. A second component was mainly defined by upwelling with R = 0.74 and this factor explains 33.2% of the variability of all variables. PCA results for both years, which showed a dominant forcing of SST on eel- grass productivity variables, were corroborated by the fittings of equation (5). This fitting produced a high coefficient of determination (R? = 0.94) for the 1987 data and an Rk? = 0.97 for the corresponding 1992-1993 leaf length data. Analysis of residuals showed a good correspondence between eelgrass leaf length and sea surface temperature for both data sets. Figure 3 shows the corresponding predicted versus observed values associated for each fit. This demonstrates that the observed differences can be explained by higher temperatures. In other words, sea surface temperature is a variable that summarizes the fundamental environmental influ- ences that determine leaf length dynamics, and therefore of other variables such as biomass and L.A.I for eelgrass in our study site. Discussion This work presents the most recent data for important variables used in eelgrass production studies in San Quintin Bay (fig. 1). The nearest related sampling in the area occurred in 1987—1988, as reported by Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997). They reported smaller values for mean leaf length and also for most of the productivity related variables than our present results (fig. 2). An analysis of the causal linkage between sea surface temperature, underwater light radiation, dissolved nutrient availability and eelgrass productivity variables leads us to conclude that a higher temperature is the most important factor determining the observed differences. Our findings sustain the paradigm that a warm temperature stress can induce a deleterious effect in Z. marina, (Rasmusen, 1977, Penhale, 1977; Wetzel and Penhale, 1983; Evans et. al. 1986; Johnson et al. 2003). Primary and secondary production in the California Current (CC) are high when the transport of the cool, low-salinity water from the north is strong and low when this transport is weak (McGowan 1983). Periods of warming and low productivity in the CC tend to coincide with El Nino events in the eastern tropical pacific. ENSO events induce warming of SSTs in San Quintin Bay (Silva-Cota and Al- varez-Borrego, 1988). The present analysis shows that slower growth rates in Z. marina reported by Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997) could be a consequence of the ENSO event that took place from June 1986 to January 1988, just before and during the year where their data were taken Comparison of MEI and SST values demonstrates clear differences between the 1987 ENSO and the “‘normal’’ con- ditions of 1993 (Fig 4.). 120 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 160 140 120 Predicted values (mm) ° oO 80 40 60 80 100 120 140 Observed values (mm) 140 120 100 Predicted values (mm) [o°) oO 60 40 40 60 80 100 120 140 Observed values (mm) Fig. 3. Observed versus predicted values for the fitting of equation (5) to mean length data. a) Fitting corresponding to the Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997) data. b) Fitting corresponding to our data. Thermal expansion of sea water results in higher sea level values (Wigley and Rapper 1987), which can reduce light reaching seagrass beds at depth and thus limit photosynthesis (Short and Neckles (1999)). For Z. marina, the effects of decreased light are reduction in shoot density, leaf width, number of leaves per shoot, growth rate (Short et al. 1993) and above-ground plant productivity (Back- man and Barilotti 1976). Comparison of sea-level anomalies for San Quintin Bay, shows largely negative anomalies during the non-ENSO conditions of 1985 and positive anomalies during the 1987 ENSO (fig. 5). Thus we can infer that sea level anomalies were largely negative in 1993. There were also significant dif- TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS [2 22 2.0 ) ~o- 1987 1.8 : Zaa1993 1EeZ M.E.I. Index values —— 1987 -2-1993 SST Anormales (°C) 5 ee ey eee) Yee RS Re Na Seo eet RD) Month Fig. 4. Above) Multivariate Enso Index values for 1987 and 1993. Below) Corresponding Sea Surface Temperature anomalies. ferences (p = 0.03) in mean light radiation between our 1993 data and those of Ibarra-Obando (1997). This occurred for both the incident light flux and under- water light availability (Fig 6). Temperature stress and reduced availability of light likely contributed to lower productivity of eelgrasss in 1987. Upwelling of nutrient-rich waters during non-ENSO conditions maintains high nutrient levels in the water column. But thermal stratification can modify the depth of both the thermocline and the nutricline and so influence nutrient transport by upwelling. Upwelling index values are in a good correspondence with dissolved nutrient availability, corroborating reports on the role of an ENSO event in the reduction of dissolved nutrient availability in our study site (Silva-Cota and Al- 122 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 2.0 o,ceo So 3s) = CiaOe = Claes | oO Sea Level Anomalies (mm) = 21:9 SES) 17.5 oe monthly mean temperature (°C) 13.5 Month Fig. 5. a) Sea level anomalies for San Quintin Bay for the ENSO year of 1987 and 1985 a year before the onset of the referred ENSO event. Higher sea level values for the ENSO event year area observed. b) Mean monthly temperatures for Ibarra-Obando et al. (1997) and present study data sets at San Quintin Bay. varez-Borrego, 1988). This strongly suggests an unfavorable influence for eelgrass productivity, in addition to temperature and light availability effects. We conclude that for the 1987 data the conjunction of a high temperature stress, reductions in light radiation and availability of dissolved nutrients could explain the diminution in eelgrass productivity variables during the 18-month ENSO event. [barra-Obando et al. (1997) found a turnover time of about 38 days for Z. TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS 123 9000 8000 ) Air Ligth Radiation (E m7 2) mM for) — ro) Under-water Ligth Radiation (E Month Fig. 6. Above) Incident Light Radiation in San Quintin Bay during the ENSO event year of 1987 and 1993 which was consider as normal. Below) Underwater light luminosity corresponding to the same years. We can notice a grater light availability for the 1993 sampling period. marina L., in San Quintin Bay. Reduced turnover times could have shortened responses to environmental stress for these seagrass populations in such a way that the associated effects were observable during the reported year—cycle study. In any event, both the performed PCA and the fitting of equation (5) show that environmental influences which controlled the observed dynamics can be sum- marized in a reasonable way by sea surface temperature variability. The present study provides the first quantitative framework for corroborating the assumption that an increased temperature, as observed on the onset of an El 124 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Nino event, will elicit reduced growth rates in Z. marina (Fig. 3). ENSO driven alterations are limited to 12—18 months between periods of normal conditions that range from 2-7 years. A continued ENSO-like anomaly could result in long-term unfavorable temperature conditions, triggering changes in light radiation and in the availability of dissolved nutrients. Besides the abatement of productivity var- iables, this could also disrupt adaptive response in eelgrass and promote its re- placement by subdominant species as reported by Johnson et al. 2003. Global climate change is expected to result in modifications of SST, sea level, CO, concentrations and UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface (Houghton and Woodwell, 1989; Mitchell 1989; Schneider 1994; Kerr 1992; Watson et al. 1996; Titus 1990; Smith et al. 1992; Schellnhuber et al. 2006), and to induce severe effects on both terrestrial and aquatic plants (Watson et al. 1996). In particular, global change is likely to exacerbate the deleterious effects of human activities on estuaries and costal lagoons (Kennedy ef al. 2002). The effects of anthropo- genic activities on estuaries are well documented in the literature (Roblee et al., 1991; Walker and McComb 1992; Short and Willie-Echeverria 1996). On the other hand the mechanism underlying climatic change effects are poorly under- stood. The expected changes linked to global warming on submerged plant species like sea grass beds and salt marshes are of a great concern due to the important ecological services they provide and the current extent of their loss. The present study indicates that the onset of an El Nino event alters the San Quintin Bay environment with changes in sea-surface temperature, level and un- derwater light radiation. Similar changes for these variables are expected to occur in a global change scenario. Even though ENSO events have also driven changes in dissolved nutrient availability at the site, it is more difficult to predict how global change will affect this factor. Upwelling caused by northerly winds and the resulting offshore Eakman transport is a dominant oceanographic process in spring and summer along the entire California and Baja California Coast (Sver- drup et al. 1942). Observations show that wind-driven upwelling along the Cal- ifornia Current has increased over the past 30 years (Snyder et al. 1993). This increase is assumed to be elicited by temperature gradients induced by increasing greenhouse gas forcing, but such association has been speculative. In the event of a positive association of global climatic change and intensification of upwell- ing, it might be reasonable to expect that the observed non-limiting nutrient en- vironment within San Quintin Bay could be maintained. But increased sea tem- perature in the waters adjacent to the mouth of the bay and a coupled stratification could promote a deepening of the thermocline and nutricline, rendering upwelled waters deficient in nutrients, regardless of how intense the transport might be (Petterson et al. 1993). This coincides with reports on a reduced dissolved nutrient availability in the waters adjacent to the mouth of San Quintin Bay during an ENSO event (Silva-Cota and Alvarez-Borrego 1988). Our findings strentengthen the view that the onset of an El Nifio event provides valuable anticipatory scientific evidence on the effects on eelgrass productivity variables as a consequence of a global climatic change (Schneider 1994), partic- ularly those associated with sea surface temperature, and underwater light radia- tion. For dissolved nutrients, the onset of an El Nifio event at our study site could reduce dissolved nutrient availability probably linked to a deficient upwelling transport. TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS 12 N Acknowledgments This paper is part of the research on eelgrass production partially funded by the Mexican National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) through grant 26665-B. We acknowledge a great debt to Olga Flores-Uzeta and Cecilia Leal for their technical assistance. We also thank Jose Ma. Dominguéz and Fran- cisco Ponce for the figures. Literature Cited Alvarez-Borrego J. and S. Alvarez-Borrego 1982. Temporal and spatial variability of temperature on two coastal lagoons., CalCOFI reports XXIII, 188—197. Alvarez-Borrego S. 2004. Nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in a coastal lagoon strongly affected by coastal upwelling. Ciencias Marinas, 30(1A)1—19. Backman T.W. and D.C. Barilotti, 1976. Irradiance reduction effects on standing crops of the eelgrass Zostera marina in a coastal lagoon. Marine Biology, 34:33—40. Bakum, A., 1990. Global climate and the intensification of coastal ocean upwelling, Science, 247: 198-201. Barnard, J. L. 1962. Benthic marine exploration of San Quintin Bay California 1960—1961. Pac. Nat., 2:250—274. Batschelet. E. 1974. Introduction to mathematics for life scientists. Springer Verlag New York. USA. 495 pp. Baumgartner, T.R., A. Soutar and V. Ferreira-Bartrina 1992. Reconstruction of the history of Pacific sardine and northern anchovy populations over the past two millennia from sediments of the Santa Barbara Basin, California. CalCOFI Rep., 33: 24—40. Beer, S. and E.W. Koch 1996. Photosynthesis of marine macroalgae and seagrasses in globally chang- ing CO2 environments. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 41: 199-204. Biebl, R. and C.P. McRoy 1971. Plasmatic resistance and rate of respiration and photosynthesis of Zostera marina at different salinities and temperatures. Mar Biol. 8, 48—5S6. Bulthuis, D.A. and W.J. Woelkerling 1983. Seasonal variations in standing crop, density and leaf growth of the seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica, in Western Port, Victoria, Australia. Aquatic Botany, 16: 111-136. Bulthuis, D. A. 1987. Effects of temperature on photosynthesis and growth of seagrasses. Aquatic Botany, 27:31—50. Dawson, E.Y. 1951. A further study of upwelling and associated vegetation along Pacific Baja Cali- fornia, México. Journal of Marine Research, 10:39—58. Dennison, W.C. and R.S. Alberte. 1985. Role of daily light period in the depth distribution of Zostera marina L. (eelgrass). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 25: 51—61. Dyer, K.R., 1995. Response of estuaries to climate change. In: Eisma, D. (Ed), Climate change: Impact on Coastal Habitation. CRC Press, Boca Raton. 85—110. Emanuel, K.A., 1987. The dependence of hurricane intensity on climate. Nature, 326:483—485. Evans, A.S., K.L. Webb and P.A. Penhale 1986. Photosynthetic temperature acclimation in two co- existing seagrasses, Zostera marina L. and Ruppia maritima. L. Aquatic Botany, 24:185—197. Holbrook S.J., R.J. Schmitt and J.S. Stephens 1997. Changes in an assemblage of temperate reed fishes associated with a climate shift. Ecology Applications, 7: 1299-1310. Holmes, M.J. and W.H. Klein 1987. The light and temperature environment. In: Plant life in Aquatic and Amphibious Habitats. Crawford, R. M. M. (ed) Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford 3-22. Houghton, R.A. and G.M Woodwell 1989. Global climatic change. Scient. Am. 260, 36—44. Ibarra-Obando S.E., C.E Boudouresque and M. Roux 1997. Leaf Dynaics and production of a Zostera marina bed near its southern distributional limit. Aquatic Botany, 58:99—112. Johnson M.R., S.L. Williams, C.H. Lieberman and Solbak, A., 2003. Changes in the abundance of the seagrasses Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) and Ruppia maritima L. (widgeongrass) in San Diego, California, following an El Nino event. Estuaries, 26: 106—115. Kennedy V.S., R.R. Twilley, J.-A. Kleypas, J.H. Cowan Jr. and S.R. Hare, 2002. Coastal marine eco- systems and global climate change: Potential effects on U.S. resources. Pew Center Report No. 8,52 pp. 126 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Kentula M. and C. D. McIntire 1986. The Autoecology and Production of Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Natarts Bay, Oregon. Estuaries, 9(3):188—199. Kerr, R.A., 1992. Global change: Greenhouse science survives skeptics. Science 256, 1138-1140. McGowan J. A. 1983. Biological effects of the 1983 Calofornian El Nino, paper presented at the annual CalCOFI Conference. Calif. Coop. Oceanic Fish Invest., Idyllwild, Calif. McRoy C.P., M.J. Barsadate and M. Nebert 1972. Phosphorus cycling in an eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Ecosystem. Limnology and Oceanography, 17:58—67. Mitchell, J.EB. 1989. The greenhouse effect and climate change. Rev. Geophy. 27, 115-139. Monteith J.L. 1965. Light distribution and photosynthesis in field corps. Ann. of Bot. 29,17—37. Moore K.A., Neckles, H.A. and R.J. Orth 1996. Zostera marina (eelgrass) growth and survival along a gradient of nutrients and turbidity in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 142, 247-259. Mukai H., K. Aioi and Y. Ishida 1980. Distribution and biomass of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) and other seagrasses in Odawa Bay, central Japan. Aquatic Botany, 8:337—342. Nadezhda Z., A. Sfriso, A. Voinov and B. Pavoni, 2001. A simulation model for the annual fluctuation of Zostera marina biomass in the Venice Lagoon. Aquatic Botany, 20:135—150. Orth R.J. and K.A. Moore. 1988. Distribution of Zostera marina L. and Ruppia maritima L. sensu lato along depth gradients in the lower Chesapeake Bay, U.S.A. Aquatic Botany, 32: 291-305. Penhale P.A. 1977. Macrophyte-epiphyte biomass and productivity in an eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) community. Jounal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 26: pp. 211—224. Peterson C.H., R.T. Barber and G.A. Skilleter 1993. Global warming and coastal ecosystems response: How Northern and Southern hemispheres may differ in the Eastern Pacific ocean. In: H.A. Mooney, E.R. Fuentes and B. Kronberg (Eds). Early system response to global change: Contrast between North and South America. Academic Press NY. 17—34. Phillips R.C. and T.W. Backman 1983. Phenology and reproductive biology of eelgrass (Zostera ma- rina L.) at Bahia Kino, Sea of cortez México. Aquatic Botany, 17:85—90. Poumian-Tapia M. and S.E. Ibarra-Obando. 1999. Demography and biomass of the seagrass Zostera marina in a Mexican Coastal Lagoon. Estuaries. 22(4) 837-847 Ramanathan V. 1988. The greenhouse theory of climate change: A test by inadverted global experi- ment. Science, 240:293—299. Rasmussen E. 1977. The wasting disease of eelgrass (Zostera marina) and its effects on environmental factors and fauna. In: Seagrass ecosystems, a scientific perspective, C.P. McRoy & C. Helffrich, Marcel Dekker (ed), New York. Roblee M.B., T.R. Barber, PR. Carlson, M.J. Durako, J.W, Fourqurean, L.K. Muehlstein, D. Porter, L.A. Yarbro, R.T. Zieman, and J.C. Zieman. 1991. Mass mortality of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum inFlorida Bay, (USA). Marine Ecology Progress Series 71: 297—299. Schellnhuber H.J., W. Cramer, N. Nakicenovic, T. Wigley and G. Yohe. 2006. Avoiding dangerous climate change. Cambridge, U.K. 406 pp. Schneider S.H. 1994. Detecting climatic change signals: Are there any fingerprints? Science 263, 341— 347. Setchel W. A. 1929. Morphological and phonological notes on Zostera marina. University of California Publications on Botany, 14:185—201. Short ET. 1987. Effects of sediment nutrients on seagrasses: Literature review and mesocosm exper- iment, Aquatic Botany 27:5547-—555. Short ET., D. M. Burdick, J. Wolf, and G. E. Jones, 1993. Eelgrass in estuarine research reserve along the East Coast, USA. Part I: Decline from population and disease and Part Il. Management of Eelgrass meadows. NOAA, Coastal Ocean Program Publication, 107 pp. Short ET. and S. Willie-Echeverria. 1996. Natural and human-induced disturbance of segrasses. En- vironmental conservation 23: 17—27. Short, ET. and H.A. Neckles. 1999. The effects of global climate change on seagrasses. Aquatic Botany, 63: 169-196. Silva-Cota S. and S. Alvarez-Borrego 1988. The ‘“‘El Nifio” effect on the phytoplankton of a North- Western Baja California coastal lagoon. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sciences 27:109-115. Smith R.C., B.B. Prezelin, K.S. Baker, R.R. Bidigare, N.P. Boucher, T. Coley, D. Karentz, S. MacIntyre, H. Matlick, D. Menzies, M. Ondrusek, Z. Wan, and K.J Waters, 1992. Ozone depletion: Ultra- violet radiation and phytoplankton biology in Antarctic waters. Science 255, 952-959. Smith S.U., J.T. Hollibaugh, S.J. Dollar and S. Uimk 1991. Tomales Bay metabolism:C-N-P stoichiom- TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON EELGRASS LEAF DYNAMICS 127 ertry and ecosystem heterotrophy and the land-sea interface. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sci- ence, 33:223—257. Snyder M. A., L.C. Sloan, N. S. Diffenbaugh and J. L. Bell, 1993.Future climate change and upwelling in the California Current. Geophysical Research Letters, 30(15) 1—4 Solana-Arellano E., Echavarria-Heras H. and S. E. Ibarra-Obando 1997. Leaf size dynamics for Zostera marina L. In San Quintin Bay, Mexico: A theoretical study. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Sci- ences, 44(3):351—359. Solana-Arellano E., H. Echavarria-Heras, M. Gallegoz-Marinez and O. Flores-Uzeta, 2004. The role of biotic and abiotic variables in determining demographic processes in an Eelgrass meadow. Bulletin of Southern California Academy of Sciences.103(1):12—19. Sverdrup H.U., M.W. Johnson and R.H. Fleming 1942. The oceans their physics, chemistry and general biology. Prentice Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs N.J. 108 pp. Tegner M. and P. Dayton 1987. El Nino effects on Southern California kelp communities. Thayer G.W., W.J. Kenworthy and M.S. Fonseca 1984. The ecology of eelgrass meadows of the Atlantic coast: A community profile. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS/OBS-84/02, p. 147. Titus J.G., 1990. Strategies for adapting to the greenhouse effect. APA J., Summer 1990, 311-323. Walker D.I. and A.J. McComb. 1992. Seagrass degradation in Australian coastal waters. Marine Pul- lution Bulletin 25: 191-195. Watson R.T., M.C. Inyowera and R.H. Moss 1996. Climatic change 1995-Impacts adaptations, and mitigation of climatic change: Scientific-Technical Analysis Contributions of working group IT to the Second Assessment Report on the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, Cam- bridge University Press, NY. 878pp. Wetzel RL. and P.A. Penhale 1983. Production ecology of an eelgrass community in the lower Ches- apeake Bay. Marine Technological Society, 17:22—31. Wigley T.M.L. and S.C.B. Raper, 1987. Thermal expansion of sea water associated with global warm- ing. Nature, 330:127-131. Zimmerman R.C., R.D. Smith and A. Randall. 1989. Thermal acclimation and whole-plant carbon balance in Zoster marina L. (eelgrass). Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology, 130:93— 109. Zimmerman R.C., J.L. Reguzzoni, S. Wyllie-Echeverria, M. Josselyn and R.S. Alberte. 1991. Assess- ment of environmental suitability for growth of Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) in San Francisco Bay. Aquatic Botany, 39: 353-366. Accepted for publication 26 June 2006. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(3), 2006, pp. 128-142 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 The Fish Assemblages Inside and Outside of a ‘Temperate Marine Reserve in Southern California John T. Froeschke,'? Larry G. Allen,! and Daniel J. Pondella IP 'Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, California 91330 ?Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California 90041 Abstract.—The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of a small marine reserve (established 1988) on a temperate rocky reef fish assemblage at Santa Catalina Island, California. Fish surveys on SCUBA were conducted at two reserve and two non-reserve sites from October 2002 to January 2004. Sites were similar in fish density, species richness and biomass of the entire fish assemblage. However, the adult densities of two important fishery species, California sheep- head (Semicossyphus pulcher; 7.6 + 0.5 and 5.5 + 0.4/100 m/? inside versus outside) and kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus; 3.6 + 0.4 and 2.9 + 0.4 inside versus Outside), were significantly higher within the reserve. The reserve appears to be effective in increasing density and biomass of two impacted species that were readily observed and surveyed on SCUBA. Introduction Fully protected marine reserves are a powerful tool for conservation and man- agement prompted by declining fish stocks (Botsford 1997; Halpern and Warner 2002). Marine reserves have various functions, one of which is to prevent fishing and the removal of any living or nonliving marine resource (Lubchenco et al. 2003). Benefits of marine reserves for fish and invertebrate populations have been demonstrated previously in many studies, largely in tropical regions (Bell 1983; Alcala 1988; Bennett and Attwood 1991; Buxton and Smale 1989; Russ and Alcala 1989; McClanahan and Shafir 1990; Polunin and Roberts 1993; Grigg 1994; Jennings et al. 1994; McClanahan 1994; Watson and Ormand 1994; McClanahan and Kaunda-Arara 1996; Stoner and Ray 1996). The interest in no- take refuges has emerged, in part, because of the collapse of many fisheries world- wide and the failure of traditional fisheries management techniques to protect them. Marine reserves may influence ecosystems in many ways (Russ 2002). Theoretically, inside a marine reserve, 1) fishing mortality is reduced significantly, 2) densities of target species increase, 3) mean size/age and biomass of target species may increase significantly and 4) higher production of propagules of target species occur per unit area. Areas outside of the marine reserve may benefit both from the density-dependent spillover of adults into fished areas and in the net export of eggs/larvae from the marine reserve (Russ and Alcala 1996). The latter can lead to an enhanced supply of recruits to fished areas (Russ 2002). Despite the fact that marine reserve research has focused on tropical habitats (e.g., Craik Author to whom correspondence may be addressed: jfroeschke @oxy.edu 128 FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE 129 1981; Russ 1985; Russ and Alcala 1996), marine reserves are becoming increas- ingly popular as management tools in California in response to declining fish stocks (Paddack and Estes 2000, Craig et al. 2004, Parnell et al. 2005, Parnell in press. However, relatively few studies have described the effects of marine re- serves in California. This may be due, in part, to the fact that these reserves are few in number (Paddack and Estes 2000) and generally small in size (Lowe 2003; Parnell et al. 2005). Despite this lack of knowledge, there has been considerable interest in expanding marine reserves throughout California in an effort to enhance stocks of impacted species (Paddack and Estes 2000). The Marine Life Protection Act of 1999 mandates the establishment of a marine reserve network in California to promote the sustainability of marine resources and is currently being developed by the Department of California Fish and Game. Therefore, it is both ecologically and economically critical that we understand the role of marine reserves in struc- turing fish assemblages in southern California so that effective marine reserves can be developed to maximize fish production and minimize restricted habitat. In this study we examined some of these hypotheses in a temperate, island ecosystem in southern California. It is perhaps most important to evaluate the effect of marine reserves on species that are most intensively targeted. In southern California, the kelp bass (Parala- brax clathratus) and the California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) are prom- inent members of the southern California rocky reef fish assemblage and support substantial fisheries. Fishing pressure on kelp bass has increased over the last 50 years and has resulted in a decrease in landings in California (Rodgers-Bennett 1991, Allen & Hovey 2001). California sheephead are a protogynous hermaph- rodite that have been historically targeted by recreational fishermen, both hook and line and using spear. However, since 1988 this species has also been targeted by the live-fin fishery and has accounted for nearly 90 % of all target species landed by this fishery since its inception in southern California (Palmer-Zwahlen et al. 1993). Kelp bass and California sheephead may serve as good indicators of the potential of marine reserves to enhance or restore fish stocks in California. Parnell et al. (2005) reported a significant increase in the proportion of large California sheephead males between the San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve and comparable nearby habitats outside the protected area. Paddack and Estes (2000) studied three reserves in central California and found increased fish abun- dance and increased size of the heavily exploited rockfishes (Scorpaenidae) within two of the three reserves. The fish stock enhancement potential of coastal reserves in California is prom- ising. However, it is critical to enhance our understanding of this tool in the offshore California islands. The southern California islands consist largely of rocky shorelines while only 10—15% of the southern California mainland shoreline contains rocky substrate, effectively doubling the amount of hard bottom shoreline in California (Stephens et al. 2006). The southern California islands are likely less affected by anthropogenic influences including pollution and coastal runoff, although many are utilized intensively for recreational marine activities. These islands have also been the focus of a proposed reserve network to enhance fish stocks. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of a temperate marine reserve on the structure of fish assemblages on a southern Cal- 130 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OSE » LONG BEACH SHIP ROCK 9 ~ Lion Head Fig. 1. Location of the study sites at Santa Catalina Island, California. ifornia island near the isthmus at Santa Catalina Island, California, using SCUBA surveys. Methods Four sites located near Big Fisherman’s cove on the leeward side of Santa Catalina Island, California were studied from October 2002 to January 2004 (Fig- ure 1). The Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve was established in 1988 and encompasses approximately 0.06 nm?, and 1.08 nm of shoreline. This no-take reserve was established primarily for research and is under control of the adjacent Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern Cal- ifornia. The marine reserve is well marked and enforced, while recreational fishers and divers heavily utilize areas adjacent to the reserve. Two sites were located within the boundaries of this marine reserve: Pumpernickel Cove (33°32.89' N, 118°28.78' W) and Intake Pipes (33°26.82’ N, 118°29.11’ W), and two sites were located outside just outside the reserve: Lion Head (33°22.18’ N, 118°30.03’ W) and Rock Quarry (33°26.55' N, 118°28.33’ W). Preliminary dives were conducted along the leeward side of Santa Catalina Island to qualitatively determine suitable reference habitats that were similar to the reserve sites in terms of size, habitat and vertical relief. Sites consisted of high relief (> 1m) boulder and rock cobble habitat that supported giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) between five and 20 me- ters. FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE 13] Conspicuous fishes were surveyed quarterly at the study sites from October 2002 to January 2004 (Figure |). Fishes were surveyed using visual transects on SCUBA at six m and 12 m isobaths. All transects were conducted between 1000 and 1400 hrs. On each sampling date, divers swam 2 m wide X 50 m long transects along shore counting all conspicuous fishes within the 100 m? area and assigning each fish to one of five age classes (adult, sub-adult, juvenile, young of year or recruit). Counts made by two divers were averaged for each transect. All fishes that passed divers from behind were omitted to avoid duplicate counts of an individual fish or fishes that might be attracted to divers (Terry and Stephens 1976; Stephens and Zerba 1981; Stephens et al. 1984; Froeschke et al. 2005). Biomass of fishes were estimated by age classes defined by total length esti- mates. The midpoint of each size class was used to estimate biomass for each species, in each age class, using established length-weight regressions following the methods of Froeschke et al. (2005). For species that did not have well-estab- lished length-weight relationships, the average mass of the individuals from each age class was estimated from collections taken during nearshore gill-net moni- toring off southern California (Ponedella and Allen 2000; L.G. Allen and D.J. Pondella unpublished data). Biomass of the scythe butterflyfish (Chaetodon fal- cifer) and kelp perch (Brachyistius frenatus) were estimated using length-weight regressions from closely related and similarly shaped species for which the rela- tionship was known (Chaetodon auriga for scythe butterflyfish and Cymatogaster aggregata for kelp perch). Cryptic species that were observed on transects were estimated by taking the mean weight of that species collected at the non-reserve sites during this study. Transcribed data were entered and checked twice prior to statistical analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using Systat 9.0 (Systat Software Inc., Richmond CA, USA). Variation in the density and biomass of fishes among lo- cations and sampling dates (season) was investigated using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with replication. As is common with most ecological data, transect data were non-normal and had unequal variances. Data were log,) (x+1) transformed, which restored normality and homoscedasticity to these data prior to statistical analyses being performed. Results A total of twenty-eight species were observed on the 130 transects conducted during this study (Table 1). Species richness was similar between reserve and non-reserve sites (n = 23). Density, frequency of occurrence, and relative abun- dance were calculated for sites inside and outside of the reserve (Table 2). While densities of species varied among sites, blacksmith (Chromis punctipinnis) was the most abundant species at every site. Blacksmith accounted for 60% of all individuals inside the reserve and 67% outside the reserve and were present during all sampling periods (Frequency of Occurrence > 90%; Table 2). Total fish density did not differ significantly between the two sites in the reserve or the two sites out of the reserve, thus data were pooled at reserve and non-reserve sites to test for reserve effects on fish abundance and biomass. Mean density of conspicuous fishes was 163.7 + 17.0 (number/100 m2 + 1 S.E.) im the reserve and 204.0 + 19.3 outside the reserve (Figure 2a). Overall, fish density did not differ signifi- cantly between reserve and non-reserve sites (ANOVA, F, 53 = 1.97; P = 0.16). 132 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Table 1. The scientific and common names of fishes surveyed at Santa Catalina Island. Fishes were organized by orders and families. Taxa Common name Lamniformes Carcharhinidae - requiem sharks Galeorhinus galeus (Jordan and Gilbert, 1883) tope Rajiformes Dasyatidae - stingrays Urobatis halleri (Cooper, 1863) round stingray Anguilliformes Muraenidae - morays Gymnothorax mordax (Ayres, 1859) California moray Scorpaeniformes Scorpaenidae - scorpionfishes Scorpaena guttata (Girard, 1854) California scorpionfish Sebastes atrovirens (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880) kelp rockfish Sebastes serranoides (Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1890) olive rockfish Sebastes serriceps (Jordan and Gilbert, 1880) treefish Hexagrammidae - greenlings Oxylebius pictus (Girard, 1854) painted greenling Perciformes Serranidae - sea basses Paralabrax clathratus (Girard, 1854) kelp bass Malacanthidae - tilefishes Caulolatilus princeps (Jenyns, 1840) ocean whitefish Haemulidae - grunts Anisotremus davidsonii (Steindachner, 1876) sargo Sciaenidae - croakers Cheilotrema saturnum (Girard, 1858) black croaker Kyphosidae - sea chubs Girella nigricans (Ayres, 1860) opaleye Medialuna californiensis (Steindachner, 1876) halfmoon Chaetodontidae - butterflyfishes Chaetodon falcifer (Hubbs and Rechnitzer, 1958) scythe butterflyfish Embiotocidae - surfperches Brachyistius frenatus (Gill, 1862) kelp perch Embiotoca jacksoni (Agassiz, 1853) black perch Rhacochilus toxotes (Agassiz, 1854) rubberlip seaperch Rhacochilus vacca (Girard, 1855) pile perch Pomacentridae - damselfishes Chromis puntipinnis (Cooper, 1863) blacksmith Hypsopops rubicundus (Girard, 1854) garibaldi Labridae - wrasses Halichoeres semicinctus (Ayres, 1859) rock wrasse Oxyjulis californica (Gunther, 1861) senorita Semicossyphus pulcher (Ayres, 1854) California sheephead Clinidae - clinids Alloclinus holderi (Lauderback, 1907) island kelpfish Heterostichus rostratus (Girard, 1854) giant kelpfish Gobiidae - gobies Lythrypnus dalli (Gilbert, 1890) bluebanded goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii (Bean, 1882) blackeye goby Pleuronectiformes Pleuronectidae - righteye flounders Pleuronichthys coenosus (Girard, 1854) C-O sole FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE 3) Table 2. The mean density per 100 m? + standard error (S.E.), frequency of occurrence (KO.) and relative abundance for fishes inside and outside of the Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve at Santa Catalina Island, California from 2002-2004. Reserve Non-Reserve Species Mean SE. FO: % Mean SE. EO. % Alloclinus holderi O06 = 0:03 0.06 0.04 Brachyistius frenatus 94 = 06 0.80 3.65 4.59 + 0.69 0.70 DDS Caulolatilus princeps @03> 270.02 0.03 0.02 Chaetodon falcifer OstSe==50.07 0.08 0.06 Cheilotrema saturnum O103) 20:03 0.02 0.02 Chromis punctipinnis 99.80 + 13.95 0.94 60.96 136.41 + 19.51 0.93 66.88 Embiotoca jacksoni C427 001 025 0.26 2.00 + 0.45 0:52 0.98 Galeorhinus galeus 0.09 + 0.06 0.03 0.05 Girella nigricans 10) = 0.16 Or52 0.67 Dea). 39 0.59 1.09 Gymnothorax mordax COR == 0:01 0.01 0.01 01027 0102 0.02 0.01 Halichoeres semicintus 4.58 + 0.44 0.93 2.80 ISN a= OP.) 0.79 1223 Heterostichus rostratus O12 = 0:04 O12 0.07 O:057-=20:03 0.05 0.02 Hypsopops rubicundus AeSilh =s:0.33 0.91 ZS 6.07 + 0.34 1.00 P25) Lythyrypnus dalli Spo zaelASS 0.86 8.25 SES ese 92.3 4 0.97 8.9] Medialuna californiensis 1.41 + 0.94 0.28 0.86 OSZes10225 0.34 0.45 Oxyjulis californica ID 22 = 328 0.78 7.46 TOO 2e2 285 0.61 Hy /| Oxylebius pictus O:03-= 0102 0.03 O02 Paralabrax clathratus 9.74 + 0.60 1.00 Seo) NOM Sas 10-710 0.98 4.97 Pleuronichthys coenosus OOF 0:01 0.01 0.01 Rhacochilus toxotes 0:06) == 0:03 0.06 0.04 O103722.0:03 0.02 0.02 Rhacochilus vacca OO == O01 0.01 0.01 Rhinogobiops nicholsii Dedioy ss (NS OWT 1.45 O92 E0 0.97 38) Scorpaena guttata Ori 22 OO 0.01 0.01 0102, 220302 0.02 0.01 Sebastes atrovirens 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 Onliorz=*Ol06 0.13 0.08 Sebastes serranoides 0:02 22,0102 0.02 0.01 Sebastes serriceps 0.10 + 0.04 0.09 0.06 0.49 + 0.11 0.34 0.24 Semicossyphus pulcher Sy = O47 0.99 4.62 5.46 + 0.39 O97; 2.68 Urobatis halleri O1025 ==30'02 0.02 0.01 Mean biomass (ke/100 m2 + S.E.) was 15.9 + 1:8 im the reserve and 13.0 = 1.5 outside the reserve. Similarly, no significant difference in mean biomass of fishes between reserve and non-reserve sites was detected (ANOVA, F, 5, = 0.01; P = 0.91; Figure 2b). Biomass peaked in Fall 2003 following the recruitment of ju- veniles to the reef, although this trend was not as dramatic as the peak in density. Overall, blacksmith strongly influenced seasonal patterns of abundance and bio- mass. Blacksmith accounted for almost 40% of the total biomass outside the reserve and 23% inside the reserve, ranking first and second respectively. How- ever, this species is a relatively small planktivore that is not targeted in any current fishery. Because the comparative abundance of these fish obscured the trends that were observed in larger, less abundant fishery species, blacksmith were removed from the analysis of biomass. This substantially altered biomass patterns, as total biomass density was higher inside the marine reserve when blacksmith were ex- cluded from the analysis (ANOVA, F, »., = 7.1; P = 0.01). Biomass peaked in Winter 2003 inside the reserve, however this was primarily attributed to the pres- ence of several adult (> 1.8 m) tope (Galeorhinus galeus) aggregating inside the reserve during the Winter 2003 sampling period. Similarly, biomass peaked in the 134 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES a. Density 250 200 150 100 Number/100 m2 50 Reserve Non-Reserve b. Biomass 20 10 Biomass (kg/100 nt) Reserve Non-Reserve Fig. 2. a). Mean density of conspicuous fishes inside and outside of a marine reserve at Santa Catalina Island, California. There was no significant difference in mean density between reserve and non reserve stations (ANOVA, F, ,., = 1.97; P = 0.16). Reserve 163.7 + 17.0 (n = 69), non-reserve 204.0 + 19.3 (n = 61). b) Mean biomass of conspicuous fishes inside and outside of a marine reserve at Santa Catalina Island, California. There was no significant difference in mean biomass between reserve and non reserve stations (ANOVA, F, ;., = 0.01; P = 0.91). Mean biomass was 15.9 + 1.8 (n = 69) in the reserve and 13 +1.5 outside reserve (61). FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE ] Oo N California sheephead = oO w@ Reserne © Non-Resene 9 8 7 "E 6 S e 5 2 E 4 za 3 2 Juveniles Fig. 3. Mean density of California sheephead inside and outside of a marine reserve at Santa Catalina Island, California. Total density was significantly higher within the marine reserve (Total ANOVA, F, 1.3 = 9.8; P = 0.002; Adults ANOVA, F, .., = 17.2; P < 0.001). Density of juveniles was not significantly different between locations (Adults ANOVA, F, ;53 = 0.3; P = 0.86). non-reserve stations in Winter 2004 when topes were observed. These animals constitute a substantial amount of biomass because of their large size even though relatively few animals were observed during the study. Patterns of abundance and biomass were also determined for California sheep- head, Semicossyphus pulcher (Labridae) and kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus (Serranidae), two species of recreational/commercial importance. Mean density of California sheephead within the marine reserve was 7.6 + 0.5 and 5.5 + 0.4 outside (Figure 3). Overall, density was significantly higher within the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, 53 = 9.8; P = 0.002). This pattern was similar when only adult California sheephead (>30 cm TL) were considered (ANOVA, F, 53 = 17.2; P < 0.001). However, mean density of California sheephead sub-adults and ju- veniles were not significantly different inside and outside of the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, 53 = 0.3; P = 0.86; Figure 3). Mean biomass of California sheep- head was also significantly higher inside of the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, 15 —Eoo.o, P<-0:,001;\ Figure’ 5). Total mean density of kelp bass did not differ significantly between reserve and non-reserve stations (ANOVA, F, 53 = 0.7; P = 0.42; Figure 4). Similar to the pattern for California sheephead, density of kelp bass adults (>30 cm TL) was significantly higher inside the reserve (ANOVA, F, ..3 = 4.5; P < 0.04). However, density of juvenile kelp bass did not differ significantly between loca- tions (F, ;.5 = 0.1; P = 0.72). Biomass of all kelp bass was significantly higher inside the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, 53 = 6.7; P = 0.01; Figure 5). The mean densities of two resident, non-fished species that were abundant 136 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Kelp bass w Reserne @ Non-Resene 5 E 2 Juveniles Fig. 4. Mean density of kelp bass inside and outside of a marine reserve at Santa Catalina Island, California. Total density was not significantly higher within the marine reserve (Total ANOVA, F, js = 0.7; P = 0.42; Adults ANOVA, F, 3 = 4.5; P < 0.04). Density of juveniles was not significantly different between locations (Adults ANOVA, F, 3 = 0.1; P = 0.72). enough to permit statistical analysis were also compared. Mean density of gari- baldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) was significantly higher outside the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, 53 = 1.7; P < 0.01). Density of opaleye (Girella nigricans) was also greater outside of the reserve and was marginally significant (ANOVA, F, 1. = 4.0; P = 0.05). Discussion This study examined the effect of a small, temperate marine reserve on Santa Catalina Island for the first time. Our results indicated important differences in density and age class distribution of two heavily targeted species in southern California. Adult density and biomass of both kelp bass and California sheephead were significantly higher inside the marine reserve. Kelp bass larger than 30 cm TL were considered adult, they mature from 22—27 cm TL (Love et al. 1996) and the minimum legal size limit is 30 cm TL in California. Similarly, the minimum legal size for California sheephead is 30 cm TL and they mature between 19-23 cm TL at Santa Catalina Island (Warner 1975). Large adults of both species were common within the reserve while rare outside the reserve boundaries and is sim- ilar to observations reported Hobson and Chess (2001) and Erisman and Allen (2006) at Santa Catalina Island. However, the density of sub-adults and juvenile alifornia sheephead did not differ between reserve and non-reserve sites. These lings suggest that differences in adult abundance were unlikely to be the result ‘ecruitment or unsuitable habitat at non-reserve sites, and may be attri- FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE [37 w Resene © Non-Reserve .3 ° = 2 B © = 2 ao California sheephead Kelp bass Fig. 5. Biomass of kelp bass in reserve and non-reserve stations at Santa Catalina Island. Biomass of California sheephead was significantly higher inside the marine reserve (ANOVA, F, ,»2 = 35.8; P < 0.001). Biomass of kelp bass adults was also significantly higher inside the marine reserve (AN- OVA, Fi iss = 6.7; P = 0.01). buted to the removal of adults outside of the marine reserve. While fishing pres- sure was not directly quantified at the non-reserve sites, both sites were targeted heavily by recreational fishers during the study period while the reserve was well enforced and no fishing or removal of animals was observed (J.T-F personal ob- servation). California sheephead are monandric, protogynous hermaphrodites that are tar- geted by anglers, spearfishermen and the recently developed live fishery to supply Asian seafood markets (Adreani et al. 2004). Since males result from sex change of larger, older females, they are naturally rare and thus, may be more vulnerable to exploitation than other species. Furthermore, excess removal of large males may lead to sperm limitation in these populations (Warner et al. 1995) or disrupt normal reproductive behaviors (Adreani et al. 2004). Also, large males exhibit high site fidelity (Topping et al., 2005), which may increase their vulnerability to fishing pressure by hook and line and spearfishers. However, these life history traits may make marine reserves particularly effective at protecting California sheephead stocks because of the territorial behavior and limited home range. Par- nell (2005) reported a significant increase in the proportion of large California sheephead males between the San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve and com- parable nearby habitats outside the protected area even though this reserve is relatively small (~2.16 km’) and was too small to protect most other species examined (Parnell et al. 2005). Kelp bass are the most abundant resident mesocarnivorous predators at Santa Catalina Island and are a primary target for southern California recreational fish- 138 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES eries (Quast 1968; Smith and Young 1966; Love et al. 1996). Overall, it appears that the similarity of kelp bass abundance between reserve and non-reserve sites may be deceiving. Density of kelp bass did not differ between reserve and non- reserve sites, however there were important differences in size class and biomass distributions. Biomass and adult density of kelp bass were significantly higher inside the reserve while juveniles were more abundant outside the reserve indi- cating an increase of large fish within the reserve. This may also be the result of differences in habitat or relief that are confounded in the experimental design of the current study. It is also possible that density dependent recruitment is occur- ring with kelp bass but was not detected using visual surveys, and the increased adult density within the reserve reduced successful recruitment of juveniles to this area. Density dependent recruitment has been demonstrated previoulsy on numerous, although tropical fishes (Stimson 1990; Tupper and Hunte 1994; For- rester 1995; Steele et al. 1998). Site fidelity and fine-scale movement patterns were determined for adult kelp bass (Lowe et al. 2003) and California sheephead (Topping et al. 2005) in this marine reserve. Both species had relatively small home ranges compared to the total area of this reserve indicating that the size of this reserve (130,000 m7). This may be particularly important for these two species. Both species require large adult populations for normal reproductive behavior. California sheephead are har- emic spawners (Adreani et al. 2004) and kelp bass form large aggregations during spawning periods (Erisman and Allen 2005) which historically have been targeted heavily by anglers (Erisman and Allen 2006). Recruits of both species were ob- served frequently during the Fall 2003 in both reserve and non-reserve locations. This lack of difference in the abundance of sub-adults and juveniles of both species argues against recruitment related differences in adult abundance. Addi- tionally, no reserve effect was found when examining other fishes that are not targeted by anglers. Evidence documenting the effects of marine reserves on the stocks of temperate fishes is limited. Paddack and Estes (2000) examined three marine reserves and adjacent control areas in central California and reported a significant increase in biomass and mean size of kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens) in two of the three reserves in the study. As with the current study, the effect was more pronounced in respect to population structure than abundance. Schroeder and Love (2002) also found significant differences in size frequency distribution and species com- position of rockfishes in deep water reefs in southern California. Parnell et al. (2005) reported significant increases in density inside the San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve for four species with limited home range: Calfornia sheep- head, vermillion rockfish (Sebastes miniatus), green abalone (Haliotis fulgens) and red urchin (Stronglylocentrotus franscicanus). Coral reefs have been examined more intensively and may provide more insight into the possible benefits of reserves to marine ecosystems. Many studies have reported significant increases in density, biomass and mean size of target species inside marine reserves (e.g. Craik 1981; Russ 1985; McCormick and Choat 1987; Polunin and Roberts 1993; Harmelin et al. 1995; Russ and Alcala 1996; Edgar and Barrett 1997; Edgar and Barrett 1999; Willis et al. 2003). Modeling studies have also suggested that marine reserves increase spawing stock biomass per recruit for fishes with high site fidelity (Polacheck 1990; DeMartini 1993). Several FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE 139 studies of reserves in the Florida Keys have examined potential reproductive output of groupers (Serranidae) and reported that most species had spawning potentials less than 20% of that expected for unfished populations (Ault et al. 1997; Bohnsack 1998). However, few studies have attempted to estimate repro- ductive output per unit area. Paddack and Estes (2000) used density, size structure, and length-fecundity relationships of rockfishes (Scorpaenidae) to estimate repro- ductive output, which was nearly three times as high for two reserves that had been protected for 12 and 36 years respectively. A third reserve that had been protected for only two years did not show a significant increase in reproductive output. Despite the wealth of evidence outlining possible benefits, marine reserves remain a controversial management tool. This may be due, in part, to the relative lack of empirical versus theoretical evidence and because the majority of studies involved comparisons of single point-in time abundance of target species inside and outside reserve boundaries. Comparisons in this manner may be confounded by habitat, history and/or larval supply differences between reserve and fished locations (Roberts and Polunin 1991; Dugan and Davis 1993). Few studies, in- cluding the current investigation, have reported data at both reserve and non- reserve sites before and after implementation of reserves (BACI) that are neces- sary to unequivocally demonstrate the effects of reserves on marine ecosystems (Underwood 1992; Wantiez et al. 1997). This marine reserve at Santa Catalina Island is a relatively small, but well enforced area that primarily encompasses a continuous rocky reef, kelp forest habitat. The reserve appears effective in increasing density and biomass of two impacted species that are readily observed and surveyed on SCUBA. Ultimately, these increases may result in increased reproductive output for the species that, in turn, may aid in maintenance of sustainable fisheries. It is also possible that species with similar life history characteristics to the California sheephead or kelp bass may respond similarly to reserve protection and promote sustainable fisheries to a wider range of organisms than were sampled using these methods. Acknowledgments We thank the graduate students of the Nearshore Marine Fish Research Pro- gram, California State University, Northridge, the Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Wrigley Institute for Envi- ronmental Sciences that made this study possible. Also, thanks to Craig Didden, Bridgette Froeschke, Matt Salomon and Casey Terhorst for diving assistance. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments on the manuscript. Literature Cited Adreani, M.S., B.E. Erisman and R.R. Warner. 2004. Courtship and spawning behavior in the Cali- fornia sheephead Semicossyphus pulcher (Pisces: Labridae). Environ. Biol. Fish., 71: 13-19. Alcala, A.C. 1988. Effects of marine reserves on coral fish abundances and yields of Philipine coral reefs. Ambio, 17: 194-199. Allen, L. G. and T. E. Hovey 2001. Kelp Bass. In: Leet, W.S., C.M. Dewees, R. Klingbeil, E.J. Larson (eds). California’s Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. Calif. Dept Fish Game, U. C. Agri. Nat. Res. Pub. SGO1—11, 592 pp. Ault, J.S., Bohnsack, J.A. and G.A. Meester. 1997. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Retro- spective (1979-1995) reef fish management and a case for protected marine areas. In “‘Devel- oping and Sustaining World Fisheries Resources. 2nd World Fisheries Congress”’. D.A. Han- 140 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES cock, D.C. Smith, A. Grant, and J.P. Beumer, eds. pp 415—425, CSIRO Publishing, Colling- wood, Australia. Bell, J.D. 1983. Effects of depth and marine reserve fishing restrictions on the structure of a rocky reef fish assemblage in the north-western Mediterranean Sea. J. Appl. Ecol., 20: 357-369. Bennett, B.A. and C.G. Attwood. 1991. Evidence for recovery of a surf-zone fish assemblage following the establishment of a marine reserve on the southern coast of South Africa. Mar. Ecol., 75: 173-181. Bohnsack, J.A. 1998. Application of marine reserves to reef fisheries management. Aust. J. Ecol., 23: 298-304. Botsford, L.W., J.C. Castilla, and C.H. Peterson. 1997. The management of fisheries and marine ecosystems. Science, 277: 509-515. Buxton, C.D., and J.M. Smale. 1989. Abundance and distribution patterns of three temperate marine fish (Teleostei: Sparidae) in exploited and unexploited areas of the southern Cape coast. J. Appl. Ecol., 26: 441-451. Craig, M.T., EJ. Fodrie and P.A. Hastings. 2004. The nearshore fish assemblage of the Scripps Coastal Reserve, San Diego, California. Coast. Manage., 32: 341-351. Craik, G.J.S. 1981. Underwater survey of coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Serranidae) populations in the Capricornia Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Proc. 4th Int. Coral Reef. Symp., 1: 53-58. DeMartini, E.E. 1993. Modeling the potential of fishery reserves for managing Pacific coral reef fishes. Fish. Bull., 91: 414—427. Dugan, J.E. and G.E. Davis. 1993. Applications of marine refugia to coastal fisheries management. Can. J. Fish Aquat. Sci., 50: 2029-2042. Edgar, G.J. and N.S. Barrett. 1997. Short term monitoring of biotic change in Tasmanian marine reserves. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 213: 261—279. Edgar, G.J. and N.S. Barrett. 1999. Effects of the declaration of marine reserves on Tasmanian reef fishes, invertebrates and plants. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 242(1): 107-144. Erisman, B.E. and L.G. Allen. 2005. Color patterns and associated behaviors in the kelp bass, Par- alabrax clathratus (Teleostei: Serranidae). Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci., 104(2): 45-62. Erisman, B.E. and L.G. Allen. 2006. Reproductive behaviour of a temperate serranid fish, Paralabrax clathratus (Girard), from Santa Catalina Island, California, U.S.A. J. Fish Bio., 68: 157-184. Forrester, G.E. 1995. Strong density-dependent survival and recruitment regulate the abundance of a coral reef fish. Oecologia 103: 275-282. Froeschke, J.T., L.G. Allen and D.J. Pondella II. 2005. The reef fish assemblage of the outer Los Angeles Federal Breakwater, 2002—2003. Bull. So. Calif. Adad. Sci., 104(2): 63-74. Grigg, R.W. 1994. Effects of sewage discharge, fishing pressure, and habitat complexity on coral ecosystems and reef fishes in Hawaii. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 103: 25-34. Halpern, B.S. and R.R. Warner. 2002. Marine reserves have rapid and lasting effects. Ecol. Lett., 5: 361-366. Harmelin, J.G.; KF Bachet and E Garcia. 1995. Mediterranean marine reserves: Fish indices as tests of protection efficiency. PS.Z.N.I. Mar. Ecol., 16: 233-250. Hobson, E. S. & Chess, J. R. 2001. Influence of trophic relations on form and behavior among fishes and benthic invertebrates in some California marine communities. Environ. Biol. of Fish., 60: 411-457. Jennings, S., A.S. Brierley, and J.W. Walker. 1994. The inshore fish assemblage of the Galapagos Archipelago. Biol. Conserv., 70: 49-57. Love, M.S., A. Brooks, D. Busatto, J. Stephens and P.A. Gregory. 1996. Aspects of the life histories of the kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus and barred sand bass, P. nebulifer from the southern California Bight. Fish. Bull., 94: 472—481. Lowe, C.G, D.T. Topping, D.P. Cartamil and Y.P. Papastamatiou. 2003. Movement patterns, home range, and habitat utilization of adult kelp bass Paralabrax clathratus in a temperate no-take marine reserve. Mar. Eco. Prog. Ser., 256: 205-216. Lubchenco, J.S.R. Palumbi, S.D. Gaines and S. Andelman. 2003. Plugging a hole in the ocean: The emerging science of marine reserves. Ecol. Appl., 13(1) Supplement S3-S7. ‘lanahan, T.R. 1994. Kenyan coral reef lagoon fish; effects of fishing, substrate complexity, and sea urchins. Coral Reefs, 13: 231-241. FISH ASSEMBLAGES OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARINE RESERVE 141 McClanahan, T-R., and B. Kaunda-Arara. 1996. Fishery recovery in a coral-reef marine park and its effect on the adjacent fishery. Conserv. Biol., 10: 1187-1199. McClanahan, T-R., and S.H. Shafir. 1990. Causes and consequences of sea urchin abundance and diversity in Kenyan coral reef lagoons. Oecologia, 83: 362—370. McCormick, M.I. and J.H. Choat. 1987. Estimating total abundance of a large temperate-reef fish using visual strip-transects. Mar. Biol., 96(4): 469—478. Paddack, M.J. and J.A Estes. 2000. Kelp forest fish populations in marine reserves and adjacent exploited areas of central California. Ecol. Appl., 10: 855-870. Palmer-Zwahlen, M., J. O’Brien and L. Laughlin. 1993. Live-fish trap fishery in Southern California 1989-1992 and recommendations for management. Marine Resources Division, California De- partment of Fish and Game. Parnell, PE., C.E. Lennert-Cody, L. Geelen, L.D. Stanley and PK. Dayton. 2005. Effectiveness of a small marine reserve in southern California. Mar. Eco. Prog. Ser., 296: 39-52. Parnell, PE., PK. Dayton, C.E. Lennert-Cody, L.L. Rasumussen and J.J. Lichter. In Press. Marine Reserve Design: Optimal Size, Habitats, Species Affinities, Diversity, And Ocean Microclimate. Ecol. Appl., 16(3): 945-962. Polacheck, T. 1990. Year round closed areas as a management tool. Nat. Res. Model 4: 327-354. Polunin, N.C. and C.M. Roberts. 1993. Greater biomass and value of target coral-reef fishes in two small Caribbean marine reserves. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 100: 167-176. Pondella, Daniel J., If, and Larry G. Allen. 2000. The nearshore fish assemblage of Santa Catalina Island. Jn The Proceedings of the Fifth California Islands Symposium, David R. Browne, Kath- ryn L. Mitchell and Henry W. Chaney editors. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, California: 394—400. Quast, J.C. 1968. Observations on the food and biology of the kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, with notes on the sport fishery in San Diego, California. Jn W.J. North and C.L. Hubbs, eds. Utili- zation of Kelp-Bed Resources in Southern California. Calif. Fish Game, 139. pp. 35—55 Roberts, C.M. and N.V.C. Polunin. 1991. Are marine reserves effective in management of reef fish- enies? Rev. Fish Biol. Fish., 1: 65—91. Rodgers-Bennett L (1991) Fisheries review. Report No. 42. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations, San Diego. Russ, G.R. 1985. Effects of protective management on coral reef fishes in the central Phillipines. Proc. 5th Int. Coral Reef Congr., 4: 219-224. Russ, G.R. 2002. Yet another review of marine reserves and reef fishery management tools. Pp. 421— 443. In: Sale, PE xiv + 549 pp., Coral Reef fishes, Academic Press, xiv + 549. Russ, G.R., and A.C. Alcala. 1989. Effects of intense fishing pressure on an assemblage of coral reef fishes. Mar. Ecol., 56: 13-27. Russ, G.R. and A.C. Alcala. 1996. Marine reserves: rates and patterns of recovery and decline of large predatory fish. Ecol. Appl., 6: 947-961. Schroeder, D.M. and M.S. Love. 2002. Recreational fishing and marine fish populations in California. Calif. Coop. Oceanic. Fish. Inves. Rep., 43: 182-190. Smith, C.L. and PH. Young. 1966. Gonad structure and the reproductive cycle of the kelp bass Paralabrax clathratus (Girard), with comments on the relationships of the serranid genus Par- alabrax. Calif. Fish Game, 52: 283-292. Steele, M.A., G.E. Forrester and G.R. Almany. 1998. Influences of predators and conspecifics on recruitment of a tropical and temperate reef fish. Mar. Eco. Prog. Ser., 172: 115-125. Stephens, J.S. Jr, and Zerba, K.E. 1981. Factors affecting fish diversity on a temperate reef. Environ. Biol. Fishes, 6(1): 111-121. Stephens, J.S., Jr., RPA. Morris, K. Zerba, M. Love. 1984. Factors affecting fish diversity on a temperate reef: the fish assemblages of Palos Verdes Point, 1974—1981. Environ. Biol. Fish., 11(4): 259— 2D: Stephens, J.S., Jr, R. Larson and D.J. Pondella, II. 2006. Rocky Reefs and Kelp Beds. Chapter 9 In The Ecology of Marine Fishes: California and Adjacent Waters (L. G. Allen, D. J. Pondella, II, M. Horn and, editors) pp. 227—252. University of California Press, Los Angeles. Stimson, J.S. 1990. Density dependent recruitment in the reef fish Chaetodon miliaris. Environ. Biol. Eish., 29: 1—13. Stoner, A.W. and M. Ray. 1996. Queen conch, Strombus gigas, in fished and unfished locations of the 142 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Bahamas: effects of a marine fishery reserve on adults, juveniles and larval production. Fish. Bull., 94: 551-565. Terry, C., and J.S. Stephens, Jr. 1976. A study of the orientations of selected embiotocid fishes to depth and shifting seasonal vertical temperature gradients. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci., 75: 170- 183. Topping, D.T., C.G. Lowe and J.E. Casselle. 2005. Home range and habitat utilization of adult Cali- fornia sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher (Labridae), in a temperate no-take marine reserve. Mar. Biol., 147: 301-311. Tupper, M., and W. Hunte. 1994. Recruitment dynamics of coral reef fishes in Barbados. Mar. Eco. Prog. Ser., 108: 225-235. Underwood, A.J. 1992. Beyond BACI-the detection of environmental impacts on populations in the real, but variable world. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 161: 145-178. Wantiez, L., P. Thollot, and M. Kulbicki. 1997. Effects of marine reserves on coral reef fish com- munities from five islands in New Caledonia. Coral Reefs, 16: 215—224. Warner, R.R. 1975. The reproductive biology of the protogynous hermaphrodite Pimelometapon pul- chrum (Pisces: Labridae). Fish. Bull., 73(2): 262—283. Warner, R.R., D.Y. Shapiro, A. Marconato and C.W. Petersen. 1995. Sexual conflict: males with the highest mating success convey the lowest fertilization to females. Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. B. Biol Sci; 2623 135-139: Watson, M., and R.EG. Ormond. 1994. Effect of an artisanal fishery on the fish and urchin populations of a Kenyan coral reef. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 109: 115-129. Willis, T.J., R.B. Millar and R.C. Babcock. 2003. Protection of exploited fishes in temperate regions: high density and biomass of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) in northern New Zealand marine reserves. J. Appl. Ecol., 40(2): 214-227. Accepted for publication 29 June 2006. Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci. 105(3), 2006, pp. 143-144 © Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2006 INDEX TO VOLUME 105 Aailen. larry G.,.see Eric F Miller Allen, Larry G. see John T. Froeschke Brown, David E., Jorge Cancino, Kevin B. Clark, Myrna Smith, and Jim Yoakum. An Annotated Bibliography of References to Historical Distributions of Pronghorn in Southern and Baja California. | Cancino, Jorge, see David E. Brown. Clark, Kevin B., see David E. Brown Cooper, Daniel S. Annotated checklist of extirpated, reestablished, and newly- colonized avian taxa of the Ballona Valley, Los Angeles County, California. yh Dorsey, John H. Densities of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Tidal Waters of the Ballona Wetlands, Los Angeles County, California. 59 Echavarria-Heras, Héctor A., Elena Solana-Arellano and Ernesto Franco-Viscaino. The Role of Increased Sea Surface Temperature on Eelgrass Leaf Dynamics: Onset of El Nifio as a Proxy for Global Climate change in San Quintin Bay, Baja California. 113 Franco-Viscanno, Ernesto, see Héctor A. Echavarria-Heras, Froeschke, John T., Larry G. Allen and Daniel J. Pondella II. The Fish Assem- blages Inside and Outside of a Temperate Marine Reserve in Southern Cal- ifornia. 128 Huddleston, Richard W. and Gary T. Takeuchi. A New Late Miocene Species of Sciaenid Fish, Based Primarily on an in situ Otolith from California. 30 Huddleston, Richard W., see Gary T. Takeuchi Keeley, Jon E., see Jim I. Mead Lei, Simon A. Interspecific Competition Between Coleogyne ramosissima Seed- lings and Bromus rubens. 76 McGinnis, Thomas W., and see Jim I. Mead Mead, Jim I., Thomas W. McGinnis, and Jon E. Keeley. A Mid-Holocene Fauna from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, California. 43 Miller, Eric F and Larry G. Allen. Observations on the Mating Behavior of Cap- tive Spotted Sand Bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus). 17 Pondella, Daniel J. I., see John T. Froeschke Smith, Myrna, see David E. Brown Solana-Arellano, Elena, see Héctor A. Echavarria-Heras, 143 144 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Takeuchi, Gary T. and Richard W. Huddleston, A Miocene Chimaeroid Fin Spine from Kern County, California. 85 Takeuchi, Gary T., see Richard W. Huddleston Yoakum, Jim, see David E. Brown INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS The BULLETIN is published three times each year (April, August, and December) and includes articles in English in any field of science with an emphasis on the southern California area. Manuscripts submitted for publication should contain results of original research, embrace sound principles of scientific investigation, and present data in a clear and concise manner. The current AIBS Style Manual for Biological Journals is recommended as a guide for contributors. Consult also recent issues of the BULLETIN. MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION The author should submit at least two additional copies with the original, on 82 x 11 opaque, nonerasable paper, double spac- ing the entire manuscript. Do not break words at right-hand margin anywhere in the manuscript. Footnotes should be avoided. Manuscripts which do not conform to the style of the BULLETIN will be returned to the author. An abstract summarizing in concise terms the methods, findings, and implications discussed in the paper must accompany a feature article. Abstract should not exceed 100 words. A feature article comprises approximately five to thirty typewritten pages. Papers should usually be divided into the following sections: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusions, acknowledgments, literature cited, tables, figure legend page, and figures. Avoid using more than two levels of subheadings. A research note is usually one to six typewritten pages and rarely utilizes subheadings. Consult a recent issue of the BUL- LETIN for the format of notes. Abstracts are not used for notes. Abbreviations: Use of abbreviations and symbols can be determined by inspection of a recent issue of the BULLETIN. Omit periods after standard abbreviations: 1.2 mm, 2 km, 30 cm, but Figs. 1-2. Use numerals before units of measurements: 5 ml, but nine spines (10 or numbers above, such as 13 spines). The metric system of weights and measurements should be used wherever possible. Taxonomic procedures: Authors are advised to adhere to the taxonomic procedures as outlined in the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Lawjouw et al. 1956), the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria and Viruses (Buchanan et al. 1958), and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Ride et al. 1985). Special attention should be given to the description of new taxa, designation of holotype, etc. Reference to new taxa in titles and abstracts should be avoided. The literature cited: Entries for books and articles should take these forms. McWilliams, K. L. 1970. Insect mimicry. Academic Press, viit+326 pp. Holmes, T. Jr., and S. Speak.1971.Reproductive biology of Myotis lucifugus. J. Mamm., 54:452-458. Brattstrom, B. H.1969.The Condor in California. Pp. 369-382 in Vertebrates of California. (S. E. Payne, ed.), Univ. California Press, xii+635 pp. Tables should not repeat data in figures (/ine drawings, graphs, or black and white photographs) or contained in the text. The author must provide numbers and short legends for tables and figures and place reference to each of them in the text. Each table with legend must be on a separate sheet of paper. All figure legends should be placed together on a separate sheet. IIlustra- tions and lettering thereon should be of sufficient size and clarity to permit reduction to standard page size; ordinarily they should not exceed 8% by 11 inches in size and after final reduction lettering must equal or exceed the size of the typeset. All half-tone illustrations will have light screen (grey) backgrounds. Special handling such as dropout half-tones, special screens, etc., must be requested by and will be charged to authors. As changes may be required after review, the authors should retain the original figures in their files until acceptance of the manuscript for publication. Assemble the manuscript as follows: cover page (with title, authors’ names and addresses), abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, acknowledgements, literature cited, appendices, tables, figure legends, and figures. A cover illustration pertaining to an article in the issue or one of general scientific interest will be printed on the cover of each issue. Such illustrations along with a brief caption should be sent to the Editor for review. PROCEDURE All manuscripts should be submitted to the Editor, Daniel A. Guthrie, W. M. Keck Science Center, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711. Authors are requested to submit the names, addresses and specialities of three persons who are capable of reviewing the manuscript. Evaluation of a paper submitted to the BULLETIN begins with a critical reading by the Editor; several referees also check the paper for scientific content, originality, and clarity of presentation. Judgments as to the acceptability of the paper and suggestions for enhancing it are sent to the author at which time he or she may be requested to rework portions of the paper considering these recommendations. The paper then is resubmitted on disk in word format and may be re-evaluated before final acceptance. Proof: The galley proof and manuscript, as well as reprint order blanks, will be sent to the author. He or she should promptly and carefully read the proof sheets for errors and omissions in text, tables, illustrations, legends, and bibliographical references. He or she marks corrections on the galley (copy editing and proof procedures in Style Manual) and promptly returns both gal- ley and manuscript to the Editor. Manuscripts and original illustrations will not be returned unless requested at this time. All changes in galley proof attributable to the author (misspellings, inconsistent abbreviations, deviations from style, etc.) will be charged to the author. Reprint orders are placed with the printer, not the Editor. CONTENTS Annotated checklist of extirpated, reestablished, and newly-colonized avian taxa of the Ballona Valley, Los Angeles County, California. Daniel S. Cooper. The Role of Increased Sea Surface Temperature on Eelgrass Leaf Dynamics: Onset of El Nino as a Proxy for Global Climate Change in San Quintin Bay, Baja California. Héctor A. Echavarria-Heras, Elena Solana-Arellano and Ernesto Franco-VisCaino i500 ee ee The Fish Assemblages Inside and Outside of a Temperate Marine Reserve in Southern California. John T. Froeschke, Larry G. Allen and Daniel J. Pondella Il. Index to Volume 105.26 I GOS ane ee Cover: Aerial view of western Ballona Valley, Los Angeles County, California. 91 113