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‘aah SEPA AR PORTMAN TIN el, WUC ad ae i \
Ah | i ISSN 0038-3872

BERN, CALIFORNIA MAE WY >OF SCIENCES

Number 1

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CALIFORNIA
| ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

| APR 09 2003

___ LIBRARY

APRIL 2003 _ |

Southern California. Acade
Founded 6 November 1891, faenaiavateane 7 7 May 1907

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Date of this issue 1 April 2003

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES

CALL FOR PAPERS
2003 ANNUAL MEETING
May 9-10, 2003
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
NORTHRIDGE

Details of the meeting, announcments and general instructions for pre-registration are given
on the meeting web site at http://jsd.claremont.edu/sca. Pre-registration deadline is APRIL
20, 2003.

Planned Symposia
Friday

Changed Fish Populations, Declining Fisheries, and Marine Protected Areas:
Jim Allen:

Parasites and Pathogens: Cheryl Hogue

Contributed Papers

Saturday

Reef Ecology: Dan Pondell

Habitat Restoration: Ralph Abby

Junior Academy Presentations: Gloria Takahashi
Contributed Papers

Plenary Speakers:

Friday, May 9: Dr. Brian Fagan, UCSB. ‘EI Nino, the Little Ice Age, and the People
of the Past.”

Saturday, May 10: Dr. Milton Love, Marine Sci. Inst., UCSB. ‘‘Why do we Study Reef
Fishes?”’

Short Course

Toxicology for Educators Steve Bay (SCCWRP), Dan Schlenk (UC Riverside), and
Chris Pincetich (UC Davis). 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. This hands-on
course, presented by the Southern California chapter of the Society of Environmental Tox-
icology and Chemistry (SoCal SETAC), will show educators and volunteer monitoring
groups how to include toxicity tests into their classroom or monitoring activities. Participants
in this six-hour course will receive background information on the principles of toxicology
and learn how to conduct simple and sensitive toxicity tests. Experience in working with
sea urchins and freshwater crustaceans will be provided. The instructors will provide ex-
amples of their own research using these methods, so that the participants can gain experience
with data interpretation.

Annual Meeting, 2004

The 2004 Annual Meeting of the Southern California Academy of Sciences will be held in
early May, 2004 at California State University, Long Beach. If you would like to organize
a Symposia for this meeting, or have suggestions for a symposia topic, please contact either
Dan Guthrie (dguthrie @jsd.claremont.edu) or David Huckaby (dhuckaby @csulb.edu).

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 1-16
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Commented Checklist of the Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta)

from Areas Adjacent to Islands of the Mexican Pacific and
Gulf of California

P. Hernandez-Alcantara, S. C. Frontana-Uribe, and V. Solis-Weiss

Lab. Ecologia Costera, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar and Limnologia, UNAM.
Apdo. Postal 70-305. México, D.F. 04510

Abstract.—The systematic list of the benthic polychaetes from areas adjacent to
the main islands of the Mexican Pacific is herein presented. A total of 1375
specimens were analyzed from 96 species and 29 families; the specimens were
collected from soft bottoms around Tibur6n, Del Carmen and Maria Madre is-
lands, and from dead coral substrates from Socorro Island. All previous records
of Annelid Polychaetes from the study area were also included; 348 species are
now recorded from 36 islands in the Mexican Pacific. The highest number of
species is recorded from Espiritu Santo Island (56 species) in the region of the
Gulf of California and Maria Madre and Socorro islands (69 and 70 species) in
the central Mexican Pacific.

The islands have always been considered a natural biological laboratory and
have, as such, focused the attention of ecologists and evolutionists in their attempt
to define if the species present are consistent with local geological records; the
study of the biological processes in those isolated habitats has even been at the
heart of setting forth theories such as the equilibrium theory in island biogeog-
raphy (MacArthur and Wilson 1967).

In the Mexican Pacific, between latitudes 14°45’ and 32°26’ N, more than 140
islands and islets are found, but their polychaete fauna is largely unknown: the
majority of the records are the product of sporadic or fortuitous collections. Re-
search on polychaetes from these islands has been basically done by Rioja (1960,
1962) in several Pacific islands, Salazar-Vallejo et al. (1987), Gongora-Garza
(1984), and G6ngora-Garza and De Le6n-Gonzalez (1993) in Maria Madre Island
and Salazar- Vallejo (1990) in Rasa Island; occasional records have been done in
the vicinity of some islands by Treadwell (1914, 1929, 1937, 1941), Chamberlin
(1919), Moore (1923), Hartman (1939a, b, 1940, 1941, 1944a, 1944b, 1950),
Berkeley and Berkeley (1939, 1958), Steinbeck and Ricketts (1941), Rioja (1941,
1947a, 1947b, 1947c), Fauvel (1943), Fauchald (1968, 1970, 1972, 1982, 1992),
Pettibone (1971), Sarti-Martinez (1984), De Le6n-Gonzalez (1985), Bastida-Za-
vala (1990), Holguin-Quifones et al. (1992), Holguin-Quinones (1994), and Bau-
tista-Romero et al. (1994). These records together with the material obtained for
this study make up for 348 species in littoral and sublittoral habitats from areas
adjacent to the islands of the Mexican Pacific.

The Polychaetes are the best represented taxonomic group in the benthic com-
munities, be it in hard or soft bottoms (Mackie and Oliver 1996), where they can
reach between 36% and 70% of the total fauna, and between 25% and 65% of
the species present. For this reason, their distribution patterns frequently reflect

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

those of the whole benthic fauna (Blake 1994; Mackie et al. 1997; Glasby and
Read 1998). Being such a diversified and ubiquitous group, they can increase
considerably the biodiversity values of any habitat considered. In this case, the
description of the communities found around the islands located in the Mexican
Pacific and Gulf of California is necessary, not only because of the great number
of islands present, but also because several of them have been declared priority
areas by the Mexican government, so that specific strategies are being imple-
mented for their protection and management (SEDESOL 1994), all of which is
impossible without a basic knowledge of the biota present.

The purpose of this study, then, is to synthesize the results of previous records
as well as to add to the knowledge of this group, with the results of the identi-
fications of the polychaetes collected by us in Tibur6n, Del Carmen, Maria Madre
and Socorro islands. We include a systematic list with all the records made around
the islands of the Mexican Pacific as well as their affinities according to their
faunistic composition.

Methods

Samples were collected in March 1985 in soft bottoms in four sublittoral sta-
tions (29-102 m) from Tibur6n, Del Carmen and Maria Madre islands, as part
of the expedition “‘Cortes”’; and in November 1997, in dead coral substrates from
seven localities (0.40 to 20.5 m) in Socorro Island, Revillagigedo as part of the
expedition’ Surpaclipp “Cie. 1):

The soft bottom samples were collected with a Smith-MclIntyre (0.1 m7’)
dredge, and those from hard bottoms manually, either directly or with SCUBA
diving techniques. Fixation of the organisms was done with 10% formaldehyde
followed by preservation in 70% ethanol. The polychaetes were identified and
deposited in the “‘Colecci6n de Poliquetos del Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y
Limnologia, Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de México” (CP-ICML, UNAM;
DFE.IN.061.0598).

The previous records herein reported are taken from the existing literature,
following an exhaustive revision. Outdated terminology was corrected in favor of
presently valid names, based on the publications by Reish (1968), Salazar- Vallejo
(1989) and Hernandez-Alcantara (1992), since these are the basic studies about
polychaetes from the Gulf of California and the Mexican Pacific.

Results and Discussion

The comprehensive list of the 348 species of polychaetes so far identified from
Mexican Pacific islands 1s shown in Table 1, which includes also the 96 species
identified for this study. The species which were found to be first records for the
particular areas are also indicated. In Table 2, the number of species so far re-
corded for all the islands (including our survey), are shown, divided by state. The
taxonomic arrangement follows Rouse (2000).

For this study, 1375 specimens belonging to 96 species of 29 families were
identified from the islands of Tibur6n, del Carmen, Maria Madre and Socorro.
The scant knowledge of the polychaetes living in the islands of western Mexico
is evidenced by the fact that between 48% and 89% of the species identified in
this survey are registered for the first time in each island (Table 1). From soft
bottoms (fine and muddy sands), 752 organisms (73 species) were recorded, while

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS 3

Baja California

30°

a9] Pacific Ocean

10° i Pacific Ocean
115° 110° 105° 100° 95°
Fig. 1. Study area, including the islands where the polychaetes were reported in the literature.

623 organisms (25 species) were taken from dead coral substrates (in Socorro
Island).

Comparison of the polychaete communities found in the different islands under
study was limited by the sampling methodologies, often different, and by the
literature records, done at different depths and types of substrates from soft to
hard.

The idea that the macrofauna of the islands can be highly diversified comes
from the variety of habitats present, from those due to their geological, climatic
and topographic differences to those due to their location in two biogeographic
provinces: the Californian province with temperate conditions and the Mexican
province with tropical characteristics (Hendrickx 1992).

Albeit the variations in abundance cannot be directly compared, differences in
specific composition could nevertheless be noted: in dead coral substrates, Syllids
(mostly small species that are common in hard substrates of shallow waters) and
Sabellariids (which live in tubes attached to hard substrates) dominate. The high-
est abundance there was found for /danthyrsus sp. 1 and Eurythoe complanata,
basically in intertidal localities since they both tend to decrease with depth.

On the other hand, the polychaetes collected from soft bottoms in the islands

4 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Systematic list of the species of the Class Polychaeta, recorded from areas adjacent to
islands of the Mexican Pacific (the numbers in black indicate the distribution in a particular island
and follow the same numeration of table 2; ** first records for the islands).

Annelida
Polychaeta

Scolecida
Family Maldanidae

Axiothella rubrocincta (Johnson, 1901): 10**, 20.
Isocirrus papillatus (Berkeley and Berkeley, 1939): 28, 30.
Sonatsa carinata (Moore, 1923): 5, 10.

Family Capitellidae
Dasybranchus glabrus Moore, 1909: 5.
Dasybranchus parplatyceps Kudenov, 1975: 17.
Dasybranchus lumbricoides (Grube, 1878): 33.
Dasybranchus sp.: 5.
Leiocapitella glabra Hartman, 1947: 5, 29.
Mastobranchus? variabilis Ewing, 1984: 10**.
Notomastus americanus Day, 1973: 10**, 21**.
Notomastus hemipodus Hartman, 1945: 21**.
Notomastus lobatus Hartman, 1947: 29.
Notomastus tenuis Moore, 1909: 7, 10**.
Notomastus sp.: 2, 5.
Scyphoproctus oculatus Reish, 1959: 17.

Family Opheliidae
Ammotrypane gracile McIntosh, 1885: 23.
Ophelina acuminata Orsted, 1843: 2, 17.

Ophelina magna Treadwell, 1914: 23.
Polyophthalmus pictus (Dujardin, 1839): 7, 28.

Family Orbiniidae
Leitoscoloplos mexicanus (Fauchald, 1972): 21**.
Naineris dendritica (Kinberg, 1867): 17.
Naineris grubei (Gravier, 1909): 10**.
Naineris laevigata (Grube, 1855): 6, 7.
Naineris sp.: 12.
Orbinia riseri (Pettibone, 1957); 10**, 21**.
Scoloplos (Leodamas) chevalieri (Fauvel, 1901): 17.
Scoloplos (Leodamas) ohlini (Ehlers, 1901): 33.
Scoloplos (Scoloplos) acmeceps Chamberlin, 1919: 10, 33.
Scoloplos (Scoloplos) armiger (Miiller, 1776); 10**, 16.
Scoloplos (Scoloplos capensis (Day, 1961): 10**, 33**.
Scoloplos (Scoloplos) elongata Johnson, 1901: 20.

Family Paraonidae
Aricidea (Acmira) simplex Day, 1963: 10**, 21**.
Aricidea (Allia) sueccia Eliason, 1920: 17, 21**.

Family Cossuridae
Cossura brunnea Fauchald, 1972: 10**.

Family Scalibregmatidae
Sclerocheilus pacificus Moore, 1909: 23.

Palpata
Aciculata
Amphinomida sensu stricto
Family Amphinomidae
Chloeia entypa Chamberlin, 1919: 7, 10**, 16.
Chloeia pinnata Moore, 1911: 29.
Chloeia viridis Schmarda, 1961: 9, 10**, 16, 18, 19, 21, 26, 27, 29, 33, 35.
Eurythoe complanata (Pallas, 1766); 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 26, 28, 29.
Eurythoe pacifica Kinberg, 1857: 11.

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS

Table 1. Continued.

Linopherus kristiani Salazar-Vallejo, 1987: 10**, 21.
Notopygos ornata Grube, 1856: 12**, 16.
Pareurythoe californica (Johnson, 1897): 5, 6.
Pareurythoe paupera (Grube, 1856): 12.

Family Euphrosinidae
Euphrosine bicirrata Moore, 1905: 27.

Eunicida sensu stricto
Family Dorvilleidae
Dorvillea cerasina (Ehlers, 1901): 12, 20, 21, 29, 34.

Family Lumbrineridae

Eranno bicirrata (Treadwell, 1929): 4.

Lumbrinerides ? acuta (Verrill, 1875): 33.
Lumbrineris cruzensis Hartman, 1944: 29.
Lumbrineris inflata Moore, 1911: 27, 33.

Lumbrineris latreilli Audouin and Milne-Edwards, 1834: 9, 21, 32, 33.
Lumbrineris limicola Hartman, 1944: 10**, 33.
Lumbrineris simplicis Hartman, 1959: 16.
Lumbrineris zonata (Johnson, 1901); 12, 23.

Ninoe sp 2: 10.

Scoletoma crassidentata Fauchald, 1970: 10**.
Scoletoma erecta (Moore, 1904): 3, 6, 7, 20, 29, 33, 34.
Scoletoma platylobata Fauchald, 1970: 10**, 36.
Scoletoma tenuis (Verrill, 1873): 16.

Scoletoma tetraura (Schmarda, 1861): 29, 33.

Family Oenonidae

Arabella attenuata Moore, 1907: 23.
Arabella iricolor (Montagu, 1804): 6, 7, 12, 16, 17.
Arabella panamensis Colbath, 1898: 12, 16.
Arabella semimaculata (Moore, 1911); 6, 7, 33.
Arabella sp. ?: 5.
Drilonereis falcata Moore, 1911: 4, 10**, 21**, 29.
Oenone fulgida (Savigny, 1818): 24, 29, 33.
Family Eunicidae
Eunice aedificatrix (Monro, 1933): 5, 9.
Eunice afra Peters, 1854: 16, 29.
Eunice americana Hartman, 1944: 4, 18.
Eunice antennata (Lamarck, 1818): 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 20, 21, 24, 29, 33.
Eunice aphroditois (Pallas, 1788): 29, 33, 35.
Eunice biannulata Moore, 1904: 9, 12, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28, 29.
Eunice cariboea Grube, 1856: 7, 29, 30.
Eunice filamentosa Grube, 1856: 6, 16, 33.
Eunice indica Kinberg, 1865: 24.
Eunice mexicana (Fauchald, 1970): 9.
Eunice multipectinata Moore, 1911: 7.
Eunice mutilata Webster, 1884: 10, 12.
Eunice reducta Fauchald, 1970: 29.
Eunice rubra Grube, 1856: 7.
Eunice tridentata Ehlers, 1905: 10.
Eunice unidentata Rioja, 1962: 6, 7.
Eunice vittata (delle Chiaje, 1829): 12, 16, 24, 35.
Eunice vittatopsis Fauchald, 1970: 35.
Eunice sp.: 12.
Lysidice collaris (Grube, 1870): 12.
Lysidice ninetta Audouin and Milne-Edwards, 1833: 10**, 12, 35.
Marphysa aenea (Blanchard, 1849): 29.
Marphysa angelensis Fauchald, 1970: 16.
Marphysa mortenseni Monro, 1928: 29.
Marphysa sanguinea (Montagu, 1815): 15, 16, 20, 28, 29, 32.

6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Continued.

Marphysa stylobranchiata Moore, 1909: 1.
Nematonereis hebes Verrill, 1900: 10.

Nematonereis unicornis (Grube, 1840): 10**.

Palola paloloides (Moore, 1909): 6, 7, 15, 21.
Palola siciliensis (Grube, 1840): 9, 10, 15, 16, 24, 29.

Family Onuphidae
Diopatra neotridens Hartman, 1944: 16.
Diopatra obliqua Hartman, 1944: 10**, 21**.
Diopatra ornata Moore, 1911: 6, 13, 16.
Diopatra splendidissima Kinberg, 1857: 20.
Hyalinoecia juvenalis Moore, 1911: 16, 20, 27, 29.
Kinbergonuphis cedroensis (Fauchald, 1968): 21**.
Kinbergonuphis pulchra (Fauchald, 1980): 10**.
Kinbergonuphis vermillionensis (Fauchauld, 1968): 33.
Mooreonuphis cirrata (Hartman, 1944): 16, 17.
Mooreonuphis elsiae (De Le6n-Gonzalez, 1994): 33**.
Mooreonuphis cf. guadalupensis (Fauchald, 1968): 10**.
Mooreonuphis nebulosa (Moore, 1911): 7, 10**.
Onuphis iridescens (Johnson, 1901): 23.
Sarsonuphis parva (Moore, 1911): 21.
Rhamphobrachium longisetosum Berkeley and Berkeley, 1938: 4.

Family Aphrodititae
Aphrodita castanea Moore, 1910: 5.
Aphrodita japonica Marenzeller, 1879: 27, 29.
Aphrodita negligens Moore, 1905: 20.
Aphrodita parva Moore, 1905: 23.
Pontogenia laeviseta Hartman, 1939: 9, 16.

Phyllodocida

Family Eulepethidae
Grueulepis mexicana (Berkeley and Berkeley, 1939): 13, 16.

Family Polynoidae

Arctonoe pulchra (Johnson, 1897): 20.
Chaetacanthus magnificus (Grube, 1875): 12, 29.
Halosydna brevisetosa Kinberg, 1855: 5, 23, 32.
Halosydna insignis (Baird, 1863): 23.
Halosydna latior Chamberlin, 1919: 5, 20.
Halosydna tuberculifer Chamberlin, 1919: 5.
Harmothoe exanthema (Grube, 1856): 27.
Harmothoe hirsuta Johnson, 1879: 12.
Hololepida veleronis Hartman, 1939: 16.
Iphione ovata Kinberg, 1855: 12, 20, 26, 28, 29.
Lepidasthenia pulchra (Johnson, 1897): 5.
Lepidasthenia treadwelli (Grube, 1840): 5.
Lepidonotus purpureus Potts, 1910: 16.
Lepidonotus hupferi Augener, 1918: 7, 9, 28, 29.
Lepidonotus nesophilus Chamberlin, 1919: 7, 30.
Lepidonotus squamatus (Linnaeus, 1767): 7, 12.
Lepidonotus versicolor Ehlers, 1901: 12, 34.
Malmgrenia nesiotes (Chamberlin, 1919): 8.
Thormora johnstoni (Kinberg, 1855): 7, 12, 20, 27, 29.

Family Acoetidae
Panthalis pacifica Treadwell, 1914: 23.
Family Sigalionidae
Eupholoe philippinensis McIntosh, 1885: 29.
Euthalanessa digitata McIntosh, 1885: 16.

Psammolyce arenosa (Delle Chiaje, 1830): 5.
Psammolyce fimbriata Hartman, 1939: 9.

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS

Table 1. Continued.

Psammolyce myops Hartman, 1993: 29.

Sigalion lewisi Berkeley and Berkeley, 1939: 9, 29.
Sigalion spinosus (Hartman, 1939): 9, 11, 28.
Sthenelais articulata Kinberg, 1855: 7, 20, 29.
Sthenelais fusca Johnson, 1897: 9.

Sthenelais helenae Kinberg, 1855: 29.

Sthenelais neoleanirae Hartman, 1939: 21.
Sthenelais verruculosa Johnson, 1897: 10**, 21**.
Sthenelanella uniformis Moore, 1910: 16.
Sthenolepis fimbriarum (Hartman, 1939): 21, 29.

Family Chrysopetalidae
Chrysopetalum occidentale Johnson, 1897: 12**.

Family Glyceridae
Glycera americana Leidy, 1855: 5, 20, 23, 29.
Glycera dibranchiata Ehlers, 1868: 33**.
Glycera lapidum Quatrefages, 1865: 11.
Glycera oxycephala Ehlers, 1887: 33**.
Glycera papillosa Grube, 1857: 10**, 33**.
Glycera profundi Chamberlin, 1919: 5.
Glycera tesselata Grube, 1863: 9, 10**, 12, 16, 18, 23, 27, 33, 35.

Family Goniadidae

Glycinde armigera Moore, 1911: 11.
Glycinde multidens Muller, 1858: 23.
Goniada aciculata Harmtan, 1940: 16, 29.
Goniada brunnea Treadwell, 1906: 33.

Family Phyllodocidae

Eulalia myriacyclum (Schmarda, 1861): 16, 28.
Eumida sanguinea (Oersted, 1843): 5, 6, 7.
Nereiphylla sp. 1: 16.
Nereiphylla castanea (Marenzeller, 1879): 23.
Phyllodoce (Anaitides) erythrophylla (Schmarda, 1861): 5.
Phyllodoce (Anaitides) lamellifera (Pallas, 1788): 15.
Phyllodoce (Anaitides) longipes (Kinberg, 1866): 10**, 16.
Phyllodoce (Anaitides) medipapillata (Moore, 1909): 12**, 23.
Phyllodoce (Anaitides) mucosa (Orsted, 1843): 12.
Phyllodoce (Phyllodoce) ferruginea Moore, 1909: 23.
Phyllodoce (Phyllodoce) fristedti Bergstr6m, 1914: 16.
Phyllodoce (Phyllodoce) madeirensis Langerhans, 1880: 6, 7, 10**, 16, 20.
Phyllodoce (Phyllodoce) sp. 1: 10, 33.

Family Hesionidae
Hesione intertexta Grube, 1878: 9, 11, 12, 18, 29.
Hesione pantherina Risso, 1826: 24.

Leocrates chinensis Kinberg, 1866: 11, 29.
Ophiodromus pugettensis Johnson, 1901: 7, 28, 29.
Family Pilargidae
Synelmis albini (Langerhans, 1881): 12**.
Family Nephtyidae
Aglaophamus dibranchis (Grube, 1877): 5, 21, 26.
Aglaophamus erectans Hartman, 1950: 21**.
Aglaophamus malmgreni (Théel, 1879): 1.
Aglaophamus verrilli (McIntosh, 1855): 16, 21, 26, 33.
Inermonephtys inermis (Ehlers, 1887): 29.
Nephtys caecoides Hartman, 1938: 23, 33**.
Nephtys californiensis Hartman, 1938: 10**, 20, 21**, 33**.
Nephtys sioni (Perkins, 1980): 9, 16, 18, 19, 27, 29, 33, 35.
Nephtys panamensis Monro, 1928: 29.
Nephtys picta Ehlers, 1868: 16.

8 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Continued.

Nephtys squamosa Ehlers, 1887: 16, 21, 23, 29, 35.

Family Nereididae

Ceratocephale oculata Banse, 1977: 10**, 16, 21**, 33**.
Ceratonereis longicirrata Perkins, 1980: 10**, 21**.
Ceratonereis singularis Treadwell, 1929: 6, 10, 12, 21.
Ceratonereis tentaculata Kinberg, 1866: 9, 16, 20, 29.
Leptonereis laevis Kinberg, 1866: 33.
Namanereis riojai (Bastida-Zavala, 1990): 25.
Neanthes arenaceodentata (Moore, 1903): 17.
Neanthes caudata (delle Chiaje, 1828): 7, 29.
Nereis callaona Grube, 1857: 5, 6, 7, 14, 29.
Nereis mediator Chamberlin, 1918: 7, 14.
Nereis paucidentata (Moore, 1903): 23.
Nereis pelagica Linnaeus, 1761: 23.
Nereis procera Ehlers, 1868: 23.
Nereis rava Ehlers, 1868: 29.
Nereis riisei Grube, 1857: 10**, 11, 12, 29.
Nereis vexillosa Grube, 1851: 20, 23.
Nereis zonata Malmgren, 1867: 34.
Nicon moniloceras (Hartman, 1940): 23, 34.
Platynereis bicanaliculata (Baird, 1863): 1, 5, 6, 7, 16, 20, 23, 29, 33.
Platynereis dumerilii (Audouin and Milne-Edwards, 1833): 12.
Platynereis polyscalma Chamberlin, 1919: 5, 6, 21, 28, 29.
Rullierinereis mexicana (Treadwell, 1942): 10.
Family Syllidae
Ambliosyllis granosa Ehlers, 1897: 10.
Autolytus prolifera (Miiller, 1788): 10, 12**.
Autolytus sp.: 12.
Branchiosyllis exilis (Gravier, 1900): 10, 12**.
Branchiosyllis pacifica Rioja, 1941: 12.
Branchiosyllis sp.: 12.
Eoxgone (Exogone) lourei Berkeley and Berkeley, 1938: 10.
Eoxgone (Exogone) naidinoides (Westheide, 1974): 10.
Eoxgone (Exogone) breviantennata Hartmann-Schroder, 1959: 17.
Eoxgone (Exogone) occidentalis Westheide, 1974: 12**.
Haplosyllis spongicola (Grube, 1855): 10, 12.
Haplosyllis sp.: 12.
Odontosyllis heterodonta G6ngora-Garza and De Leon-Gonzalez, 1993: 10.
Odontosyllis phosphorea Moore, 1909: 7, 20, 23.
Odontosyllis polycera (Schmarda, 1861): 10.
Odontosyllis sp.: 12.
Opisthosyllis brunnea Langerhans, 1879: 10, 12.
Pionosyllis cf: uraga Imajima, 1966: 10.
Pseudosyllides mexicana Gongora-Garza and De Le6n-Gonzalez, 1993: 10.
Pseudosyllides sp.: 12.
Syllis gracilis Grube, 1840: 10, 12.
Trypanosyllis gemmipara Johnson, 1901: 12.
Trypanosyllis (Trypanedenta) taeniaeformis (Haswell, 1866): 10.
Trypanosyllis sp.: 12.
Typosyllis aciculata (Treadwell, 1943): 33**.
Typosyllis adamanteus (Treadwell, 1941): 12.
Typosyllis alternata (Moore, 1908): 12.
Typosyllis gerlachi Hartmann-Schréder, 1960: 10.
Typosyllis heterocirrata Rioja, 1941: 10, 17.
Typosyllis hyalina Grube, 1865: 7, 10, 12.
Typosyllis lutea Hartmann-Schroéder, 1960: 12**.
Typosyllis magna (Westheide, 1974): 12**.
Typosyllis pigmentata (Chamberlin, 1919): 12.
Typosyllis prolifera (Krohn, 1852): 10, 12**, 17, 33**.
Typosyllis rosea (Langerhans, 1879): 12**.

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS

Table 1. Continued.

Canalipalpata
Spionida
Family Spionidae

Aonidella sp. 1: 33.
Aonides cf. oxycephala (Sars, 1862): 10**.
Apoprionospio pygmaea (Hartman, 1961): 16.
Apoprionospio dayi Foster, 1969: 10**.
Boccardia anophthalma (Rioja, 1962): 7.
Boccardia sp.: 17.
Dispio uncinata Hartman, 1951: 33**.
Laonice cirrata (Sars, 1851): 2, 10**.
Paraprionospio pinnata (Ehlers, 1901): 21**, 33.
Prionospio (Prionospio) heterobranchia Moore, 1907: 10**, 12**, 17, 33**.
Prionospio (Prionospio) steenstrupi Malmgren, 1867: 16, 21**, 33**.
Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata (Miiller, 1806): 10**.
Spiophanes bombyx (Claparede, 1870): 7.

Family Chaetopteridae

Mesochaetopterus minuta Potts, 1914: 15.
Phyllochaetopterus prolifica Potts, 1914: 30.
Spiochaetopterus costarum (Claparede, 1870): 30.

Sabellida
Family Sabellariidae

Idanthyrsus cretus Chamberlin, 1919: 5, 12, 15.
Idanthyrusus sp. 1: 12.

Lygdamis nesiotes (Chamberlin, 1919): 12.
Phragmatopoma californica (Fewkes, 1889): 7, 20.
Phragmatopoma moerchi Kinberg, 1867: 5.
Sabellaria cementarium Moore, 1906: 10.

Family Sabellidae

Chone infundibuliformis Kroyer, 1865: 30.

Chone infundibuliformis fauveli McIntosh, 1916: 29.
Chone mollis (Bush, 1904): 29.

Chone sp. 1: 10, 21, 33.

Demonax medius (Bush, 1904): 5.

Demonax rugosus (Moore, 1904): 5, 7, 33.
Megalomma circumspectum (Moore, 1923): 10**, 30.
Megalomma mushaensis (Gravier, 1908): 7, 20.
Megalomma pigmentum Reish, 1963: 10**.
Megalomma quadrioculatum Willey, 1905: 31.
Notaulax occidentalis (Baird, 1865): 7, 29.
Potamilla neglecta (Sars, 1851): 2.

Sabellonga disjuncta Hartman, 1969: 5.

Family Serpulidae
Circeis armoricana Saint Joseph, 1894: 7.
Hydroides brachyacantha Rioja, 1941: 12.
Hydroides dianthus (Verrill, 1873): 12.
Simplaria pseudomilitaris Thiriot-Quiereux, 1965: 29.
Pomatostegus stellatus (Abildgaard, 1789): 5.
Protula atypha Bush, 1904: 23.
Protula tubularia (Montagu, 1803): 6, 21.
Pseudovermilia conchata ten Hove, 1975: 12.
Pseudovermilia sp.: 12.
Spirobranchus giganteus corniculatus (Grube, 1862): 12, 28, 29.
Spirobranchus quadricornis Grube, 1878: 23.
Spirorbis (Paralaeospira) racemosus Pixell, 1912: 7.
Spirorbis spatulatus Knight-Jones, 1978: 7.
Spirorbis tricornigerus Rioja, 1942: 12.

10 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Continued.

Spirorbis variabilis Bush, 1904: 12.
Spirorbis (Spirorbella) marioni (Caullery and Mesnil, 1879): 7, 12.

Terebellida
Family Flabelligeridae

Flabelliderma caudata (Rioja, 1962): 7.
Pherusa capulata (Moore, 1909): 16.
Pherusa inflata (Treadwell, 1914): 23.
Pherusa neopapillata (Hartman, 1961): 30.
Pherusa papillata (Johnson, 1901): 12.
Therochaeta sp. 1: 10.

Family Cirratulidae

Aphelochaeta multifilis (Moore, 1909): 5.
Caulleriella hamata (Hartman, 1948): 33.
Caulleriella pacifica Berkeley, 1929: 10**, 17, 33**.
Chaetozone acuta Banse and Hobson 1968: 21**.
Chaetozone sp. 1: 10.

Cirratulus cingulatus Johnson, 1901: 29.
Cirratulus revillagigedoensis Rioja, 1960: 12.
Cirriformia punctata (Grube, 1859): 12.
Cirriformia spirabrancha (Moore, 1904): 7, 12.
Cirriformia tentaculata (Montagu, 1808): 17.
Monticellina tesselata (Hartman, 1960): 21**, 33**.
Monticellina sp. 1: 21.

Timarete luxuriosa (Moore, 1904): 6, 7.

Family Ampharetidae

Amage anelicornuta Moore, 1923: 2.

Amphicteis mucronata Moore, 1923: 2.

Amphicteis scaphobranchiata Moore, 1906: 33**.
Asabellides lineata (Berkeley and Berkeley, 1943): 33.

Family Pectinariidae
Cistenides regalis (Verrill, 1902): 12.
Cistenides brevicoma Johnson, 1901: 5.

Pectinaria (Amphictene) auricoma (Miiller, 1776): 28, 29.
Pectinaria (Pectinaria) belgica (Pallas, 1766): 5, 7.

Family Terebellidae

Artacama coniferi Moore, 1905: 5.
Eupolymnia heterobranchia (Johnson, 1901): 50, 20.
Lanice conchilega (Pallas, 1766): 33**.
Loimia sp.: 12.

Neoamphitrite robusta (Johnson, 1901): 5.
Pista elongata Moore, 1909: 7.

Polycirrus caliendrum Claparede, 1870: 12.
Streblosoma longifilis Rioja, 1962: 7, 10**.
Terebella sp.: 12.

Thelepus crispus (Johnson, 1901): 7, 23.
Thelepus hamatus Moore, 1905: 23.

Family Tichobranchidae
Terebellides californica Williams, 1984: 21.
Terebellides ehlersi McIntosh, 1885: 2.
Terebellides reishi Williams, 1984: 5.
Terebellides sp. 1: 10, 21.
Terebellides sp. 2: 10.
Trichobranchus gracilis Malmgren, 1966: 10**.

Family Sternaspidae

Sternaspis scutata (Ranzani, 1817): 5.
Sternaspis fossor Stimpson, 1854: 2, 23.

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS

Table 2. Number of species from Mexican Pacific Islands.

State

Pacific Ocean
BC

BCS

NAY

COL

GUE
OAX

Gulf of California
BC

BCS

SON

SIN

of Tibur6n, Del Carmen and Maria Madre islands, despite an overall wide geo-
graphical distribution, show different species composition in the different islands;
moreover, the species found in this study had already been recorded from the
continental shelf of the Mexican Pacific (Hernandez-Alcantara and Solis-Weiss
1999). Their presence in these islands probably results from their migration from
nearby coastal zones, the intensity of such migration depending on specific dis-
persion abilities as well as on particular oceanographic conditions surrounding

these areas.

Island

Guadalupe
Coronado
San Martin
San Benito
Cedros

San Roque
Asuncion
Santa Margarita

Isabela
Maria Madre
Clarion
Socorro

Grande
Tangola-Tangola

Clipperton

Angel de la Guarda
Rasa

Tortuga

San Ildefonso
Coronado

Del Carmen
Monserrat
Santa Catalina
San José
Partidito

San Francisco
Partida
Ballena
Espiritu Santo
La Gaviota
Cerralvo

San Jorge
Tiburon

San Esteban
San Pedro Nolasco

San Ignacio

No. species

12 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Although the sedimentary processes that determine the distribution of the or-
ganisms are still not well understood (Snelgrove and Butman 1994), the soft
bottoms’ environments might have less limiting factors for the settlement of spe-
cies coming from nearby continental littoral and sublittoral areas. By contrast, the
polychaetes living in hard bottoms might have a more restricted distribution, in-
sofar as they need this type of substrate for settkement and, therefore, these cor-
alline environments, surrounded by soft sediments, might be considered as real
‘ecological islands”’.

In spite of the wide distribution of the 73 species identified in soft sediments,
only Ceratocephale oculata was found on the three sampled islands, showing that
actually diverse oceanographic processes play a role in the type of substrate pre-
sent which in turn determines largely the distribution of the species, so that the
location of the islands in the different regions of the Gulf of California is instru-
mental in shaping the existing differences in the composition of their fauna.

In this respect, the highest values both in abundance (422 org) and in species
richness (43), 1s found in the sublittoral internal coastal zone of Maria Madre
Island, probably because its location at the southern end of the Gulf of California
makes it possible for species belonging to temperate environments associated to
the Californian province, as well as species related to the Mexican province,
adapted to tropical and subtropical conditions to coexist (Table 1). Caulleriella
pacifica, Notomastus tenuis, Scoloplos (S.) capensis and Nereis riisei, were the
most abundant species there.

In Tiburon Island (23 species; 157 organisms), subjected to wide environmental
variations in the islands’ region, as well as in Del Carmen Island (25 species; 137
organisms) located close to the peninsular margin of the Gulf, where polychaetes
do not abound (Hernandez-Alcantara 2002), a lower number of species was re-
corded, especially those pertaining to tropical environments. The composition of
their polychaete fauna also differ: Prionospio (P.) steenstrupi and Aricidea (A.)
simplex are respectively the most abundant species.

Upon adding the records obtained during this survey to the species of poly-
chaetes registered previously, we could see that these organisms have been col-
lected only in 36 out of the more than 140 islands and islets of the Mexican
Pacific (Fig. 1, Table 2). In spite of these limitations in the sampling effort, a
substantial species richness is apparent in this fauna: 348 species in 40 families
(Table 1) which represents approximately one third of all the species of poly-
chaetes so far recorded from all the western coasts of Mexico (Hernandez-Alcan-
tara and Solis-Weiss 1999).

The families with the highest number of species (Table 1) are: Syllidae (35
spp.), Eunicidae (30 spp.), Nereididae (22 spp.) and Polynoidae (19 spp.). Al-
though the available literature gives practically no information concerning the
environmental particularities or habitat under which that fauna was collected, and
though these families are geographically widely distributed and have been found
in a broad variety of habitats, the fact that they are composed basically of mobile
or discreetly mobile and mainly carnivorous species (Fauchald and Jumars 1979),
could indicate that the polychaetes of the islands have been mainly collected from
rocky environments, including dead coral substrates.

By contrast, the families commonly found in soft sediments, being less mobile
and feeding mainly on sediments, such as the Maldanidae, Spionidae or Am-

POLYCHAETES FROM MEXICAN PACIFIC ISLANDS’ AREAS 13

pharetidae, are scantily represented in the collections of the islands of the Mexican
Pacific (Table 1).

Of course, the abundance (or scarcity), and coverage (limited or not) of the
species recorded, also reflects the particular objectives and sampling effort or
limited possibilities of the research operations carried out in the region; as an
example of this, less than 10 species have been found in 72% of the islands (Table
2). Therefore, the main limiting factor seems to be the accessibility to the sam-
pling areas, since the majority of the islands sampled so far (21) is precisely
located in the Gulf of California, the region traditionally most widely surveyed
and studied in the Mexican Pacific (Fig. 1).

The islands of Tiburén (46 spp.) and Angel de la Guarda (46 spp.) located in
the center of the Gulf, in a region with such a recognized diversity high enough
to be proposed as “*Province of Cortes” (Briggs 1995), and the island of Espiritu
Santo (56 spp.) located in front of the bay of La Paz, harbor the highest number
of species, with basically tropical affinities (Fig. 1).

Elsewhere in the Mexican Pacific, Maria Madre and Socorro islands (in the
Mexican Province), are the areas where the largest research effort has been carried
out, not only in the benthic systems but in other branches of biology as well. As
a result, they are now the best known islands, with the highest number of regis-
tered species of polychaetes: 69 and 70 respectively (Table 2).

The most widely distributed species appeared to be Chloeia viridis, Eurythoe
complanata, Eunice antennata, Glycera tesselata and Platynereis bicanaliculata,
all of them mobile species, commonly found in hard substrates.

Looking at the faunistic similarities, the islands of Espiritu Santo (29), Coro-
nado (20) and Angel de la Guarda (16), located in the western region of the Gulf
of California, are characterized by populations where Eunice antennata, Eunice
biannulata, Platynereis bicanaliculata and Marphysa sanguinea dominate; the
islands of Asuncion (7) and Cedros (5) of the western part of Baja California, are
associated due to the presence of the Amphinomid Eurythoe complanata; and the
islands Maria Madre (10), Del Carmen (21) and Tiburo6n (33), whose similarity
results from the records brought out by this study (which basically includes soft
bottom species) albeit also related by the presence of two of the widely distributed
species Chloeia viridis and Eunice antennata. Socorro (12) and Santa Catalina
(23) are separated from the other islands by the type of dominant fauna: in the
first, a high number of species is recorded although basically associated to cor-
alline substrates, while the second shows a mixture of species recorded both in
rocky and soft bottoms.

In synthesis, the available information about the polychaetes from the islands
of the Mexican Pacific shows that in spite of the high number of species recorded
(mainly dependent so far on the sampling effort), there are still many regions and
habitats to be studied and the high diversity displayed by this faunistic group,
makes its study important in order to understand the ecology of these areas.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants and crew of the “Cortes”? and ‘‘Sur-
paclipp’’ expeditions and the students of the Laboratorio de Ecologia Costera,
ICMyL-UNAM, for their help in collecting part of the samples. —

14 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 17-25
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Characterization of Water Quality in the Los Angeles River

Drew Ackerman,! Kenneth Schiff,'* Heather Trim,? and Mike Mullin?

‘Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
7171 Fenwick Lane, Westminster, CA 92683
-Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council
III North Hope Street, Suite 267, Los Angeles, CA 90012
>City of Los Angeles, Stormwater Management Division
650 South Spring Street, 7th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Abstract.—The Los Angeles River is one of the most highly modified systems in
the world. Dramatic modifications have successfully reduced flooding and prop-
erty damage, but little of the engineered design has incorporated water quality
improvements. The goal of this study was to identify sources of potential pollut-
ants and characterize water quality along the river’s seven reaches during dry
weather. The three primary sources of potential pollutants included water recla-
mation plants (WRPs), major tributaries, and storm drain outfalls. In addition, the
use of volunteers as a mechanism to collect data at large spatial scales, where
tremendous labor is required over short periods of time, is evaluated.

The three WRPs discharged the majority (72%) of the volume flowing in the
Los Angeles River during this study. Likewise, the three WRPs discharged the
highest concentrations and greatest mass emissions of nutrients including nitrate,
nitrite, ammonia, and total phosphate. In contrast, 66 flowing storm drains and 6
flowing tributaries had the highest concentrations and mass emissions of bacteria
including total coliform, E. coli, and enterococcus.

Water quality in the Los Angeles River responded to inputs of potential pol-
lutants. Levels of nutrients were generally low upstream and downstream of the
WRPs (<0.1 mg/L ammonia), but were greatest in the immediate vicinity of the
WRPs (approximately 6 mg/L ammonia). Concentrations of bacteria were gen-
erally high upstream and downstream of the WRPs (ca. 10* MPN/100 mL E.
coli), but were lowest in the immediate vicinity of the WRPs (ca. 10? MPN/100
mole; coli).

The Los Angeles River drains most of Los Angeles County and may be one
of the most highly modified systems in the world (Brownlie and Taylor 1981).
The watershed is 49% developed and is 30% impervious. Much of the channel
is concrete-lined in an effort to reduce flooding and protect property. However,
the successful efforts at flood control have resulted in loss of habitat and degraded
water quality throughout much of the river system (LACDPW 2000; Cross et al.
1990).

The habitat and water quality degradation have prompted the Los Angeles
Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) to add much of the river

* Author to whom correspondence may be addressed: kens@sccwrp.org
(714) 372-9202

18 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

and many of its tributaries to the State/Federal list of impaired waterbodies, the
§303(d) list. The Clean Water Act stipulates that waterbodies on the $303(d) list
are required to develop total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). The goal of TMDLs
is to achieve water quality objectives in the receiving waterbody. As part of the
TMDL process, there is a need to characterize the problem (impairment) that led
to the listing, identify the sources of pollutant inputs, establish the target needed
to achieve water quality standards, and conduct a linkage analysis whereby the
sources are linked to receiving waterbody impairment, and finally establish waste
load and load allocations for each point and nonpoint source in order to reduce
the loading.

The goal of this study was to improve the problem characterization by sampling
the Los Angeles River and identifying sources of pollutants found in the river.
The data collection also had a secondary objective of determining if volunteer
monitoring efforts can help support TMDLs, which are a regulatory mechanism.

Methods

This study was broken into two parts. The first identified and sampled the inputs
to the Los Angeles River and major tributaries. The second sampled the mainstem
of Los Angeles River to assess spatial distributions of water quality. The input
monitoring was conducted using citizen volunteers. Monitoring the spatial distri-
bution of water quality was conducting using professionals. Samples from both
surveys were submitted to a professional, State-Certified laboratory for chemical
analysis.

The Watershed

The Los Angeles River extends 54 miles from its headwaters in the San Fer-
nando Valley past downtown Los Angeles and eventually draining to San Pedro
Bay near Long Beach (Figure 1). The watershed is 834 mi’ and is comprised of
residential (35%), commercial (5%), industrial (8%), and open (51%) land uses.
The river is divided into 9 reaches and seven tributary reaches. The mainstem
and tributaries are listed for many constituents including nutrients (N), bacteria
(fecal coliform), and trace metals (copper, lead, and zinc).

Input Sampling

Inputs to the Los Angeles River were sampled on September 10, 2000. Early
September was chosen since this time period represents typical dry weather status
when the watershed is closest to steady state conditions. Input sources included
three water Reclamation Plants (WRP) that use tertiary treatment for municipal
and industrial wastes and discharge their effluents to the River. Two of the WRP
are owned the City of Los Angeles (Tillman and Glendale WRP) and one is
owned by the City of Burbank, (Burbank WRP). Glendale WRP discharges di-
rectly to the Los Angeles River. Tillman WRP discharges through three outfalls;
approximately 37% of the flow discharges to a recreational lake and 11% of the
flow discharges to a wildlife lake, both of which ultimately discharge to the Los
Angeles River. The third outfall, comprising approximately 52% of the Tillman
WRP flow, discharges directly to the Los Angeles River. The Burbank WRP
discharges to the Burbank-Western Channel, a major tributary, which is just up-
stream of its confluence with the Los Angeles River. There are numerous indus-

WATER QUALITY IN THE LOS ANGELES RIVER I)

GA
at ee 7
( X —— ™~_ %
wk ie a ~
{ XN ee y \\ \s de ass
7 ? J ) 5 ¢ mm
<2 ( / yy (OO ee J \
‘s - ~ ‘ Pi y ‘\
( Bell Cr ( ih / grr bh \, (nh { ee i aN
i \ | [aoe Zz j hae AN ’ /
D> fr. / Tillman’ +i < cy Ot \ §
\ 4 @ . WRP\ / Burbank Mis é ete r
\ WRE (S a )
of — , [}
ae ee
/ \
IE
X
\
\
\
\
0 10 20 \
kilometers }
@ Water Reclamation Plants we
%
A River and Tnbutary Boundary Sampling Sites tA
© Input Sampling Sites .

Fig. 1. Map of the Los Angeles River watershed, listed streams, and sampling locations along the
mainstem, at the head of tributaries, at point sources, and at storm drain outfalls to the river.

trial facilities that can potentially discharge to the Los Angeles River, but the vast
majority only discharge surface runoff during storm events.

Unlike WRP or industrial facilities, there are potentially hundreds of outfalls
to the Los Angeles River from the municipal storm drainage system, which re-
ceives no treatment prior to discharge. To accomplish identifying and sampling
these storm drain outfalls, citizen monitors walked all 54 miles of the River and
15 miles of tributaries, identifying, documenting and eventually sampling each
flowing outfall encountered. The volunteers were trained to collect samples in
aceordance with standard protocols during a one-day training class.

Sampling of all inputs included visual observations of outfall size and location,
flow, general characteristics such as the color, presence of foam or oily sheens,
trash or algae, and water quality. Flow was measured using either timed-volu-
metric or depth-velocity methods. Water quality parameters included flow, total
suspended solids (TSS), total organic carbon, biological oxygen demand (BOD.),
nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, total Kjedahl nitrogen TKN, and total phos-
phorous), trace metals, (cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, mercury,
and zinc). All analyses followed protocols approved the US EPA (1983) and
Standard Methods (APHA 2000).

Spatial Distribution Sampling

Sampling of eight locations along the mainstem of the Los Angeles River, and
at the head of all seven tributaries, was accomplished on September 11, 2000.
Each location represents each of the 303(d) listed reaches in the watershed. Sam-

20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

re 100
©
be
zs 80
=
ee
=
”)
mm «OD
A
=
oc 40
dp)
ro
(e)
= 20
7)
2
a 60
Color Odor Oil Foam ~ Trash Algae
Category

Fig. 2. Percent of storm drains that showed obvious signs of trash, algae, foam, colors, or oily
sheens.

pling was conducted by collecting a single composite sample that consisted of
three grab samples combined over a 10 minute period. A second composite sample
was collected 20 minutes later, and a third composite collected 40 minutes after
the initial composite. Existing flow gages maintained by the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works provided flow information.

Results

Our survey of the Los Angeles River identified 127 storm drain outfalls. Of
these, 105 were flowing and 87 discharged sufficient volume to sample for water
quality. Seventy seven percent of the outfalls discharged directly to the Los An-
geles River and remainder discharged to the major tributaries.

Flow

The majority of flow on September 10 and 11, 2000 arose from treated waste-
water discharges from the three WRP on the Los Angeles River. A combined
74.6 MGD comprised approximately 72% of the dry weather flow. Roughly 14.7
MGD (14%) arose from discharges out of six of the seven tributaries that dis-
charge to the Los Angeles River. The Rio Hondo tributary was not flowing at the
confluence to the Los Angeles River at the time of sampling. Roughly 13.8 MGD
(13%) arose from discharges of the 66 storm drain outfalls that discharged directly
to the Los Angeles River mainstem.

Visual Observations

The presence of algae and trash were consistently observed at the mouths of
storm drain outfalls to the Los Angeles River (Figure 2, Table 1). The amount of
trash varied from drain to drain with 23% of the outfalls categorized as having
“dense” (>50% surface coverage). However, 70% of the outfalls had algae that
exceeded 50% surface coverage). The presence of foam, oily sheens and odd
colors were inconsistently observed.

WATER QUALITY IN THE LOS ANGELES RIVER 21

Table 1. Spatial coverage (as % area) of trash and algae near storm drains discharging to the Los
Angeles River on September 10, 2001.

i Percent of storm drains
Spatial coverage

(% of area) Algae Trash

None (0%) g V7,
Light (<5%) 15
Moderate (6—10%) 13 14
High (11-25%) 12
Somewhat dense (26-50%) 9 16
Dense (51-75%) 21 3
Very dense (>75%) 49

Not recorded 3

Concentrations

The concentrations of inputs to the Los Angeles River differed among the three
sources for general classes of constituents (Table 2). The highest concentrations
of nutrients were found in WRP discharges. For example, concentrations of am-
monia in WRP effluents were twice the level found in the tributaries and an order
of magnitude higher than the concentrations found in storm drain discharges. In
contrast, the highest concentrations of bacteria were found in discharges from
storm drains. The concentration of E. coli was four orders of magnitude higher
than WRPs, which were below method reporting levels (< 2 MPN/ 100 mL). The
concentrations of trace metals were generally low from all sources; most average
concentrations were below method reporting levels. The WRP effluents had higher
concentrations of copper and zinc than discharges from tributaries or storm drains.

Mass Emissions

The relative contributions of potential pollutants to the Los Angeles River dif-
fered among the three sources of inputs between general classes of constituents

Table 2. Average concentrations of water quality parameters from three major sources of potential
pollutants to the Los Angeles River on September 10—11, 2000.

- Constituent Units WRPs Tributaries Storm drains

Bacteria

E. coli MPN/100mL ND 1,307 PA99

Enterococcus MPN/100mL pb 1,033 4,124

Total coliforms MPN/100mL 288 76,525 79593
Metals

Chromium mg/L <0.01 <0.01 <0.01

Copper mg/L 0.01 <0.01 <0.01

Iron mg/L <0.2 <0.2 0.54

Lead mg/L <0.01 <0.01 <0.01

Nickel mg/L <0.02 <0.02 <0.02

Zinc mg/L 0.04 0.02 0.01
Nutrients

Ammonia-N mg/L 12. 5.6 <2

Nitrate-N mg/L 0.5 1.4 yaa |

TKN mg/L 14 79 j=)

Total phosphate-P mg/L Ly OD 0.3

WN
i)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 3. Total pollutant loads and the relative contributions among major sources to the Los An-
geles River on September 10—11, 2000.

% Contribution
Total mass

Constituent emissions Units POTWs _ Tributaries Storm drains

Bacteria
E. coli [23022 (10°)/day 0 1] 89
Enterococcus 2,948 (10°)/day 0) 33 67
Total coliforms 113,854 (10°)/day 1 65 35
Metals
Copper Si kg/day W3 Up 6
Iron 38) ke/day + 23 a3
Lead 0.53 kg/day 0 54 46
Nickel 0.19 kg/day 0) 0) 100
Zinc 1] ke/day 79 17 4
Nutrients
Ammonia-N 3,39), kg/day 85 14 0)
Nitrate-N 361 kg/day By 35 34
TKN 4,066 kg/day 82 7 2
Total phosphate-P SZ kg/day 82 15 2

(Table 3). The greatest mass emissions of nutrients were from WRPs. For ex-
ample, WRPs contributed 85% of the ammonia and 82% of the total phosphate
relative to tributaries and storm drains. In contrast, nearly 100% of the Entero-
coccus, E. coli, and total coliform mass emissions were from storm drain dis-
charges and tributaries, not the WRPs. The relative mass emissions of trace metals
varied among sources by metal. The WRPs accounted for 73% and 79% of the
copper and zinc, respectively. On the other hand, tributaries and storm drains
cumulatively accounted for 100% of the lead and nickel mass emissions to the
Los Angeles River.

Spatial Distribution

The spatial distribution of water quality concentrations reflected the sources
that contributed the pollutants to the Los Angeles River (Figure 3). For example,
mean concentrations of ammonia were <Q.1 mg/L upstream of the Tillman WRP,
then increased to 6 mg/L following the three WRP discharges. The WRP had the
highest concentrations and largest nutrient mass emissions. In contrast, mean con-
centrations of EF. coli were near 10* MPN/100 mL prior to reaching the WRP,
then decreased to 10? MPN/100 mL following the WRP discharges. Concentra-
tions increased back to 10° MPN/100 mL downstream of the WRP as more storm
drain discharges accumulated in the river. Storm drain discharges had the highest
concentrations and mass emissions of bacteria.

Although the spatial patterns of nutrients and bacteria were dissimilar, both
groups of constituents were characterized as having highly variable concentrations
(Figure 3). For example, the minimum and maximum concentrations extended
from 4 mg/L to more than 14 mg/L ammonia following the inputs from the
Tillman WRP at river mile 38. Similarly, concentrations of E. coli ranged from
10' MPN/100 mL to 10° MPN/100 mL upstream of the Tillman WRP at river
mile 43.

WATER QUALITY IN THE LOS ANGELES RIVER 23

Los Angeles River E. Coli

10000

8000

‘Tih
=
(o)
S
= 6000
=
5 Tillman Glendale
= 4000 WRP WRP
is t
&
e 2000
to)
O

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

River Mile

Los Angeles River Ammonia

Tillman
WRP

Concentration (mg/L)

60 50 40 30 20 10 0

River Mile

Fig. 3. Longitudinal mean concentrations (min,max) of nutrients and bacteria along the Los An-
geles River. Arrows indicate input locations from water reclamation plants (WRP).

Discussion

The Los Angeles River is an effluent dominated waterbody. Nearly 70% of the
volume in the Los Angeles River arose from WRPs tertiary-treated effluent dis-
charged during this study. Although groundwater interactions exist (particularly
in the Glendale Narrows and Arroyo Seco tributary), the majority of storm drain
discharges are assumed to arise from urban discharges. Less than 0.1 MGD of
flow was measured during dry weather months at the mouth of the Los Angeles
River in 1930 when the population in the county was approximately 2 million.
More than 100 MGD was measured at the mouth of the river during this study
when county population estimates exceeded 9.5 million.

Storm drain discharges are known sources of bacteria in southern California
(Noble et al. 2001; Schiff 1997). The City of Los Angeles (1997) has measured

24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

concentrations of 10° E. coli per 100 mL in storm drains that discharge to the
Los Angeles River resulting from defecation of homeless encampments. Bacteria
concentrations from WRPs, which treat municipal sewage, are low to nondetect-
able because the WRPs disinfect their effluents prior to discharge. As is more
often the case, the bacteria sources are often diffuse and complex (Schiff and
Kinney 2001). Unlike nutrients, where remedying the problem lies predominately
with the WRPs, resolving bacterial water quality problems will be challenging.

Analytical reporting levels have the potential to bias mass emission results
when many measurements are below detection limits. The bias occurs when sci-
entists estimate concentrations for these truncated values. This issue is particularly
important with trace metals; concentrations of most trace metals were low to
nondetectable from all sources investigated. During this study we assumed all
values reported as nondetectable were actually zero. However, the true concen-
tration may be nearly as high as the reporting level. In the case of WRPs, low
levels of trace metals equate to large mass emission because of the sheer volume
of WRP discharges. For example, the mass emissions of lead was estimated to
be 0.5 kg/day, but if the zero assigned to nondetectable values were actually as
high as the reporting level, the mass emissions would have been 4.1 kg/day; an
8-fold increase. This also changes the relative contribution among sources. If
nondetectable quantities were treated as zero, storm drains are considered the
major (92%) source. However, if nondetectable quantities were treated as the
reporting level, then the WRPs are considered the major (72%) source.

This study focused on an intensive spatial sampling design at the watershed
scale, but did not have a temporal design component. We selected a dry weather
sampling period when the river system was most likely to be in a steady state
condition. Short term temporal variability was minimized by collecting replicate
samples over a period of approximately one hour. However, our study does not
account for day-to-day or week-to-week variability that may occur along the river.
Monthly bacteria measurements were made at three sites along the Los Angeles
River by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works between 1987 and
1993 that can be used to examine month-to-month temporal variations (Los An-
geles County Department of Public Works unpublished data). These three sites
compare well to our three sites located closest to the County sites. The mean
concentrations from our sites were well within the range of concentrations ob-
served by the County monitoring program, and their median concentrations during
the dry months were within the range of variability we observed within an hours
time span.

The use of volunteers, if properly trained and organized, represented a powerful
mechanism for accomplishing large-scale sampling tasks. In this study, we needed
to cover more than 54 river miles and more than an additional 15 tributary miles
in less than 5 hours. The volunteer monitoring helped us to accomplish this large-
scale effort without injury or major deviations from monitoring protocols. How-
ever, this success occurred because tremendous effort was expended on logistics,
preparation, and training. More than 85 volunteers ranging in age from 10 to 65
walked, biked, drove, and canoed the river. The citizen activism in this watershed
is to be commended.

WATER QUALITY IN THE LOS ANGELES RIVER

N
N

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Regional Water
Quality Control Board, and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Pro-
ject. The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance from the Los Angeles/
San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council and US EPA Region IX. The authors are
indebted to the many volunteers that assisted in sample collection. The authors
also are grateful for the assistance provided by Krista Kamer and Andrea Stein-
berger. The collected data can be downloaded from http://www.sccwrp.org.

Literature Cited

APHA. 2000. Standard Methods, 20" edition. American Public Health Association. Philadelphia, PA.

Brownlie, W. and B. Taylor. 1981. Sediment management for southern California mountains, coastal
plains and shoreline. Part C: Coastal sediment delivery by major rivers in southern California.
EQL Report No. 17-C. California Institute of Technology. Pasadena, CA.

City of Los Angeles. 1997. A study of pollutants entering storm drains from street and sidewalk
washing operations in Los Angeles, CA. City of Los Angeles, Stormwater Management Divi-
sion. Los Angeles, CA.

Cross, J., K. Schiff, and H. Schaefer. 1990. Mass emissions of selected constituents from the Los
Angeles River. pp. 25—37, in: J. Cross (ed.). Southern California Coastal Water Research Project
Annual Report 1989-90. Long Beach, CA.

LACDPW. 2000. Los Angeles County integrated receiving water impact report. Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works, Alhambra, CA.

Noble, R.T., J.H. Dorsey, M. Leecaster, V. Orozco-Borbon, D. Reid, K. Schiff, and S.B. Weisberg.
2000. A regional survey of the microbiological water quality along the shoreline of the southern
California Bight. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 64:435—447.

Schiff, K. 1997. Review of existing stormwater monitoring programs for estimating bight-wide mass
emissions from urban runoff. pp. 44—55 in: S. Weisberg, C. Francisco and D. Hallock (eds.),
Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Annual Report 1995—96. Westminster, CA

and P. Kinney. 2001. Tracking sources of bacterial contamination in stormwater from Mission
Bay, California. pp. 85—95 in: S. Weisberg, C. Francisco and D. Hallock (eds.), Southern Cal-
ifornia Coastal Water Research Project Annual Report 199-2000. Westminster, CA.

US EPA. 1983. Chemical Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastes. EPA-600/4—79-—020.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory.
Cincinnati, OH.

Accepted for publication 31 January 2002.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 26-38
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Shorebirds and Benthic Fauna of Tidal Mudflats in
Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, Mexico

Maria Rosa Maimone-Celorio! and Eric Mellink

Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educaci6n Superior de Ensenada
Apartado Postal 2732, Ensenada, B.C., México
U.S. mailing address: P.O. Box 434844, San Diego, CA 92143, U.S.A.

Abstract.—We studied habitat use by shorebirds as related to tide and benthic
invertebrates on three mudflats at Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California,
México, between January and April, 2000. We recorded 15 shorebird species
and 7974 individuals. The most abundant birds were marbled godwits (Limosa
fedoa), small sandpipers (Calidris alpina, C. mauri, and C. minutilla), and
willets (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus). The three sites were different in their
shorebird assemblages, and shorebird density was significantly greater on the
site closest to the mouth of the estuary. The benthic fauna in our samples
included 14 polychaete and | cumacean families; 8 bivalve species, 7 gastro-
pod species, 7 amphipod species, 4 decapod species, and | species of isopod.
Benthic invertebrate abundance was significantly greater at the site closest to
the mouth of the estuary in winter, and at the central site in spring. Abundance
of shorebirds was clearly inverse to tide height. Shallow and deep probers
responded differently to the tide cycle at two sites. The most used feeding
microhabitat, among four studied, was the waterline, although benthic inver-
tebrate abundance was not different among habitats. The benthic fauna in our
samples was potential food for the shorebirds present.

Intertidal mudflats are the most important feeding habitats for shorebirds on
their migratory routes (Schneider 1978; Evans et al. 1979; Gersternberg 1979;
Burger et al. 1997). Far from being constant, such sites are constantly changing
in response to the tide cycle. The energy gain that shorebirds derive from foraging
on mudflats is influenced by temperature, wind, and rain, among other factors
(Evans 1976; Burger 1984). Tides affect foraging intensity (Heppleston 1971;
Connors et al. 1981), as well as the length of time and area in which shorebirds
can forage (Puttick 1984). Indirectly, tides affect the distribution and activity of
shorebird prey (Evans 1979; Puttick 1984). Overall, tides determine the daily
patterns of activity of shorebirds (Heppleston 1971; Burger et al. 1977; Kelly and
Cogswell 1979), and the number of shorebirds foraging generally reaches its high-
est values around low tide (Heppleston 1971; Burger et al. 1977).

Intertidal mudflats are heterogeneous in respect to the sediments that compose
them, and in the distribution and abundance of benthic invertebrates (Trush et al.
1989; Trush 1991). Sediments can differ in their type (Burger et al. 1977), size

' Current address: Privada 10 B Poniente 2933. Col. San Alejandro. C.P. 72090, Puebla. Pue.

SHOREBIRDS AT ESTERO DE PUNTA BANDA, BAJA CALIFORNIA 74

of particles (Quammen 1982; Grant 1984; Hicklin and Smith 1984), and vary in
their moistness and penetrability (Myers et al. 1987; Grant 1984; Mouritsen and
Jensen 1992). Also, near the waterline, there are a number of microhabitats created
by the level of water, or lack of it, and the presence of water pools in small
depressions of the floor. Selection of a particular spot for feeding is the result of
such characteristics, as well as of the morphology of different species (Ashmole
1970; Baker 1979). Furthermore, the distribution and abundance of birds reflects
not only these physical caracteristics but also density and composition of benthic
invertebrates, on which they depend during the non-breeding season (Goss-Cus-
tard et al. 1977; Bryant 1979; Hicklin and Smith 1984).

Estero de Punta Banda 1s one of five large coastal wetlands along the Pacific
coast of the Peninsula of Baja California and is important for migrating shore-
birds (Palacios et al. 1991; Massey and Palacios 1994; Page et al. 1997). Al-
though some inventories and monitoring of shorebirds have been carried out,
and the local dynamics of western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) has been studied
(Fernandez-Aceves 1996; Buenrostro et al. 1999), specific differences among
sites have not been studied, nor has the relationship of this group with benthos
been analyzed. The objective of this project was to obtain some insights into
the use of different areas of mudflats within this coastal lagoon by shorebirds
and to gather initial information on the relationship of shorebirds with benthic
invertebrates.

Study Sites

Estero de Punta Banda (31°40’—31°48’' Lat N, and 116°34’—116°40' Long
W), is located within Bahia de Todos Santos, and is about 15 km south of
Ensenada (Fig. 1). This coastal lagoon is a 21 km? water body bordered on the
seaside by a 7.5 km barrier beach. Tides are semidiurnal and have a mean
amplitude of 1.04 m. In winter the Estero receives occasional fresh water
through arroyos San Carlos and La Grulla. The most abundant intertidal habitat
in the Estero is mudflats, and for this study we selected three such sites along
the inner side of the barrier beach (Fig 1). These were:

1) Tony’s Camp North (TCN). This site, on the northern barrier beach and bor-
dered by sand dunes, was subject to strong tidal currents during Spring tides. The
site measured about 6.1 ha at mid-tide level (as measured on an aerial image).
2) Tony’s Camp South (TCS). This site was in the central part of the barrier
beach, and was bordered by pickleweed (Salicornia spp.) marsh. Its tidal currents
were less strong than at TCN. The site measured about 10.55 ha at mid-tide level.
3) Boss Pacific (BP). This site was located in the head of the estero and was
bordered by a narrow strip of pickleweed marsh, and a raised dyke with a single-
lane paved road. Tidal currents were much more moderate than at other sites. The
site measured about 9.7 ha at mid-tide level.

Methods

Shorebirds were monitored on eight visits between January and April 2000
(Table 1). Each visit consisted of three days, one at each site, and were carried
out only on days of Spring tides. At each site we established a fixed point of
observation, from where all counts were made. A total count of birds was made

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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Fig. 1. Estero de Punta Banda, showing the three study localities: TCN (Tony’s Camp North),
TCS (Tony’s Camp South), BP (Boss-Pacific). Simplified from a map by Proesteros (2000).

every 15 minutes, while numbers per species were obtained every 30 min. Every
hour we noted whether the birds were feeding, resting, or were engaged in some
other activity. Observations were carried out for six hours, begining 4 hours before
the lowest predicted tidal level at TCN and TCS. At BP, counts were carried out
from 3 hours before lowest level to 3 hours after, because before this time the
mudflats remained inundated and unavailable for the birds. We considered four

SHOREBIRDS AT ESTERO DE PUNTA BANDA, BAJA CALIFORNIA 3]

categories of feeding substrate: mud, tideline, shallow water (up to the tibio tarsus-
tarso metatarsus joint of most birds feeding), deep water (above the tibio tarsus-
tarso metatarsus joint of most birds feeding).

Counts and identification were carried out with a 15x—45% spotting scope and
7X35 binoculars. Dunlin (Calidris alpina), western sandpiper (C. mauri) and least
sandpiper (C. minutilla) were grouped as “‘small peeps,’ and both dowitchers
(Limnodromus griseus and L. scolopaceus) were not differentiated. Whenever it
was possible we noted the food being consumed.

Benthic invertebrates were sampled in the winter (20 & 21 January 2000) and
spring (19 & 21 March 2000) in each site, for a total of 70 samples: 10 at each
site in winter, and 16 at TCN and TCS, and 8 at BP in spring. We used a 10.5
cm diameter by 15 cm high sampler (86.59 cm? sampling surface). All organisms
retained by a |-mm mesh were saved in a mixture of saltwater and a 10% for-
maldehide solution. Once fixed, they were preserved in 70% alcohol. Specimens
that were complete were measured.

After testing for normality and homogeneity of variances, data were analyzed
through 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests, or through Friedman’s test
(Zar 1996). We calculated Shannon’s diversity index, based on the sum of the
maxima for each visit, and compared the values of the three sites through pair-
wise comparisons, with Hutcheson’s test (Zar 1996).

Results

Our maximum daily tallies summed up to 7974 individuals throughout the
study, of 15 species (Table 1). The most abundant birds were marbled godwits
(Limosa fedoa, n = 2985), small peeps (2361), willets (Catoptrophorus semipal-
matus, 922), dowitchers (891), and black-bellied plovers (Pluvialis squatarola,
252). Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres), American avocets (Recurvirostra
americana), long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus), whimbrels (N. phaeo-
pus), semipalmated plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus), and greater yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca) were rare, while snowy plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus)
and lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) were sporadic. The abundance of the dif-
ferent species exhibited peaks on different dates.

All species were found at the three sites, except the ruddy turnstone which did
not-occur on BP. Overall TCN had more shorebirds than BP, while there were no
differences between either of them and TCS, but individual species exhibited
different uses, and the densities of some were not different among the different
sites (Table 1). Whenever there were differences among the sites, TCN had the
highest densities of birds. Diversity values (respectively 0.71, 0.67 and 0.65) were
not significantly different among sites.

Number of shorebirds counted was clearly inverse to height of tide (Fig. 2).
Maximum counts were obtained at lowest water level in TCN and BP, but 1.5 hrs
before this level in TCS. Maximum counts were obtained for about 1.5 hrs. Shal-
low and deep probers were different in their pattern of increase and decrease with
the tide at the three sites (x? = 13.0, p; It. O01; x? = 6.23, p = 0.013; and x? =
8.333, p = 0.004, respectively, Friedman’s test).

Shorebirds exhibited differences among the four microhabitats in the three
zones (Table 2). Shorebirds were mostly engaged in feeding, but we could
identify only a few prey items from feeding birds. Marbled godwits included

32 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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Fig. 2. Total abundance of shorebirds (+ standard deviation; dots with vertical lines) in relation
with tide level (stippled line), at three sites in Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, México, 2000.
X-axis displays hours before or after the lowest tide.

SHOREBIRDS AT ESTERO DE PUNTA BANDA, BAJA CALIFORNIA 33

Table 2. Percent of individuals of each of five shorebirds feeding in four feeding substrates on
mudflats in Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, México, January—April 2000. M = mud, WL =
water line, SP = shallow ponds, and DW = deep water. Within species and sites, values with the
same letter were not statistically different, according to a Tukey test (a = 0.05).

Feeding substrate

Species Site M WL SP DW
Marbled godwit TCN h3.8° 45.78 PAU 18.0°
TES 13.4° S228" 18.4? 15.4°
BP 10.8°¢ 61.84 bes? 9.9¢
Small peeps TCN 32:5? 46.8? bie 0.94
TES 42.4 DSpape 34° O25¢
BP LO.3P 80.92 8.8? O12
Semipalmated plover TCN 34.08 S02 24.38 Lt6e
KES 32.3" 26.63 26.48 8.7>
BP 36.3” 41.73 K6o7"* 523°
Dowitchers TCN O28 8o.7? 9.4° Or
TCS 5.4° 78.53 14.1° 1.9°
BP 63° 65.43 fie Pst
Black-bellied plover TCN 94.7? 1.6° BW) Me 0.0°
TES 94.12 Day 326° 0.0°

BP 1002 @P O> 0°

polychaetes in their diet, long billed curlews and whimbrels ate crabs, espe-
cially a fiddler crab, Uca crenulata, willets ate bivalves (Macoma spp.) and
crabs, and black-bellied plover ate bivalves and gasteropods, especially Bulla
gouldiana.

Polychaetes were by far the most abundant invertebrates in our samples (Table
3, Appendix 1). Our innermost site (BP) was devoid of crustaceans, and exhibited
the lowest density of invertebrates, although in March it was not statistically
different from TCN. The four feeding substrates were not statistically diferent in
their abundance of invertebrates (F = 2.743, df = 3, p = 0.058, 2-way ANOVA).

Table 3. Total density (individuals/O.1 m*) and relative density (in parentheses) of benthic inver-
tebrates in mudflat sites in Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, México, in January and March
2000. Totals with the same letter, within a sampling date are not statistically different, under a para-
metne Tukey test: (a = .05).

March 2000:

Group TCN TES BP
January 2000:

Polychaeta 331 (84.2%) 194 (78.2%) 84 (88.4%)

Crustacea 27 (6.9%) 37 (14.9%) 0 (0.0%)

Gastropoda 27 (6.9%) 12 (4.8%) >) (Bea)

Bivalvia 8 (2.0%) S (2.0%) 6 (6.3%)

Total 39332 2482 95°

Polychaeta 270 (94.4%) 533 (91.7%) Ps (9271 7)
Crustacea 8 (2.8%) 16 (4.4%) 0 (0.0%)
Gastropoda S. (age) > (1.4%) 7T (4.3%)
Bivalvia 3) C0%) 9 (2.5%) 6 (3:72)
Total 286 383?

164?

34 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

In addition to the species in our benthic samples, there were fiddler crabs (U.
crenulata), abundant gasteropods (especially B. gouldiana) and, in eelgrass (Zos-
tera marina) banks at the lowest intertidal reaches, many bivalves (Argopecten
spp.). Also, whereas our samples contained few amphipods, isopods, and cari-
deans, these were abundant in eelgrass banks.

Discussion

With the exception of dowitchers, all species that exhibited differences in
their abundance at the different sites preferred TCN over BP, while TCS was
intermediate. Both small (Calidris, Limnodromus, Arenaria, Charadrius and
Pluvialis spp.) and large shorebirds (Limosa, Catoptrophorus, Recurvirostra,
Numenius and Tringa spp.) were about equally represented (47.5, and 52.5%,
respectively). That the most abundant species was the marbled godwit, fol-
lowed by the small peeps, is comparable to previous studies (Palacios et al.
1991). Despite differences in the force of water currents, and in substrate tex-
ture, there were no significant differences between TCN and TCS. The overall
higher abundance of birds in TCN than in BP (Table 1) was due to different
responses by individual species to differences in the habitat.

Ruddy turnstones commonly fed on bivalves asociated with eelgrass, which
were absent from BP. Black-bellied plovers were more abundant at TCN and only
sporadic at BP, in agreement with its preference for harder substrates (Pienkowski
1983a). Willets and the small peeps were also more abundant at TCN. This site
had more non-benthic insects, which can form a substantial part of western and
least sandpipers diets (Reish and Barnard 1990). On the other hand, dowitchers
were more common on BP, probably because its softer substrate allowed for more
efficient feeding of these species.

As shown by others (Waumann 1998; Sinicrope-Talley et al. 2000) poly-
chaetes dominated the bethic fauna in the three zones (Table 3). TCN, in winter,
and TCS, in spring had significantly more benthic fauna than the two remaining
sites. Although these two areas exhibit differences in the force of tidal currents,
in both areas these currents are subtantially stonger than at BP, causing better
oxygenation and higher polichaete abundances (see Farreras and Villalba 1980;
Wolff 1983). The reasons for seasonal differences among TCN and TCS, and
between them and BP, are not clear to us. In addition to the species in our
benthic samples (Table 3), eelgrass banks at the lowest intertidal reaches ac-
counted for even further differences between TCN, TCS, and BP, since they
were present only at the first two sites, where they allowed for abundant bi-
valves (Argopecten spp.), amphipods, isopods, and carideans.

By affecting the amount of exposed mudflats, tidal level was the main factor
affecting the local movements of shorebirds, as has been reported elsewhere
(Recher 1966). As water levels lowered, shorebirds increased, reaching their max-
imum numbers around the lowest water level (Fig. 2). At TCS the maximum
numbers of shorebirds were reached an hour and an half before lowest tide, when
the tideline reached the mid-lagoon tidal channel. Afterwards, receding tides
caused the exposure of no additional habitat. However, not all species reached
their maxima at the same time, as individual response varied (Burger et al. 1977).
Notably, semipalmated plovers always reached their peak numbers during lowest
tidal level, when exposure of eelgrass was maximized. The closer tidal curve at

SHOREBIRDS AT ESTERO DE PUNTA BANDA, BAJA CALIFORNIA 3/5)

BP, was caused both by its lower steepness and by the fact that we always sampled
it under slightly higher tidal levels than the other two sites.

Although there were some specific microhabitat preferences by the shorebirds

(Table 2), the tideline was frequently used. This is not surprising, as benthonic
invertebrates are stimulated by changes in hydrostatic pressure when the tide
begins to rise (Enright 1965).
Shallow water offers an alternative to the tideline. The small depressions, by
maintaining pockets of water, offer a more penetrable substrate than adjacent
mudflats that do not hold standing water (Grant 1984), and stimulate higher ac-
tivity of benthic prey (Evans 1979; Pienkowski 1983b), reducing foraging costs
of birds that feed by probing (Mouritsen and Jensen 1992). However, in our study
this microhabitat was little used.

In our study we documented that some individuals of the largest species
would rest on very windy days, while none of the smaller shorbirds ever did
so. Also, two hours after lowest tide, marbled godwits, semipalmated sandpip-
ers, curlews, and whimbrels rested on the shore, whereas the smaller peeps
and dowitcher continued to feed. This may reflect the greater energy needs of
such smaller species.

Acknowledgments

Marina Mondragon, Mari Carmen Necoechea, Dora Waumann, Olga Flores,
and Jorge Dominguez assisted during field and laboratory work. Elena Solana,
Horacio de la Cueva, and Vicente Ferreira adviced us on data analysis. Eduardo
Palacios, Anamaria Escofet, Nils Warnock, and one unknown colleague greatly
assisted with editorial comments. José Maria Domiguez and Francisco Javier
Ponce prepared figure |. The Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia sup-
ported the first author with a graduate scholarship. To all of them, our appre-
ciation.

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Accepted for publication 31 January 2002.

38 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Appendix. Abundance (individuals/0.1 m?) of benthonic invertebrates that are potential prey for
shorebirds, in samples obtained at three sites on mudflats in Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California,
in Winter and Spring 2000. + Represent species that were observed to be consumed by shorebirds in
this study; * those reported as shorebird prey in other studies.

TCN TCS BP
20 Jan. 20 Mar. 20 Jan. 19 Mar. 22 Jan. 19 Mar.

Polychaeta
Magelonidae* 89 85 20 118 9 28
Capitellidae* 101 OS Pi} 36 16
Cirratulidae* ih 10 DD: 93 16
Orbiniidae* 3) 41 74 60 3
Nereidae* BD) On 16 12 49 98
Glyceridae* 10 7 12 3
Gontadidae 8 7
Opheliidae 7 20
Lumbrineridae 1 2
Sabellidae 7 |
Nephtydae* >
Spionidae* 3
Onuphidae* |
Polynoidae
Gastropoda
Bulla gouldiana+ i) 3 6 3
Haminoea vestcula* 8
Acteocina spp.* 5) ql
Nassarius tegula ] 2

—

i)
Oo

Ceratostoma spp. 1
Cylichnella inculta 1 ]
Cerithidea californica 1

Crepidula coei l

Melampus spp.* |

Bivalvia

Argopecten aequisulcatus 1

Chione californiensis l
Macoma nasutat* 1 l
Pitar spp.

1
Lucina nutalli
Tellina spp. 3 l 3 Z S)
Cooperella subdiaphana 4 D
Amphipoda

Ampithoe polex*

i)
aN
i)

Parapoxus spinosus* d} l l
Podocerus spp. D, 22
Hyale frequens* l 4 l
Tethygeneia quinsana l 4
Monoculodes spp. 2
Rudilemboides spp. l |
Cumacea*
Dyastilidae 6 fl p|
Isopoda

N
i)

Paracerceis spp.*
Decapoda

Rhithropanopeus spp.
Pachygrapsus crassipes* | l

Hemigrapsus oregonensis* l I
Hyppolyte californiensis 6 l 10 |

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 39-42
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Reproduction in the Baja California Rattlesnake, Crotalus enyo
(Serpentes: Viperidae)

Stephen R. Goldberg! and Kent R. Beaman?

'Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608
*Section of Herpetology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County,
900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007

The Baja California rattlesnake, Crotalus enyo occurs over most of the Baja
peninsula from the vicinity of Cabo Colonet in the northwest, south to Cabo San
Lucas, Baja California Sur and on associated islands in the Gulf of California
(Beaman and Grismer 1994). Aside from data on captive breeding in C. enyo
(Tryon and Radcliffe 1977; Armstrong and Murphy 1979), a report of “‘eggs”’ in
a female collected 22 March (Klauber 1931), two clutch sizes in Klauber (1972)
and time of appearance of neonates (Grismer 2002), information on reproduction
in this species is unknown. The purpose of this paper is to provide information
on the reproductive cycle of C. enyo from a histological examination of gonads
from museum specimens. The reproductive cycle of this species is compared with
that of other North American rattlesnakes.

Materials and Methods

A sample of 44 C. enyo (13 females, Mean snout-vent length, SVL = 549 mm
+ 47 SD, range = 487-667 mm); 31 males, Mean SVL = 583 mm = 79 SD,
range = 470—730 mm) from Baja California was examined from the herpetology
collections of the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California
(CAS), Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California
(LACM), Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, California (MVZ), San Diego
Museum of Natural History, San Diego, California (SDSNH), and University of
Arizona, Tucson (UAZ) (Appendix). All snakes were collected between 1919 and
1986. The left testis and vas deferens (when available) were removed from males
and the left ovary was removed from females for histological examination. Tissues
were embedded in paraffin, cut into 5 wm sections and stained with Harris’ he-
matoxylin followed by eosin counterstain. Slides were then examined to determine
the stage of the male cycle and for the presence of yolk deposition (secondary
vitellogenesis sensu Aldridge 1979) in females. Histological examination was not
performed on two females containing enlarged follicles (> 10 mm length), a
female containing oviductal eggs and a female containing a full-term embryo.
The number of specimens histologically examined were, testis (= 31), vas defer-
ens (= 22), and ovary (= 9).

Testicular histology was similar to that reported by Goldberg and Parker (1975)
for the colubrid snakes, Masticophis taeniatus and Pituophis catenifer (= P. me-
lanoleucus) and the viperid snake, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Johnson et al. 1982).
In the regressed testis, seminiferous tubules contained spermatogonia and Sertoli
cells. In recrudescence, there was renewal of spermatogenic cells characterized
by spermatogonial divisions and primary and secondary spermatocytes were oc-

35)

40 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Monthly distribution of reproductive conditions in seasonal testicular cycle of Crotalus
enyo. Values are the number of males exhibiting each of the three conditions.

Month N Regressed Recrudescence Spermiogenesis
March 2 ] | 0)
April 4 2 Me, 0)
May 2 ] ] 0
June 3 0) ] 2
July 3 O 0) 3
August 2 O 0 Z
September 13 0) 0 13
October 2 0 0 2

casionally present. In spermiogenesis, metamorphosing spermatids and mature
sperm were present.

Males undergoing spermiogenesis were collected from June through October,
with regressed testes present in specimens collected from March through May
and testes in recrudescence (recovery) present in specimens collected from March
through June (Table 1). The smallest reproductively active male (regressed testes
but sperm in the vasa deferentia from a previous spermiogenesis) measured 470
mm SVL. Sperm were present in the vasa deferentia of the following males:
March 1/1 (100%); April 2/2 (100%); May 2/2 (100%); June 2/2 (100%); July 1/
1 (100%); August 1/1 (100%); September 11/11 (100%); October 2/2 (100%).

The presence of males with regressed testes in spring (March—May) and sper-
miogenic males from June through October indicate that the timing of the testic-
ular cycle of C. enyo is similar to that of other North American rattlesnakes in
which sperm formation occurs summer—autumn and is stored over winter in the
vasa deferentia (see Goldberg 1999a,b,c, 2000a,b,c; Goldberg and Holycross
1999; Goldberg and Rosen 2000; Holycross and Goldberg 2001). Field obser-
vations are needed to determine when mating occurs in C. enyo.

The seasonal ovarian cycle is summarized in Table 2. The presence of one
female collected in March (SVL = 543 mm; CAS 87372) with oviductal eggs
(N = 7) suggests that ovulation occurs in spring. We examined the March female
(SVL = 545 mm; SDSNH 3003) described by Klauber (1931) as containing
“eggs” and found it to contain four enlarged ovarian follicles (> 15 mm length)

Table 2. Monthly distribution of reproductive conditions in seasonal ovarian cycle of Crotalus
enyo. Values are the number of females exhibiting each of the four conditions.

Enlarged
follicles Oviductal Full-term
Month N Inactive (>10 mm width) eggs embryo

March 4 2 l l 0
April I l 0 0 0)
May l I 0 0 0
June l l 0) 0 0
July l l 0 0 0
August 4 3 0) 0) 1
September l 0 l 0 0)

BAJA CALIFORNIA RATTLESNAKE REPRODUCTION 4]

which would have ovulated. One female collected in August (SVL = 563 mm;
CAS 101612) with a full-term embryo (SVL = 220 mm) suggests an ovarian
cycle similar to that of other North American rattlesnakes in which ovulation
occurs in spring with young being born in late summer (Armstrong and Murphy
1979). Grismer (2002) found newborn C. enyo from late July to mid-October.
One female collected 26 September (SVL = 582; MVZ 189971) contained five
enlarged ovarian follicles > 10 mm length. This indicates that yolk deposition
begins the summer prior to ovulation. The presence of reproductively inactive
females suggests that only part of the female population breeds in a particular
year. This coincides with the ovarian cycle of other North American rattlesnakes
(Goldberg 1999a,c; Goldberg and Holycross 1999; Holycross and Goldberg
2001).

Klauber (1972) reported litter sizes of six and nine for Crotalus enyo. Our
finding of one female with seven oviductal eggs is within the range cited by
Klauber (1972) although the March female from Klauber (1931) that would have
ovulated four eggs is outside this range. It is impossible to know if the five
enlarged follicles (> 10 mm length) in the September female (SVL = 582 mm;
MVZ 189971) would have ovulated. The one female collected in August with a
single full-term embryo indicates the minimum litter size for C. enyo. Small litter
sizes are indicated for C. enyo by a female (LACM 134435) collected 12 October
1974 which gave birth in captivity to two neonates on 17 September 1977 (LACM
134431, 134432) and two more on 29 August 1979 (LACM 134433, 134434)
respectively. This C. enyo female exhibited a biennial reproductive cycle. How-
ever, Other rattlesnake species may have an annual, biennial or triennial repro-
ductive cycle in different parts of their range: Crotalus atrox (Tinkle 1962; Fitch
and Pisani 1993; Price 1998; Werler and Dixon 2000); Crotalus viridis (Rahn
1942; Diller and Wallace 1988; Macartney and Gregory 1988). Goldberg and
Rosen (2000) reported that yearly percentages of gravid Crotalus scutulatus ap-
peared to be related to an increase in nutritional resources. Therefore it seems
plausible that during periods of prey abundance C. enyo could reproduce annually
whereas it would reproduce less frequently when these resources are scarce.

Acknowledgments

We thank: G. Bradley (UAZ), B. Hollingsworth (SDSNH), D. Kizirian
(LACM), J. Vindum (CAS) and D. Wake (MVZ) for permission to examine spec-
imens.

Literature Cited

Aldridge, R. D. 1979. Female reproductive cycles of the snakes Arizona elegans and Crotalus viridis.
Herpetologica, 35:256—261.

Armstrong, B. L., and J. B. Murphy. 1979. The natural history of Mexican rattlesnakes. Univ. Kansas
Mus. Nat. Hist. Spec. Publ., No. 5:1—88.

Beaman, K. R., and L. L. Grismer. 1994. Crotalus enyo (Cope) Baja California rattlesnake. Cat. Am.
Amphib. Rept., 589:1—6.

Diller, L. V., and R. L. Wallace. 1988. Reproductive biology of the northern Pacific rattlesnake (Cro-
talus viridis oreganus) in northern Idaho. Herpetologica, 40:182—193.

Fitch, H. S., and G. R. Pisani. 1993. Life history traits of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Cro-
talus atrox) studied from roundup samples in Oklahoma. Occas. Pap. Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ.
Kansas, 156:1—24. :

42 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Goldberg, S. R. 1999a. Reproduction in the tiger rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris (Serpentes: Viperidae).
Texas. J..Scist O173.1—36.

. 1999b. Reproduction in the red diamond rattlesnake in California. California Fish and Game,

85:177—-180.

. 1999c. Reproduction in the blacktail rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus (Serpentes: Viperidae).

Texas Ji Seis 5163235328:

. 2000a. Reproduction in the speckled rattlesnake, Crotalus mitchellii (Serpentes: Viperidae).

Bull. So. California Acad. Sci., 99:101—104.

. 2000b. Reproduction in the twin-spotted rattlesnake, Crotalus pricei (Serpentes: Viperidae).

West. North Am. Nat., 60:98—100.

. 2000c. Reproduction in the rock rattlesnake, Crotalus lepidus (Serpentes: Viperidae). Her-

petol. Nat. Hist., 7:83—86.

, and A. T. Holycross. 1999. Reproduction in the desert massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus ed-

wardsii, in Arizona and Colorado. Southwest. Nat., 44:531—535.

, and W. S. Parker. 1975. Seasonal testicular histology of the colubrid snakes, Masticophis

taeniatus and Pituophis melanoleucus. Herpetologica, 31:317—322.

, and P. C. Rosen. 2000. Reproduction in the Mojave rattlesnake, Crotalus scutulatus (Serpen-
tes; Viperidac). Texas) Jo ser, 52: 101—109.

Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, including its Pacific islands and the
islands in the Sea of Cortés. University of California Press, Berkeley, 399 pp.

Holycross, A. T., and S. R. Goldberg. 2001. Reproduction in northern populations of the ridgenose
rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi (Serpentes: Viperidae). Copeia, 2001:473—481.

Johnson, L. F, J. S. Jacob, and P. Torrance. 1982. Annual testicular and androgenic cycles of the
cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) in Alabama. Herpetologica, 38:16—25.

Klauber, L. M. 1931. Crotalus tigris and Crotalus enyo, two little known rattlesnakes of the Southwest.
Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat Hist., 6:353—370.

. 1972. Rattlesnakes. Their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind. 2nd ed. Vol. 1,
University of California Press, Berkeley, xlvi + 740 pp.

Macartney, J. M., and P. T. Gregory. 1988. Reproductive biology of female rattlesnakes (Crotalus
viridis) in British Columbia. Copeia, 1988:47—57.

Price, A. H. 1998. Poisonous snakes of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, Austin, 112 pp.

Rahn, H. 1942. The reproductive cycle of the prairie rattler. Copeia, 1942:233—240.

Tinkle, D. W. 1962. Reproductive potential and cycles in female Crotalus atrox from northwestern
Texas. Copeia, 1962:306—313.

Tryon, B. W., and C. W. Radcliffe. 1977. Reproduction in captive Lower California rattlesnakes,
Crotalus enyo enyo (Cope). Herpetol. Rev., 8:34—36.

Werler, J. E., and J. R. Dixon. 2000. Texas snakes. Identification, distribution and natural history.
University of Texas Press, Austin, xv + 437 pp.

Accepted for publication 5 August 2002.

Appendix: Specimens of Crotalus enyo examined from the herpetology collections of the Califor-
nia Academy of Sciences (CAS), Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (MVZ), Natural History Museum
of Los Angeles County (LACM), San Diego Society of Natural History (SDSNH), and University of
Arizona (UAZ).

Baja California: CAS 87372, 143987, 204090, 204094; LACM 20023, 74024, 134431—134435; MVZ
189963, 189967, 189968, 189970, 189971; SDSNH 18778, 44355, 46196, 46198.

Baja California Sur: CAS 14022, 15630, 45885, 90317, 101612, 110997, 135229, 143844, 143853,
143982, 146748, 160223, 160229; LACM 107220, 132135; MVZ 176061, 176062, 189998, 190000,
190042, 190043, 190129; SDSNH 3003, 46102, 46197; UAZ 23295, 23521, 31692, 31693.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 43-45
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Research Notes

Occurrence of Gyrodactylus perforatus (Monogenea) on its Fish
Host Clevelandia ios (Gobiidae) from Bodega Bay and
Tomales Bay, California

Mark P. Walberg,! Erika Diamant, and Kelly Wong

Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution,
University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, California 90095-1606

The arrow goby, Clevelandia ios (Gobiidae), ranges from Baja California to
Rivers Inlet, British Columbia, inhabiting coastal lagoons, estuaries, and tidal
sloughs (Eschmeyer and Herald 1983). This fish lives free and commensally with
infaunal invertebrates (MacGinitie and MacGinitie 1949). Clevelandia ios is par-
asitized by the monogenetic trematode Gyrodactylus perforatus (Mizelle and Krit-
sky 1967). However only the population at the type locality, Bodega Bay, Cali-
fornia, has been studied. No quantification of this host-parasite interaction exists
beyond the parasite’s original description, and there is no other documentation
for the distribution of G. perforatus.

This study investigated the parasitism of Gyrodactylus perforatus on Clevelan-
dia ios from two regions, Bodega Harbor of Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay, Cal-
ifornia. Two different host collection techniques were compared.

Host specimens were collected from the upper mudflats in Bodega Bay (Son-
oma County; 39°19'23"N, 123°03'15”W) and from Tomales Bay (Marin County;
38°11'17"N, 122°54'43"W) from inside or near burrows of Callianassa sp. in
October 2000. Using hand nets at mid to high tide, we obtained at least 12
specimens from each location. Alternately, during low tides an additional 12+
specimens from each location were collected with a manual slurp gun, also known
as a yabby pump. Voucher specimens were deposited in the UCLA Ichthyology
Research Collection under collection numbers WOO-8 (Bodega Bay) and WOO—
11 (Tomales Bay). Upon capture, all fish were isolated in individual, sealed plastic
bags, containing equal amounts of air and water. The bags were placed in holding
tanks until the fish were processed.

We adapted Parker and Haley’s (1960) procedure of removing Gyrodactylus
elegans from goldfish to remove the parasites from the skin of host fish. Host
specimens were placed in 50 ml plastic, conical centrifuge tubes with 40 ml of a
solution of 1:5500 formalin:seawater for 30 minutes. A 5 cm square of 1.5 mm
mesh screen was inserted approximately half way down the tube to prevent the
fish from disturbing the material and parasites that accumulated at the bottom of
the tube. After approximately 30 minutes the fish was removed by lifting the
mesh screen out of the tube with forceps. In the event of the mesh screen failing
to hold the fish off the bottom of the tube, the mesh screen was inserted into a
clean centrifuge tube, and the contents of the original tube were transferred with

' Corresponding author.

4-+ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. The abundance, prevalence, and mean intensity (following Bush et al. 1997) of Gyrodac-
tylus perforatus infecting Clevelandia ios from Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay, California during
October 2000.

Prevalence Mean intensity
Collection location Abundance (95% confidence intervals) (95% confidence intervals)
Bodega Bay 4.16 0.708 (0.489—0.874) 5.88 (3.59-8.00)
Tomales Bay 0.916 0.333 (0.156—0.553) 2.75 (1.13—4.25)

the fish being detained by the mesh screen. The original centrifuge tube was
refilled to 40 ml with formalin solution and both tubes were processed for each
host. Standard length measurements were taken of the host specimens.

With a pipet, supernatant fluid was removed to volumetric levels of 20 ml, 10
ml, and 5 ml with one minute of centrifuging between intervals. All removed
supernatant fluid was placed into a petri dish and examined under a dissecting
microscope to confirm the absence of parasites in the supernatant. The remaining
5 ml of solution was transferred to a glass spot plate and the number of parasites
present was recorded at this time. Parasites were fixed in a solution of Alcohol-
formol-acetic acid (Dailey 1996) and then transferred to 70% ethanol. Specimens
were stained with Grenacher’s alcoholic borax-carmine (Dailey 1996) and mount-
ed on slides with Permount. Parasite specimens were deposited in the H.W. Manter
Collection at the University of Nebraska (HWML 16345 through 16352).

Methods of capture were compared with no significant difference of parasites
found between groups of host specimens collected with hand nets or a yabby
pump (t = —0.859, df = 46, P = 0.395). The method of capture did not influence
the number of parasites found on host fish and allowed for the two samples from
each site to be combined for further analysis.

Comparison of standard lengths of host specimens taken from Bodega Bay or
Tomales Bay did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the two
groups (¢ = 1.301, df = 46, P = 0.200). There was no correlation between the
number of parasites found versus the standard length of the host fish (r?7 = 0.144,
y = 0.6308x + 34.284) at either site. This illustrates that fish hosts acquire par-
asites at different life stages and that life stage or size of the host fish is not a
factor for parasite load.

The amount of time the host spent in the 1:5500 formalin solution and number
of parasites found per host was also not correlated (1? = 0.0209, y = 0.1148x +
31.854). Thus, the amount of time the host fish spent in the formalin solution
was determined not to be a factor in the number of parasites obtained from the
host fish.

Collection methods did not differ significantly in the amount of parasites found
on fish hosts. Standard length did not differ significantly between collection sites.
Therefore, both can be dismissed as possible confounding variables for this study.
There was a significant difference in number of parasites found on host fish from
Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay (Table 1; ¢ = 3.035, df = 46, P = 0.004). Fisher’s
exact test (R6zsa et al. 2000) for prevalence based on 2000 random permutations
yielded a significant difference between the prevalence of G. perforatus at Bodega
Bay and Tomales Bay (Table 1; P = 0.024). Pairwise t-tests for mean intensities

RESEARCH NOTES 45

based on 2000 bootstrap replications yielded a significant difference between Bo-
dega Bay and Tomales Bay (Table 1; P = 0.047).

This study extended the known range of G. perforatus to encompass Tomales
Bay, in addition to its type locality, Bodega Bay. Although our two collecting
sites were only about 27 km apart, there is greater parasitism of C. ios by G.
perforatus in Bodega Bay than in Tomales Bay. Some possible explanations are:
(1) there was a greater density of C. ios in the area sampled from Bodega Bay
than in the area sampled from Tomales Bay; (2) the observed greater density of
host fish may allow for an increased number of G. perforatus to be present in
this area; (3) the host fish in Bodega Bay may undergo more stresses, such as
increased disturbance from boat traffic along the dredged channel, which may
make them more susceptible to parasitism; (4) the host specimens sampled from
Tomales Bay were taken from an area exposed to runoff from a nearby storm
drain. The susceptibility of G. perforatus to very dilute concentrations of formalin
suggests the possibility that G. perforatus may also be susceptible to the minor
fluctuations in water composition in this sample area. Factors ranging from sea-
sonal fluctuations of fresh water runoff to possible pollution runoff may increase
mortality in G. perforatus at this site.

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of the Bodega Marine Laboratory for the use of their facil-
ities. We are thankful for the assistance of Michele Barlow and Garen Baghda-
sarian for obtaining laboratory materials to conduct our research and to Dr. Patrick
Frost for confirming the identity of the parasite specimens. Above all we are
grateful for the guidance and assistance of Dr. Don Buth UCLA with this project.
Fish were collected under California Fish and Game Permit number 801181—02
issued to Dr. Don Buth.

Literature Cited

Bush, A.O., K.D. Lafferty, J.-M. Lotz, and A.W. Shostak. 1997. Parasitology meets ecology on its own
terms: Margolis et al. revisited. J. Parasitology 83:575—583.

Dailey, M. D. 1996. Meyer, Olsen & Schmidt’s Essentials of Parasitology, Wm. C. Brown Publishers,
Dubuque, IA. 286 pp.

Eschmeyer, W. N., E.S. Herald, and H. Hammann. 1983. A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Fishes of
North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 336 pp.

MacGinitie, G.E. and N. MacGinitie. 1949. Natural History of Marine Animals. McGraw-Hill, New
York. 473 pp.

Mizelle, J. D. and D.C. Kritsky. 1967. Studies on monogenetic trematodes. XX XIII. New species of
Gyrodactylus and a key to the North American species. Trans. Amer. Micro. Soc. 86:390—401.

Parker, J. C. and A.J. Haley. 1960. Method for determination of the number of gyrodactylid trematodes
parasitizing the skin of goldfish. J. Parasitology 46:417.

Rozsa, L., J. Reiczigel, and G. Majoros. 2000. Quantifying parasites in samples of hosts. J. Parasitology
86:228—232.

Accepted for publication | October 2001.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(1), 2003, pp. 46-49
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Occurrence of the Bluefin Killifish, Lucania goodei, in the San
Dieguito River, Southern California

David Huang, Robert N. Lea,' and Jennifer Wolf

Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara,
Santa Barbara, California 93106 USA

The genus Lucania is comprised of three species restricted to North America:
L. goodei, L. interioris, and L. parva. These are small-bodied fishes (less than
about 60 mm total length) of the family Fundulidae. The Cuatro Ciénegas killifish,
L. interioris, 1s endemic to the freshwater Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in Coahuila,
Mexico (Hubbs and Miller 1965), and is an international critically endangered
species (IUCN 2000). The rainwater killifish, L. parva, is a native of salt marshes,
bays, and lagoons from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Tampico, Mexico (Lee et al.
1980). It is especially abundant in the southeastern portion of its range, particu-
larly in the St. Johns River system in Florida, and the Rio Grande and Pecos
Rivers in Texas and New Mexico (Hubbs and Miller 1965; Page and Burr 1991).
Non-indigenous populations of L. parva have been established in marine and
freshwater environments in New Jersey, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Cal-
ifornia, and Oregon (Fuller et al. 1999). In California, the rainwater killifish is
found in Irving Lake and Arroyo Seco Creek near Vail Lake in southern California
(McCoid and St. Amant 1980), sloughs and streams flowing into the San Fran-
cisco Bay, and Lake Merritt in Oakland (Moyle 1976). The bluefin killifish, L.
goodei, is found in freshwater habitats in the southeastern United States. Its en-
demic range encompasses most of Florida, except in the panhandle where it is
found only east of the Choctawhatchee River, and the Chipola River drainage in
southeastern Alabama (Page and Burr 1991). It is also found sporadically along
the Atlantic coast up to central North Carolina where it is possibly introduced
(Loyacano 1975; Lee et al. 1980; Menhinick 1991). Fuller et al. (1999) state that
nonindigenous populations of L. goodei are established in North Carolina and
South Carolina.

All three species of Lucania have similar body shapes and share many traits.
They are fairly slender with compressed bodies and small, upturned mouths. The
origin of their dorsal fin is anterior to the origin of their anal fin. They are dusky
brown to olive above, and silvery white below. Their scales have dark edges, and
their anal and dorsal fins both have thin black edges. Lucania goodei can be
distinguished from its congeners by a distinctive stripe along the midline of the
body, starting from the tip of the snout and ending at a black spot at the base of
the caudal fin (Page and Burr 1991). In addition, the caudal and anal fins of adult
male Lucania goodei are bright, iridescent blue in color and have a black stripe
at their bases.

On 27 July 2000, seven individuals of L. goodei (Fig. 1) were captured in

' California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100,
Monterey, California 93940.

BLUEFIN KILLIFISH AT

1 cm

—a,

oti ie”

Fig. 1. Bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, taken from upper San Dieguito River (SIO O1-192).
Photograph by David Huang.

beach seines during annual monitoring conducted by the Marine Science Institute
at the University of California, Santa Barbara of the upper San Dieguito River,
San Diego County. These specimens are deposited at the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, SIO 01-192. On 23 September 2000, five more individuals were
collected from the same location using dip nets. Salinity of the water at the times
and locations of capture were between 15.9 and 16.2 ppt, a condition more saline
than those in which they are typically found. All of the specimens had a distinct
mid-lateral stripe from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal fin, which
was used to identify them as L. goodei. Two of the larger specimens also had the
bright, iridescent blue caudal and anal fins characteristic of adult male L. goodei.
Morphometric and meristic characters are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Counts and morphometric measurements of Lucania goodei specimens taken from upper
San Dieguito River on 27 July 2000 (SIO 01-192). Morphometric measurements are in millimeters
(mm).

I 2 3 4 5) 6 I
Counts:
Dorsal fin 10 10 12 10 10 10 1]
Anal fin 10 1] 11 1] 10 8 10
Pectoral fin 1] 10 y) 9 9 2) 1]
Lateral line scales 28 27 26 Dy 28 w 5) 26
Morphometrics:
Standard length 28.5 hes 33.4 33.4 34.5 37 3)
Total length 34.5 38.9 38.6 38.8 40.8 45.9 45.1
Head length 8.7 8.9 8.2 8.6 8.5 10.0 10.0
Snout length 1.8 Bed Perl 2D, 2.1 31 3.0
Interorbital width 320 3 3.0 226 Spl 39 Bri
Orbit width M8) 7g) DS Del Dell XG Dg
Pectoral length 4.5 4.8 4.2 4.4 5,0 4.9 4.9
Pelvic length 4.5 4.2 329 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.5
Caudal peduncle depth 3340) 3.8 322 3.4 39 4.5 4.0
Weight (g) o— 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.8

48 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Many authors have speculated that L. parva was accidentally introduced into
California as a contaminant in imported aquaculture and game fish stocks. There
is circumstantial evidence indicating the populations in San Francisco Bay, Cal-
ifornia originated from eggs attached to live oysters imported from the east coast
for culture (Hubbs and Miller 1965). In southern California, L. parva was most
likely a contaminant in a shipment of game fishes such as largemouth bass (Hubbs
and Miller 1965; Moyle 1976; McCoid and St. Amant 1980).

Based on differences in their natural distributions and habitats, it is unlikely L.
goodei was introduced into California with L. parva. These fish are rarely col-
lected together in their native range (Crawford and Balon 1994). The salt marsh
and estuarine habitat of L. parva is similar to that of other temperate Cyprino-
dontiformes such as Floridichthys, Fundulus, and Menidia (Duggins 1980). Al-
though L. parva can survive in seawater, they prefer brackish waters near a regular
supply of fresh water (Jordan and Evermann 1896; Hubbs and Miller 1965). They
are rarely found in completely fresh water. In contrast, L. goodei is almost always
found in freshwater, although collections from mildly brackish water, such as in
the current study, are also known.

Although the introduction of L. goodei with L. parva is unlikely, the only record
of L. goodei in California was also the result of contaminated stocks. In late 1980,
stocks of Asian milfoil (Myriophyllum) imported into Los Angeles from Florida
were contaminated with L. goodei eggs, which hatched and survived several
months in an outdoor pond (Swift et al. 1993). However, since that time there
have been no records of this fish in any public waters in the state (Dill and
Cordone 1997).

Hubbs and Miller (1965) discounted aquarium release as a source of introduc-
tion for L. parva. However, this now seems a likely source of L. goodei in the
San Dieguito River. Considered to be one of the more attractive native killifish,
L. goodei is a popular species in the aquarium trade (Schleser 1998). The intro-
duction of new species into San Diego County by aquarium dumping is certainly
not without precedent. Recently, aquarium dumping has been blamed for the
threatening presence of the green alga, Caulerpa taxifolia, in the Agua Hedionda
Lagoon as well as Huntington Harbor in Orange County, California (CWQCB
2001). The hypothesis of aquarium dumping is consistent with data taken during
previous monitoring of the San Dieguito River, which shows no earlier records
for L. goodei. This suggests that this population may have been introduced fairly
recently.

Data from the 2001 San Dieguito River annual monitoring indicates the salinity
at this study site has increased to 34—35 ppt, a condition considered abnormal for
L. goodei habitat. Nonetheless, this population has persisted and become increas-
ingly numerous (pers. obs., DH). Still, it is too early to determine the impacts of
this introduction. Future monitoring will show whether Lucania goodei becomes
permanently established in the San Dieguito River.

Acknowledgments

Funding for this study was provided by Southern California Edison as required
by the California Coastal Commission under SCE’s coastal development permit
(No. 6-81-330-A, formerly 183-73) for Units 2 and 3 of the San Onofre Nuclear

BLUEFIN KILLIFISH 49

Generating Station. We would also like to thank Dr. Carter R. Gilbert for discus-
sion regarding aquarium use of bluefin killifish.

Literature Cited

California Water Quality Control Board (CWQCB). 2001. A destructive seaweed threatens California.
San Diego Region California Water Quality Control Board, San Diego, California.

Crawford, S. S., and E. K. Balon. 1994. Alternative life histories of the genus Lucania: 3. An eco-
morphological explanation of altricial (L. parva) and precocial (L. goodei) species. Environ.
Biol. Fish. 41(1—4):369—402.

Dill, W. A., and A. J. Cordone. 1997. History and status of introduced fishes in California, 1871—
1996. State of California, Dept. of Fish and Game. Fish Bull. 178, 414 pp.

Duggins, C. EF 1980. Systematics and zoogeography of Lucania parva, Floridichthys, and Menidia
(Osteichthys: Atheriniformes) in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico. Ph.D. Thesis. Florida State Uni-
versity. Tallahassee 168 pp.

Fuller, P. L., L. G. Nico, and J. D. Williams. 1999. Nonindigenous fishes introduced into inland waters
of the United States. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 27, Bethesda, Maryland.
613 pp.

Hubbs, C. L., and R. R. Miller. 1965. Studies of Cyprinodont fishes. XXII. Variation in Lucania parva,
its establishment in western United States, and description of a new species from an interior
basin in Coahuila, México. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 1—104.

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 2000. 2000 IUCN red
list of threatened animals. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resourc-
es, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K.

Jordan, D. S., and B. W. Evermann. 1896. Fishes of North and Middle America. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus.
47:1-3313.

Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas
of North American Freshwater Fishes. North Carolina Museum of Natural History. 854 pp.
Loyacano, H. A., Jr. 1975. A list of freshwater fishes of South Carolina. Bull. So. Carol. Exp. Sta.

580:1-8.

McCoid, M. J., and J. A. St. Amant. 1980. Notes on the establishment of the rainwater killifish,
Lucania parva, in California. Calif. Fish Game 66(2):124—125.

Menhinick, E. EK 1991. The Freshwater Fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources
Commission. pp. 227.

Moyle, P. B. 1976. Inland Fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley. 405 pp.

Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of North America North of
Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York.
432 pp.

Schleser, D. M. 1998. North American Native Fishes for the Home Aquarium. Barron’s, Hauppage,

. New York and Hong Kong. 171 pp.

Swift, C. C., T. R. Haglund, M. Ruiz, and R. M. Fisher. 1993. The Status and Distribution of the

Freshwater Fishes of Southern California. Bull. So. Cal. Acad. Sci. 92(3):101—167.

Accepted for publication 31 January 2002.

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“CONTENTS

Reproduction in the Baja California Rattlesnake, Crotalus enyo (Serpe
Viperidae). Stephen R. Goldberg and Kent R. Beaman ___

Cover: Bluefin killifish, Lucania goodie. Photo by David Huang.

| Ee Q H ( ISSN 0038-3872
S64 7

VA102,

ae tiar RN) CALIFORNIA’ ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

BULLET

Volume 102 Number 2

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BCAS-A102(2) 51—98 (2003) AUGUST 2003

Southern California Academy of Sciences
Founded 6 November 1891, incorporated 17 May 1907

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Bull. Southern California Acad. Sct.
102(2), 2003, pp. 51—65
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Abundance and Importance of Fish Species from the Artisanal
Fishery on the Pacific Coast of Northern Baja California

Jorge Adrian Rosales-Casian,' and José Ramon Gonzalez-Camacho?

'Departamento de Ecologia, Grupo de Ecologia Pesquera, Centro de
Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada, B.C. (CICESE),
Apartado Postal 2732, Ensenada, Baja California, México, U.S. Mailing: P.O.

Box 434844, San Diego, California 92143-4844
2SAGARPA, Instituto Nacional de la Pesca, CRIP Ensenada, Apartado Postal
1306, Ensenada, Baja California, México

Abstract.—The artisanal fishery from Baja California, México is conducted from
small boats in nearshore waters, and from fishing camps located along the coast.
This activity is important due to the volume and the number of fish species
captured. In this study we describe the seasonal abundance of catches from 51
boats in 1994, and the importance of the species landed at eight sites along the
northwestern coast of Baja California, from Santo Tomas to south to Punta Can-
oas. Sixteen fish species were identified from 2,490 individuals and with a bio-
mass of 2,682.7 kg. The highest catches were recorded in Summer and Fall, and
the lowest in Winter. The seasonal mean catch per boat was similar and lowest
during Spring (42.1 fish/boat +SE 7.9) and highest in Summer (52.1 fish/boat
*+6.7), followed closely (50.3 and 50.1 fish/boat) by Fall and Winter, respectively.
The most important fish species according to the Index of Community Importance
were the rockfishes (Sebastes sp.), whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps), sheephead
(Semicossyphus pulcher), and kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus). All these can be
considered the target species, and also important to sportfishing. San Quintin
contributed 35% of the boat trips and 37.5% of the total catch.

The western coast of Baja California is a highly complex habitat with sandy
bottoms, rocky reefs, beds of giant kelp or seagrasses, cold upwelling areas, inlet
bodies of warm-water, and highly productive zones. These environments are im-
portant as nurseries, and spawning grounds and provide refuge for both inverte-
brates and small fish that act as prey for larger fish.

A high larval fish production from different species occurs along the coastal
waters of Baja California (Moser et al 1993). This area is also important to trans-
boundary fish species (Moser and Watson 1990), and more northern waters benefit
from the egg and larval dispersion of both pelagic or demersal fishes from this
area. The greatest importance of this coastal zone is that shelters a great diversity
of fish species of ecological and economical interest.

The artisanal fishery of Baja California is mainly conducted with small boats
(pangas; <8m long, 75 HP), and usually with hook-and-line. This fishery involves
a variety of ground and pelagic species from habitats of no more than 15 fathoms
depth. However, this coastal activity, in a nation-wide context, represents from
30% to 50% of the total catch with an important economic value (Hammann and
Rosales-Casian 1990; SEMARNAP 1997; SEMARNAT 2000).

SD) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

In Baja California, the coastal demersal fishes named the “‘scale’’ group are
caught from different fishing camps located along both the Gulf of California and
the Pacific coast. Their fishing products are mainly sold in Ensenada, Baja Cali-
fornia, at the “‘Mercado de Mariscos del puerto de Ensenada’’. This market is an
important source of biological information, and an annual study of the fish species
taken has recently been published (Hernandez-Hernandez 2000).

Reports on coastal fishing of Baja California are non-existant, and very few
reports on artisanal fishing have been realized, because most research has been
focused on the fisheries for schooling species caught by purse seiners (tunas,
sardines, anchovies) or on expensive invertebrates like abalone or lobster. A num-
ber of studies have been completed on the fish community and the biology of
economic fish species in the vicinity of Bahia de Todos Santos, Ensenada, Baja
California (Carrillo-Cortes 1994; Hammann and Ramirez-Gonzalez 1990; Men-
doza-Carranza and Rosales-Casian 2000; Hammann and Rosales-Casian 1990;
Mondragon-Rojas 1994; Pintos-Teran 1994; Rosales-Casian and Hammann 1993;
Rosales-Casian 1995; Salomé-Sanchez 1993), and Bahia de San Quintin (Rosales-
Casian 1996719974.)

The current study analyzes the artisanal coastal fishery data from Santo Tomas
south to Punta Canoas, in Northern Baja California, during 1994. The objectives
of this study are to determine |) which fish species are taken, 2) the seasonal
abundance of the catch, and 3) to analyze the importance of the fish species caught
by pangas.

Methods

This study was conducted in 1994 and early 1995. Eight sites were selected
from the Pacific coast of northern Baja California: Santo Tomas, Ejido Erendira,
Cabo Colonett, Camalt, Bahia de San Quintin, Bahia de El Rosario, Puerto San
Carlos and Punta Canoas (Fig. |). All these sites were selected because of their
importance as fishing camps.

This study began in April 1994 and continued during May, August, September,
October, November, December, and January 1995. For the analysis, samples were
grouped by seasons: spring (April-May), summer (August-September), fall (Oc-
tober-November), and winter (December and January). Each monthly sample in-
cluded three to four sites, with five to seven sites per season. Sampling a site
each month was difficult due to weather, movement of boats to different fishing
places, outboard motor failures, lack of fishing trips due to other causes. For this
reason, we analyzed the information as a whole. Because Bahia de San Quintin
was visited during each trip and obtained the best data set over time, we present
a specific analysis for this important locale.

The catch from the individual boats was counted, identified, measured and
weighed upon arrival. The identification of the fish species followed Miller and
Lea (1972). The rockfishes except for scorpionfish were unspecified and listed as
Sebastes sp. The standard length (mm-SL) was obtained by means of a one-meter
measurement board with divisions to millimeter. The total weigh was measured
with an Accu-weigh spring scale of 22 kg capacity to the nearest 100 g. The type
of fishing gear, length of the boats and the outboard motor power were also
recorded.

Temperature (°C) was obtained from a 1994 study at the open coast of Bahia

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA 53

116° 114°
U.S. - Mexican Border

Todos Santos
SSS Ensenada
Punta Banda

Punta Santo Tomas
Erendira

Cabo Colonet ____

Camalu ———

Bahia San Quintin ——R

Punta Baja oe
Bahia de Rosario —_
N Puerto San Carlos —

Punta Canoas —

100 km

Pacific Ocean )\

Fig. |. Sampling sites for the artisanal fishing during 1994 and early 1995.

de San Quintin (Rosales-Casian 1997b), and was measured by four bottom rep-
licates (1Om-depth) during all monthly trips with a reversible thermometer. A
Pearson correlation between bottom temperatures and fish abundance
(oglO[X+1] transformed) from all sites and from San Quintin was calculated to
measure their association (Zar 1984).

Abundance was converted to catch per unit effort (CPUE) by dividing the
number of fishes by the number of boat trips. The boat catches were first examined
for assumption of normality (K-S, d = 0.113, p>0.20) and then were logl0(X+ 1)
transformed to determine seasonal differences in mean catches by an Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA).

To determine the contribution of each species to the catch and which could be
considered target species, the Index of Community Importance (ICI) was used
(Stephens and Zerba 1981; Love et al. 1986; Rosales-Casian 1997a,b). The ICI
was calculated by the sum of the percent of abundance and frequency-of-occur-
rence rankings. Species were then reranked based on these ICI values.

The standard lengths (mm) were grouped by 20 mm classes. Length-class dis-
tributions were presented for all individuals and seasonally for the three more
important target fish species. Sizes were transformed to logarithms to determine
seasonal differences by ANOVA, as above.

Results

The means of seasonal bottom temperatures at 10m-depth from the coast of
San Quintin were 12.6, 17.2, 15.9, and 13.1°C for spring, summer, fall, and winter,
respectively. The catch presented here reflects the fishes and sizes of commercial

54 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Sampling dates, number of sampling boats, total and relative abundance of fishes in the
northwestern coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

No. boats No. fishes % Rel
Date Season Monthly Season Monthly Season Monthly Season
April 13-16, 1994 Spring 7 230 oD.
May 24—27 Spring 5) 2 YS 505 [10 20.3
August 2—5 Summer 9 487 19.6
September 7—10 Summer 5 14 242 YES) ell 2
October 14—16 Fall 5 274 11.0
November 8—12 Fall 10 15 481 15S) 19:3 30.3
December 14-18 Winter 6 301 jee |
January 19, 1995 Winter 54 10 200 501 8.0 204
Total 5A 2490 100.0

species only. Small fish of any species are usually released alive, and are not
recorded in the catch.

A total of 51 commercial fish catches were sampled from an equal number of
pangas during the eight months of trips that comprised the four seasons (Table
I). The total number of fishes recorded was 2,490 (Table I) with the highest
catches during Summer (August, n = 487) and Fall (November, n = 481), and
lowest catch in Winter (January 1995, n = 200). The total biomass of the catch
during the complete study was 2,682.7 kg.

A total of 16 fish species and the group of rockfishes were identified in the
catch. The most abundant fish were the rockfishes (Sebastes sp.) during Spring
and Fall, followed by the sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher) in Summer, and the
whitefish (Caulolatilus princeps) in fall. These species contributed 30%, 25.9%
and 17.6%, to the total catch, respectively (Table 2). The kelp bass, Paralabrax
clathratus, were an important component during Summer (n = 102), and all kelp
bass contributed 10.6% to the total catch.

The most important target species were the rockfishes, according to their rank-
ings by the relative abundance and the frequency of occurrence (Index of Com-
munity Importance, ICI). By the ICI, the whitefish (C. princeps) occuped the
second place followed by S. pulcher and P. clathratus (Table 3). The rockfishes
occurred with 23.1% in the boat catches, the whitefish with 16.2%, and the sheep-
head and kelp bass with 13.1%, both (Table 3).

The seasonal mean catch per boat was lowest during spring (42.1 fish/boat
+SE 7.9) and highest in summer (52.1 fish/boat +6.7), followed by close values
(50.3 and 50.1 fish/boat) in fall and winter, (Fig. 2). The overall mean was 48.8
fish/boat (+2.9), and the maximum catch by a boat was 95 fish in spring, with a
minimum of five fish in fall. The mean catch per boat did no differ significantly
(ANOVA, p = 0.465) among seasons.

No significant correlation was found between bottom temperature (10m-depth)
from the coast of San Quintin and the seasonal catch study area as a whole (r =
0.556, .p =.0.254).

The lowest mean catch in the coast of San Quintin was in spring with 41.8
fish/boat (+SE 18.8) and the highest (63.2 +SE 9.5) in fall (Fig. 4.). At this site,
the overall mean was 51.8 fish/boat +SE 5.2. The high variability of the standard

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA 55

Table 2. Fish species composition of the seasonal boat catches ranked by relative abundance in
the northwestern coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

Species Spring Summer Fall Winter Subtotal % Rel % Cum
Sebastes sp. 238 Nat 238 16] 748 30.0 30.0
Semicossyphus pulcher 135 397 24 89 645 Dy sS} 559
Caulolatilus princeps 15 54 262 47 438 17.6 1325
Paralabrax clathratus 6 102 52 65 265 10.6 84.2
Paralichthys californicus 32 12 49 54 147 529 90.1
Seriola lalandi 31 74 6 1 4.5 94.5
Sphyraena argentea 12 6 18 36 1.4 96.0
Cheilotrema saturnum O 0 2A 2) 0.8 96.8
Paralabrax nebulifer 0) 0 18 18 O07 O76
Cynoscion parvipinnis 3 2 12 7 0.7 98.2
Ophiodon elongatus 5) 0) 3 8 16 0.6 98.9
Atractoscion nobilis 12 0) 2 15 0.6 SED
Girella nigricans l 4 3 0) 8 0.3 99.8
Stereolepis gigas l 0 7 0.1 99:9
Scorpaena guttata ] 0) 0) | 0.0 SES)
Coryphaena hippurus l 0 0) 0 I 0.0 100.0
Caranx hippos I O 0 | 0.0 100.0
Total 505 q29 G5 501 2490 100.0 100.0

error during spring was due to a lowest catch of eleven fishes in one boat and a
high of 95 fishes in another boat. These were the minimum and maximum catch
numbers in all seasons. No significant correlation was found between bottom
temperature and the seasonal catch in San Quintin (r = 0.241, p = 0.509).
Thirteen species plus the rockfish group were taken off of San Quintin. The
most important target species by ICI, again, were Sebastes sp. followed by kelp

Table 3. Fish species composition of the seasonal boat catches ranked by the Index of Community
Importance in the northwestern coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

Species Total % Rel Rank % FO Rank ICI
Sebastes sp. 748 30.0 l 23.14 | 2
Caulolatilus princeps 438 17.6 3 16.16 Z, 5
Semicossyphus pulcher 645 29-9 2 1Se0 Se) 525
Paralabrax clathratus 265 10.6 4 13.10 31) 5)
Paralichthys californicus 147 Day) 5 10.04 5 10
Seriola lalandi it 4.5 6 5.68 6 Ww
Sphyraena argentea 36 1.4 GV) 3.49 8.5 5.5
Ophiodon elongatus 16 0.6 9 4.37 7 16
Cheilotrema saturnum Dl 0.8 8 0.87 1] i)
Paralobrax nebulifer 18 0.7 10.5 0.87 11 Des)
Girella nigricans 8 03 3} 3.49 SES Dies
Cynoscion parvipinnis 17 On. 10.5 i> ees) 24
Stereolepis gigas 2 0.1 14 0.87 11 Ds
Atractoscion nobilis 5) 0.6 WZ ley eS) DS
Scorpaena guttata | 0.0 16 0.44 16 32
Coryphaena hippurus | 0.0 16 0.44 16 32
Caranx hippos | 0.0 16 0.44 16 by)

Total 2490 100

56 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

e Mean +SE
n= 2,490

MEAN FISH NUMBER PER BOAT

SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER SEASON

Fig. 2. Seasonality of fish catch per boat in the norwestern coast of Baja California, México,
during 1994 and early 1995.

—@— Mean +SE

19 n= 933

MEAN FISH NUMBER PER BOAT

AS ns + Sasa SI.

SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER SEASON
Fig. 3. Seasonality of fish catch per boat in the Coast of San Quintin, Baja California, México,

during 1994 and early 1995.

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA a7

20%

Caulolatilus princeps

15%

10%

PERCENT

STANDARD LENGTH

Fig. 4. Standard length (mm) distribution of Caulolatilus princeps in the northwestern coast of
Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

bass, P. clathratus and whitefish, C. princeps (Table 4). Sebastes sp. occurred in
94.4% of the panga catches, while kelp bass and whitefish occurred in 72.2% and
66.7% of catches, respectively (Table 4).

Because rockfishes are a mix of species that were not identified, we present
here the size distributions of the most important species (whitefish, California
sheephead and kelp bass), only.

The standard length of the whitefish (C. princeps) ranged from 195 to 555 mm

Table 4. Fish species composition of the seasonal boat catches ranked by the Index of Community
Importance in the coast of San Quintin, Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

Species Total % Rel Rank % FO Rank ICI
Sebastes sp. BZ 38) 1.0 94.4 1.0 2.0
Paralabrax clathratus 23% 24.8 2.0 VRP 2) 4.5
Caulolatilus princeps 114 W2eZ 3.0 G22 2D DED
Seriola lalandi US) 8.0 4.0 323) 4.5 8.5
Sphyraena argentea 36 30) S40) 38.9 4.0 9.0
Semicossyphus pulcher ZS) 3,1! 6.0 69) 4.5 OES)
Paralichthys californicus z. 0.8 8.0 Mes 6.0 14.0
Cheilotrema saturnum 21 2S G20 et 8.5 SS)
Ophiodon elongatus jul 2 10.0 NG=7 7.0 720
Paralabrax nebulifer 18 es) 8.0 ie 10.0 18.0
Atractoscion nobilis 5) 0.5 11.0 et 8.5 SES)
Cynoscion parvipinnis 12 eS) 9.0 520 Mies 20.5
Girella nigricans | 0.1 13.0 5.6 LES 24.5
Coryphaena hippurus | 0.1 13.0 5:6 td Ws) 24.5

Total 933 100.0

58 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Caulolatilus princeps
20% | SPRING
[ n=75

PERCENT

200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560
LSPRI

SUMMER
n= 54

PERCENT

0% oe
200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560

25%
20%
15%

10%

PERCENT

200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480. 520 £560

30%
25%
20%
15%
10%

WINTER
n= 107

PERCENT

200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560
STANDARD LENGTH (mm)

Fig. 5. Seasonal size distribution (20mm SL class) of Caulolatilus princeps in the northwestern
coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

with an overall mean of 354.9 mm (SD=+ 61.2). The length distribution for the
complete study shows that 17.4% of the individuals fell into the 340 mm class
(Fig. 4). Seasonally, the 340 mm size class was important during all four periods.
During summer, a new cohort was incorporated representing the smallest individ-
uals with a mode at 260 mm (Fig. 5). The standard length means showed signif-
icative differences with respect to seasons (ANOVA, F = 22.100, p = 0.000).
California sheephead (S. pulcher) standard lengths ranged from 194 to 628 mm,
with a mean of 312.2 mm (SD= 56.8). For all individuals, modal size was at the
300 mm class, with a frequency of 17.3% (Fig. 6). By seasons, S. pulcher shows

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA 59

20%
Semicossyphus pulcher

15% = SPRING
= n= 135
Zz ——_—
tH 10%
(a
Ww
0% i wt A m 2 —_
200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640
25%
3 = SUMMER
20 n= 397
Sy =
Lu
O
Yr 10%
LW
fale
5%
0% a
200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640
25% =
FALL
20% 4 n= 24
a
Z 15% |
O ]
OX 10% |
(ae J
a B
0% oe aa aa OC >i T T T T T r + Lib tered rors Ges
200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640
30%
- WINTER
25% a= 8G
E 20%
LW
O 15%
ae
10%
5%
0% us T T T T a a

200 240 280 320 360 400 440 480 520 560 600 640
STANDARD LENGTH (mm)

Fig. 6. Standard length (mm) distribution of Semicossyphus pulcher in the northwestern coast of
Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

the main mode at the 320 mm class during spring, at 300 mm during summer
and fall, and at 280 mm in winter (Fig. 7). The standard length means showed
significant differences with the seasons (ANOVA, F = 3.092, p = 0.027).

With respect to the kelp bass (P. clathratus), we obtained some additional data
for the spring months from samples in the same year at the Macrocystis sp. beds
on the coast of San Quintin (Rosales-Casiadn 1995, 1997b). This increased the
number for the size distribution in that period. For the complete data set, the
mode was observed at the 370 mm size class which represented 18.4% of the
individuals (Fig. 8). The smallest individuals represented at left of the mode con-

60 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

20%

Semicossyphus pulcher

15%

10%

PERCENT

STANDARD LENGTH (mm)

Fig. 7. Seasonal size distribution (20mm SL class) of Semicossyphus pulcher in the northwestern
coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

tributed 48% of the individuals. The seasonal distribution of lengths showed that
370 mm size class was important in spring and summer, while the 350 mm and
300 size classes predominated during fall and winter (Fig. 9). The analysis of
variance detected significant differences in the standard length means with respect
to seasons (ANOVA, F = 11.91, p = 0.000).

Discussion

This type of fishery was difficult to sample because sheer distance from Punta
Santo Tomas to Punta Canoas, and rough road conditions. This and the absence
or small number of fishing trips at each visit increased the difficulty. Despite these
problems, we believe that the information presented here is valuable and accu-
rately reflects the artisanal fishery on the Pacific coast of northern Baja California
during 1994 and early 1995.

During the seasonal sampling in 1994—1995, all sites were important for arti-
sanal fishing, however, the coast of San Quintin represented 35% of the 51 panga
trips, followed by Punta Baja (Bahia El Rosario) with 13.7%. Furthermore, San
Quintin is important because it cointains, a well protected launching ramp in the
bay, where other sites are usually affected by swell. The coast of San Quintin
includes San Martin Island and different shallow rocky reefs which are good sites
for ground and pelagic fishes.

The seasonal totals of fishes were highest during summer (n = 729) and fall
(n = 755). The fish catch per trip was lowest during spring (42 fishes), but the
values in the other seasons were not much higher (50—52 fishes/trip). This non-
significant difference, probably represented the market demand and was not due
to the weather. Usually, boat owners do not live in the fishing camps, and have

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA 61

Paralabrax clathratus
SPRING, n= 29

PERCENT

210 250 290 330 370 410 450 470

20%
: SUMMER
_ 15% n= 102
i
OQ 10%
jag
LW
— Bx
0% a

210 250 290 330 370 410 450 470

20% FALL
n= 92

PERCENT
=
=o

5%
0%
210 250 290 330 370 410 450 470
25%
20% WINTER
= : n= 65
tT 15%
O
MA10%
OL
5%
0%

210 250 290 330 370 410 450 470
STANDARD LENGTH (mm)

Fig. 8. Standard length (mm) distribution of Paralabrax clathratus in the northwestern coast of
Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

various pangas in one or more sites. Pressure for fishing trips responds to the
demand for fish. We consider the overall effort of fishing during the study as
being low. Spring was represented by 12 trips, summer by 14, fall by 15, and
winter by ten trips. All seasons included eight days of sampling per season, except
winter which was sampled six days.

In this study, the “‘scale”’ fishery was supported by a small number of species,
that together with the undetermined species of the rockfishes were the most im-
portant by the Index of Community Importance (ICI). Four species, C. princeps,

62 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

20%

Paralabrax clathratus

15%

10%

PERCENT

0%
210 250 290 330 370 410 450 470

Fig. 9. Seasonal size distribution (20mm SL class) of Paralabrax clathratus in the northwestern
coast of Baja California, during 1994 and early 1995.

S. pulcher, P. clathratus and P. californicus contributed with 60%, and when the
rockfishes are added group summed 90% of the total catch. Because of their size,
abundance and preference in the market, fishing activity is directed to these spe-
cies which can be considered the target species.

The barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer), a common constituent of the
commercial fishery, was found in low numbers in the sampled period, while the
kelp bass (P. clathratus) was relatively abundant. In a previous study during
1992—1993 El Nino event, we sampled within Estero de Punta Banda and reported
that juveniles of the kelp bass, were collected in high numbers (hundreds per tow)
during fall (Rosales-Casian 1995). In the present study, the white seabass (Atrac-
toscion nobilis) and the shortfin corbina (Cynoscion parvipinnis), two important
species in the commercial and sport fishery, were scarse.

In a recent study of the seafood market of Ensenada, Baja California, México
during 2000—2001, 54 commercial fish species were found; the most abundant of
these were the whitefish (C. princeps, 20.6%), the barred sand bass (P. nebulifer,
9.9%), the barred surfperch (Amphistichus argenteus, 6.6%), the Scorpaenidae
(Sebastes sp. and Scorpaena sp., 6.2%), and golden spotted rock bass (Paralabrax
auroguttatus) with 5.9% (Hernandez-Hernandez 2000). The golden spotted rock
bass is abundant throughout the Gulf of California, and is valuable from com-
mercial, sport fishing and ecological standpoints (Pondella et al 2001).

In a 199] study on the sport fishing boats from Bahia de Todos Santos (En-
senada, B.C.), spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata), California barracuda
(Sphyraena argentea), barred sand bass (P. nebulifer), sheephead (S. pulcher) and
lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) were common fish species (>80% of occurrence),
while whitefish (C. princeps), Pacific bonito (Sarda chilensis), white seabass (A.

FISHERY ON NORTHERN PACIFIC COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA 63

nobilis), and kelp bass (P. clathratus) were classified as occasional (40—60% of
occurrence), and California halibut (Paralichthys californicus), California corbina
(Menticirrhus undulatus), and yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) as rare species with
20% of occurrence. Different species of Sebastes also occurred in the three clas-
sifications (Rodriguez-Medrano 1993).

The coast of San Quintin was the most visited site for fishing trips and con-
tributed 37.5% of the total catch during our study. The most important fish species
changed slightly in the next order: the rockfishes, kelp bass, whitefish, and the
Pacific barracuda. All of these species are also important to recreational fishing,
that is a growing activity in San Quintin. In a study of sport fishing at natural
reefs and near oil platforms off Santa Barbara, California, Love and Westphal
(1990) reported that the rockfishes and kelp bass were the most abundant fishes.
In our study rockfishes were present at all seasons with greatest abundance at
spring and fall, while kelp bass were most abundant during summer and fall.

In a review of southern California landings from recreational fishing during
1994, unspecified rockfishes were reported as the most abundant fish in the catch,
but the other species change in their abundance ranking in two studies, the L. A.
Times newspaper (Calif. Dept. Fish Game 1995), and the landings from com-
mercial passenger fishing vessels reported in the CDFG logbooks (Calif. Dept.
Fish Game 1996).

Because of their abundance and frequency of occurrence, the multispecies rock-
fish group needs to be investigated in detail in future research. Furthermore, the
lack of biological information on the whitefish (C. princeps), and the other species
needs to be addressed.

The catch of the artisanal fishery at Baja California coasts is important because
it is Supported by different fish species as rockfishes, whitefish, sheephead, basses
and others. Although in the present study, the number of boats sampled was small,
the large coastal zone represented by both the Pacific and the Gulf of California,
supports a greater number boats that would increase the catch volume. This is a
fishery that need to be more studied in the future.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Ricardo Troncoso-Gaytan, José Rivera-Ulloa, Miguel Espinoza-Par-
tida and Francisco Martinez for participating in different samplings on the north-
western coast of Baja California. Chema Dominguez drew and modified the map.
We also thank Larry Allen (California State University, Northridge) and Dan
Pondella (Occidental College, Los Angeles), and an other anonymous reviewer
for their valuable comments on this manuscript.

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alichthys californicus (AYRES), en la Bahia de Todos Santos y el Estero de Punta Banda,
durante los meses de abril de 1992 a marzo de 1993. Bachelor thesis, Universidad Aut6noma
de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas. 52 p.

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Estero Punta Banda y Bahia de Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico. Cap. 6: 153-192. En:
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Ensenada. 337 pp.

Hernandez-Hernandez, A. 2000. Composici6n especifica de los peces escama comercializados en el
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Love, M. S., J. S. Stephens, Jr, P A. Morris, M. M. Singer, M. Sandhu and T. C. Sciarrotta. 1986.
Inshore soft substrata fishes in the Southern California Bight: an overview. Calif. Coop. Oceanic
Fish. Invest. Rep. 27:84—104.

and W. Westphal. 1990. Comparison of fishes taken by a sportfishing party vessel around oil
platforms and ajacent natural reefs near Santa Barbara, California. Fish. Bull. 88:599—605.

Mendoza-Carranza, M. and J.A. Rosales-Casian. 2000. The feeding habits of spotted sand bass (Par-
dalabrax maculatofasciatus) in Punta Banda estuary, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
CalCOFI Rep. 41, 194-200.

Miller, D.J. y R.N., Lea. 1972. Guide to the coastal marine fishes of California. Cal. Dept. Fish Game.
Fish? Ballets? 2 235) pp:

Mondragon-Rojas, M. 1994. Estructura poblacional de la curvina de California (Menticirrhus undu-
latus) (Girard) en la Bahia de Todos Santos y el Estero de Punta Banda, B.C., México. Bachelor
thesis, Universidad Aut6noma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas. 55 p.

Moser, H. G., R. L. Charter, P. E. Smith, D. A. Ambrose, S. R. Charter, C. A. Meyer, E. M. Sandknop,
and W. Watson. 1993. Distributional atlas of fish larvae ane eggs in the California current region:
Taxa with 1000 or more total, larvae 1951 through 1984. CalCOFI Atlas No. 31. 233 pp.

and W. Watson. 1990. Distribution and abundance of early life history stages of the California
halibut, Paralichthys californicus, and comparison with the fantail sole, Xystreuris liolepis. p.
31-71, Calif. Dept. Fish Game, Fish Bull. 174.

Pintos-Teran, P. A. 1994. Estructura poblacional y crecimiento de la cabrilla de arena Paralabrax
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Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Ensenada. 70 pp.

Pondella, D. J., HW, L. G. Allen, J. A. Rosales-Casian, and T. E. Hovey. 2001. Demographic parameters
of golden spotted rock bass Paralabrax auroguttatus from the Northern Gulf of California.
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Rodriguez-Medrano, M. C. 1993. Descripci6n y analisis de la pesca deportiva en Bahia de Todos
Santos, Ensenada, B. C. M.S. thesis, CICESE. 88 p.

Rosales-Casian, J. A. 1995. Ciclo de vida de la cabrilla sargacera (Paralabrax clathratus GIRARD),
migraciOn y transporte de biomasa de sus juveniles en la Bahia de Todos Santos y el Estero
de Punta Banda, B.C. México. Comunicaciones Académicas, Serie Ecologia. CICESE CTE-
CA9S501. 14p.

. (1996). Ichthyofauna of Bahia de San Quintin, Baja California, México, and its adjacent

coast. Ciencias Marinas 22(4):443—458.

. 1997a. Inshore soft-bottom fishes of two coastal lagoons on the northern Pacific coast of Baja

California. CalCOFI Rep. 38, 180-192.

. 1997b. Estructura de la comunidad de peces y el uso de los ambientes de bahias, lagunas y

costa abierta en el Pacifico norte de Baja California. PhD thesis, CICESE, Ecologia Marina,

CICESE. 201 p.

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California, México: a BENES project for the study of coastal fishes. Report of activities and
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Bay Estuarine and Nearshore Ecosystem Studies. Annual progress report for fiscal year 1992—
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(Paralabrax clathratus, Girard) en la Bahia de Todos Santos y en el Estero de Punta Banda,
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SEMARNAP. 1997. Anuario Estadistico de Pesca 1997. Secretaria de Medio Ambiente, Recursos
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Accepted for publication 15 October 2002.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(2), 2003, pp. 66-78
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Reliability Assessment of Season-of-Capture Determination from

Archaeological Otoliths

Allen H. Andrews

Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, California State University,
S272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, California 95039

Kenneth W. Gobalet

Department of Biology, California State University,
Bakersfield, California 93311

Temy Jones

Department of Social Sciences, California State Polytechnic University,
San Luis Obispo, California 93407

Abstract.—A technique involving microscopic examination of otolith growth
zones has been commonly used by archaeologists along the coast of California
to estimate season-of-capture of prehistoric fishes and to infer the season of site
use. A test of otolith edge analysis techniques was performed on modern otoliths
by estimating season-of-capture for otoliths with known dates of capture. Suc-
cessful identification of season-of-capture was low, even in a best case scenario
with the age-validated spotted sand bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus), empha-
sizing the subjectivity of this kind of analysis and inherent variability of growth
zone formation in otoliths. Alteration of the otolith matrix from environmental
factors further complicates the determination for archaeological otoliths, but surf-
perches (family Embiotocidae) hold promise for future studies. This study has
called into question the validity of protocols that have not utilized age validated
otolith collections and begs caution when estimating season-of-capture from oto-
liths.

Evaluations of site seasonality are an important component of archaeological
research in North America (Monks 1981; Bettinger 1991; Kelly 1995). For areas
such as California that were inhabited by hunter-gatherers, estimates of archaeo-
logical site seasonality provide critical insights into the relative mobility of for-
aging communities. Estimates of the seasonality of occupation have been devel-
oped from a variety of indices in California including the remains of migrating
shorebirds and marine mammals (Howard 1929; Hildebrandt 1993), visual anal-
ysis of growth increments in shellfish remains (Cerreto 1992; Lyons 1978), anal-
ysis of oxygen isotopes in molluscan remains (Killingley 1981; Kennett 2003),
and investigation of annual growth zones in deer teeth (O’Brien 2001; Moffitt
2002). Casteel (1976) suggested that fish otoliths might be useful in this context
because of their extensive use in fishery biology and, in particular, age estimation
in fishes (Huyghebaert and Nolf 1979; Nolf 1985). Periodic deposition of growth
zones in otoliths has been attributed to temperature, feeding, spawning, seasonal

RELIABILITY OF SEASON DETERMINATION FROM OTOLITHS 67

changes and other causes (Beckman and Wilson 1995). In general, favorable
growing conditions lead to the formation of an opaque growth zone and a period
of poor conditions leads to a translucent growth zone (Pannella 1980), but this
trend has not been firmly established for all species of marine fishes. Smith (1983)
used the huge otoliths of black drum (Pogonius cromis) from an archaeological
site in Texas to determine the season-of-capture, and in the most elaborate use of
otoliths for seasonality determination to date, Higham and Horn (2000) demon-
strated seasonal capture of red cod (Pseudophycis bachus) in New Zealand.

For numerous archaeological sites along the coast of California, a technique
developed and applied by Huddleston (1981) has been used to determine season
of site occupation by estimating the season-of-capture from recovered otoliths
(Langenwalter et al. 1989; Salls et al. 1989; Langenwalter and Huddleston 1991;
Jones et al. 1994, 1996). The basis of the technique used to determine season-of-
capture, and consequently the season of occupation, involves microscopic ex-
amination of growth zones in whole otoliths when thin enough for transmitted
light, or sectioned otoliths when too thick for transmitted light. In some cases,
heating of the otolith was used to enhance growth zone visibility; this technique
is commonly known as break-and-burn (Christensen 1964). It is hypothesized in
these studies that the growth ring type (opaque or translucent) at the otolith margin
can be used as an indicator of season-of-capture (Huddleston 1981, Erlandson
1994).

Although age determination of fishes using otoliths has long been an established
practice in fisheries research (Chilton and Beamish 1982), it has not been estab-
lished that season-of-capture determination from otolith margin observations is
accurate for some studies (Gobalet 2001). Examination of the otolith margin is
typically associated with a subjective form of age estimate validation, where the
formation of the successive growth zones is documented over a period of time
that elucidates the annual formation of growth zones (Campana 2001). Because
the formation of a growth zone can be associated with a season it is possible that
season-of-capture can be determined (Gobalet 1989). Determining season-of-cap-
ture for fishes using this approach, however, is subjective and can be very prob-
lematic. For freshwater fishes, seasonal changes in growth may be better defined
in the otolith than for marine fishes because ocean seasons can be offset by several
months (Niiler 1977) or growth may be complicated by events like upwelling or
El Nino. Freshwater fishes, however, can have a broad period of growth zone
formation that could confound season-of-capture determination (Thompson and
Beckman 1995). In general, the timing of growth zone formation in otoliths has
substantial variability at the individual, population, and species levels (Williams
and Bedford 1974; Thompson and Beckman 1995).

Season-of-capture determination for archaeological otoliths is further compli-
cated by the difficulty of species identification. While keys are available to assist
with species determination from otolith shape (e.g. Smale et al. 1995; Harvey et
al. 2000), some otoliths can only be identified to genus or family at best. There-
fore, the application of otolith edge analyses leads to an assumption that age and
growth information for one or some family members is applicable to all members.
Most temperate fishes (23° to 45° north latitude) form an opaque zone during
spring and summer with a peak at April to May (Beckman and Wilson 1995).
There are marked exceptions, however, like the California grunion (Leuresthes

68 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

tenuis) Which does not grow during its spring to summer spawning period, making
the timing of opaque and translucent growth zone formation completely out of
phase from what is expected (Spratt 1971; Fritzsche et al. 1985). The best case
scenario for determining season-of-capture from an otolith section would be for
a fish known to species, for which age and growth has been described and vali-
dated.

In this study, an attempt was made to determine season-of-capture for modern
and archaeological otoliths from transverse sections. The modern specimens, with
known date of capture, were used to evaluate the reliability of this technique. To
further describe the subjectivity of season-of-capture estimation, modern otoliths
from spotted sand bass (family Serranidae, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus), age
validated using otolith edge analysis (Allen et al. 1995; Andrews, unpublished
data), were also used to qualitatively assess the difficulty of season-of-capture
determination in a best case scenario. It was anticipated that the technique would
prove reliable enough that estimates of season-of-capture could then be made for
the archaeological specimens to provide a season of occupation estimate for the
two prehistoric sites from which the specimens were collected. It was hypothe-
sized, however, that season-of-capture estimation for archaoelogical otoliths might
be complicated by problems with species identification and environmental effects
on the otolith margin.

Methods and Materials

Ninteen modern otoliths from marine fishes of coastal California, identified to
species with known dates of capture, were selected by Ken Gobalet from the
skeletal collection in the Department of Biology, California State University, Ba-
kersfield. Twelve archaeological otoliths collected from two prehistoric sites near
San Simeon in San Luis Obispo, County, California (CA-SLO-179 and CA-SLO-
267) were also used in this analysis. Excavations at these sites were directed by
Terry Jones (Jones and Ferneau 2002). Otolith specimens from both the museum
collection and the archaeological sites were identified by Ken Gobalet, and the
otoliths, including the taxonomic designations of the museum specimens (but not
the dates of death) were provided to Allen Andrews for season-of-capture esti-
mation and evaluation of the archeological otoliths. The fisheries standard of
Robins et al. (1991) was used for the taxonomic and common nomenclature.

The otoliths were mounted in casting resin and transversely sectioned using a
Buehler Isomet® saw with diamond wafering blades separated by acetate spacers
(0.6 mm). Sections were mounted to glass slides with Cytoseal® mounting me-
dium. Further grinding on a Buehler® lapidary wheel (800 grit carbide wet/dry
paper) was necessary for most sections to enhance the definition of growth zones.

Finished otolith sections were viewed through an Olympus® dissecting micro-
scope using transmitted lght at magnifications best suited for each section (10—
25 x). Otoliths were aged based on the assumption that growth zones were formed
annually (one per year). Margin type, defined as either translucent or opaque to
transmitted light, was determined for each section when possible. Reflected light
was also used to attempt to clarify unclear sections. Translucent margins, typically
three seasons of growth (fall through spring), were categorized in three different
stages based on the thickness of the translucent zone relative to the previous
translucent zone (previous years growth). When the translucent zone was thin, it

RELIABILITY OF SEASON DETERMINATION FROM OTOLITHS 69

was labeled “‘early,”’ thicker than one half the previous years growth was labeled
“late,” and in between was labeled ‘‘middle.’’ Opaque margins, typically one
season of growth (summer), were usually thinner and were not broken into cat-
egories. Season-of-capture was subjectively estimated based on the margin ob-
servation described above and an appropriate literature source for age and growth
information (Tables | and 2). In some cases, age and growth information was
lacking for the species and extrapolation from other species of the same family
was required.

Because the initial set of modern otoliths included a wide range of species, a
larger group of specimens representing a single species was used for a second
test of the reliability of season-of-capture estimation. A total of 40 spotted sand
bass otoliths collected in the Gulf of California, Mexico, with known dates of
capture, was available to the senior author. These otoliths were previously mount-
ed and sectioned in the same manner stated above. Ten spotted sand bass otolith
sections from each collection season (Winter = January, Spring = April, Summer
= July, Fall = October) were randomly selected and the season-of-capture was
estimated. Because age and growth was validated using an otolith edge analysis
covering collections made during the four seasons (Andrews, unpublished data),
season-of-capture was estimated for these 40 otolith sections using the same
guidelines stated above.

Results and Discussion

A thorough literature search for age and growth information on each fish spe-
cies, genus and family was performed to assist with proper season-of-capture
estimation for the modern and archaeological otoliths. An attempt was made to
obtain species level information first, followed by genus and family with similar
geographical or latitudinal distribution when specific information was unavailable.

The modern otoliths represented 16 species from 8 families and edge or margin
analyses could be found for only 6 species, of which 2 studies used scales (Table
1). Age was estimated for otolith sections that had clear, quantifiable growth
zones. Age could not be determined for three otoliths. Margin type was deter-
mined for the remaining specimens when the thickness of the growth zones at
the otolith margin permitted; six margins were Opaque and nine were translucent.
Two had growth zones that were too thin to determine margin type and two were
estimated based on the thickness of the previous years growth. Stage was assigned
for eight of the translucent margined sections. Season-of-capture was estimated
for 14 of the sections, of which month to month designations were assigned when
the information was available from references, and generic season (e.g. spring)
was assigned when larger assumptions were necessary. Many age and growth
references were researched for pertinent marginal growth zone information, but
only a few had useful data for edge type relative to season (Table 1). In some
cases, the season-of-capture was estimated based on very general information.

Once season of capture estimates were made, the senior author obtained actual
capture dates for the specimens from Dr. Gobalet. Comparison showed that the
estimated season-of-capture for the modern otoliths was within the seasonal limits
for only six otoliths, well outside for eight, and five were not useful (Table 1).
Of the six within the known season-of-capture, Paralichthys californicus was only
marginally useful because of the broad estimated range, spring to summer. The

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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Matrix darkening

Margin clearing Adhering soil

Fig. 1. A transverse cross section of an archaeological otolith, identified as a rockfish (Sebastes
sp.), viewed with transmitted light and exhibiting the typical forms of otolith matrix alterations that
can occur from environmental factors. Matrix or margin darkening and clearing, and adhering soil,
can lead to a misinterpretation of the margin type for season-of-capture estimation. The symmetrical
depth of the margin clearing is inconsistent with the asymmetrical growth known to occur in rockfish
otoliths.

actual date of death was July 7, 1980. Consequently, the season-of-capture was
accurately determined for only 32% of the specimens and 43% of those attempted.

The archaeological otoliths consisted of three specimens identified to two spe-
cies, five otoliths identified to two genera, and four otoliths identified to two
families from two archaeological sites (Table 2). Age was estimated for 10 otolith
sections and was tenuous at best for some samples. Two were not ageable because
the growth zones were poorly defined. Edge type was determined for eight sec-
tions and stage was assigned to four sections with translucent zones. Season-of-
capture was tentatively estimated based on the margin type and the assumption
that the available age and growth information was applicable. The appearance of
some of the otolith margins, however, made the margin type subject to additional
scrutiny.

Because no age and growth information could be found for the family Osmer-
idae (including Spirinchus starksi), assumptions were made based on the general
seasonal growth pattern observed in otoliths (Beckman and Wilson 1995). For
four of the five samples, the season-of-capture could have been from fall to early
spring (Table 2), however, if the growth of osmerids are similar to California
grunion (Leuresthes tenuis), another inshore epipelagic fish, the season-of-capture
could be 6 months out of phase from the estimate (Spratt 1971; Fritzsche et al.
1985). These otolith sections exhibited what appeared to be a clearing (increased
transluscence to transmitted light) of the otolith matrix at the edge.

The three otoliths identified as members of the rockfish family (family Scor-
paenidae: Sebastes sp.) provided the least amount of marginal growth zone in-
formation (Table 2). One sample from archaeological site CA-SLO-179 did not
produce a readable section, but had a strong symmetrical translucent margin (Fig-
ure |). Because the translucent margin was symmetrical and the growth of rockfish
otoliths is usually asymmetrical (Beamish 1979), it was concluded that this margin
was from a clearing of the otolith matrix. Use of reflected light did not aleviate
the problem and season-of-capture could not be determined. The two sections
from archaeological site CA-SLO-267 produced readable sections, but this was

RELIABILITY OF SEASON DETERMINATION FROM OTOLITHS 73

complicated by a different kind of interference. One sample was aged at both
eight years (based on grouping of fine growth increments) and twenty-eight years
(based on a count of all the fine growth increments). Because the species of
rockfish was unknown and many rockfish can be quite old, either estimate would
have been possible (Cailliet et al. 2001). The margin type, however, could not be
determined because of what appeared to be a denaturing of the otolith matrix,
which made the edges appear black in transmitted light (Figure 1). The other
sample was aged at about 20 years, but season-of-capture determination was not
possible because the growth zones were too thin near the margin and appeared
to have suffered the same denaturing problem. Use of reflected light did not
alleviate the problem.

The one sample identified as a member of Hexagrammidae was tentatively aged
at two years and had a translucent margin. This otolith, however, appeared to
have suffered from the same otolith clearing observed in other species. While the
growth zones were not well defined, as is often the case with young fish, the
presence of a symmetrical translucent margin made season-of-capture estimation
suspect.

Two of the three otoliths from the archaeological sites identified as members
of the surfperch family (Embiotocidae) seem to have provided the most reliable
season-of-capture information. The Cymatogaster aggregata sample was very
dark to transmitted light and did not provide a readable section. The two samples
identified as members of Embiotoca sp. produced readable sections, but deter-
mination of margin type was hindered by a darkening of the margin to transmitted
light. One sample was aged at about 5 years and the margin type forming at the
time of capture may have been opaque. If this is correct, the season-of-capture
may have been mid-summer to winter (Gnose 1967). The other sample had an
estimated age of 12 years (15 years using reflected light). This sample also had
a darkened margin which interfered with season-of-capture estimation. This age
estimate was greater than the maximum age of seven years reported for each
Embiotoca species (E. jacksoni and E. lateralis; Baltz 1984). This discrepancy
could be explained by a change or variation in longevity (Boehlert and Kappen-
man 1980; Craig 1985), misidentification of the otolith, or the existence of older
individuals at the time of capture because of lower fishing pressure (Craig 1985).
The margin type appears to be opaque using reflected light; therefore, the season-
of-capture may be mid-summer to winter. It must be noted, however, that this
determination was inferred from an age and growth study that used scales, not
otoliths (Gnose 1967).

Because of the problems observed in this study with determining margin type,
it is likely that some archaeological season-of-capture estimates from otolith mar-
gin type have been erroneous. Clearing or darkening of the otolith matrix can be
explained by processes that occurred when the fish was utilized and during the
long period of burial at the archaeological site. Altered otoliths are typically elim-
inated from consideration, but no study has ever documented this problem. If
altered otoliths are missed and considered further, a cleared otolith margin could
lead to the determination that the otolith has a translucent margin and was cap-
tured in the respective season for that species or family. Hence, loss of growth
zone information from a change in the otolith matrix over time may preclude an
accurate season-of-capture determination.

74 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

To help define the difficulty of determining season-of-capture, transverse otolith
sections from spotted sand bass taken seasonally from the Gulf of California were
studied for edge type. Note that this was an opportunistic addition to this study
and that the geographical location of this species was not an issue. The motive
was to demostrate the difficulty of season-of-capture determination in a best case
scenario. Based on the otolith edge analysis, the opaque growth zone was narrow
and formed during the summer months (Andrews, unpublished data). The trans-
lucent growth zone was broad and formed during the remainder of the year (Fall
to Spring). These results were consistent with results for spotted sand bass from
southern California waters (Allen et al. 1995).

Spotted sand bass otoliths were easily aged and estimated age ranged from |
to 6 years, most being 2 to 3 years. Summer growth was easiest to identify because
of the thin opaque margin. The season-of-capture was correctly identified in 9
out of 10 summer fish sections. Determining season-of-capture for fish with a
translucent margin was much more difficult. Fall fish were correctly identified in
only 2 out of 10 otolith sections, and the remainder were not correct (60% Winter
and 20% Spring). No winter fish were identified correctly (30% Spring, 20%
Summer and 50% Fall). Spring fish were second most identifiable because the
translucent margin was thick relative to previous years growth (40% identified
correctly). Two out of 10 were identified as summer fish because the margin type
was opaque. This can be explained by the results given by Allen et al. (1995) for
spotted sand bass of southern California where April was the beginning of the
period for some fish to start forming an opaque margin. In addition, the specimens
from the Gulf of California always had some fish forming an opaque margin in
all seasons (Andrews, unpublished data). Overall, 15% were placed in a season
6 months from the actual season of capture and 37.5% (15 out of 40) were
identified correctly. Hence, season-of-capture can often be inaccurate even in a
best case scenario where seasonal growth patterns are known.

Based on the findings of this study it seems that season-of-capture determina-
tion from otolith sections can be problematic under any circumstances. For ar-
chaeological otoliths the determination of species can be critical, especially with
marine fishes where seasonal growth patterns can be offset by a full 6 months.
Even when an otolith can be identified to species, evaluation of its season of
capture is further complicated by the inherent variability in otolith growth zone
formation. In many cases an Opaque growth zone can form at any time, but is
more or less probable during certain times of the year. An examination of any
otolith edge study reveals that there is always some percentage of individuals that
deviate from the margin type expected; annual growth zone formation is a trend
based on a majority.

To further complicate matters, environmental factors can change the otolith
matrix of archaeological otoliths (Figures 1). The clearing or darkening of the
otolith matrix observed here make season-of-capture determination very subjec-
tive, if not impossible, because the growth zone information was altered or lost.
These changes to the otolith margin could lead to a false determination of margin
type and, as a consequence, an incorrect season-of-capture determination.

Conclusions

Based on findings in this study, season-of-capture determination from otoliths
of both modern and archaeological otoliths requires an adherence to specific pro-

RELIABILITY OF SEASON DETERMINATION FROM OTOLITHS 75

tocol that utilizes a validated set of otoliths from the species, or perhaps family,
in question. Ten genera have been recovered from middens of central California,
of which, embiotocids are common nearshore species commonly found in mid-
dens (Gobalet and Jones 1995). In our study, the modern embiotocid otoliths were
correctly identified to season. The combination of availability of embiotocids in
the archaeological record, abundance nearshore, and the potential accuracy of
season-of-capture determination makes them a strong candidate for future sea-
sonality work; however, the high degree of subjectivity in all determinations of
season-of-capture from otolith margin analyses because of the inherent variability
of growth zone formation and alteration of the otolith matrix begs caution when
interpreting the results. This study has called into question the validity of protocols
that do not utilize age validated otolith collections.

The need to validate any age determination procedures has been stressed by
numerous authors (Lagler 1969; Chilton and Beamish 1982; Beamish and Mc-
Farlane 1983; Baltz 1990; Busacker et al. 1990). Validation is having comparative
sectioned otoliths from the species in question from the same locality with known
dates of death for comparison. Chilton and Beamish (1982) stipulate that vali-
dation procedures should be applied to all age classes 1n a population of a species
and to different populations of the same species. The procedures used for young
members of a species may not apply to old members of the same species and
each species must be independently validated. Seasonality determinations using
otoliths should be no different.

Higham and Horn (2000) published the most thorough seasonality study based
on otoliths recovered from an archaeological site to date. Their validation samples
consisted of over 500 sectioned otoliths of red cod from the waters near the
midden in New Zealand. The date of fish death of each individual fish was known
for all comparative otoliths. The same rigor needs to be applied to other studies
of seasonality based on growth in skeletal parts. This is daunting considering the
number of possible species that may be commonly encountered and the number
of locations where archaeological investigations are undertaken. In coastal central
California the number of species recovered from middens exceeds 80 (Gobalet
and Jones 1995). In addition, there needs to be further consideration to possible
changes in the fish assemblage, fishing techniques, and fishing pressure during
site occupation. Developing comparative otolith collections for particularly com-
mon species would be a starting point and the results for embiotocids in this study
provide some grounds for optimism in future studies of archaeological sites in
coastal California.

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the California Department of Transportation (Cal-
trans) as part of archaeological investigations at CA-SLO-179 and CA-SLO-267
pursuant to the stipulations of Contract 55004863 between California Polytechnic
State University, San Luis Obispo and Caltrans. Jennifer Ferneau and Valerie
Levulett were instrumental in obtaining funds to support the research. Supplied
funding and helpful information or contributions were provided by Gregor Cail-
liet, Kalie Hardin, Lorinda Miller and three annonymous reviewers.

76 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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Accepted for publication 15 October 2002.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(2), 2003, pp. 79-88
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Differential Preservation of Fossil Elements in the
Maricopa Brea, California

Nancy Eileen Muleady-Mecham

Northern Arizona University, Department of Biological Sciences, Flagstaff,
Arizona, 86011-5640
e-mail: knmecham@ grand-canyon.az.us

Abstract.—Maricopa is a southern California tar seep with representative flora
and fauna of the Pleistocene and Recent periods. Of the over 4000 fossil elements
collected in this study, there were many that represented mammals and birds of
the last 30,000 years. An analysis of the recovered skeletal remains shows a
differential preservation of appendicular to axial bones. In addition, the standard
9% representation of carnivores to herbivores was not found, instead, carnivores
represented 17% of that consumer class. The mechanism for these statistically
significant findings is the tar seep itself. Animals would become trapped in the
seep; their arms and legs buried in the tar while their spine and skull remain
exposed for carnivores to consume. This resulted in more appendicular skeletal
remains than axial had the entire animal been preserved. The carnivores them-
selves would then become trapped, attracting more carnivores, resulting in a dis-
proportionate representation of that consumer class in the fossil matrix. Statistical
analysis involve nonparametric analysis utilizing Chi-squared, G-Test and G-ad-
justed (Williams adjustment).

Natural tar deposits in California are known for their abundance of well-pre-
served fossils. Localities, such as Rancho La Brea, McKittrick, and Carpinteria
have yielded extensive information about the North American faunal assemblage
of the Late Pleistocene (Stock 1972; Akersten 1979; Church 1968; Merriam and
Stock 1921; Schultz 1938). Maricopa is a tar seep (brea) that has received little
attention in the literature and is located in the southern San Joaquin Valley south-
west of Bakersfield on land owned by the Mobil Oil Company (originally the
Standard Oil Company). Visitors to this site in 1952 and again in 1954 reported
an active tar seep following an earthquake in 1952 (LACMNH, n.d.), and de-
scribed a pool of water covered by petroleum oils which held dipterous larvae,
dragon flies, dead birds and mammals. The Los Angeles County Museum of
Natural History (LACMNH) collected blocks of the solidified tar on an expedition
to Maricopa in 1968 and 1969 (Stuart 1968). A second expedition to the site was
sponsored by California State University, Fresno (CSUF) in 1979. The latter col-
lection is the subject of this study.

Maricopa Brea lies in the SE % of Sec. 21, TIIN, R23W, just 9 km north of
the San Andreas Fault. The site 1s bordered by the San Emigdio and Tremblor
mountain ranges and is on a low hillside among treeless rolling hills of grass and
small shrubs. The oil-bearing Etchegoin Formation of Miocene age provides the
source for the oil that seeps upward to the Quaternary-age Tulare Formation (Hall
1994). The oil originates in the diatomaceous Maricopa (Monterey) shale and

80 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

migrates to the porous sandstone near the surface (Muleady 1980). The only
available date from the Maricopa Brea lists a range of 36,000 + 3900 Y.B.P.
(Years Before Present) to 13, 860 + 420 Y.B.P. (Langenwalter 1976). These find-
ings are very similar to the dates for other California breas. Reynolds (n.d.) sug-
gests the Maricopa activity is contemporary with Rancho La Brea, but temporally
more limited.

The activity of the tar seep has varied. At times it must have been extremely
active, creating mounds of asphalt many meters thick. At other periods, there has
been no observable oil seepage (Macdonald 1967; Muleady 1993). When the oil
seeps to the surface, the more volatile constituents evaporate and leave a black,
viscous, asphaltic tar with a mirror-like surface that looks “strikingly like placid
water and in this way has ‘fooled’ the animals” (Hanna 1924). The oil mixed
with sand, gravel and alluvium washed from the foothills and this soil mixture
became a key component in the entrapment of animals while the tar preserved
the remains (Muleady 1980).

Materials and Methods

Two expeditions to the Maricopa study site in 1979 yielded approximately 2.5
m? of bone-laden asphalt blocks weighing several hundred kilograms. An area 25
m northeast and 5 m higher in elevation from the 1967-68 LACMNH expedition
site was gridded and blocks averaging 0.3 m* were removed by California State
University of Fresno (CSUF).

Fossils were removed from the matrix in 1979 and 1980. Asphalt blocks were
soaked in kerosene. Dental tools, forceps, small hammers, and chisels were used
to dislodge elements from the tar. Loose matrix was sifted and microsorted under
a dissection scope to separate fossil elements from the asphalt flakes. All identi-
fiable whole and fragmentary pieces that appeared to be at least 50% of the
element were identified. Care was taken in the removal of elements to minimize
fragmentation. Small and medium-sized elements were placed in a Bransonic
ultrasonic cleaner for 15 minutes. During the cleaning process, bones were sub-
merged in GUNK Engine Cleaner, a self-emulsifying degreaser that contains pe-
troleum. Each batch was cleaned of matrix and dried under a heat lamp, sorted,
and each fossil given a CSUF catalog number. Specimens were identified by
comparison to a variety of references, including the CSUF study collection and
consultation with the personnel or their collections at the George C. Page Mu-
seum.

Over 4,000 fossil elements were identified. Mammalian, herpetological, and
entomological material was readily identified to species. Avian elements were
more difficult and were initially separated morphologically through measurements
and placed into species and species morphs. The numbers of elements per species
or morph were identified. The bony elements were separated by skeletal type
member. This allowed research on possible differential preservation.

Nonparametric analyses of the data for goodness of fit tests were conducted on
the mammalian and avian remains. The G-test was utilized over Chi-squared due
to the limitations of the expected frequency data.

The fossil assemblage was analyzed for the maximum likelihood estimation of
the composition of the assemblage. Holtzman (1979) proposed that by estimating
the frequency of elements divided by the number of identifiable elements in a

FOSSILS OF MARICOPA BREA 81

complete individual, this would show the minimum number of individuals (MNI)
in the assemblage and their relative abundance, represented by the weighted abun-
dance of elements (WAE). Holtzman felt that WAE was less susceptible to biases
arising from variations in degrees of fragmentation. WAE and MNI are percent-
ages of relative abundance.

WAE

(e/m;)/ >, (e,/m,;) X 100
MNI = e;'/ >, e;/ X 100
where

e; = number of total elements of individual (1) species
m,; = number of elements per individual

e; = most abundant element

m,; = e,/e,’

m,’/m, = index of differential preservation.

Abundance data was used to compare the frequency ratio of consumers (carni-
vores to herbivores) in the observed population versus that occurring in the ex-
pected population frequency through the G-test, goodness of fit test.

Results

The Maricopa fauna from the two expeditions yielded 27 mammal species and
29 morphologically distinct avian species. Reptiles and amphibians were identified
along with invertebrates and floral elements (1.e., juniper root and plant achenes).
For the mammals, the 14 classes of expected skeletal elements were calculated
with their expected frequency of occurrence should an entire mammal’s skeletal
remains be analyzed. The observed mammal skeletal remains of 1599 elements
were placed as a fossil percent of total remains found as the observed frequency
and placed in the appropriate skeletal category (Table 1). The expected and ob-
served data were graphed for visual comparison (Figure |). Because the expected
frequency of many of the classes was <3, the data was collapsed into appendicular
and. axial skeletal classes, allowing a minimal expected frequency of >3 (Table
2). However, with degrees of freedom (df) of 1, and expected frequency of <5,
the Chi-squared analysis of goodness of fit was not appropriate for this data.
Therefore, a G-test was conducted. As the sample size was >200, a G-adjusted
(Williams) test did not have to be completed, but was conducted for completion.
The resulting analysis yielded a G-test = 9.810 with a G-adjusted = 9.8101042.
The Chi-squared table (Rohlf and Sokal 1995), listed a Chi-squared critical value
[0.05, 1] = 3.841, P=>0.001.

The avian skeletal elements were similarly treated (Table 3; Figure 2), with a
collapse to two classes, appendicular and axial skeletal elements (Table 4). The
resulting analysis yielded a G-test = 82.822. With 1320 fossil elements, a Wil-
liams correction was not necessary, but done so for completion with a resulting
value of G-adjusted = 82.493. The Chi-squared critical value [0.05,1] = 3.841,
Pe 000k

Specific avian fossil elements were calculated for preservation equality. Tar-

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Maricopa mammal bone preservation.

No. N # Fossil
Skeletal element skeletal elements % of total of fossils % of total
Cranium | 0.7518797 Sil 1.94
Mandible y 1.5037594 146 9.13
Vertebrae** 44 33.0827068 336 21201
Clavicle D 1.5037594 O O
Scapula 2 15037594 2S 1.56
Humerus 2 1.5037594 78 4.88
UlIna DD 150387594 56 a5
Radius 2 1.5037594 4] 250
Ci 30 22.556391 105 657
Metak@/Ain + 12 9.02255639 150 9.38
Sternum | 0.7518797 O 0)
Ribs 24 18.0451128 ns VES)
Innominate 2D, 1.5037594 LAS 7.19
Femur 2 1.5037594 209 13.08
Tibia 2 1.5037594 192 12.01
Fibula** | 0.7518797 0) 0)
Patella** l 0.7518797 0) O
Hyoid | 0.7518797 O 0

33) 100 1599 100

* C/T = carpals/tarsals.
** Mean of total possible.

MARICOPA MAMMALIAN SKELETAL PRESERVATION

ON% of Total |
MFossil % of Tot |

o N% of Total

|
‘Seed eR A RNS NN FS RES te SSS ee See RS a Le ACh oh eth Se
] ]

Meta
Uina vag ct crt |Sternu Innomi

uly Patel

i} |
Craniu| Mandi | Verteb | Clavicl |S: WH
T S Seer oceans Femur} Tibia Hyoid

} m ble rae** e a

*C/T=Carpals/Tarsals
(0 7519| 1 5038 | 33 083) 1 5038| 1 5038 | 1.5038|1.5038/1 5038) 22.556| (9.0226| 0) 7519) 18.045) 1 5038 | 1 5038, 1.5038 0 7519| 0.7519 lo 7519, **=mean of total

[MFossil % of Tot | 1.94 | 9.13 21.01 | 0 1.56 | 488 | 35 | 2.56 | 6.57 | 9.38 0 7.19 | 7.19 | 13.08 | 12.01 | Oy || ©) 0 possible

Fig. 1. Maricopa mammalian skeletal preservation.

FOSSILS OF MARICOPA BREA 83

Table 2. Maricopa mammal appendicular and axial analysis.

No. skeletal N # Fossil
Skeletal element elements % of total of fossils % of tot
Axial
Cranium | 0.7518797 3) 1.94
Mandible 2 1.5037594 146 9.13
Vertebrae** 44 33.0827068 336 21.01
Sternum ] OFSTV8797 O 0
Ribs 24 18.0451128 115 7.19
Hyoid | 0.7518797 0) 0)
54.887218 39:27
Appendicular
Clavicle 2 1.5037594 0) 0)
Scapula D) 1.5037594 5) 1.56
Humerus DD 1.5037594 78 4.88
Ulna 2 1.5037594 56 BD)
Radius 2 1.5037594 4] D6
C/T* 30 22.556391 105 6.57
Meta C/T* ** 12 9.02255639 150 9.38
Innominate 2, 1.5037594 ets 7.19
Femur 2 1.5037594 209 13.08
Tibia Ds 1.5037594 192 12.01
Fibula** | 0.7518797 0) 0
Patella** | 0.7518797 0) 0)
AS 2782 60.73
Total 133 100 1599 100
G-test 9.81
G adjusted 9.8101042 x’ critical value [0.05]

* C/T = carpals/tarsals.
** Mean of total possible.

sometatarsus elements at 195 were 3.1 times more abundant than femur elements
at 62. Tarsometatarsus elements at 195 were 1.2 times more abundant than 162
coracoid elements.

The 24 Recent mammal species were represented by 3 insectivores, 16 herbi-
vores, and 5 carnivores. Their relative observed frequency (abundance), calculated
through the Holtzman equation is given in Tables 5 and Figure 3. The observed
ratio of herbivores to carnivores was 6:1 = 17%. The expected ratio is 11:1 =
9% (Raven and Johnson 1999).

The expected frequency ratio of carnivores to herbivores was compared to the
observed frequency ratio and subjected to the G-test goodness of fit test. The
resulting G-test = 411.546 with a G-adjusted = 411.41723. The Chi-squared
critical value [0.05,1] = 3.841, P > 0.001.

Discussion

Much work has been done in several of the breas of California. Maricopa has
been minimally studied to date, but has revealed some surprising results. Maricopa
has 97 identified vertebrate species to date, McKittrick 131 and Rancho La Brea
191. The tar at Rancho La Brea appears to be the trapping and preserving mech-
anism, while at Maricopa, the wet clay and mud appear to trap the animals and

Cranium
Mandible
Vertebrae**
Coracoid
Furcula

Scapula
Sternum

Ribs

Humerus

Ulna

Radius
Carpometacarpus
2nd phalange
Femur
Tibiotarsus
Tarsometatarsus
Fibula**

Hyoid

Patella**

* C/T = carpals/tarsals.
** Mean of total possible.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 3. Maricopa avian bone preservation.

N % of total Fossil % of total
1.3986014 1.439393939
1.3986014 OSS tS lSs2

43.3566434 13.03030303
2.7972028 PAO PLA PF IAG |
1.3986014 0:833333333
2.7972028 5.15 1515152
1.3986014 0)

19.5804196 0)

2.7972028 12.04545455
2.7972028 11.28787879
2.7972028 OFS7 3/37 50S56
2.7972028 10.53030303
2.7972028 1.818181818
2.7972028 4.696969697
2.7972028 it 2120212
2.7972028 PATI 272729
1.3986014 0
1.3986014 0)
0.6993007 0)

100 100

MARICOPA AVIAN SKELETAL PRESERVATION

45
|
|
40 a
35-7 —' = rae
30 t ¥ -e a S15
254
|
| * if = As ]
205 (CON% of Total
| |MFossil % of Tot |
15-44
10-
55 a ;
0 a hed dl . : - bst_b eS SS te il Al ae wet RS : .
Crani |Mandi Verte Corac|Furcu| Scap | Stern | Hume |Radiu eape end Femu | Tibiot TarS0 | Finula _, | Patell
| ae | | | | Ribs Ulna | metac| phala metat; .. |Hyoid) _,,
um ble |brae | | ula um rus s r jarsus a
| | | | | | | | eae | (SESES I) | |e al | *C/T=carpals/Tarsals
|N% of Total | 1.399 | 1.399 | 43.36 | 2.797 | 1.399 | 2.797 | 1.399 | 19.58 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 2.797 | 1.399 | 1.399 | 0.699 | **=mean of total
} + } + + + 4. + } | { | } 4 + +—— + + {
| Fossil % of Tot 1.439 | 0.152} 13.03 | 12.27/0.833/5.152;} O | O |12.05/11.29)0.758)| 10.53 | 1.818) 4.697)11.21/14.77| 0 0 e) possible

Fig. 2. Maricopa avian skeletal preservation.

FOSSILS OF MARICOPA BREA 85

Table 4. Maricopa avian appendicular and axial analysis.

No. skeletal # of

Skeletal element elements N % of total fossils Fossil % of tot
Axial

Cranium ] 1.3986014 19 1.439393939

Mandible l 1.3986014 D OASIS IS 152

Vertebrae** I 43.3566434 2 13.03030303

Sternum | 1.3986014 0) 0

Ribs 14 19.5804196 0 0

Hyoid l 1.3986014 0) 0)

68.5314685 14.62121212

Appendicular

Coracoid D 2.1972028 162 227272,

Furcula ] 1.3986014 11 0:833333333

Scapula 2 2.7972028 68 Sot 52

Humerus 2 2.7972028 159 12.04545455

Ulna 2, 2.7972028 149 11.28787879

Radius 2 2.7972028 10 OV S755 5

Carpometacarpus 2 ZI ITZ028 139 10.53030303

2nd phalange 2 2.7972028 24 1.818181818

Femur 2 2.7972028 62 4.696969697

Tibiotarsus 2 2.7972028 148 AAA 2

Tarsometatarsus 2 ZIII2028 195 VAI IPI PAPA

Fibula** | 1.3986014 6) 0

Patella** 0.5 0.6993007 0) 0

31.4685315 85.37878788

Total GAD 100 1320 100

G-test 82.882

G adjusted 82.493 x? critical value [0.05, 1] = 3.841

* C/T = carpals/tarsals.
*** Mean of total possible.

the tar preserves the elements. This is supported by the gravel matrix found in
the bones at Maricopa, absent in those from Rancho La Brea. As a result, the
Maricopa skeletal elements seem more fragile. Despite this, of the 4000 fossil
elements studied, 1599 were intact, identifiable mammal bones and 1320 were
intact, identifiable avian bones.

The relationship of the expected preservation of the vertebrate skeletal remains
was visually quite different from the observed for both mammals and birds, as
seen in Graphs | and 2. In collapsing the skeletal classes to two, appendicular
and axial and conducting the goodness of fit test, it was apparent that there was
a significant differential preservation of appendicular skeletal remains compared
to axial remains for both birds and mammals. The following scenario could ex-
plain this. A bird or mammal was attracted to water or the appearance of water
caused by the petroleum slick on the surface. They then became trapped in the
wet clay and mud, sinking by their arms and legs (appendicular skeleton). Their
attempts to free themselves attracted carnivores that were then able to feed on
the exposed animal’s back, tail and head (axial skeleton). This would account for
the abundance of appendicular skeletal remains and the paucity of axial remains
in the faunal assemblage. Field observations at Maricopa in 1993 support this

86 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 5. Maricopa mammalian relative abundance.

Species C/HIs Abundance**
Bat I 0.6
Sorex I 0.6
Onychomys I le
Odocoileus H Ne,
Antilocapra H 2.4
Lepus H MO
Sylvilagus H he
Neotoma H eZ
Dipodomys H 855
Juv. Heteromyid Jl 2
Thomomys H 3
Otospermophilus H 0.6
Sciurid | H 4.8
Sciurid 2 H Ie
Cricetid. | H 1.8
@nricetid)2 H ee
Perognathus H tei
Peromyscus H 1.8
Microtine H 0.6
Canis latrans C 7.8
Vulpes C 1.8
Lynx rufux C 0.6
Urocyon S 3
Taxidea C 0.6
99.8

* T = insectivore, H = herbivore, C = carnivore.
** Abundance based on minimum # of individuals from Holtzman’s equation.

concept. A barn owl (Tyto alba) was observed next to a kangaroo rat (Dipodomys
sp.). Both had expired and were partially submerged in the mud and petroleum
slick. While the owl had not been scavenged, the tail and part of the spine of the
kangaroo rat were missing while its legs appeared to be below the surface in the
drying mud.

Guthrie’s (1993) taphonomic work with skeletal remains on the Channel Islands
of California noted that separation of fossil elements is minimal after burial and
that the pattern of preserving larger, denser bones that survive the longest needs
to be assessed. Guthrie suggested (2002) that if differential preservation is oc-
curring in avian fossil elements, tarsometatarsus elements would be preserved
more than femur or coracoid elements. Indeed, at Maricopa, tarsometatarsus el-
ements are preserved more than 3 times femur elements and 1.2 times coracoid
elements.

This same scenario would also account for the abundance of carnivores greater
than that expected in a normally distributed population. In continuing the above
sequence of events, the carnivore that arrived to eat primarily the axial skeleton
could itself become trapped. Its efforts to free itself would in turn attract another
carnivore and it too would be eaten axial-first with the possibility of subsequent
entrapment. This could account for the 17% carnivore population in the Maricopa
faunal assemblage. This seems more likely than a resident 17% carnivore popu-
lation in the Late Pleistocene and Recent periods, rather than the expected 9%.

FOSSILS OF MARICOPA BREA Si

MARICOPA MAMMALIAN RELATIVE ABUNDANCE

| =Insectivore
H=Herbivore
C=Carnivore

*Based on
minimum
number of
individuals from
Holtzman's

The scene at Maricopa today is dry rolling hills with thick asphaltic blocks
appearing intermittently on the surface. Adjacent are small seeps of water with
petroleum slicks on the surface. Birds and mammals continue to be attracted to
the area, possibly to be trapped and become preserved fossils of the future.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Arthur Staebler, Professor Emeritus of CSUF who
initiated my interest and involvement in this study. In addition, Dr. Jim Mead of
the Department of Geology and founder of Quaternary Sciences at NAU was an
inspiration with his enthusiasm and guidance. Dr. Steve Shuster and Dr. Phil
Service of NAU’s Department of Biological Sciences critically reviewed the sta-
tistical data and have my many thanks.

Literature Cited

Akersten, W.A. 1979. Evidence leading to entrapment. Located at: L.A. County Museum of Natural
History, Los Angeles, California.

Church, C.C. 1968. The McKittrick tar seeps paleontology papers. Located at: L.A County Museum
of Natural History, Los Angeles, California.

Guthrie, D.A. 1993. Listen to the birds? The use of avian remains in Channel Islands archaeology, in
Archaeology on the Northern Channel Islands of California, ed. M.A. Glassow. Coyote Press,
Archives of California Prehistory, 34:153—167.

. 2002. Personal Communication. Keck Science Center, Claremont, CA, 91711-5916.

Hall, Brook E. 1994. A Fossil Rodent Fauna From the Maricopa Tar Seep, Kern County, California.
Master’s Thesis, Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, Arizona, 96pp.

Hanna, G.D. 1924. Insects in the California tar traps. Science, 59(1538):555.

Holtzman, R.C. 1979. Maximum likelihood estimation of fossil assemblage composition. Paleobiology,
5(2):77-89.

88 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Langenwalter, PE. 1976. Memorandum to Theodore Downs. Located at: LACMNH, Los Angeles,
California.

LACMNH (Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History), n.d. Accession files. Located at
LACMNH, Los Angeles, California.

Macdonald, J.R. 1967. The Maricopa Brea. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Quarterly,
6:21—24.

Merriam, J.C. and C. Stock, 1921. Occurrence of Pleistocene vertebrates in an asphalt deposit near
McKittrick, California. Science, 54(1406):566-567.

Muleady, N.E. 1980. The Fossils of Maricopa. Master’s Thesis, Department of Biology, California
State University, Fresno; Fresno, California, 60pp.

. 1993. Maricopa field notes, unpublished.

Raven, P.H. and G.B. Johnson, 1999. Biology. (Boston: McGraw Hill).

Reynolds, R.L., n.d. History of paleontologic excavations and conditions at the McKittrick asphalt
deposits. Located at California State University, Fresno, Fresno, California.

Rohlf, EJ. and R.R. Sokal, 1995. Statistical Tables. (New York: W.H. Freeman and Company).

Schultz, J.R., 1938. A late quaternary mammal fauna from the tar seeps of McKittrick, California.
Studies on Cenozoic Vertebrates of Western North America. Carnegie Institute of Washington
Publication 487, 4:118—167.

Stock, C. 1972. Rancho La Brea. (Los Angeles: L.A. County Museum of Natural History).

Stuart, M.B. 1968. Maricopa field notes. Located at: L.A. County Museum of Natural History, Los
Angeles, California.

Accepted for publication 23 September 2002.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(2), 2003, pp. 89-95
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Invasive Aquatic Animals and Possible Effects on Native Frogs and
Toads in Mediterranean Baja California!

Jorge Dominguez-Torres? and Eric Mellink

Centro de Investigacion Cientifica y de Educacion Superior de Ensenada, B.C.
Apdo. Postal 2732. US mailing address: CICESE; P.O. Box 434844;
San Diego, CA 92143

Northwestern Baja California, Mexico, shares a unique mediterranean biota
with adjacent California, USA, as a result of the climatic conditions that dominate
the area. Many of the vertebrates in it are restricted to this ecosystem, including
most amphibians (Linsdale 1932; Mellink 2002). This ecosystem faces severe
conservation problems, mostly derived from the extensive urbanization of Cali-
fornia and northernmost Baja California. The resulting habitat modification has
impacted some of the species of amphibians in southern California so strongly
that the arroyo toad (Bufo californicus; sensu Gergus 1998) is officially considered
endangered, and the red-legged frog (Rana aurora), threatened. In contrast with
their diminished populations in southern California, these species, as well as other
frogs and toads, fare much better in Baja California (Grismer 2002).

Besides knowledge of such better conditions, not much is known about the
conservation status of amphibians in Baja California. There are a number of
pressures that might impair the quality of their habitat, including development,
land conversion, dams, sand-mining, gravel mining, roads, water extraction, re-
fuse, chemical contamination, and invasive species (Robert E. Lovich, pers.
comm. ).

One potentially serious threat is the presence of invasive animals, as such spe-
cies have impacted native taxa in other aquatic habitats of western North America
(Bury and Luckenbach 1976; Dudley and Collins 1995). Alien fishes have been
widely introduced to Mexico, including to Baja California (Contreras-B. and Es-
calante-C. 1984; Follett 1961; Mellink and Ferreira-Bartrina 2000). However, not
enough information is available to judge the risks to amphibian conservation
derived from invasive aquatic animals in the Mediterranean of Baja California.
Here we report on field work carried out in order to obtain a first impression of
such risks.

Methods

Between 3 March 1998 and 30 August 2001 we visited 24 sites with standing
or running water within the mediterranean region of Baja California, from Arroyo
El Rosario to the U.S. boundary (Table 1). Some of the sites were visited once;
others, on multiple occasions. At most sites we visually searched for amphibians
and captured them by hand or with hand-nets. Specimens were identified on the
spot and, if captured, released. At most sites we also captured fishes with a | X

' Direct correspondance to Eric Mellink.
? Current address: Lazaro Cardenas # 200; Col. Empleados; Ensenada, B.C., Mexico.

90 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1.
1998-2001.

Arroyo El Rosario
Arroyo Santo Domingo
Arroyo San Telmo
Sierra San Pedro Matrir:
Arroyo de Los Alamitos at the Estaci6n Forestal
Vallecitos
La Grulla
Arroyo La Encinosa at Santa Cruz
Arroyo Valladares at El Potrero
Arroyo San José at Rancho Meling
Arroyo San Rafael, near Colonet
Arroyo Santo Tomas
Uruapan (a 4 X 4 m pool)
Agua Caliente at Cané6n de San Carlos
Arroyo Ensenada, above and below the Ensenada dam

El Sauzal—ephemeral pools

Arroyo San Antonio, from Canon del Carmen near San
Miguel and San Antonio de las Minas East to | km
above Rancho La Fortuna

Canon Salsipuedes at Saldamando

La Mision

Canada El Morro at El Descanso, near La Vina

Rio Las Palmas

El Florido

Presa de Tijuana by Centro Recreativo Azteca

Sites and dates on which amphibians were surveyed in northwestern Baja California,

April 1999
July 2000, August 2001
April 1999

June 1998

September 1999

August 2001

April 2000, August 2001

May 2000

April 1998

July 2001

October 1998, April 1999, and several
unrecorded dates all years

March 1998, January 1999

several days in March, June, August,
September, and October 1999, March
2000

February 2000

September and October 1998, April 1999

April 1999, February 2000

March 1998

March 2000

April 1999

10-m beach seine with 3/16” mesh, and with a hand-net. The fishes were brought
to the laboratory, in 70% ethyl alcohol, for identification. We examined the stom-

ach contents of the larger specimens.

Results

We recorded seven species of native anurans, two native reptiles, and three

native fishes (Table 2). Except for the red-spotted toad and the western spadefoot,
which because of their preference of drier habitats were not sampled adequately,
the anurans were widespread and common. We recorded 10 invasive aquatic an-
imals (Table 3), which were more common in the northern half of the survey
area. This, however, might be an artifact of sampling higher-elevation locations
in the southern part of the study area.

Discussion

Aquatic amphibians and reptiles are well distributed in northwestern Baja Cal-
ifornia. However, many of the remaining low altitude waterbodies, especially in
the north, are heavily populated with invasive animals. Some of these are poten-
tially threatening to native anurans although, conversely, some invasive species,
or some of their developmental stages, serve as food for the natives.

In terms of their potential negative impacts, some of these invasive aquatic
animals have been documented as predators of anurans. For example, crayfish
pose high environmental risks, as they are omnivores that feed on aquatic plants
and algae, invertebrates, frogs, and even some fish, and in some places have
eliminated most aquatic invertebrates (Dudley and Collins 1995; Hobbs et al.

AMPHIBIANS IN NW BAJA CALIFORNIA

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94 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

1989). Conversely, crayfish have been found to be an important food item for
one species of garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus) and other vertebrates.

Mosquitofish, a very adaptable fish introduced around the world because of its
larviferous reputation, can predate on eggs and larvae of amphibians. We docu-
mented mosquitofish attacking treefrogs in masse, and the stomachs of two mos-
quitofish from Uruapan contained unidentifiable tadpoles in addition to insects.
This is coincident with findings in the Santa Monica Mountains, Calif., where
mosquitofish preyed heavily upon Pacific treefrog (Goodsell and Kats 1999). Sun-
fish (Lepomys spp.) have often been considered a threat to native fish where
introduced outside their range, especially through competition. In one of three
stomachs of green sunfish from San Antonio that we examined there were remains
of unidentifiable tadpoles, in addition to remains of insects. Juveniles of the spot-
ted bass feed on crustaceans and aquatic insects, but may also have been involved
in the decline of amphibians in California.

Bullfrogs tadpoles can have a significant impact upon benthic algae, while
adults may be responsible for significant levels of predation on native anurans
and other aquatic herpetofauna, such as snakes and turtles (Bury and Luckenbach
1976; Clarkson and De Vos 1986; Dudley and Collins 1995; Hammerson 1982;
Moyle 1973). African clawed frogs may be a threat to native aquatic species as
documented in southern California (Bury and Luckenbach 1976; Dudley and Col-
lins 1995).

To summarize, several alien species that occur in Baja California Mediterranean
wetlands are suspected of causing declines in the populations of native species.
However, at this point it is not clear whether in northwestern Baja California
native species are less common on sites with invasive species, or that any lower
densities or absences are the results of such introductions, rather than due to
differences in the characteristics of the sites. It seems highly possible that at least
in some types of wetland, invasive species could negatively impact native species.
Although evidence on the affects of invasive species on native amphibians is not
available for Mediterranean Baja California, it seems that prevention of their
colonization of areas that are currently free of them would be a wise conservation
strategy. To this end, at least a monitoring program should be launched.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Lee Grismer, Robert E. Lovich, and Dan Guthrie for their
editorial comments.

Literature Cited

Bury, R. B. and R. A. Luckenbach. 1976. Introduced amphibians and reptiles in California. Biol.
Conservation 10:1—14.

Clarkson, R. W. and J. C. DeVos. 1986. The bullfrog, Rana catesbeana Shaw, in the Lower Rio
Colorado, Arizona-California. Herpetology 20:42—49.

Contreras-B., S. and M. A. Escalante-C. 1984. Distribution of known impacts of exotic fishes in
Mexico. Pp. 103—130 in W.R Courtney and J.R. Stauffer (eds). Distribution, biology, and man-
agement of exotic fishes. John Hopkins.

Dudley, T. and B. Collins. 1995. Biological invasions in California wetlands. Pacific Institute for
Studies in Development, Environment and Security. Oakland, California. 62 pp.

Follett, W. I. 1961. The fresh-water fishes; their origin and affinities (7 Symposium on the biogeog-
raphy of Baja California and adjacent seas). Sys. Zool. 9:212—232.

AMPHIBIANS IN NW BAJA CALIFORNIA LS

Gergus, E. W. A. 1998: Systematics of the Bufo microscaphus complex: allozyme evidence. Herpe-
tologica 54:317—325.

Goodsell, J. A. and L. B. Kats. 1999. Effect of introduced mosquitofish on Pacific treefrogs and the
role of alternate prey. Cons. Bio. 13:921-—924.

Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California, Including Its Pacific Islands and
the Islands in the Sea of Cortés. University of California.

Hammerson, G. A. 1982. Bullfrog eliminating leopard frogs in Colorado? Herpetological Review 13:
115-116.

Hobbs III, H. H., J. RP. Jass and J. V. Huner. 1989. A review of global crayfish introductions with
particular emphasis on two north american species (Decapoda, Cambaridae). Crustaceana 56:
299-316.

Linsdale, J. M. 1932. Amphibians and reptiles from Lower California. U. Calif. Publ. Zool. 38:345—
386.

Mellink, E. 2002. El limite sur de la region mediterranea de Baja California, con base en sus tetrapodos
endémicos. Acta Zool6gica Mexicana 85:11—23.

. and V. Ferreira-Bartrina. 2000. On the wildlife of wetlands of the Mexican portion of the Rio
Colorado delta. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci. 99:115—127.

Moyle, P. B. 1973. Effects of introduced bullfrgogs, Rana catesbeiana, on the native frogs of the San
Joaquin Valley, California. Copeia 1973:18—22.

Accepted for publication 15 October 2002.

Bull. Southern California Acad. Sci.
102(2), 2003, pp. 96-98
© Southern California Academy of Sciences, 2003

Distribution and Morphotypes of the Federally Endangered Land
Snail Helminthoglypta (Charodotes) walkeriana (Hemphill, 1911)

Michael Walgren

California Department of Parks and Recreation, State Park Rd., Morro Bay,
California 93442

The Morro shoulderband snail, Helminthoglypta walkeriana (Hemphill 1911),
a terrestrial snail found in San Luis Obispo County, California, is listed as en-
dangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Surveys conducted by the Cal-
ifornia Department of Parks and Recreation have resulted in range clarifications,
identification of new habitat associations, and evaluation of various morphological
types. These results have important economic and political implications due to
the protections afforded to federally listed species.

At the time of federal listing the entire recognized range of this species was
thought to cover the community of Los Osos and adjacent California State Parks
property (USFWS 1998). Historically, the species was found alive inland near the
city of San Luis Obispo and north near the coastal town of Cayucos (Pilsbry
1939). The populations at San Luis Obispo and Cayucos have been described as
H. walkeriana morroensis (Hemphill 1911) but are regarded as a likely extinct
infrasubspecific variant by Roth (1985). The diagnostic features of the morroensis
type are strong papillation and absence of incised spiral grooves. Habitat asso-
ciations of the typical type of H. walkeriana (type walkeriana) have been limited
to coastal dune and coastal sage scrub communities, primarily in association with
older wind deposited sands with an organic component known as Baywood fine
sands. Thus, the range reduction, limited habitat associations, and possible ex-
tinction of a subspecies resulted in federal listing in 1994.

To determine the extent of snail presence within State Park property, surveys
were conducted between January 2001 and April 2003 for H. walkeriana through-
out the larger historic range. Samples of 50 shells were collected from each of
seven populations, and 11 other populations were examined in the field in order
to evaluate the status of the morroensis type. In determining types, the following
features were examined: density and extent of shell papillation, pronouncement
and continuity of incised spiral grooves, whorl number, percent umbilicus occlu-
sion, height (H), and diameter (D).

Live specimens were found throughout the historic range, from the coast at
Cayucos, inland to the City of San Luis Obispo. Because live snails were readily
found at multiple locations, a range restricted to a few locations is not indicated,
but rather a larger continuous range similar to the historic range is predicted
Giga):

The northernmost population was rediscovered along coastal bluffs south of
the town of Cayucos. Inland populations were found near the City of San Luis
Obispo at 162 m elevation. The southern coastal extent of surveys found live
snails at Spooner’s Cove within Montana de Oro State Park.

The type morroensis has been rediscovered inland near the City of San Luis

NEW INFORMATION ON HELMINTHOGLYPTA WALKERIANA OF

Fig. 1. The overall predicted range of H. walkeriana is outlined. Circles represent locations of
intermediate types; triangles represent locations of type walkeriana south of Morro Bay; stars represent
locations of type morroensis along the Chorro Valley. Site numbers correlate to site numbers in
Table |.

Obispo, along the coast near Cayucos, and at several points along the Chorro
Valley. One population of type morroensis is abundant on an artificial peninsula
created in the Morro Bay estuary circa 1950. Populations found in the center of
the overall revised range, as well as at three outlier locations, present unique types
featuring characteristics of both type walkeriana and type morroensis.

Examination of shell morphometrics revealed varying degrees of papillation,
incised spiral grooves, umbilicus occlusion, whorl number, and size at sexual
maturity. This variation appears to follow a geographical gradient that reflects
microclimate shifts following a mesic gradient primarily south to north (wetter to
drier) along the coast, and west (coastal) to east (inland). This gradient progresses
from globose nonpapillated walkeriana type with well-defined incised spiral
grooves, large size at sexual maturity, a more occluded umbilicus, and higher
whorl number, to intermediate populations, and eventually to type morroensis with
small size at sexual maturity, coarse profuse papillation, open umbilicus, lower
whorl number, and reduced pronouncement of incised spiral grooves (Table 1).
Size gradients have also been observed in Helminthoglyptid snails on north versus
south facing slopes and on moist versus dry sides of California islands (EK G.
Hochberg, pers. comm.).

Intermediate populations include one population within the City of Morro Bay
that appears similar to type walkeriana, yet reaches sexual maturity at a reduced
size (Table 1). Several populations similar to type walkeriana exhibit widespread
fine papillations not seen on the walkeriana type. One population found in the
Los Osos Valley is similar to type morroensis (Table 1), yet reaches a larger
maximum size (D 30.3 mm, H 19.4 mm) that is close to type walkeriana (D 31.5,
H 23.2 mm).

98 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 1. Mean values of adult shell features by site numbers as presented in Figure 1. Degree of
papillation (Pap) and pronouncement of spiral grooves (Grooves) were measured using a qualitative
scall of 1-4, 4 being the strongest pronouncement. Percent umbilicus occlusion (Umb) was estimated
as a percentage by ocular inspection. Wh = number of whorls, n = sample number of subsequent
features, H/D = ratio of height divided by diameter.

Site Location n EiGom) D Gum). H/D n Gr Pap a1 Umb “mews
| 35°25'N 120°S2°W 20° 13:40 21.30 0.6282 19 210 3:95" 18) (032s
2 35°22’N 120°S W/W. 20 15.30 21.70 0.7040 19 3:90 1:11 15) 053 ee
3. =35°20'N 120°49°W 20 17.10 2440 0.7036 19 2.42 3.42 18 O47 31ers
4 35°19'N 120°49°W 20 20.00 25:80 0.7778 8 3:83 1.33 17 0167 ieee
5 35°19'N:120°S27W 20 21.00 2870 07415 *20 3:80 1:30 3 30s] -nOiere

35°16'N 120°43"W 20 1640 25.40 0.6442 15 3:60 2:87 10 0:35. Bee
35°19'N 120°43'W 20° 1440 21-90) 01058418 2:00) 3283) 18> OI 9 5.44

1 OO

Habitat associations of type walkeriana have been expanded, according to Saw-
yer and Keeler-Wolf (1995), to include coast live oak woodland, California annual
grassland, dune lupine-goldenbush, introduced perennial grassland, and European
beachgrass series communities at 3—46 m elevations on soils of Baywood fine
sands, active dune sands, and clay. Type morroensis has been found in sand
verbena-beach bursage, coyote brush, coast live oak woodland, nodding needle-
grass, European beachgrass, California annual grassland, iceplant, and dune lu-
pine-goldenbush series communities at 4-162 m elevations on soils of clay and
active dune sand.

Types walkeriana and morroensis appear to represent valid subspecies based
on unique shell morphology, ecology, and geographically isolated ranges. Further
research should focus on collection of live specimens for analysis of soft tissue
anatomy and DNA to address the taxonomic status of various types.

Identification of all samples from outlier populations was confirmed by Dr.
Barry Roth, Research Associate, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and
one or both of the federally permitted biologists Mr. Jeff Tupen and Mr. Vincent
Cicero. Voucher specimens are deposited in the malacology collection of the Nat-
ural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM 153235—153244).

Literature Cited

Hemphill, H. 1911. Descriptions of some varieties of shells, with short notes on the geographical
range and means of distribution of land shells. Trans. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist., 1:99—108.

Pilsbry, H.A. 1939. Land Mollusca of North America (north of Mexico). Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia,
Monog. 3, 1(1):1—573.

Roth, B. 1985. Status survey of the banded dune snail, Helminthoglypta walkeriana. Report to United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Endangered Species Office. 27 pp.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Recovery plan for the Morro shoulderband snail and
four plants from Western San Luis Obispo County, California. USFWS, Portland, Oregon. vi
Sepp:

Sawyer, J., & T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society.
Sacramento, California. 471 pp.

Accepted for publication 27 March 2003.

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS

MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

The author should submit at least two additional copies with the original, on 84% X 11 opaque, nonerasable paper,
double spacing the entire manuscript. Do not break words at right-hand margin anywhere in the manuscript.
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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 research note is usually one to six typewritten pages and rarely utilizes subheadings. Consult a recent issue
of the BULLETIN for the format of notes. Abstracts are not used for notes.

The literature cited: Entries for books and articles should take these forms.

McWilliams, K. L. 1970. Insect mimicry. Academic Press, vii + 326 pp.

Holmes, T. Jr., and S. Speak. 1971. Reproductive biology of Mvotis 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.

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orders are placed with the printer, not the Editor.

CONTENTS

Abundance and Importance of Fish Species from the Artisanal Fishery on the
Pacific Coast of Northern Baja California. Jorge Adrian Rosales-
Casian and José Ramon Gonzalez-Camacho

Reliability Assessment of Season-of-Capture Determination from
Archaeological Otoliths. Allen H. Andrews, Kenneth W. Gobalet, and
Terry L. Jones

Differential Preservation of Fossil Elements in the Maricopa Brea,
California. Nancy Eileen Muleady-Mecham

Research Notes

Invasive Aquatic Animals and Possible Effects on Native Frogs and Toads in
Mediterranean Baja California. Jorge Dominguez-Torres and Eric
Mellink

Distribution and Morphotyhpes of the Federally Endangered Land Snail
Helminthoglypta (Charodotes) walkeriana (Hemphill, 1911). Michael

Cover: Sexually mature typical H. walkeriana from coastal Montana de Oro State Park on left;
sexually mature H. walkeriana from “morroensis” from inland Camp San Luis Obispo

on right. Specimens represent average sizes for their lots. M. Walgren.

ay ISSN 0038-3872
LCA
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Peewee RN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Volume 102 Supplement to Number 2

ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS

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2003 Annual Meeting
California State University
Northridge, California

May 9-10, 2003

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BCAS-A102(2, supplement 1—49) (2003) AUGUST 2003

Future SCAS Meetings

2004 — California State University, Long Beach
2005 — Loyola Marymount University
2006 — Pepperdine University

Acknowledgements

The Southern California Academy of Sciences wishes to acknowledge the following organizations
and people for their support of the 2003 Annual Meeting.

Sponsors

Jones and Stokes, Inc.
Port of Los Angeles

Tetra Tech
Earth Tech

Merkel and Associates
CH2M Hill

AMEC Earth and Environmental
Edward J. Carroll, Jr., Dean, College of Science and Mathematics, CSU Northridge
Biology Department, CSU Northridge
Office of Graduate Studies and Research, CSU Northridge

Supporters

Source Group
KOMEX
Pacific Engineering

In addition, special thanks to Dr. Cheryl Hogue, whose work arranging facilities
at CSU Northridge was instrumental in our preparation for this meeting.

SCAS Board Members and Officers

Ralph G. Appy, President

Dr. John Dorsey, Secretary

Dr. Daniel Guthrie, Editor and Treasurer
Dr. Hans Bozler, Past President

Robert Grove, Past President

Dr. David G. Huckaby, Past President
Dr. Daniel J. Pondella, II, Past President

Dr. James Allen Dr. Jonathan Baskin
Dr. Brad R. Blood Dr. Cheryl Hogue
Dr. Judith Doino Lemus Charles T. Mitchell
Dr. John Roberts Richard Schwartz
Dr. Martha Schwartz Gloria Takahashi

Dr. Raymond Wells Dr. Raymond Wilson

Dr. Susan Yoder

Junior Academy Board Members

Bob Phalen Tetsuo Otsuki
Jason Hui Richard and Martha Schwartz
Dan Guithrie John Dorsey

Gloria Takahashi, chair

Research Training Program

Abstracts 90 to 103 represent the final product of the high school Research Train-
ing Program for 2002-03.

The following students were selected to receive an honorary membership in the
American Association for the Advancement of Sciences: Ved Chirayath, Anuj
Chaudhary, Edward Smetak and Genevieve Y. Williams.

Based on their oral presentation and research paper, the following students were
invited to present their work at the American Junior Association of Science meet-
ing, held in conjuction with the A.A.A.S. meeting in February, 2004 in Seattle,
Washington: Ved Chirayath, Anuj Chaudhary, Jason Bae, Su Fey Ong, Edward
Smetak, Genevieve Y. Williams, Vijay Yanamadala, James Bok Lee and Michael
Hong.

We would like to acknowledge the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce
for generously supporting our Research Training Program.

STUDENT AWARD WINNERS AT 2003 ANNUAL MEETING

At the 2003 Annual Meeting, held May 9-10 at California State University,
Northridge, the following students papers and posters won awards.

Awarded by the Southern California Academy of Sciences
Best Paper, Ecology/Evolution

Kelly S. Andrews. Department of Biology, San Diego State Univ., San Diego,
CA 92182
HABITAT-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT OF TWO TEMPERATE
REEF FISHES AT MULTIPLE SCALES

M. Patrick Griffith. Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate University,
Claremont, CA 91711
WHAT DID THE FIRST CACTUS LOOK LIKE? EVIDENCE FROM
NEW MOLECULAR DATA

Best Poster, Ecology/Evolution

Lisa Gilbane and S. Murray. 800 N. State College, California State University,

Fullerton, Department of Biological Sciences, Fullerton, CA 92093-0208
ANALYSES OF CARBON (?2C) AND NITROGEN (N) STABLE ISO-
TOPE SIGNATURES OF INPUTS INTO BENTHIC FOOD WEBS ON
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROCKY SHORES

Best Paper, Molecular Biology

Donovan P. German, M.H. Horn, and A. Gawlicka. Department of Biological

Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834
DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN THE OMNIVOROUS PHY-
TICHTHYS CHIRUS (STICHAEIDAE): EVIDENCE FOR MEMBER-
SHIP IN AN HERBIVOROUS CLADE OF PRICKLEBACK FISHES

Best Poster, Molecular Biology

Danielle L. Neumann and K. Dickson. California State University of Fuller-
ton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVI-
TY OF TUNAS, MACKERELS AND BONITOS

Best Paper, Geology

Kevin S. Rivera and V. Pedone. Department of Geological Sciences, Califor-
nia State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266
GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DEPOSITS IN THE MOJAVE DE-
SERT, CALIFORNIA

Best Paper, Physical Sciences

Jennifer McAdam and J. Landry. Loyola Marymount University, Department
of Natural Science, Los Angeles, CA 90045
TRACE METAL ANALYSIS OF THE CALIFORNIA HORN SNAIL
(CERITHIDEA CALIFORNIA) IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS

Awarded by the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists
Best Paper

Matthew E. Neilson and R.R. Wilson, Jr. Department of Biological Sciences,
California State University, Long Beach
MITOCHONDRIAL DNA GENETICS OF AN INVASIVE POPULA-

TION OF YELLOWFIN GOBY ACANTHOGOBIUS FLAVIMANUS
IN CALIFORNIA

Runner-up Best Paper

Jeremy J. Vaudo, C. G. Lowe, and G. J. Moss. California State University,
Long Beach, Department of Biological Sciences, Long Beach, CA 90840
MOVEMENTS AND SITE FIDELITY OF THE ROUND STINGRAY,

UROBATIS HALLERI, AT SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA: A PRE-
LIMINARY REPORT

Best Poster
Kim Carpenter, J. Flannery, R. Pommerening, T. Speer, and K. Martin. De-

partment of Biology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263-4321
DOES BEACH GROOMING HARM GRUNION EGGS?

10.

Southern California Academy of Sciences 2003 Session Schedule

Friday, May 9, 2003

Location: Santa Clarita Room

Session: Changing Fish Populations Relative to the
Environment, Fisheries, and Management

Chair: M. James Allen, SCCWRP

8:40 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN SHALLOW NEARSHORE AND DEEPER CONTI-
NENTAL SHELF FISHES SINCE 1977; DO SIMILAR RESPONSES SUGGEST A COM-
MON MECHANISM BEHIND OBSERVED DECLINES? A. J. Brooks', H. Lenihan’, S.
Lester’, S.J. Holbrook?, and R.J. Schmitt’. 'Marine Science Institute, University of Califor-
nia, Santa Barbara, CA 93106; 7Bren School of Environmental Science and Management,
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106; *Department of Ecology, Evolution and
Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.

9:00 DECLINES IN ABUNDANCE OF THREE NEARSHORE SURFPERCHES OFF
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, 1972-2001. D.S. Beck' and K.T. Herbinson/?.
IMBC Applied Environmental Sciences, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, and *Southern California
Edison Company, Rosemead, CA, 91770.

9:20 EFFECTS OF CHANGING OCEAN CONDITIONS ON THE FUNCTIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEMERSAL FISH COMMUNI-
TIES. M. James Allen. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster,
CA 92683.

9:40 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEARSHORE FISH
POPULATIONS RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES. M. J. Allen’, R.
W. Smith’, E. T. Jarvis', V. Raco-Rands', B. Bernstein’, and K. Herbinson*. 'Southern Cal-
ifornia Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA 92683; 7Ojai, CA 93024; +Ojai,
CA 93024; *Southern California Edison Co., Rosemead, CA 91770.

10:00 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRENDS IN RECREATIONAL FISH
CATCH. E.T. Jarvis. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Fish Group,
Westminster, CA, 92683.

10:20 ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL FISH
AND INVERTEBRATE LANDINGS. J. G. Norton and Janet E. Mason. Pacific Fisheries
Environmental Laboratory/SWFSC, 1352 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950.
10:40 Break

11:00 Plenary Talk: Dr. Brian Fagan, UCSB. “El Nino, the Little Ice Age and People
of the Past.”’

12:00 Lunch

0) CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF UNDERSIZED BYCATCH IN THE
GROUPER-SNAPPER FISHERY OF THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. R.R. Wilson,
Jr. and Karen M. Burns!'. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University,
Long Beach, CA; 'Fisheries Biology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL.
1:40 BIOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF COWCOD ROCKHFISH (SE-
BASTES LEVIS) IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT. J. L. Butler', L. D. Ja-
cobson’, J. T. Barnes’, and H. G. Moser!. 'National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest
Fisheries Science Center, PO. Box 271, La Jolla, California 92038; *National Marine Fish-
eries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water Street Woods Hole, Massachu-
setts 02543; *California Department of Fish and Game, Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
P.O. Box 271, La Jolla, California 92038.

2:00 GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FROM LONG-TERM FISH MONITOR-
ING. D. J. Pondella, Hl. Vantuna Research Group, Department of Biology, Moore Labo-
ratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041.

220 DOCUMENTING THE RETURN OF A FISHERY? DISTRIBUTION AND
ABUNDANCE OF JUVENILE WHITE SEABASS (47RACTOSCION NOBILIS) IN THE
SHALLOW NEARSHORE WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT, 1995-
2002. L.G. Allen', D. J. Pondella II’, M. Shane*, and R. FE Ford*. 'California State Uni-
versity, Northridge, CA 91330-8303; Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *San
Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182.

PROGRAM 5)

11.

12.

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14.

15.

16.

18.

19;

20.

2:40 CALIFORNIA’S FISHERIES: LANDINGS INCREASE, BUT VALUE DE-
CLINES. J. Mason. Pacific Fisheries Environmental Lab, DOC/NOAA/NMFS/SWESC,
1352 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

3:00 Break

Friday, May 9, 2003

Location: Santa Clarita Room
Session: Contributed Papers in Fish Biology
Chair: Dr. Ralph G. Apply, Port of Los Angeles

3:20 GROWTH BIOMARKERS IN FISH: IGFBPs (insulin-like growth factor-binding
proteins). K.M. Kelley, M.M. Galima, J.A. Reyes, K. Sak, K. Goldman, D. Topping and
C.G. Lowe (2003). Endocrine Laboratory, Department Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840.

3:40 BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES AND SURVIVORSHIP OF CALIFORNIA
SHEEPHEAD TO POST-RELEASE ANGLING STRESS. KJ. Goldman, D.T. Topping,
M.M. Galima, K.M. Kelley and C.G. Lowe. California State University Long Beach, De-
partment of Biological Sciences, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840.

4:00 ENDOCRINE ALTERATIONS IN RESPONSE TO CATCHING STRESS IN
CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD: METABOLIC AND GROWTH IMPACTS. M.M. Galima,
D.T. Topping, K.J. Goldman, C.G. Lowe, and K.M. Kelley. Department of Biological Sc1-
ences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840.

4:20 DOWNSTREAM MIGRATION OF STEELHEAD TROUT AND RESIDENCE
IN A LOWER MAINSTEM AT 35° N._ A.P. Spina', M.A. Allen? and M.V. Clarke?. 'Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service, Long Beach, CA 90802; *Thomas R. Payne & Associates,
Arcata, CA 95518; 3City of San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

4:40 MEASURING BARRIERS TO FISH PASSAGE IN THE SANTA MONICA
MOUNTAINS. S.L. Drill. University of California Cooperative Extension, 2 Coral Re-
covery Coalition, PO. Box 91034, Santa Barbara, CA 93190.

Friday, May 9, 2003

Location: Pasadena Room
Session: Geology
Chairs: Vicki A. Pedone and Peter W. Weigand, CSU Northridge

1:20 GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE “BLUE
DRAGON” FLOW IN CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT, IDA-
HO. T. Collins. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, North-
ridge, CA 91330-8266.

1:40 A GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROLOGIC STUDY OF POWAY CLASTS IN
SAN DIEGO AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, CALIFORNIA. _L. G. Field and P.W. Wei-
gand. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA
91330-8266.

2:00 ANIMATION OF THE RECENT GEOLOGIC EVOLUTION OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA. G. A. Briscoe, A. E. Fritsche, and P- W. Weigand. Department of Geolog-
ical Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

220 A FIELD AND PETROGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF A PORTION OF THE
KERN PLATEAU SHEAR ZONE, TULARE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. K. Mahr Hill
and G. Dunne. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge,
CA-91330.

2:40 EVALUATION OF SAND AND PEBBLE PROVENANCE FOR CONSTRAIN-
ING RATES OF STREAM CHANNEL OFFSET BY THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT ON
THE CARRIZO PLAIN, CALIFORNIA. R.J. O’Neil. Department of Geological Sciences,
California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

22.

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29:

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

3:00 Break

3:20 SEISMIC HAZARD ANALYSIS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY USING
THE FRISKSP COMPUTER PROGRAM. R. J. Medina. Department of Geological Sci-
ences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

3:40 DETERMINING THE DEPOSITIONAL AGE OF PEAT: IMPLICATIONS FOR
DATING PALEOEARTHQUAKES AT THE BURRO FLATS PALEOSEISMIC SITE
NEAR BANNING, CALIFORNIA. C. L. Howland and J. Douglas Yule. Department of
Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

4:00 GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DEPOSITS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT,
CALIFORNIA. K. S. Rivera and V. Pedone. Department of Geological Sciences, Califor-
nia State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

4:20 SUBAQUEOUS SPRING DEPOSTS IN LIMESTONE FROM THE MIDDLE
MIOCENE BARSTOW FORMATION, MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA. B. C. Sill.
Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-
8266.

4:40 CHAROPHYTE MOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE MIOCENE BARSTOW FOR-
MATION, MUD HILLS, CALIFORNIA. C. Caceres and V. Pedone. Department of Geo-
logical Sciences, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

Friday, May 9, 2003
Location: Flintridge

Session: Teacher Education in Science
Chair: Virginia Vandergon, CSU Northridge

3:20 STUDENT RESEARCH IN K-12 CLASSES MENTORED BY TEACHERS
TRAINED IN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH LABS. _ S. B. Oppenheimer. Center for Cancer
and Developmental Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-
8303.

3:40 RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR TEACHERS OPENS THE DOOR FOR RE-
SEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR K-12 STUDENTS. A MEASURE OF CLASSROOM IM-
PLEMENTATION SUCCESS. C. A. Coyle-Thompson. California State University, North-
ridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330.

4:00 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE RESEARCH FELLOW-
SHIPS FOR TEACHERS. N. Herr. California State University, Northridge, Department
of Secondary Education, Northridge, CA 91330-2580.

4:20 TOMORROW’S SCIENTIST, USING A SERVICE LEARNING MODEL WITH
PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS TO RUN AN AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. V. Oberholzer Vandergon. California State University, North-
ridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.

4:40 ENHANCEMENTS OF SCIENCE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH
THE SCIENCE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE—A SUPERFUNDED PROJECT. G. Simila,
Virginia Oberholzer Vandergon and Steven Oppenheimer. California State University, North-
ridge, Department of Geological Sciences, Northridge, CA 91330-8266.

Friday, May 9, 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks

Session: Contributed Papers
Chair: Dr. Judith Doino Lemus, Sea Grant Program, USC

9:00 TRACE METAL ANALYSIS OF THE CALIFORNIA HORN SNAIL (CERITH-
IDEA CALIFORNIA) IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS. J. McAdam and J. Landry.
Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Science, Los Angeles, CA, 90045.
9:20 STUDIES DIRECTED TOWARD THE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF ERGOLINE
ALKALOIDS. A. Schultz and T. Oh. California State University Northridge, Department
of Chemistry, Northridge, CA 91330.

PROGRAM |

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

Al.

42.

43.

44,

9:40 SYNTHESIS OF 2-(1,1'-BINAPHTHYL) CHIRAL AUXILIARIEFS. T. Tasu and
T. Oh. California State University Northridge, Department of Chemistry, Northridge, CA,
91330-8262.

10:00 MOLECULAR AND MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENDANGERED
YELLOW POND TURTLE (MAUREMYS MUTICA). JJ. Fong and R.L. Carter. De-
partment of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350.

10:20 THE MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF THE MYB GENE FAMILY IN BAM-
BOO AND SORGHUM. A. Norris and V. Oberholzer Vandergon. Calif. State Univ.,
Northridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330.

10:40 Break

11:00 Plenary Talk: Dr. Brian Fagan, UCSB. “El Nino, the Little Ice Age and People
of the past.”

12:00 Lunch

Friday, May 9, 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks

Session: Contributed Papers (Continued)

Chair: John Roberts, CSU Dominguez Hills

1:20 AN OIL POLLUTION MODEL USING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WIL-
LOWS. _ K. Williams, J. Torres, C.M. Vadheim, and J.W. Roberts*. The Applied Environ-
mental Plant Physiology Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson,
CA 90747.

1:40 CHANGING MACROPHYTE ABUNDANCES AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIV-
ITY OF A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHORE. A. M. Bullard and S. N. Murray. Cali-
fornia State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92834-
6850.

2:00 POSSIBLE “EVIL TWIN” EFFECT THROUGH COMPETITION OF ARROYO
WILLOW CLONES. M. Drexler, C.M. Vadheim and J.W. Roberts*. The Applied Envi-
ronmental Plant Physiology Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology,
Carson, CA 90747.

2220 THE USE OF BRASSICA NIGRA AS AN ADJUNCT GENETIC MODEL FOR
THE STUDY OF SALT TOLERANCE. Candice Groat, Richard Kuromoto and John Rob-
erts. CSUDH Department of Biology, Applied Plant Physiology Laboratory, Carson, CA
90747.

2:40 THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM COPPER EXPOSURE ON TWO SPECIES
OF SALIX, CALIFORNIA WILLOW. L.M. Peters, R. Resendiz, C.M. Vadheim and J.W.
Roberts*. The Applied Environmental Plant Physiology Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills,
Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747.

3:00 Break

3:20 A BOLD VISION: ENHANCING WETLAND EDUCATION AND RESTO-
RATION THROUGH THE BALLONA OUTDOOR LEARNING & DISCOVERY (BOLD)
AREA. K. Sueda, P. M. Drennen, J. H. Dorsey, J. M. Landry, J. McAdams, T. D. Mc-
Shurley, L. Roberts, and W. Scheidegger. Loyola Marymount University, Department of
Natural Sciences, One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

3:40 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA GENETICS OF AN INVASIVE POPULATION OF
YELLOWFIN GOBY ACANTHOGOBIUS FLAVIMANUS IN CALIFORNIA. MLE.
Neilson and R.R. Wilson, Jr. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University,
Long Beach.

4:00 ARE COASTAL WETLANDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOURCES OR
SINKS FOR FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA? M. Evanson and R. EF Ambrose. Envi-
ronmental Science and Engineering Program, School of Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles,
CA 90095.

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46. F

47. E

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49. F

50. E

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54. M

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

4:20 FIRST YEAR SURVEY RESULTS OF THE LOS ANGELES CONTAMINATED
SEDIMENTS TASK FORCE, CONFINED AQUATIC DISPOSAL SITE LONG-TERM
MONITORING PROGRAM. |S. C. Johnson and Tim Mikel. Aquatic Bioassay and Con-
sulting Laboratories, Inc., Ventura, CA 93001.

4:40 EFFECTS OF CONTAMINANTS ON THE GROWTH PATTERNS OF PACIF-
IC SANDDAB (CITHARICHTHYS SORDIDUS) FROM SANTA MONICA BAY AND
DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA. B.A. Swig and C.C. Hogue. California State University
Northridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330.

Friday, May 9, 2003
Location: Grand Salon

Session: Poster Session and Wine and Cheese Social

ARTHROPOD SPECIES DIVERSITY IN RESTORED AND UNDISTURBED COASTAL
SAGE SCRUB. J. Blodgett, B. Stimmler, and C. Swift. Department of Biology, Whittier
College, Whittier, CA 90608.

DIGENEAN ENDOPARASITE COMMUNITIES OF FISHES OF THE SERRANID GE-
NUS PARALABRAX. D.G. Buth', D.J. Pondella II’, and P. Frost’. 'Dept. of Organismic
Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606; *Vantuna Research
Group, Occidental College, Dept. of Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *Dept. of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences, Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, UCLA
School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761.

DOES BEACH GROOMING HARM GRUNION EGGS? _ K. Carpenter, J. Flannery, R.
Pommerening, T. Speer, and K. Martin. Department of Biology, Pepperdine University, Mal-
ibu, CA 90263-4321.

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOOD CHOICE AND TOTAL ASSIMILATION EFFI-
CIENCY IN THE HERBIVOROUS MARINE SNAIL LITHOPOMA UNDOSUM (TUR-
BINIDAE). E. Cox and S. Murray. California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850.
ANALYSES OF CARBON (2C) AND NITROGEN (N) STABLE ISOTOPE SIGNA-
TURES OF INPUTS INTO BENTHIC FOOD WEBS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
ROCKY SHORES. _ L. Gilbane and S. Murray. 800 N. State College, California State
University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Sciences, Fullerton, CA 92093-0208.
SUCCESSFUL REINTRODUCTION OF A TIDEWATER GOBY (EUCYCLOGOBIUS
NEWBERRY) POPULATION AT SAN MATEO LAGOON, USMC CAMP J. PENDLE-
TON, CALIFORNIA. A.T. Gutierrez, M.A. Booker, and C.C. Swift, Dr. Merkel & As-
sociates, Inc., San Diego, CA 92123.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVITY OF TUNAS,
MACKERELS AND BONITOS. D.L. Neumann and K. Dickson. California State Uni-
versity of Fullerton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599.
MITOCHONDRIAL DENSITIES IN THE LOCOMOTOR MUSCLE OF ECTOTHERMIC
AND ENDOTHERMIC SCOMBRID FISHES. C.M. Porcu and K. Dickson. Cal State
University College, Department of Biology, Fullerton, CA 92831.

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON A NEW APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT OF CELL
TYPE SPECIFIC ANTI-CANCER DRUGS. E.L. Heinrich, A. Contreras, M. Khurrum, O.
Badali, L. Banner and S. Oppenheimer. Department of Biology and Center for Cancer and
Developmental Biology, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.

BEAD ANALYSIS OF HUMAN COLON CANCER CELL SURFACES. M.R. Khurrum,
O. Badali, A. Contreras, L.Y. Welty, E. Heinrich, M. Barajas, G.-C. Zem, and S.B. Oppen-
heimer. Department of Biology and Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, Cali-
fornia State University Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.

INITIAL PROTOCOLS FOR THE CAPTIVE BREEDING AND REARING OF SPOTTED
SAND BASS (PARALABRAX MACULATOFASCIATUS) IN SOUTHERN CALIFOR-
NIA. _ E.F. Miller. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University,
Northridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.

PROGRAM 9

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65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STEELHEAD: RESTORING A LIVING LEGACY. D.
Pritchett, Southern California Steelhead Coalition, P. O. Box 91034, Santa Barbara, CA
93190 dapritch@cox.net; and Sabrina Drill, University of California Cooperative Extension,
2 Coral Circle, Bldg. B Floor 2, Monterey Park, CA 91755-7425 sldrill@ucdavis.edu

P ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF 1,1’-BINAPHTHYL-2, 2’-DIAMINE. M. Sina-Kahdiv,
M. Thaman, and T. Oh. California State University Northridge, Department of Chemistry,
Northridge, CA 91330-8262.

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN OSMOSIS AND
DIFFUSION LAB ACTIVITIES: AN ANALYSIS OF TEN LABORATORY MANU-
ALS. M.E. Tweedy and W.J. Hoese. California State University Fullerton, Department
of Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92834.

SURFACE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN COLON CANCER AND NON-CANCER CELL
LINES. L.Y. Welty, M. Khurrum, H. Hekmatjou, I. Livshin, J. Calderon, S. Sajadi, L.
Baresi, and S. Oppenheimer. Department of Biology and Center for Cancer and Develop-
mental Biology, California State University Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.

E THE EFFECTS OF AN INVASIVE PLANT COMMUNITY ON THE COASTAL SAGE
SCRUB SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY. M. Winters and D. Lipson. San Diego State
University, Department of Biology, San Diego, CA 92182.

E SOW NITROGEN STORAGE IN AREAS OF VARYING ANTHROPOGENIC NITRO-
GEN DEPOSITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. G. Zorba and G. Vourlitis. Califor-
nia State University, San Marcos, Department of Biological Sciences, San Marcos, CA
92078.

M PCR BASED SECONDARY SCREENING OF CLONED DNA USED FOR SEQUENCING
DECISION MAKING. J. A. Sonnentag, S. Yamamoto, and R. L. Carter. Loma Linda Uni-
versity, Natural Sciences Department, Loma Linda, CA 92350.

Saturday, May 10, 2003

Location: Santa Clarita Room
Session: Reef Ecology

Chairs: Daniel Pondella Il. Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College
Robert Grove, Southern California Edison

8:50 INTRODUCTION. Dan Pondella and Robert Grove

BX? = 9:00 SPAWNING BEHAVIOR OF THE KELP BASS, PARALABRAX CLATHRA-

TUS, FROM SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. B.E. Erisman. Nearshore
Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, Department of Biology, 18111
Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8303.
920 OBSERVATIONS OF COURTSHIP AND SPAWNING BEHAVIOR IN THE
CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD, SEMICOSSYPHUS PULCHER. M.S. Adreani’. 'Univer-
sity, Northridge, CA 91330; *7Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, Uni-
versity of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106.

ES 29:40 THE SPAWNING ACTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED SOUND PRODUCTION
OF WHITE SEABASS, ATRACTOSCION NOBILIS, AROUND SANTA CATALINA IS-
LAND. _ S.A. Aalbers. CSU Fullerton, Department of Biology, Fullerton, CA 92834.
10:00 WHEELER NORTH’S “TAMPICO MARU”: RE-DISCOVERING BAJA CALI-
FORNIA’S “EXXON VALDEZ.” Alan J. Mearns. Senior Staff Scientist Hazardous Ma-
terials Reponse Division National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Seattle, Wash-
ington 98115.

10:20 THERE AND BACK*, THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA KELP BEDS FROM THE 1997-1998 EL NINO SUMMARY 1997-2002.
M. D. Curtis and Wheeler J. North (Professor Emeritus—deceased). MBC Applied Envi-
ronmental Sciences Costa Mesa, and CalTech Kerchkoff Marine Laboratory.

10:40 Break

11:00 Memorial in Honor of Wheeler J. North. Remarks by Charles T. Mitchell, MBC

Applied Environmental Science

70.

7h.

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Mats Plenary Talk: Dr. Milton Love, Marine Science Institute, UCSB “Why do we
Study Reef Fishes?”

12:00 Lunch

1:40 PATTERNS OF HABITAT AND ABUNDANCE IN THE LA JOLLA KELP
BED. Ed Parnell. Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD.

2:00 LONG-TERM VARIATION IN A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA KELP FOR-
EST. L. Honma, AMEC Earth & Environmental, 5510 Morehouse Dr., San Diego, CA
92121. M. Foster, Moss Landing Marine Labs, Moss Landing, CA 95039.

220) EVALUATION OF EELGRASS MITIGATION AND FISHERY ENHANCE-
MENT STRUCTURES IN SAN DIEGO BAY. __D.J. Pondella, II’, L. G. Allen’, J. R. Cobb',
M. T. Craig’? and B. Gintert'. 'Vantuna Research Group, Department of Biology, Moore
Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *Department of Bi-
ology, California State University, Northridge; *Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

2:40 HABITAT-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT OF TWO TEMPERATE REEF
FISHES AT MULITPLE SCALES. K.S. Andrews. Department of Biology, San Diego State
University, San Diego, CA 92182.

3:00 Break

3220 POPULATION DYNAMICS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CRYPTIC FISH-
ES. Jana Cobb. Dept of Biology, California State Univ. Northridge.

3:40 A COMPARISON OF REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES BETWEEN SANTA CAT-
ALINA ISLAND AND THE OUTER LOS ANGELES FEDERAL BREAKWALL. J.T.
Froeschke. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, North-
ridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge CA, 91330.

Saturday, May 10, 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks Room

Session: Contributed Papers in Fish Biology
Chair: Brea Jarvis ss€@QWwRE

9:00 RELATIONSHIP OF MORPHOLOGY, DIET, AND FEEDING GUILD STRUC-
TURE IN THE INTERTIDAL FISH ASSEMBLAGE OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. K.
S. Boyle and M. H. Horn. Department of Biological Science, California State University,
Fullerton, CA 92834-6850.

9:20 DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN THE OMNIVOROUS PHYTICHTHYS
CHIRUS (STICHAEIDAE): EVIDENCE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN AN HERBIVOROUS
CLADE OF PRICKLEBACK FISHES. D.P. German, M.H. Horn, and A. Gawlicka. De-
partment of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834.
9:40 ONTOGENY OF DIET, TROPHIC POSITION, AND FEEDING GUILD MEM-
BERSHIP IN HERBIVOROUS AND CARNIVOROUS PRICKLEBACK FISHES (STI-
CHAEIDAE): DIETARY AND STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS. Michael V. Saba and M.
H. Horn. California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Science, Fullerton,
CA 92834.

10:00 MOVEMENTS AND SITE FIDELITY OF THE ROUND STINGRAY, URO-
BATIS HALLERI, AT SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA: A PRELIMINARY REPORT. J.
J. Vaudo, C. G. Lowe, and G. J. Moss. California State University, Long Beach, Department
of Biological Sciences, Long Beach, CA 90840.

10:20 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE ROUND STINGRAY, URO-
LOPHUS HALLERI, NEAR A THERMAL OUTFALL AT SEAL BEACH, CALIFOR-
NIA. G. Hoisington and C.G. Lowe. Department of Biological Sciences, California State
University, Long Beach, CA 90840-3702.

10:40 Break

11:00 ~ Memorial in Honor of Wheeler J. North. Remarks by Charles T. Mitchell, MBC
Applied Environmental Science

RINE ES) Plenary Talk: Dr. Milton Love, Marine Science Institute, UCSB “Why do we
Study Reef Fishes?”’

12:00 Lunch

PROGRAM 1]

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Saturday, May 10, 2003
Location: Thousand Oaks Room

Session: Contributed Papers

Chair: Cheryl Hogue, CSU Northridge

1:40 CAPTIVE SPAWNING BEHAVIOR OF THE SPOTTED SAND BASS (PARA-
LABRAX MACULATOFASCIATUS). E.¥F. Miller. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Pro-
gram, California State University, Northridge, Department of Biology, Northridge, CA
91330-8303.

2:00 ARE JUVENILE TOPSMELT REALLY BEACH FISH? — A. Jahn. Port of Oak-
land, Oakland, CA 94607.

2:20 GRUNION GREETERS: VOLUNTEERS MONITORING GRUNION RUNS IN
SAN DIEGO. K. Martin, T. Speer, R. Pommerening, J. Flannery, and K. Carpenter. De-
partment of Biology, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263-4321.

2:40 AGGREGATION RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL ATTRACTANTS RELEASED
BY TEGULA SPECIES. G.K. Nishiyama and C.A. Kay-Nishiyama. College of the Can-
yons, Department of Biology, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.

3:00 Break

3:20 CLIMATIC AND LITHOLOGIC INFLUENCES ON QUATERNARY TER-
RACE FORMATION BASED ON PRELIMINARY SOIL INDICES, SANTA ANA MOUN-
TAINS, CALIFORNIA. O. F. Figueroa, N. A. Ikeda, C. M. Irwin, R. A. Perez, A. M.
Stein and J.R. Knott. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University Ful-
lerton, Fullerton, California 92834-6850.

3:40 DIETARY SHIFTS OF ELEGANT TERNS AND CASPIAN TERNS AT TWO
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NESTING COLONIES: RESPONSES TO CHANGES IN
OCEAN CLIMATE AND PREY POPULATIONS. — I. Chlup' and M. H. Horn’. California
State University, Fullerton, 'Environmental Studies Program and *Department of Biological
Science Fullerton, CA 92834-6850.

4:00 A VASCULAR FLORA OF THE OWENS PEAK EASTERN WATER-
SHED. N.S. Fraga. Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate University, Rancho Santa
Ana Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave. Claremont, CA 91711.

4:20 WHAT DID THE FIRST CACTUS LOOK LIKE? EVIDENCE FROM NEW
MOLECULAR DATA. M. P. Griffith. Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate Uni-
versity, Claremont, CA 91711.

4:40 MARIANO AND MANUEL’S MILPA: SUBSISTENCE FARMING IN THE SO-
CONUSCO REGION OF CHIAPAS. S. Alves. California State University Dominguez
Hills, Anthropology Department, Carson, CA.

Saturday, May 10, 2003
Location: West Valley

Session: Research Training Program

Chair: Martha and Richard Schwartz,
LA Co. Office of Ed. and Torrance High School

9:40 PHOTOMETRIC DETECTION OF AN EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETARY TRAN-
SIT ACROSS THE SUN-LIKE STAR HD 209458. V. Chirayath'. 'Southern California
Academy of Sciences & The California Academy of Math and Science, 1000 E. Victoria
St. #8002, Dominguez Hills, CA 90747.

10:00 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PLANKTON DENSITIES IN THE UPPER AND
LOWER NEWPORT BAY AND THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT IT. A. Chaudhary.
Oxford Academy High School, Cypress, CA 90630.

94.

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102.

103.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

10:20 CONVERSION OF A-AMINO ACIDS INTO NITRILES USING TRICHLO-
ROISOCYANURIC ACID (TCICA). J. Bae' and Gene Hiegel’. 'Cypress High School,
Cypress, CA 90630; 7Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State Univer-
sity Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6866.

10:40 Break

11:00 Memorial in Honor of Wheeler J. North. Remarks by Charles T. Mitchell,
MBC Applied Environmental Science

eS Plenary Talk: Dr. Milton Love, Marine Science Institute, UCSB “Why do we
Study Reef Fishes?”’

12:00 Lunch

2:00 AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFFERENS IN COASTAL WATERS: PREVEN-
TION CONTROL AND MITIGATION. _ S. Kadakia. University of Southern California,
Department of Biology, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

220 A TWO-YEAR STUDY: SAND CRABS, SAND PIPERS & POLLUTION: FAC-
TORS EFFECTING SAND CRAB AND SAND PIPER POPULATIONS AT SITES IN THE
SANTA MONICA BAY AND LOS ANGELES HARBOR. _ K. Nakaba. Palos Verdes Pen-
insula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274.

2:40 GLOBAL WARMING: CAN BACTERIA REALLY HELP STOPIT? S.F. Ong.
California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson 90747.

3:00 Break

3:20 DISTRIBUTION OF OXIDATIVE AND GLYCOLYTIC ENZYMES IN ELEC-
TROCYTES OF PHYLOGENTICALLY DIVERSE SPECIES OF FISH. — E. Smetak, Jr., La
Habra High School, La Habra Hts, CA, 90631; and G.H. Kageyama, California State Poly-
technic University, Pomona, Dept.-of Biological Sciences, Pomona, CA 91768.

3:40 DISTRIBUTION OF ARGENTINE ANTS ON THE PALOS VERDES PENIN-
SULA: EFFECTS OF ABIOTIC FACTORS AND HUMAN DISTURBANCE. G. Y. Wil-
liams. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90275.

4:00 RECLAIMING THE ECOSYSTEM: EUTROPHICATION CONTROL WITH
CALCIUM CARBONATE (PHOSPHATE-BINDING ION-EXCHANGE) FILTERS AND
DENITRIFICATION IN FRESH WATER LAKES. V. Yanamadala. Palos Verdes High
School.

4:20 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PATTERNS OF PALEOMAGNETIC
INTENSITY VARIATIONS IN EAST ASIA VERSUS THE PATTERNS OF INTENSITY
ON OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. S. Lund and J. Lee. University of Southern
California, Department of Earth Sciences, 3651 Trousdale Pkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089.
4:40 CLONING THE C-TERMINUS OF ATCDPPIV IN TO A BACTERIAL EX-
PRESSION VECTOR. M. Hong, B. Thorson and J. Brusslan. Dept. of Biological Scienc-
es, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840.

ABSTRACTS

1 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN SHALLOW NEARSHORE AND DEEPER CONTINENTAL
SHELF FISHES SINCE 1977; DO SIMILAR RESPONSES SUGGEST A COMMON MECH-
ANISM BEHIND OBSERVED DECLINES?

A. J. Brooks', H. Lenihan’, S. Lester’, S.J. Holbrook*, and R.J. Schmitt*. 'Marine Science In-
stitute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106; *Bren School of Environmental
Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106; ‘Department of
Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106

Populations of many shallow water (< 30m), coastal fish species within the southern California
Bight have undergone dramatic declines over the past twenty-five years. Previous analyses of abun-
dance data by us and others have demonstrated that the magnitudes of these declines were similar for
all species regardless of trophic level, mode of reproduction, longevity, or habitat association. These
patterns are consistent with the explanation that the observed regional decline in productivity asso-
ciated with warmer ocean temperatures and decreased levels of upwelling since 1977 may have neg-
atively affected larval production and/or larval survivorship leading to regional level declines in pop-
ulations of nearshore fishes. We now extend these analyses to data collected by the National Marine
Fisheries Service since 1977 on the abundance of deeper water (> 50m) groundfishes occurring over
the outer Pacific coast continental shelf.

2 DECLINES IN ABUNDANCE OF THREE NEARSHORE SURFPERCHES OFF
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, 1972-2001

D.S. Beck! and K.T. Herbinson’. 'MBC Applied Environmental Sciences, Costa Mesa, CA
92626; *Southern California Edison Company, Rosemead, CA 91770

Fish populations offshore most of southern California’s coastal generating stations have been rou-
tinely monitored by |) demersal fish surveys by otter trawl, 2) in-plant fish impingement surveys, or
3) both methods. Nearshore demersal fish surveys have been conducted offshore the Huntington Beach
Generating Station since 1972. Fish impingement studies at the generating station have also been
conducted routinely since the early 1970s to quantify fish loss resulting from the operation of the
cooling water intake system. For the most part, composition of the fish community sampled by trawl
and assessed in-plant has remained somewhat similar through time, dominated by queenfish (Seriphus
politus), white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), and northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax). However,
three surfperches (family Embiotocidae) that were highly abundant during the onset of trawl and
impingement studies in the early- to mid-1970s declined steeply in the late-1970s and early-1980s,
and their abundance has remained low. These species are walleye surfperch (Hyperprosopon argen-
teum), white seaperch (Phanerodon furcatus), and shiner perch (Cymatogaster aggregata). Trawl-
caught numbers of these three species declined by 99—100% between 1979 and 1984, and the numbers
impinged at the generating station declined by 97% or more during the same period. Abundance of
these species has remained relatively low since 1984. Simultaneous surveys at other locations in the
Southern California Bight suggest region-wide declines for some species, and these declines coincided
with several consecutive years of warming ocean temperatures in southern California.

3 EFFECTS OF CHANGING OCEAN CONDITIONS ON THE FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZA-
TION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DEMERSAL FISH COMMUNITIES

M. James Allen. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA 92683

Changing ocean conditions during the past 30 years have caused noticeable effects on fish popu-
lations in the Southern California Bight. Most effects have been observed in populations of pelagic
or nearshore fishes. This study describes effects of changing ocean conditions on the organization of
demersal fish communities on the continental shelf. The study is based on three large-scale studies of
the demersal fish fauna of the southern California shelf at depths of 10 to 200 m conducted in 1972—
1973 (cold regime), 1994 (warm regime), and 1998 (El Nino). The 1994 and 1998 studies are com-
pared to a baseline model of the functional organization the communities developed by the author
using 1972-1973 data, that described the occurrence of 18 foraging guilds and their distribution across

its)

14 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

the southern California shelf at depths of 10 to 200 m. The order of depth displacing species within
a given guild relative to depth generally did not change but the relative area occupied by a guild
dominant often did change. Changes in depth displacement patterns between cold- and warm-regimes,
and the El Nino varied by guild. El Nino effects included expansions or contractions of depth ranges
of guild members, retreats of some guilds to deeper water, and intrusions of new dominant guild
members from the south. Warm and cold regime changes were less pronounced but some gradual
declines in deeper species were apparent. Examination of depth displacement patterns within foraging
guilds provides a unique perspective to effects of changing ocean conditions on demersal fish com-
munities.

4 TEMPORAL TRENDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEARSHORE FISH POPULATIONS
RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES

M. J. Allen', R. W. Smith’, Erica T. Jarvis', V. Raco-Rands', B. Bernstein’, and K. Herbinson*.
'Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Westminster, CA 92683; 7Ojai, CA 93024;
3Ojai, CA 93024; *Southern California Edison Co., Rosemead, CA 91770

Changes in the abundance of southern California fish populations during the past three decades
have raised concern that these populations are at risk. These changes have been attributed to changes
in Oceanic conditions, overfishing, pollution, and habitat alteration. The objective of this study is to
assess the relative importance of natural and environmental influences on population changes in south-
ern California nearshore fishes. This study compares trends found in a number of long-term fish and
environmental databases. Fish databases included power generating station fish impingement and trawl
monitoring, recreational fishing, and publicly owned treatment plant (POTW) trawl monitoring. Com-
bined, these databases provided information on 300 species of fish. Environmental databases included
oceanographic data, shoreline temperature, stormwater runoff, and contaminant concentrations in
POTW effluents. Relationships of fish and environmental trends were determined using multiple re-
gression analysis, ordination, cluster analysis, and recurrent group analysis. Environmental variables
generally showed distinctly different patterns over the 30 year period, with Pacific decadal oscillation
and annual surface runoff trends being most similar. The Pacific decadal oscillation was the dominant
influence for the most species in these databases, with upwelling off southern California and Baja
California playing an important role for others. The influence of surface runoff and contamination on
fish population trends was less important than natural changes in the oceanic environment. The reduced
abundance of cold-water species during the regime shift at the end of the 1970s was compensated
only in part by increased abundances of warm-water species.

5 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRENDS IN RECREATIONAL FISH CATCH

E.T. Jarvis. Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Fish Group, Westminster, CA
92683

Dramatic declines in southern California fish populations have caused heightened concern in recent
years. While these declines have been mainly attributed to years of sustained and increased fishing
pressure, recreational fish data have rarely been analyzed in terms of life history characteristics or
compared to temporal changes in oceanographic conditions. This paper attempts to bring us up to date
on the following questions: How have catch rates of recreational fish species changed over time? How
do trends in recreational fishing data compare with trends in fishery-independent data? Do species of
specific life history categories and/or families show any obvious temporal patterns? Finally, are the
patterns, if any, related to trends in large-scale oceanographic conditions, years of El Nino events,
and/or sport fishing regulations? Boat and shore sample data (catch rates) collected by the Marine
Recreational Statistical Survey (MRFSS) from 1980 to 2000 were obtained for time series comparison
with local oceanographic data and fish impingement rates from several southern California power
generating stations. This paper will describe trends in southern California recreational fish catch with
the hopes of achieving a better understanding of the dynamics of our coastal recreational fisheries and
realizing the importance of maintaining historic time series.

ABSTRACTS 15

6 ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON CALIFORNIA COMMERCIAL FISH AND INVER-
TEBRATE LANDINGS

Jerrold G. Norton and Janet E. Mason. Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory/SWFSC,
1352 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

In this analysis of 71-year time series from the California commercial fishery landings data (CA-
Com), market groups comprising more than 85% of the total landings weight are examined for possible
influences of environmental variability. Taking multi-species ensembles of market groups in empirical
orthogonal function (EOF) analyses, reduces ambiguity in data grouping and archival. The CACom
data have two distinct patterns of variation in relative species abundance that explain more than 45%
of the variance through the 1930—2000 period. These patterns, defined by EOF! and EOF2, appear
robust to changes in CACom species combination. Association of trends in the fisheries variables to
trends in EOF1 and EOF2 time variation (Cl and C2) during parts of the record suggests that the
fishery, alert to profitable opportunities, readily altered the relative species abundance of its landings.
Flexibility of the fishery together with changing environments produced continued change in relative
species abundance in the California commercial landings. Trends in Cl and C2 match trends in
physical environmental variables more closely than they match trends in fisheries variables, suggesting
that the changes found in relative species abundance begin as changes in the physical environment.
Larger-scale, longer lasting environmental events in 1957—1962, 1973—1982 and 1998—2000 are clearly
evident in relative CACom species abundance. Generally, the relative species abundance varies grad-
ually and continuously, with trends lasting from six to 36 years. This persistence is the result of the
varying life histories of the fishes harvested and capital investment in harvest and processing equip-
ment.

7 CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF UNDERSIZED BYCATCH IN THE GROUPER-
SNAPPER FISHERY OF THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO

Raymond R. Wilson, Jr. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University,
Long Beach, CA and Karen M. Burns, Fisheries Biology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory,
Sarasota, FL

Groupers and snappers are heavily exploited fisheries of the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Conservation
measures adopted in 1990 imposed inter alia new minimum legal sizes. Minimum sizes have en-
couraged release of undersized bycatch with the clear intent to permit further growth and reproduction
before harvest. Factors thought to negatively affect post-release survival are hook injuries and baro-
traumas from swimbladder rupture. Experiments have shown that red grouper Epinephelus morio could
potentially survive barotraumas at high rates (>90%) when captured shallower than 50 m and released.
In practice, however, released fish must usually overcome buoyancy to re-descend quickly. Thus,
venting has become widely practiced. We assessed the efficacy of venting using tag-recapture data
from a long-term tag and release program. Data from thousands of tagged fish caught shallower than
31 m found tag-return rates for vented red grouper and red snapper Lutjanus campechanus to be
significantly lower (p < 0.005) than those for non-vented fish (6.6% v. 10.1%) and (6.2% v. 10.0%),
respectively, but were significantly higher (p < 0.005) for vented gag Mycteroperca microlepis (10.8%
v. 8.1%). At capture depths below 31 m return rates were significantly higher for vented red grouper
and gag, but significantly lower for vented red snapper. Experiments in progress will ascertain how
hook injuries separately affect survival in red snapper experiencing barotraumas. Regarding possible
conservation effects, the trend in landings for red grouper and gag continued downward between 1990
and 1997/98, but has been rising since 1998; the same appears true for red snapper.

8 BIOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF COWCOD ROCKFISH (SEBASTES LE-
VIS) IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

John L. Butler', Larry D. Jacobson’, J. Thomas Barnes’, and H. Geoffrey Moser'. ‘National
Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, P O. Box 271, La Jolla, Cali-
fornia 92038; *National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water
Street Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543; *California Department of Fish and Game, Southwest
Fisheries Science Center, P. O. Box 271 La Jolla, California 92038

The cowcod, Sebastes levis, is common off southern and central California. Adult cowcod may live
to more than 50 years and are usually associated with rocky outcrops at depths of 152—244 m. Cowcod
have been a target of both recreational and commercial fishers off Southern California since World
War II. Recreational landings peaked in 1976 at 140 metric tons (MT) in the then declined to 3.5 MT

16 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

1998. Commercial landings for cowcod peaked in 1984 at 141 MT. The population dynamics of
cowcod were analyzed using both fishery independent and dependent data. Biomass was linked to
larval production that has been monitored by CalCOFI plankton surveys since 1951. Recruitment was
linked to sanitation district otter trawl surveys conducted since 1972. Commercial passenger fishing
vessel logbook data provided angler success rates since 1964. Landings data and all indices of abun-
dance showed declines since the 1960s. High exploitation rates during a prolonged period of low
recruitment have reduced the cowcod biomass to about 7% of the 1951 level. In response to this over-
fished condition, the Pacific Marine Fishery Council prohibit the take of cowcod and established a
Cowcod Conservation Area of 4300 sq. mi. in the Southern California Bight in 2001. Because of
slow population growth, rebuildling time for cowcod will be 95 y with an initial quota of 2.4 MT.
Additional protection for cowcod was afforded by new regulations for rockfish in 2003 which prohibit
most bottom fishing in depths from 20—150 fms.

9 GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FROM LONG-TERM FISH MONITORING

D. J. Pondella, Il. Vantuna Research Group, Department of Biology, Moore Laboratory of
Zoology, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041

In this paper I will discuss the effectiveness and necessity of using long-term monitoring data to
understanding two critical processes in Our marine environment: productivity and harvest refugia. The
Vantuna Research Group (VRG) at Occidental College has continually monitored the nearshore ich-
thyofauna of the southern California bight since 1974. Various components of this fish community-
recruitment, survivorship, larval and adult abundances-demonstrate a long-term decline in nearshore
productivity over the past three decades. This decline in nearshore productivity is both regional and
consistent with trends in other Californian marine systems. That’s the bad news.

Starting 1995, the VRG began the White Seabass Monitoring program for the Ocean Resource
Enhancement Hatchery Project for the Department of Fish and Game. This program has been con-
ducted continually in conjunction with the Nearshore Marine Fish Research Project directed by Larry
Allen at California State University Northridge. Data from this monitoring program indicates that large
predatory fishes including white seabass, black seabass, leopard sharks and soupfin sharks are increas-
ing dramatically in abundance despite this regional decline in productivity. The only hypothesis con-
sistent with these cross-taxonomic increasing trends is the release of fishing pressure on these stocks
from the removal of gill nets in our nearshore environment beginning in 1992. This data indicates
that changes in harvest in our nearshore environment can have dramatic effects on these stocks. For
large predatory and mobile fishes a harvest refugia of the entire southern California bight is of sig-
nificant scale to result in an increase in abundance of these fishes. That’s the good news.

10 DOCUMENTING THE RETURN OF A FISHERY? DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE
OF JUVENILE WHITE SEABASS (ATRACTOSCION NOBILIS) IN THE SHALLOW
NEARSHORE WATERS OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT, 1995-2002

L. G. Allen', D. J. Pondella I’, M. Shane?, and R.E Ford’. 'California State University, North-
ridge, CA 91330-8303; *Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *San Diego State Uni-
versity, San Diego, CA 92182

As part of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP), nearshore coastal
and embayment areas off southern California were sampled to determine the distribution and abun-
dance of young white seabass in the shallow (5-10 m) nearshore waters throughout the Southern
California Bight. This sampling program further serves to monitor white seabass that are cultured,
tagged, and released by OREHP. A total of nineteen stations, 13 in nearshore coastal waters and 6 in
embayments, were surveyed over in April, June, August, and October using 50 m variable mesh,
monofilament gill nets. In the eight-year period of sampling, a total of 8,164 juvenile white seabass
have been captured. CPUE has increased significantly over time from April 1995 to June 2002 (1? =
0.471; p < 0.0001) at a rate of 0.05 fish/net/year. Of the white seabass caught since April 1995, 537
(6.6%) were hatchery-reared fish. Tag returns have also increased significantly over time at a rate of
0.002 tagged fish/net/year (1? = 0.17; p = 0.02*). This increase was strongly influenced by increasing
numbers of tagged fish being recovered from embayments (r? = 0.20; p = 0.03*) where they are often
released. The relatively high catch rates of non-hatchery fish, along with significant and nearly sig-
nificant increases in commercial and recreational catches over the same period, indicate that the natural

ABSTRACTS 17

populations of white seabass may be in recovery. The ban of nearshore commercial gill net fishing
by Proposition 132 in 1992 probably made the greatest contribution to this increase.

11 CALIFORNIA’S FISHERIES: LANDINGS INCREASE, BUT VALUE DECLINES

Janet Mason. Pacific Fisheries Environmental Lab, DOC/NOAA/NMEFS/SWESC, 1352 Light-
house Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

California’s fisheries may look healthy from the total landings; landings in 2000 were the highest
in 20 years. However the economic value of the fisheries has been steadily falling for the last 5 years
as species with lower market value, squid and sardine, constitute more of the landings and valuable
sea urchins, salmon, swordfish and groundfish contribute less. Total landings have increased nearly
50% since their low in 1992, but the value has decreased 42%.

Over the last 74 years, California’s commercial fisheries changed from primarily small pelagic
species (sardines, anchovy and mackerels) to include more tunas, groundfish and invertebrates. The
value increased from these species and from landings of salmon and swordfish. The high value of sea
urchins contributed to the peak value in the late 1980s. However total value began to drop, and from
1988 to 2001, values in Monterey and all Southern California regions dropped about 50% and northern
California regions dropped 75%.

Various factors are involved in the decline in value of the total landings: increased landings of
lower value sardine and squid; restrictions on landings of groundfish to prevent overfishing; serial
depletion of many valuable stocks; decreases in price from competition with imports; decreases in
price for exports to Japan. California fisheries are in economic trouble despite their increased landings.

12 GROWTH BIOMARKERS IN FISH: IGFBPs (insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins)

K.M. Kelley, M.M. Galima, J.A. Reyes, K. Sak, K. Goldman, D. Topping and C.G. Lowe (2003).
Endocrine Laboratory, Department Biological Sciences, California State University at Long
Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840

Essential to somatic growth and a host of anabolic processes in fishes, and in all vertebrates, are
the actions of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). All vertebrate cells express IGF-I and/or IGF-II, and
these peptides are responsible for directly stimulating mitogenic and differentiative functions in cells
and tissues. Growth hormone, on the other hand, has mostly indirect growth actions, via stimulating
expression of IGF-I. In biological fluids, IGF peptides are bound to high-affinity IGFBPs, of which
there are six known members (IGFBPs |—6). IGFBPs are a group of dynamic and centrally-positioned
‘integrators’ of the endocrine growth-regulatory apparatus, as they dictate the distribution and bio-
availability of IGF peptides in the cellular/physiological environments. IGFBPs also exhibit an array
of specialized properties derived from their complex evolutionary history [e.g., cell membrane asso-
ciation] and they are regulated by a diversity of “‘outside”’ factors [e.g., other hormones, metabolic
status, stress]. In fishes and in all vertebrates in which it has been assessed, physiological shifts toward
catabolism (e.g., with food deprivation) are consistently associated with elevations in serum levels of
an IGFBP of <31 kDa. In mammals, 30-kDa IGFBP-1 is substantially up-regulated under catabolic
circumstances, and it plays a key physiological role by sequestering IGFs to inhibit energy-expensive
growth until conditions are more favorable (e.g., with resumed feeding). Similarly in fishes, it has
been shown that when the IGFBP is elevated in serum, somatic growth is inhibited. This paper will
address the cellular actions of IGFBPs and will compare three different experimentally-induced cat-
abolic states in fishes: fasting, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and stress. The relationship
between elevated serum cortisol concentrations and the presence of IGFBPs in each case is noted, and
the utility of serum IGFBP measurement to serve as an effective indicator (biomarker) of catabolic
growth inhibition in fishes will be considered. [Funded by CA Sea Grant College Program NOAA
NAO6RG042 2002-03, project # R/F-192, and NSF g.]

13 BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES AND SURVIVORSHIP OF CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD TO
POST-RELEASE ANGLING STRESS

KJ. Goldman, D.T. Topping, M.M. Galima, K.M. Kelley and C.G. Lowe. California State
University Long Beach, Department of Biological Sciences, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long
Beach, CA 90840

The California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher (Labridae), is a highly sought member of the
temperate, rocky-reef/kelp-bed fish community by both recreational and commercial fishers. The
marked decline in numbers of this species along its range has recently prompted action to be taken

18 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

to effectively manage its fishery. Bag limits and size restrictions can be effective tools in fisheries
management, however, size restrictions dictate that many fish will be released after capture and the
ultimate fate (survival or mortality) of these fish is unknown and of serious concern to fisheries
manages and fishermen alike. Research on the behavioral and physiological responses of California
sheephead to the effects of stress induced by the capture and release process is starting to shed light
on post-release survival. Fish that have been physiologically stressed from being caught hook and line
and having long-term (~1 yr) coded acoustic transmitters surgically implanted in their abdomens, have
exhibited high site fidelity and had a 100% survival rate. Preliminary indications are that there may
be some difference between stressed and unstressed animals in home range size, rate of movement
(ROM) and total distance moved during the first 24-hour period. However these differences appear to
be quite subtle as stressed fish show very similar movement patterns and similar time of day peak
ROM within and after the first 24-hour period. Additionally, blood hormone stress indicators, such as
cortisol, from stressed fish that have been released and later recaptured show a return to baseline
within an 18-hour period. [Support by CA Sea Grant College Program NOAA NAO6RG042 2001-—
02, project # R/F-192].

14 ENDOCRINE ALTERATIONS IN RESPONSE TO CATCHING STRESS IN CALIFORNIA
SHEEPHEAD: METABOLIC AND GROWTH IMPACTS

M.M. Galima, D.T. Topping, K.J. Goldman, C.G. Lowe, and K.M. Kelley. Department of Bi-
ological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840

Harvest control measures (size mit =30.5 cm TL) have been implemented by the State of Cali-
fornia in the marine teleost fish, the California sheephead (Semicossyphus pulcher), with the objective
at reducing impacts of fishing pressure on this economically important species. While these policies
are currently in place, it has not yet been established whether the stress associated with catch-and-
release practices in this fish has subsequent negative physiological effects. We have thus examined
the impacts of line-catching associated stressors on the physiology of sheephead, with an emphasis
on its effect on the endocrine regulation of somatic growth. Sheephead were caught offshore near
Catalina Island by angling and blood was sampled immediately after capture (<= 3 min), or after 5,
10, and 20 min of fight times, or after different recovery times in tanks after line-catching (30 min,
1 hr, 2 hr, 1 d, 3d, 5 d, 8 d). Variation in plasma levels of cortisol, glucose, lactate, insulin-like growth
factor-I (IGF-I), and [GF-binding proteins (IGFBP) were then quantified. As compared with controls,
fish in the treatment groups exhibited more than 2—4-fold elevations in serum glucose and lactate
concentrations and up to 100-fold elevations in the stress hormone, cortisol. Although no changes in
serum IGF-I levels were observed, preliminary serum profiles of the growth-regulatory IGFBPs ex-
hibited changes reflective of a growth-inhibited state in stressed sheephead. Our data thus far indicate
that California sheephead experience a significant physiological response to line-catching that may
impact somatic growth. Comparisons among different fishing techniques will be discussed. [Support
by CA Sea Grant College Program NOAA NAO6RG042 2001—02, project # R/F-192].

15 DOWNSTREAM MIGRATION OF STEELHEAD TROUT AND RESIDENCE IN A LOWER
MAINSTEM AT 35°N

A.P. Spina', M.A. Allen? and M.V. Clarke*. 'National Marine Fisheries Service, Long Beach,
CA 90802; 7Thomas R. Payne & Associates, Arcata, CA 95518; *City of San Luis Obispo, San
Luis Obispo, CA 93401

The function of stream reaches a short distance from the ocean (lower mainstem) in the ecology of
parr steelhead trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 1s poorly understood, as is the characteristics of the down-
stream migration and the migrants near the southern extent of the species’ range. Three years of
monitoring downstream migration and abundance of steelhead in a south-central California stream
indicated juveniles reside in the lower mainstem during summer and fall. Characteristics of the mi-
gration and the migrants were generally similar to those reported for steelhead in northerly areas of
the species’ range. The findings illustrate the lower mainstem is more than simply a migration corridor
for steelhead, and have implications for the regulatory community.

ABSTRACTS 19

16 MEASURING BARRIERS TO FISH PASSAGE IN THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS

S.L. Drill. University of California Cooperative Extension, 2 Coral Circle, Monterey Park, CA
97155, and D. Pritchett, Southern California Steelhead Recovery Coalition, PO. Box 91034,
Santa Barbara, CA 93190

The Southern California Evolutionarily Significant Unit of steelhead (Onchorynchus mykiss), found
in coastal watersheds from the Santa Maria River to the Mexican border, was listed as endangered in
1997. Man-made barriers to passage, including dams, culverts, road crossings, and channelized reaches,
are the leading cause of decline of this anadramous fish, and removal or modification of these barriers
will be vital for steelhead recovery. In order to develop recovery plans, a systematic assessment of
these barriers is needed. We will begin conducting an inventory of barriers in the 23 coastal watersheds
in the Santa Monica Mountains. This project will expand upon work conducted in the Santa Ynez
mountains, and will result in development of a GIS database that can be used to evaluate those barriers
which, if addressed, hold the highest promise for recovery. We will review the science behind barrier
assessment and describe the methodology to be used in the Santa Monica range.

17 GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE “BLUE DRAGON” FLOW
IN CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT

T. Collins. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge, North-
ridge, CA 91330-8266

Craters of the Moon National Monument is located in the Snake River Plain in south-central Idaho
along a 45-km segment of the northern part of the Great Rift. A distinctive lava flow in the Monument
exhibits a stunning surface that reflects various shades of blue. The flow, named the “‘Blue Dragon’’,
covers an area of approximately 280 km’, has a volume of 3.4 km? and is approximately 2076 + 45
radiocarbon years old. In 1973, Faye and Miller proposed that the coloring of the blue material of the
“Blue Dragon” flow is a result of electron-transfer between Fe**— Fe** and Fe**— Ti**. The objective
of this project is to further investigate this unusual surface color. Approaches will include making
microscopic examination of thin sections, comparing whole-rock geochemical and microprobe analyses
of surface and interior samples, and performing transmission and reflective spectral studies by col-
leagues at California Institute of Technology.

18 A GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROLOGIC STUDY OF POWAY CLASTS IN SAN DIEGO
AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS, CALIFORNIA

L. G. Field and PW. Weigand. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University,
Northridge, CA 91330-8266

A geochemical and petrologic study was conducted to investigate Poway clasts (PC), distinctive
porphyritic meta-rhyolite clasts of Jurassic age that were deposited in several Eocene conglomerates
in southern California. Poway clasts were collected from San Diego (Poway and Stadium Conglom-
erates), Santa Cruz Island (Jolla Vieja and Vaqueros Formations), San Miguel Island (Canada For-
mation), and San Nicolas Island.

The mineralogical composition and textural characteristics of the six clast sets are very similar.
Quartz phenocryst (6 to 19 volume %) are frequently embayed with little pitting or vacuolization.
Plagioclase and potassium feldspar phenocrysts (22 to 40%) are usually pitted or vacuolized with
frequent regions of calcite replacement. Biotite is usually altered to sericite, piemontite, or another
colorless mica with abundant opaque grains. Common opaque crystals are mostly hematite and mag-
netite with minor iron sulfides. Low-Mn piemontite is infrequently seen in Santa Cruz Island, San
Miguel Island, and San Diego clasts. Groundmass (42 to 61%) is variably recrystallized; the presence
of remnant shards indicates their tuff origin.

Geochemical analysis shows complete overlap of the six Poway clast collection sites. Most clasts
are Classified as rhyolite and belong to the calc-alkaline magma series. All are slightly enriched in
light REE, with a small Eu anomaly. Negative spikes for Ba, Nb, Sr, P and Ti are exhibited on Spider
diagrams by all samples.

This study confirms that PC clast sets, are in fact, extremely similar with respect to mineralogy and
geochemistry and that their use in paleogeographic models is justified.

20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

19 ANIMATION OF THE RECENT GEOLOGIC EVOLUTION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

G.A. Briscoe, A.E. Fritsche, and P:'W. Weigand. Department of Geological Sciences, California
State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8266

Previous animations of the geologic and tectonic evolution of southern California have included
little actual geologic detail. This presentation uses existing paleotectonic, paleogeographic, paleomag-
netic, and paleoreconstruction constraints to create a Flash computer animation that illustrates southern
California’s dynamic and dramatic evolution over the past 30 million years. A likely scenario of the
potential geologic and tectonic future of southern California is also portrayed in the animation. Pre-
vious research is correlated to create a “‘best-fit’’ scenario that most accurately depicts the geologic
and tectonic past and is presented in a ten-minute animation that graphically shows this scenario.
Highlights of this modeling include a visual demonstration of the way that the western Transverse
Ranges block has rotated over time. Evidence for this rotation has been well documented through
paleomagnetic and paleotectonic data as well as by the correlation of a distinctive volcanic rock that
originated in Mexico and is now found in sedimentary rocks located in San Diego and on the northern
Channel Islands off the coast of California. Planned for Web publication, this project uses the most
recent advances in Web technology to allow for the widest dissemination of this information. The
authors intend for this presentation to enlighten both the general public and the scientific community
while sparking greater interest in the dramatic geologic developments that have taken place in southern
California.

20 A FIELD AND PETROGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF A PORTION OF THE KERN PLA-
TEAU SHEAR ZONE, TULARE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

K. Mahr Hill and G. Dunne. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University,
Northridge, CA 91330

I report here results of a study of the field and petrographic characteristics of two variably deformed
granitoid plutons—Rockhouse granite (~230 Ma) and Long Valley pluton (~148 Ma)—that are part
of the Kern Plateau shear zone, a Mesozoic-age ductile fault zone in the southern Sierra Nevada.
These granitoids crop out adjacent to out-of-place Paleozoic oceanic rocks in the Kennedy Meadows
roof pendant, but it has not been clear as to whether these plutons intruded into or were faulted against
the pendant strata. Key findings of my study are as follows: (1) the intensity of deformation in the
granitoids increases as One approaches the Kennedy Meadows roof pendant; (2) one or more phases
of mylonitization occurred between intrusion of the intensely deformed Rockhouse granite and com-
monly undeformed Long Valley pluton that intrudes it; (3) the Rockhouse granite has intruded into
the pendant, demonstrating that it is in place with respect to the pendant rather than being transported
within the fault zone; (4) sense of shear in intensely folded pendant strata that lie alongside the plutons
is consistently left-lateral; (5) petrographic characteristics of minerals in the mylonites indicate that
deformation occurred under temperature and pressure conditions consistent with the greenschist facies.

21 EVALUATION OF SAND AND PEBBLE PROVENANCE FOR CONSTRAINING RATES
OF STREAM CHANNEL OFFSET BY THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT, ON THE CARRIZO
PLAIN

RJ. O’Neil. California State University Northridge, Department of Geology, Northridge, CA
91330-8266

The San Andreas fault (SAF) is an active transform fault. Offset stream channels are one of the
most obvious geomorphic tectonic landforms apparent in the Carrizo Plain segment of the SAF These
channels have been displaced right-laterally by SAF movement. Geological determination of late
Holocene slip-rates, dates of paleoseismic earthquakes, and estimates of slip per rupture have created
models of recurrence intervals along segments of the San Andreas fault.

In this study, I test the feasibility of using sand and pebble provenance to determine rates of stream
offset along the Carrizo Plain segment of the SAE Stream channels extend upstream above the SAF
scarp the Temblor Range. Tertiary marine deposits of the Temblor, Vaqueros, Santa Margarita For-
mations, and the Monterey, Bitterwater creek Shales, crop out within the Temblor Range source area.
Numerous ephemeral streams deliver sediments from the Temblor Range to the Carrizo Plain. Stream
samples were collected east of the SAF on the North American Plate between the Temblor Range and

ABSTRACTS 2a

the SAF Thin sections made from these samples reflect changes in lithology along strike of the fault.
Some samples are dominated by calcareous mudstone fragments with minor quartz and feldspar grains;
others are dominated by plutonic clasts composed of quartz and feldspar. These contrasting compo-
sitional fingerprints could help constrain stream channel offset history in the Carrizo Plain.

22 SEISMIC HAZARD ANALYSIS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY USING THE FRISKSP
COMPUTER PROGRAM

Robert J. Medina. California State University, Northridge, Department of Geological Sciences,
Northridge, California 91330

The 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake that occurred in 1994 caused major damage in the San
Fernando Valley and surrounding regions. A blind thrust fault located 19 km beneath the surface
caused this earthquake and emphasizes the seismic hazard associated with blind thrust faults. Seismic
ground motion accelerations recorded by the USGS during the earthquake were compared to accel-
erations calculated using the FRISKSP program, which generates the probability of future ground
accelerations. FRISKSP uses recorded fault-rupture-area data, earthquake magnitude, distance to
source, and recurrence interval to calculate peak horizontal ground acceleration resulting from a given
fault. The recurrence interval of an earthquake is directly proportional to the slip rate of the fault(s)
associated with a particular earthquake. The intensity of ground shaking at a given location depends
primarily upon the earthquake’s magnitude, the site’s distance from the epicenter, and the site-response
characteristics. Site response is dependent on subsurface and soil characteristics. Probabilities of the-
oretical accelerations for two earthquake scenarios were calculated using FRISKSP. The two earth-
quakes used for this study were the 1857 (M = 7.9) rupture of the San Andreas Fault and the 1994
(M = 6.8) Northridge earthquake. The results show a 4% probability of 0.25 g accelerations being
experienced by CSUN from the San Andreas rupture, whereas there is an 11% probability that this
same site will experience the same acceleration value from the Northridge blind thrust fault.

23 DETERMINING THE DEPOSITIONAL AGE OF PEAT: IMPLICATIONS FOR DATING
PALEOEARTHQUAKES AT THE BURRO FLATS PALEOSEISMIC SITE NEAR BAN-
NING, CA

Caryn L. Howland and J. Douglas Yule. California State University, Northridge, Department
of Geological Sciences, Northridge, CA 91330-8266

Determining the age of paleoearthquakes hinges upon acquiring age data that accurately reflects the
age of the ground surface at the time of past ruptures. Peat deposited shortly before and shortly after
ground rupture provides an opportunity to precisely constrain the timing of paleoearthquakes. However,
the peat layers consist of a variety of organic material that both predates and post-dates the age of
deposition. Components that predate the depositional age include detrital charcoal, wood fragments,
seeds, and organic soil. Components that post-date the depositional age primarily consist of roots.
Radiocarbon dating of a bulk peat sample will therefore yield a mixing age that may not reflect the
depositional age of the deposit. Peats also contain layer-parallel fibers interpreted to represent annual
reeds and/or grasses that die and are buried parallel to the ground surface. At the Burro Flats site,
each sample was examined under a microscope, and various components including charcoal, wood,
seeds, roots, and plant fibers were hand-separated. All but the roots were dated showing a range in
radiocarbon ages as great as 300 years. The detrital components, bulk samples, and layer-parallel fibers
consistently yielded the oldest, intermediate, and youngest ages, respectively. Relying upon radioarbon
data from bulk peat and/or detrital charcoal to constrain the timing of paleoearthquakes can result in
ages that are too old. We consider the radiocarbon ages of layer-parallel fibers to best represent of
depositional age of the unit. These fiber ages can therefore provide robust constraints on the timing
of paleoearthquakes.

24 GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DEPOSITS IN THE MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA

K.S. Rivera and V. Pedone. California State University Northridge, Department of Geological
Sciences, Northridge, CA 91330

A number of laterally limited and stratigraphically thin carbonate deposits are exposed at the surface
in the Mojave Desert. The deposits overlie and/or are interbedded with unconsolidated silty sand to

i)
i)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

gravel and are presumed to be Pleistocene in age. The origin of these deposits is uncertain, and the
purpose of this study is to determine the hydrologic system from which they formed: 1) a lacustrine
system dominated by surface runoff, 2) a pedogenic system dominated by meteoric infiltration, or 3)
a wetland dominated by groundwater flow and discharge. The initial results of the overall study, which
will synthesize field, petrographic, and isotopic characteristics of the carbonates and their associated
clastic deposits, has defined the geomorphology, areal distribution, stratigraphy, and paleontology of
one deposit located along a broad alluvial fan surface near the intersection of two major drainage
areas defined by the Bristol, Old Dad, Granite, Marble, Old Woman, Providence, New York, and Piute
Mountains. The study site contains an approximately 1-km-wide irregular band of poorly exposed
carbonate deposits, which form subtle, resistant topographic highs. Carbonates are white to light-
brown, fine-grained, and porous and contain about 20% clastic sand and silt. Beds range in thickness
from 3 to 35 cm and grade vertically above and below into moderately resistant, fine-grained, calcar-
eous sand. Carbonate beds locally contain abundant molluscan fauna and commonly exhibit root casts
within their gradational contacts. The gastropod assemblage, Fossaria sp., Gyraulus sp., and Pupilli-
dae, are typical of those found in wetlands dominated by groundwater flow and discharge.

25 SUBAQUEOUS SPRING DEPOSTS IN LIMESTONE FROM THE MIDDLE MIOCENE
BARSTOW FORMATION, MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA

B.C. Sill. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Northridge, 18111
Nordhoff, Northridge, CA 91330

Localized subaqueous-spring tufa mounds occur in a coarse-grained siliciclastic tongue near the
base of the Middle Member of the Barstow Formation on the south limb of the Barstow syncline near
Owl Campground, about 12 km north of Barstow, California. The initial results of the study, which
will synthesize field, petrologic, and carbon and oxygen stable-isotope data, focuses on the field
relationships and petrology. The mounds are typically 1.5-m-thick and 3.5-m-diameter. They overlie
pebbly, coarse-grained sandstone in which there are vertical pipes of carbonate-cemented gravel. Sim-
ilar pipes, up to 20 cm in diameter, form the interiors of the carbonate mounds. Some portions of the
mounds, including the pipes in the gravel, consist of crudely and broadly banded microbialite, where
different zones are best defined by changes in color. Other portions consist of well defined, alternating
thin bands of prismatic calcite and micrite. The prismatic calcite bands are approximately 300 to 500
microns thick and the micrite bands are 10 microns thick. The distinctly banded tufa is overlain by
and sometimes laterally grades into porous, crudely laminated microbialite. The localized development
and internal pipe structure of the mounds suggests that they were formed where subaqueous springs
of groundwater discharge entered the lake.

26 CHAROPHYTE MOUNDS IN THE MIDDLE MIOCENE BARSTOW FORMATION, MUD
HILLS, CALIFORNIA

C. Caceres and V. Pedone. California State University Northridge, Department of Geological
Sciences, Northridge, CA 91330

Charophyte mounds at the base of the Middle Member of the Barstow Formation in the Mud Hills
have been investigated using field, petrographic, and geochemical/isotopic studies. Although over- and
underlain by coarse-grained sandstone and conglomerates, the carbonate rocks of the mound unit
contain little siliciclastic material. The mounds formed by extracellular calcification of the green alga
Chara and are | to 3 m thick and 3 to 5 m in diameter. Primary calcification of the Chara consists
of alternating bands of dull-orange luminescent prismatic calcite and bright-orange luminescent mi-
crite. The calcite has moderate levels of Mn (mean 1400 ppm) and low levels of Fe (mean 470 ppm).
The 5'°O of the charophyte fabric ranges from —4.5 to —9 permil (VPDB), and 6'°C ranges from
+1.7 to —2.5 permil (VPDB). Based on calcite 6'*O and an estimated precipitation temperature of
~20°C, lake water 5'°O ranged from —4.3 to —8.3 permil (SMOW). Synthesis of all data suggests
that charophyte mounds formed in a shallow, nearshore lake environment where synsedimentary fault-
ing temporarily disrupted clastic input, allowing carbonate deposition to occur. Calcite cements have
significantly higher values of Mn and Fe, compared to framework components, indicating that later
diagenetic fluids were strongly reduced. The wide range of 5'°O indicates that cements formed from
meteoric water, slightly evaporated meteoric water, and geothermal water. Low 8'%C values indicate

ABSTRACTS ZS

the addition of organic carbon to all fluids. Meteoric water and geothermal fluid most likely become
isotopically light by interaction with organically derived CO, in the vadose (soil) zone.

27 STUDENT RESEARCH IN K-12 CLASSES MENTORED BY TEACHERS TRAINED IN
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH LABS

S.B.Oppenheimer. Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, California State University,
Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

For nearly a decade teachers have received research experiences in the laboratories of faculty at
Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Caltech and other institutions under fellowships supported by grants
from the National Science Foundation, Eisenhower Program and the Improving Teacher Quality State
Grant Program. Some of the teachers have spent many years in our research labs, receiving continuing
fellowships. After completing research projects mentored by university scientists, the teachers train
the students in their K—12 classes to do research. Assessment of the program’s success is based on
student work: publication of student research abstracts in the Journal of Student Research Abstracts,
Pearson Education, Boston, and student poster presentations at our annual student poster symposium.
The 2003 issue of the journal (Library of Congress Number ISBN 0-536-68038-8) includes 131
abstracts co-authored by 594 K—12 students.

We feel that the success of the program is based on two key factors: (1) some teachers spend years
working with university scientists on a year round basis (not just summer only) leading to high quality
classroom research, and (2) the bottom line is always assessment of student work (published abstracts
and presented posters). The research experiences component is part of a Super-Funded Science Leader
Initiative where many of the teachers also receive content and leadership training funded by the
Eisenhower Program, the Improving Teacher Quality State Grant Program and the California Science
Project (Supported by NSF grant ESI 9729391, Eisenhower/Improving Teacher Quality Grant 1101
and the California Science Project).

28 RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR TEACHERS OPENS THE DOOR FOR RESEARCH EX-
PERIENCES FOR K-12 STUDENTS. A MEASURE OF CLASSROOM IMPLEMENTATION
SUCCESS

Catherine A. Coyle-Thompson. California State University, Northridge, Department of Biology,
Northridge, CA 91330-8303

K—12 Teachers completed research projects using Collembola (springtails) during the past four years
as part of the NSF Science Scholar and Eisenhower programs directed by Dr. Steven B. Oppenheimer.
Each teacher learned the methods and developed lesson plans and research projects incorporating the
new California State Science Standards. In addition, several teachers have continued to develop ad-
ditional projects for further study as part of the program.

Each of the teachers has been implementing the Collembola projects in the classroom. In addition,
they are getting support from their principals, parents of students and fellow teachers. They have
received additional microscopes and supplies for their students to use. The parents of the students
have helped to assemble Collembola collecting kits. The support our teachers are getting is really
helping them to work with Collembola.

The students have also expressed interest. Many of these students have continued to study Collem-
bola as members of Science Clubs and for Science Fair projects. As quoted from Joe Moche and
Terry Miller, ““Any science project that can get middle students to come to school and work before
class starts and to stay late after school is over to observe and study the organism, has captured their
interest.’’ Several of these aspects of the Collembola project will be discussed.

29 CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS FOR
TEACHERS

Norman Herr. California State University, Northridge, Department of Secondary Education,
Northridge, CA 91330-2580

The CSUN Research Fellowships for Teachers program (now in its fifth year) has been funded by
the National Science Foundation and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development State Grant
Program of the California Post Secondary Education Commission. The objective of this program is

24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

to provide teachers with scientific research experiences so they are better prepared to develop inquiry
experiences in their secondary school classrooms. Participants spend 120 hours in the laboratory of a
scientist engaged in scientific research. Teachers who successfully complete the research program are
awarded a stipend of $1800 and are given the opportunity to obtain university credit. Teachers imple-
ment research projects in their classes, provide reports on their research projects, engage in follow-up
meetings and enrichment activities, and submit abstracts of their students’ research projects for pub-
lication in the Journal of Student Research Abstracts. In addition, their students make poster presen-
tations of their own work at the Student Research Symposium held each spring on the CSUN campus.
Teachers may be invited to continue their research fellowships after successful classroom implemen-
tation. Current research and implementation areas include: microbiology, developmental biology, ecol-
ogy, biochemistry, plant physiology, neuroboioiogy, animal behavior, cell biology, marine biology,
molecular genetics, genetics, molecular biology, seismology, geology, and high energy physics.

30 TOMORROW’S SCIENTIST, USING A SERVICE LEARNING MODEL WITH PRE-SER-
VICE TEACHERS TO RUN AN AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE
SCHOOLERS

Virginia Oberholzer Vandergon. California State University, Northridge, Department of Biol-
ogy, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

Using a service-leaning model the introductory biology course (Biological Concepts BIOL102)
consisting of students in the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) created an after-school
program for under-served middle schoolers called ‘““Tomorrow’s Scientist”. A major goal for this
program was to familiarize ITEP students with the California Science Standards by exposing them to
the science concepts and give them early experience in hands-on science teaching. The middle-school-
ers were brought to campus with the goal to get them excited about science through providing a
science enrichment program. The program ran for twelve weeks in which the ITEP students imple-
mented fun, experimental based activities using topics from the Life Science portions of the State
Science Standards. Attitudinal and knowledge-based research assessed the value of two semesters of
the “‘Tomorrow’s Scientists”” service-learning program to both undergraduate future teachers and the
7th grade students they taught. Both groups improved in science content knowledge and subject
enjoyment, while the future teachers also showed increased confidence in knowledge and teaching
ability, and the middle schoolers abandoned some negative stereotypes about science and scientists.
Overall the Tomorrow’s Scientists after-school program appeared effective for increased science con-
tent knowledge and demonstrating effective pedagogy.

31 ENHANCEMENTS OF SCIENCE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE SCIENCE
LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE—A SUPERFUNDED PROJECT

Gerry Simila, Virginia Oberholzer Vandergon and Steven Oppenheimer. California State Uni-
versity, Northridge, Department of Geological Sciences, Northridge, CA 91330-8266

The California State University Northridge (CSUN) San Fernando Valley Science Project (SFVSP)
has served school districts including the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in the San
Fernando Valley and Los Angeles region since summer 2000. The project was designed to provide
leadership development institutes for teachers in middle school and high school geology, life science,
chemistry and physical science based on the California State Science Standards. The workshops also
focused on ways of teaching English Language Learners in middle school and high school classrooms
along with ways to use state mandated materials to enhance the workshop participants teaching and
improve the content level of their students. Progress in teacher development was surveyed with pre
and post content testing and evaluation of teacher produced written lesson plans and their oral pre-
sentations to project staff and their colleagues and by classroom visitations. The SFVSP provided
teacher training to middle and high school teachers from low performing schools (API = 1—4) of
LAUSD in intensive 3 week summer workshops with monthly academic-year follow-up activities and

classroom visitations.

ABSTRACTS 1p)

32 TRACE METAL ANALYSIS OF THE CALIFORNIA HORN SNAIL (CERITHIDEA CAL-
IFORNTA) IN THE BALLONA WETLANDS

J. McAdam and J. Landry. Loyola Marymount University, Department of Natural Science, Los
Angeles, CA 90045

The Ballona Wetlands is a 340 acre degraded urban salt-water marsh located adjacent to the new
Playa Vista development and Marina del Rey. The wetlands includes a substantial population of
Cerithidea california, the California Horn Snail. Although highly degraded, Ballona will undergo
restoration in the future with the design to improve the overall health of the wetlands. Cerithidea
california will be used as an indicator of the health in the Ballona Wetlands just as the National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has used Mussel Watch to measure the health of
coastal waters. An analytical method was developed in which snails are collected from nine distinct
sites in the wetlands, soft tissues extracted and digested, then analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spec-
troscopy (AAS) for Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Ni. The resulting accuracy and precision data for the
method will be presented. Heavy metal levels in the snails at the sites will be discussed along with
maps illustrating heavy metal level trends present throughout the Ballona Wetlands.

33 STUDIES DIRECTED TOWARD THE TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF ERGOLINE ALKALOIDS

Alexander Schultz and Taeboem Oh. California State University Northridge, Department of
Chemistry, Northridge, CA 91330-8262

A new synthetic approach to the total synthesis of lysergic acid has been explored. Following the
iodination of gramine the tertiary amine is smoothly converted to first a nitrile and then an aldehyde
before successfully employing an imino Diels-Alder reaction to produce the 2,3-dihydro pyridone
moiety. Methyl, benzyl and butyl substituents were incorporated at the |-pyridone positions for dif-
ferent analogues. Numerous one-step attempts at closing the final ergoline ring have been summarized.
Enolate generating studies were carried out, after synthesizing nearly identical model compounds, that
suggest the more complicated indolyl pyridones are resistant to deprotonation in the 3-pyridone po-
sition when compared to pyridones lacking an indolyl system.

34 SYNTHESIS OF 2-(1,1'-BINAPHTHYL) CHIRAL AUXILIARIES

Tania Tasu and Taeboem Oh. California State University Northridge, Department of Chemistry,
Northridge, CA 91330-8262

New method for the synthesis of handedness in molecules is important in many aspects of chemistry.
These methods are also needed to form chiral nonracemic drugs. Our approach is to explore the use
of axis of symmetry in 2-(1,1’-binaphthyl) as chiral auxiliaries for asymmetric reactions. In this talk,
the approach in the synthesis of 2-(1,1'-binaphthyl) chiral auxiliaries and how it will be used to
synthesize chiral molecules will be presented.

35 MOLECULAR AND MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENDANGERED YELLOW
POND TURTLE (MAUREMYS MUTICA)

JJ. Fong and R.L. Carter. Department of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda,
CAN92350

Due to the food, medicine, and pet trade, as well as destruction of natural habitat, turtles in Asia
are rapidly disappearing from the wild. This has resulted in the recognition of endangered status of
many species by international conservation groups such as CITES and IUCN. One such species is the
Yellow Pond Turtle, Mauremys mutica. This wide-ranging species is rare in the wild but prevalent in
the food markets across China due to captive breeding efforts in turtle farms. Previous studies have
hinted at M. mutica being a complex of species due to the tremendous variation in color, morphology
and mitochondrial DNA throughout its range. In our study, the species status of M. mutica is examined
through the use of molecular and morphometric analyses.

26 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

36 THE MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF THE MYB GENE FAMILY IN BAMBOO AND SOR-
GHUM

Andrew Norris and Virginia Oberholzer Vandergon. Calif. State Univ., Northridge, Department
of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330

The sequencing and comparison of gene families can be a major factor in elucidating the evolution
of a plant species. Of particular interest is the myb gene family. Their genomic sequences have been
shown to retain highly conserved sequences in the DNA binding domain, with high levels of variability
at the C-terminal end. My hypothesis is that the myb gene sequences from Bamboo and Sorghum will
have very few changes in the DNA binding domain, and will express a wide variety of changes at
the C-terminal end. Screening of genomic libraries with PCR amplified myb-like sequences has yielded
two possible candidate genes from both Bamboo and Sorghum. These candidate genes have been
sequenced, analyzed, and compared to known sequences of myb genes from classical plant models.
The search for any striking differences or similarities will help to illuminate the reasons behind the
evolutionary process and in particular how it has occurred in plant genomes.

37 AN OIL POLLUTION MODEL USING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILLOWS

K. Williams, J. Torres, C.M. Vadheim, and J.W. Roberts*. The Applied Environmental Plant
Physiology Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747

Used motor oil from street water runoff is a major pollutant in Southern California. Estimates from
previous studies suggest that the concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons in runoff ranges from 0.7
to 6.6 mg/l. Motor oil pollution can have adverse effects on plants thereby effecting entire ecosystems,
as well as polluting drinking water and contaminating fisheries. We exposed two species of native S.
California willows (Salix lasiolepis, Arroyo Willow; Salix laevigata, Red Willow) to various levels of
used motor oil diluted with water as a model for street water runoff (levels ranging from 0.0 to 8.0
mg/l). The willow cuttings were collected from a site with petroleum exposure (both oil wells and
street runoff). Preliminary results on both Salix species show moderate tolerance to the motor oil at
all treatment levels. Leaf and shoot growth was not decreased compared to controls in either species,
with Red Willow possibly more tolerant at higher treatment levels than Arroyo Willow. Root mass
was increased at higher doses, possibly as a result of oil-induced hypoxia. We are currently conducting
studies to better define the LD-50 level and the physiologic effects of motor oil on cuttings of these
two species. We are also exploring a contaminated soils model to further characterize the effects of
oil on Salix.

38 CHANGING MACROPHYTE ABUNDANCES AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY OF A
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHORE

A. M. Bullard and S. N. Murray. California State University, Fullerton, Department of Biolog-
ical Science, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850

Cover and light-saturated net photosynthetic rates of rocky intertidal macrophytes were measured
at Little Corona del Mar, California between January and March 2003. Overall macrophyte cover was
low (75.4%), with the greatest contributions by smaller, turf, and crustose algal species that provide
little habitat structure: Corallina pinnatifolia (22.9%), Caulacanthus ustulatus (8.1%), and Crustose
Corallinaceae (7.9%). The cover of larger, frondose seaweeds was very low (<5%). Of the 15 rocky
intertidal macrophytes used in our photosynthesis experiments, the highest light-saturated rates were
mostly obtained for species with low cover, while the lowest rates were measured for species contrib-
uting high cover values. We estimated the light-saturated, net community productivity for Little Corona
del Mar using the photosynthetic rates (calculated as mg C m-? h'!) and percent cover values of the
most abundant populations. This value was compared with prior estimates of macrophyte community
productivity obtained from southern California sites in the mid-1970s using similar methods. Analyses
of past records indicate that low-producing, crustose and coralline algae have become increasingly
abundant while higher-producing, frondose algae have declined on many southern California shores.
Our abundance and photosynthetic studies for Litthe Corona del Mar indicate that this site is charac-
terized by low macrophyte cover and productivity, and underscore the degree to which changing
macrophyte abundances can affect the primary productivity of intertidal communities.

ABSTRACTS 37

39 POSSIBLE “EVIL TWIN” EFFECT THROUGH COMPETITION OF ARROYO WILLOW
CLONES

M. Drexler, C.M. Vadheim and J.W. Roberts*. The Applied Environmental Plant Physiology
Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747

Studies of interactions between individuals, especially between male and female plants in dioecious
species, raise interesting questions about the role of gender in intra-specific plant competition. Salix
(willow) species provide a useful model for such interactions; yet little research has been conducted
using willows. We observed possible competition between willow shoots in an uncontrolled fertilizer
study in which shoots were rooted in pairs. The current study focused on three clones of a native
California willow, Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo Willow): two female clones (R and B) and one male (Y).
Shoots were planted two to a pot either with themselves or with one of the other clones. Half of the
paired shoots were treated with liquid fertilizer, the other half with water only. Singly-planted shoots
served as controls for each clone. As seen below, shoot length is reduced when female shoots are
planted in intra-clonal pairs and treated with water (the “‘evil twin” effect).

Growth is reduced less (or not at all) when water-treated shoots are planted in inter-clonal pairs.
The situation in fertilizer-treated pairs is more complex. Growth response to fertilizer appears to differ
between the clones. In addition, the male (Y) clone exerted a greater effect on the other clones with
fertilizer treatment. We are conducting a follow-up study to confirm and expand these findings.

Total Shoot Length: Percent of | Total Shoot Length: Percent of

Expected (Compared to Single R Grown in Expected (Compared to Single B |
Water) Grown in Water) |
OR alone | |
TC a |
i BRR £ EIB alone | |
x OR-Y 9
3 0 x HB-B
~ R-B rad
3 ais 2 oB-Y |
é 5 |
Q OB-R
o i}
Water 1 X Fertilizer &
Treatment Water 1 X Fertilizer

Treatment

40 THE USE OF BRASSICA NIGRA AS AN ADJUNCT GENETIC MODEL FOR THE STUDY
OF SALT TOLERANCE

Candice Groat, Richard Kuromoto, John Roberts. CSUDH Department of Biology, Applied
Plant Physiology Laboratory, Carson, CA 90747

Commonly found among the California Coastal Flora, and widely distributed throughout the United
States, Brassica nigra can inhabit ecosystems with wide gradients of abiotic factors. Brassica nigra
is closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana and may be a valuable adjunct genetic model for the study
of salt tolerance. Previous studies of ecotypes done by C.B. Osmond have shown that ecotypes of
Atriplex differed in their tolerances to NaCl salinity. Similarly, in this research study, we hypothysized
that ecotypes of Brassica nigra from a beach site (33°43.759'N, 118°21.166’W) and an inland
site(34°08.830'N, 118°45.573’W) possess different tolerances to NaCI salinity. Experiments conducted
over several years at CSUDH provide evidence that Brassica nigra is a facultative halophyte capable
of adaptive radiation into habitats with a wide range of salinities. These experiments included ger-
minations, dry and wet weight measurements, time to first flowers, number of siliques and seeds
produced per silique after early and late treatments with NaCI in both distilled and tap water. Signif-
icant differences between dry weights of ecotypes were found at the 0.1 M NaCI and 0.2 M NaCl
levels of treatment (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001 respectively). Ecotype differences also existed with regard
to germinations, flowering times, and production of seeds and siliques.

28 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

41 THE EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM COPPER EXPOSURE ON TWO SPECIES OF SALIX,
CALIFORNIA WILLOW

L.M. Peters, R. Resendiz, C.M. Vadheim and J.W. Roberts*. The Applied Environmental Plant
Physiology Laboratory, CSU Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, Carson, CA 90747

Copper has become a common contaminant in S. California waters. Our laboratory is studying the
ability of several native willows to tolerate and extract copper from soil and water (phytoremediation).
If successful, such willows will be useful for both revegetation and remediation purposes. The current
study investigates the long-term viability of Salix lasiolepis (Arroyo willow) and Salix laevigata (Red
willow) upon exposure to moderate levels of dissolved copper (0 mg, 0.15 mg, 0.3 mg, 0.7 mg, 1 mg
CuSO,°5H,O/L, respectively). The copper treatments began when the cuttings were sixteen weeks of
age and the experiment was terminated after approximately one year of treatment. This initial exper-
iment revealed two novel results regarding new shoot growth: |) In the several weeks after copper
treatments began S. laevigata showed noticeably more growth than S. lasiolepis; 2) S. lasiolepis
however, outgrew S. laevigata by week 48, especially treatment group E (1 mg CuSO,*5H,O/L). The
Applied Environmental Plant Physiology lab is presently conducting further tests to determine the LD-
50 level for copper in these plants.

Week6 Week 10 Week 26 Week 48

Weeks of treatment

42 A BOLD VISION:

Week 6

Week 10 Week26 Week 48

Weeks of treatment

| New Shoot Growth: S. laevigata New Shoot Growth: S. /asiolepis |
|
E TL OO} 00 [eee ee Be fee ona ae ese E nicaOR
c 1200.00 +— c 120000 | — a axa |
| = 1000.00 }- = 100000 |
| |STXB |
| & 800.00 ;}— S s0000 | — eee |
| = 600.00 4— 2 600.00 +— | |
® 400.00 }- ® 400.00 | |BtxD |
7% 200.00 7% 20000 [@TXE ||
re) 0.00 4 © 000
_ =

ENHANCING WETLAND EDUCATION AND RESTORATION

THROUGH THE BALLONA OUTDOOR LEARNING & DISCOVERY (BOLD) AREA

Sueda Kilikikopa,, Philippa M. Drennen, John H. Dorsey, James M. Landry, Jennifer Mc-
Adams, Timothy D. McShurley, Lauren Roberts, and Whit Scheidegger. Loyola Marymount
University, Department of Natural Sciences, One LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Under contract to the Ballona Wetlands Foundation, a team of Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
students and faculty designed the Ballona Outdoor Learning & Discovery (BOLD) area, an out-door
learning facility with a mission to educate students and the public on the value of wetlands, restore
habitats in a portion of the Ballona Wetlands, one of Los Angeles’ largest remaining salt marsh, and
to conduct research on restoration techniques and processes.

The BOLD area will be located in the southwest corner of the Ballona Wetlands. This area presently
consists of degraded upland habitat dominated by non-native plants. Portions of the area will be
reshaped to restore four habitats—tidal channels, intertidal mud banks, salt marsh, and coastal sage.
Educational information will be available to students and the public over a network of trails on which
signs and kiosks will be strategically positioned. The first phase of construction will entail grading
the area’s eastern portion to construct a channel and intertidal mudflat, and construction of paths, an
irrigation system for the coastal sage and upland habitats, fencing, and planting the various habitats
with native species. Phase 2 will occur when the Wetlands are restored with mixed tidal flows so
BOLD’s tidal channel can be extended further to the west.

43 MITOCHONDRIAL DNA GENETICS OF AN INVASIVE POPULATION OF YELLOWFIN
GOBY ACANTHOGOBIUS FLAVIMANUS IN CALIFORNIA

M.E. Neilson and R.R. Wilson, Jr. Department of Biological Sciences, California State Univer-

sity, Long Beach
Recent genetic bottlenecks can produce short-term effects on genetic diversity, yet our ability to
detect them using traditional indices is marginal. A survey of population genetic studies utilizing
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data of marine fishes has shown from regression analysis that

ABSTRACTS 29

the number of singleton haplotypes in populations ostensibly at mutation-drift equilibrium is in con-
stant proportion to the total haplotypes discovered. A significant reduction in the ratio of singleton
haplotypes to total haplotypes in a population might indicate transitory non-equilibrium following a
recent genetic bottleneck. We estimated this singleton ratio and calculated the traditional haplotype
diversity, h, from mtDNA sequence data from two yearly samples from a population of the yellowfin
goby, an invasive estuarine fish in California with a documented colonization, in the San Francisco
Bay estuary system. We found 32 distinct haplotypes, of which 20 were singletons, in 63 individuals
in the 2001 sample, and 21 haplotypes (18 singletons) in 29 individuals in the 2002 sample; however,
sequencing of individuals is incomplete. The number of singletons is significantly lower than expected
from the constant ratio (tf = 10.23, P < 0.001) in the 2001 sample, but not in the 2002 sample. When
combined, the number of singletons is significantly lower than expected (f = 11.92, P < 0.001). This
evident loss of rare mtDNA alleles in this population is concordant with a recent bottleneck following
the invasion of yellowfin goby, even though traditional indices did not indicate such (h > 0.94 for
each years).

41 ARE COASTAL WETLANDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SOURCES OR SINKS FOR
FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA?

M. Evanson and R. E Ambrose. Environmental Science and Engineering Program, School of
Public Health, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095

By acting as natural filtering systems, wetlands perform an important service by improving water
quality. Although constructed freshwater wetlands have been shown to remove fecal indicator bacteria
(FIB) with high efficiency, little is known about the fate of FIB in estuaries. By filtering particles to
which FIB are adsorbed, estuaries could reduce FIB inputs. On the other hand, recent studies have
indicated that the large numbers of birds attracted to estuaries could provide a significant source of
FIB.

A study was carried out to identify wetland processes that may spatially and/or temporally mediate,
the input of FIB into coastal adjacent waters. Wetland characteristics such as extent of tidal flushing,
benthic grazer density and vegetative cover did not appear to be correlated with higher FIB levels.
However, the occurrence of algal mats may have contributed to elevated sediment FIB by providing
protection from desiccation and UV exposure. Temporally, sediment and water FIB concentrations
both became extremely high after rain events. Levels of sediment FIB, however, persisted for several
days compared to water levels, which decreased rapidly. FIB concentrations were also high on some
vegetation types, including Spartina foliosa (cordgrass) and algal mats, although not on Salicornia
virginica (pickleweed). These data indicate that wetland sediment and vegetation are temporary sinks
for FIB, however, further work is needed to ascertain their contribution of FIB to coastal waters.

45 FIRST YEAR SURVEY RESULTS OF THE LOS ANGELES CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS
TASK FORCE, CONFINED AQUATIC DISPOSAL SITE LONG-TERM MONITORING
PROGRAM

Scott C. Johnson and Tim Mikel. Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting Laboratories, Inc., Ventura,
CA 93001

The Los Angeles Basin Contaminated Sediments Task Force (CSTF) currently is evaluating several
treatment and disposal alternatives for contaminated dredged material. One of these options is confined
aquatic disposal (CAD), where dredged material is placed in a pit and capped with clean sediments.
In August 2001, approximately 100,000 cubic meters of contaminated sediment was dredged from the
Los Angeles River Estuary (LARE) then deposited into the North Energy Island Borrow Pit (NEIBP)
in Long Beach Harbor. Clean cap material was dredged from a second borrow pit and used to cover
the LARE material with a 1.0 to 1.5 m cap layer. In October, 2002 the first year of monitoring was
conducted on the NEIBP CAD site. Monitoring included bathymetric and video studies of the cap’s
integrity, the potential migration of contaminants through the cap and the measurement of biological
recolonization of the cap. Results of the multibeam bathymetric survey provided detailed resolution
of the NEIBP and indicated that the cap was intact. Video survey results showed that there are an
estimated 92,000 (+20%) holes >2 cm in diameter on the cap. Further work is necessary to determine
if some of these holes are caused by burrowing organisms that could transport contaminated sediments
from beneath the cap to surface sediments. Chemical analysis of core samples indicated that the cap

30 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

was acting to confine heavy metals and PAH’s. After only eight months, biological recolonization of
the cap appears to be occurring at a rapid pace.

46 EFFECTS OF CONTAMINANTS ON THE GROWTH PATTERNS OF PACIFIC SANDDAB
(CITHARICHTHYS SORDIDUS) FROM SANTA MONICA BAY AND DANA POINT,
CALIFORNIA

B.A. Swig and C.C. Hogue. California State University Northridge, Department of Biology,
Northridge, CA 91330

Santa Monica Bay is a heavily contaminated ecosystem that also provides an ideal habitat for bottom
dwelling fish like flatfish. Previous studies suggest that contaminants affect the growth patterns of
some species of fish adjacent to the bay in Palos Verdes. However, little information exists on effects
of contaminants on longevity and growth rates of Pacific Sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus), which is
a common flatfish of the bay. The age and growth rates of Pacific sanddab from both contaminated
and noncontaminated sites from within the Santa Monica Bay and Dana Point are described. Fish
were collected from all of the sites using a standard otter trawl from November 1999 to March 2002.
Fish were aged using otoliths and counting annual annuli. Significant differences were found in age,
standard length, and weight of Pacific sanddab based upon site; however there were no significant
differences between gender. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the length-weight
relationships of Pacific sanddab between Santa Monica Bay and Dana Point.

47 ARTHROPOD SPECIES DIVERSITY IN RESTORED AND UNDISTURBED COASTAL
SAGE SCRUB

J. Blodgett, B. Stimmler, and C. Swift. Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA
90608

Habitat restoration as a means of mitigating habitat loss is a controversial practice. Most of the
controversy centers on whether restored coastal sage scrub is viable habitat for the species that depend
on resources provided by this plant community. Although most monitoring centers on the extent of
native plant cover, the effectiveness of restoration as a means of increasing habitat depends on the
ability of the plants to support animal species characteristic of the community. We compared arthropod
diversity in undisturbed coastal sage scrub with restored coastal sage scrub and invasive annuals. Plant
community cover and diversity was sampled along 30 meter transects. Arthropods were sampled by
taking 60 sweeps along each 30 meter transect, and by establishing pit fall traps along a sub sample
of the 30 meter transects at 10 meter intervals. About twice as many orders of arthropods were
collected along transects dominated by invasive annuals as along transects dominated by native shrubs
in undisturbed areas. More orders were collected along transects in the restored coastal sage scrub,
but diversity was not as great in the restored area as in the undisturbed area even when plant cover
was similar. These results are consistent with published studies that show lower arthropod diversity
in restored coastal sage scrub; however, the increased diversity in the restored coastal sage scrub
suggests that restoration, while not a cure for habitat loss, does increase habitat for arthropods.

48 DIGENEAN ENDOPARASITE COMMUNITIES OF FISHES OF THE SERRANID GENUS
PARALABRAX

D.G. Buth', D.J. Pondella IH’, and P. Frost®. 'Dept. of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evo-
lution, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606; *Vantuna Research Group, Occidental College,
Dept. of Biology, Los Angeles, CA 90041; *Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Neuropsychiatric Institute and Brain Research Institute, UCLA School of Medicine, Los An-
geles, CA 90095-1761

The digenean endoparasite communities of six northeastern Pacific species of the serranid genus
Paralabrax (P. clathratus, P. nebulifer, P. maculatofaciatus, P. loro, P. auroguttatus, and P. albo-
maculatus) were compared. Six species of digenetic trematodes were identified as parasites of the six
fish hosts. The prevalence of five of the parasites was quite low and only two parasite species were
shared among species of hosts. Paralabrax clathratus hosted the most digenean species, the highest
prevalences of parasites, and different assemblages of parasites at different geographic locations. These
parasite assemblages hold minimal information for phylogenetic application (e.g. Hennig’s Parasito-

ABSTRACTS 3]

logical Method) but may, at least in the case of P. clathratus, be useful in identifying and tracking
isolated stocks of the hosts.

49 DOES BEACH GROOMING HARM GRUNION EGGS?

K. Carpenter, J. Flannery, R. Pommerening, T. Speer, and K. Martin. Department of Biology,
Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263-4321

Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) eggs incubate in damp sand of southern California beaches, fully out
of water for two weeks. These fish spawn on some of the most heavily used urban beaches on this
coast. Because of numerous human visitors, urban beaches are groomed regularly to remove trash,
kelp, and other debris. During grunion season in 2002, San Diego beach maintenance staff followed
the Grunion Grooming Protocol (GGP), remaining in dry sand above the high tide mark. The tide
mark was set at the highest semilunar tides. On four city beaches, the beach maintenance staff followed
this GGP most of the time. All grunion eggs we found were in the intertidal zone, below the high
tide mark. Thus the GGP keeps the grooming machines away from the eggs. There is no negative
impact on grunion eggs by grooming above the high tide mark. To discover whether grooming directly
over the eggs is harmful, we identified areas where grunion spawned, and sampled them to determine
the population of incubating eggs. Then, the beach maintenance staff groomed over these experimental
areas. Afterwards, we sampled the sand to measure the population of eggs again. Even when little or
no kelp is present, beach grooming directly over spawning sites consistently results in a significant
loss of eggs. After removal of debris, nearly all the eggs are destroyed. We encourage other beach
cities to follow the lead of San Diego and implement a Grunion Grooming Protocol to protect the
vulnerable eggs of this unique natural treasure.

50 RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN FOOD CHOICE AND TOTAL ASSIMILATION EFFICIEN-
CY IN THE HERBIVOROUS MARINE SNAIL LITHOPOMA UNDOSUM (TURBINIDAE)

Erin Cox and Steve Murray. California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850

Numerous studies have identified the preferred food items of herbivorous marine snails and have
made attempts to correlate factors such as macrophyte morphology, the presence of deterrent chem1-
cals, and nutritional content with these choices. However, few studies have attempted to examine the
degree to which the assimilation efficiency of a food item corresponds with its position in a preference
hierarchy. Lithopoma undosum, is one of the largest herbivorous snails in southern California, where
it occurs from the low intertidal zone to depths up to 21 m. Previous field studies have shown that L.
undosum feeds on a wide variety of macrophyte foods and that certain foods are consumed more often
than others. Through a series of two-choice laboratory experiments, we established clear preference
rankings for eleven macrophytes known to occur in L. undosum’s field diet. Lithopoma undosum chose
three kelp species (Egregia menziesii, Eisenia arborea and Macrocystis pyrifera) over all other tested
macrophytes; but also showed secondary preferences for the red alga Pterocladiella capillacea, fol-
lowed by the calcified coralline Lithothrix aspergillum. These species were chosen over five other
macroalgae and the seagrass, Phyllospadix torreyii. Using an ash-marker technique, we determined
total assimilation efficiencies for the kelp Egregia menziesii and five other macrophytes in L. undos-
um’s established preference hierarchy. These results failed to show a clear relationship between total
assimilation efficiency and food choice in this marine herbivore.

51 ANALYSES OF CARBON ('C) AND NITROGEN (!°N) STABLE ISOTOPE SIGNATURES
OF INPUTS INTO BENTHIC FOOD WEBS ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROCKY
SHORES

L. Gilbane and S. Murray. 800 N. State College, California State University, Fullerton, De-
partment of Biological Sciences, Fullerton, CA 92093-0208

Rocky intertidal ecosystems are open systems that receive carbon inputs from multiple sources.
Benthic consumers directly or indirectly obtain carbon derived from phytoplankton and benthic mac-
rophytes (algae and seagrasses), whose abundances change spatially and temporally with ocean con-
ditions. On urban coasts, however, many other carbon sources are available to benthic intertidal or-
ganisms, including estuarine and terrestrial plants and other organic materials that enter coastal oceans
in runoff and storm drainage. Carbon ('°C) and nitrogen ('°N) stable isotopes have been successfully

eS)
i)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

used to differentiate and track sources of production through coastal food webs, particularly in salt
marsh and estuarine habitats and in pristine, colder seas characterized by large algal beds. A stable
isotope approach can overcome difficulties working with food webs characterized by multiple inputs
because consumers develop isotope compositions that reflect only the ingested materials incorporated
into their tissues. However, stable isotopes have rarely been used to analyze benthic food webs in
urban coastal habitats lacking extensive offshore algal beds, a condition occurring along much of
southern California. The ultimate goal of this study is to analyze the '*C and '!°N stable isotope
compositions of suspension feeding mussels across a gradient of benthic macrophyte production. Here
we report °C and '°N values for phytoplankton, macrophyte, estuarine/terrestrial plants, and other
potential sources of organic material consumed by mussels along the urban southern California main-
land. We plan to use these '*C and '°N stable isotope signatures to investigate inputs into mussel
populations on southern California shores.

52 SUCCESSFUL REINTRODUCTION OF A TIDEWATER GOBY (EUCYCLOGOBIUS
NEWBERRYT) POPULATION AT SAN MATEO LAGOON, USMC CAMP J. PENDLE-
TON, CALIFORNIA

A.T. Gutierrez, M.A. Booker, and C.C. Swift. Dr. Merkel & Associates, Inc., San Diego, CA
92123

San Mateo Lagoon has intermittently supported a population of the federally endangered Tidewater
Goby (Eucyclogobius newberryi) that has been extirpated at various times in the past two decades. In
February 1998, a severe storm coupled with emergency San Mateo Creek Trestle Bridge repair work
apparently extirpated the San Mateo Creek Tidewater Goby population. A reintroduction of the Tide-
water Goby at San Mateo Lagoon was implemented as a component of San Mateo Creek Trestle
Bridge repair mitigation in January 2000. Seining was utilized for exotic predator removal prior to
Tidewater Goby reintroduction. Tidewater Goby collection occurred at San Onofre Lagoon and con-
sisted of 44 random seine hauls. A total of 520 gobies were transported in three ice chests to San
Mateo Lagoon and released at three locations in the northwestern portion of the lagoon. Monitoring
surveys revealed the continued presence of Tidewater Gobies within San Mateo Lagoon, with captures
or observations ranging from 3 individuals to thousands. Breeding activity was detected as early as 5
months after reintroduction, confirmed by the presence of multiple age classes and the capture of
gravid females. Exotic species removal has taken place in conjunction with goby monitoring and
included the extirpation of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) from San Mateo Lagoon. Water
quality, lagoon profiling, and habitat mapping were monitored as parameters that would potentially
effect the success of reintroduced gobies. Results showed reintroduction accompanied by predator
control as an important management tool for Tidewater Gobies. Genetics studies being conducted
simultaneously should be used to help make determinations about effective reintroduction population
S1Ze.

53 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVITY OF TUNAS, MACK-
ERELS AND BONITOS

D.L. Neumann and Kathryn Dickson. California State University of Fullerton, Department of
Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92831-3599

Tunas are the only teleost fishes known to elevate the temperature of their aerobic locomotor muscle,
and some tuna species can also maintain elevated visceral temperatures (they are regional endotherms).
Tunas are effective predators, swim continuously, undertake trans-oceanic migrations, and have high
metabolic rates. Their diet consists primarily of fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and thus they
ingest large quantities of protein and lipids. In tunas, the largest visceral organ is the caecal mass,
composed of many branched pyloric caeca, which are thought to increase the surface area for digestion
and absorption. It has been hypothesized that the caecal mass of tunas provides a region to which
partially digested food from the stomach can be moved for more complete digestion, leaving the
stomach empty in-the event that another opportunity to feed arises. This study is a comparison of
digestive enzyme activities in tunas and their close relatives that are not endothermic, to test the
hypothesis that enzyme activities are greater in the endothermic tunas. Three tuna species [skipjack
tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), a species that warms its muscle but not its viscera, Pacific northern bluefin
tuna (Thunnus orientalis) and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga), species that warm both the muscle

ABSTRACTS 88

and viscera] were compared with the ectothermic chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and eastern
Pacific bonito (Sarda chiliensis). The specific activities of three digestive enzymes (trypsin, lipase and
pepsin) in the stomach, intestine and caecal mass were measured at 20°C and 25°C. Pepsin activity
was detected in the stomach, and trypsin and lipase activities were detected in the caecal mass and
intestine. No significant interspecific differences have been detected in any of the digestive enzyme
activities measured at either 20°C or 25°C.

[Supported by NIH grant #R25GM56820]

54 MITOCHONDRIAL DENSITIES IN THE LOCOMOTOR MUSCLE OF ECTOTHERMIC
AND ENDOTHERMIC SCOMBRID FISHES

C.M. Porcu and K. Dickson. Cal State University College, Department of Biology, Fullerton,
CA 92831

Tunas are unique among scombrid fishes because they can conserve metabolic heat to maintain the
temperature of the slow, oxidative myotomal muscle (red muscle) elevated above water temperature
(i.e., they are regional endotherms). Other scombrid fishes, including mackerels and bonitos, are ec-
tothermic species. Red muscle, a major source of heat used for endothermy, is a highly vascularized,
aerobic tissue with a high density of mitochondria to support aerobic muscle contraction. Recent
studies have shown that tunas have a higher standard metabolic rate (SMR) than mackerel and bonito
do. This study tests the hypothesis that tunas also have a greater muscle mitochondrial density than
is found in mackerel and bonito. Chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), eastern Pacific bonito (Sarda
chiliensis), and albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) were obtained off the coast of southern California.
Samples of slow, oxidative and fast, glycolytic myotomal muscle fibers were prepared via standard
procedures for analysis with a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Individual whole muscle fiber
cross-sections were photographed at low magnification (1,000—2,000 x) on the TEM and the negatives
were scanned into a computer and overlaid with a grid. Using the Scion Image program, the muscle
fiber area composed of mitochondria was calculated for each fiber via the point-contact method.
Preliminary results indicate that red muscle fiber mitochondrial densities of the chub mackerel are
greater than those of tuna. [Supported by NIH grant # R25GM56820

55 PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON A NEW APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT OF CELL TYPE
SPECIFIC ANTI-CANCER DRUGS

E.L. Heinrich, A. Contreras, M. Khurrum, O. Badali, L. Banner and S. Oppenheimer. Depart-
ment of Biology and Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, California State University,
Northridge, CA 91330-8303

Using an assay developed in this laboratory to examine the binding of various human cell lines to
agarose beads derivatized with about 50 different compounds, we found that specific tumor cell lines
disptayed statistically significant binding differences to specific derivatized beads, versus a non-tumor
cell line of the same tissue. Of the many differences observed, the colon cancer cell line, CCL-220,
bound more consistently to beads derivatized with 5 lectins: Phaseolus vulgaris, Lens culinaris, Trit-
icum vulgaris, Arachis hypogaea and Artocarpus integrifolia than did a non-cancer colon cell line,
CRL-1459. We are now undertaking studies to ascertain if the observed binding differences between
the colon cancer cell line and the non-cancer colon cell line to the various lectin derivatized beads
also result in differential toxicity of the lectins to these cell lines in culture. Thus, we wish to know
whether or not consistent cancer cell binding to specific lectins also results in increased toxicity of
these lectins to cells in culture. This is possibly a new approach, based on differential binding, to the
development of anti-cancer drugs that may be better targeted to specific cancer cells.

(Supported by NIH RISE, ONR RISE and Joseph Drown Foundation)

56 BEAD ANALYSIS OF HUMAN COLON CANCER CELL SURFACES

M.R. Khurrum, O. Badali, A. Contreras, L.Y. Welty, E. Heinrich, M. Barajas, G.C. Zem, S.B.
Oppenheimer. Department of Biology and Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, Cal-
ifornia State University Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

Two human colon cancer cell lines (CCL-220, tumorigenic in nude mice; CCL-255, non-tumorigenic
in nude mice), a non-cancerous human colon cell line (CRL-1459) and a human lung carcinoma cell

34 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

line (HTB-171) were tested for their ability to bind to agarose beads derivatized with 51 different
molecules. The 2 colon cancer cell lines bound to more beads than the non-malignant colon cell line
and the lung carcinoma cell line. The closely related colon cancer cell lines bound differently to beads
derivatized with histamine, isomaltose, and L-tyrosine, while only the lung cancer cell line bound to
para-aminophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside derivatized beads. The 4 cell lines showed distinctly dif-
ferent binding properties to beads derivatized with various lectins. All results were statistically sig-
nificant based on p-values calculated using SPSS Fischer exact tests. Experiments using a hapten
inhibition approach with free compounds suggested that, in many cases, cell-bead binding was specific.
This assay is a good first step in the analysis of new cell surface properties that may be related to
cellular malignant potential (supported by NIH RISE, ONR RISE, NSF ESIE, Eisenhower program
and the Joseph Drown Foundation).

oF INITIAL PROTOCOLS FOR THE CAPTIVE BREEDING AND REARING OF SPOTTED
SAND BASS (PARALABRAX MACULATOFASCIATUS) IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

E.F. Miller. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, Northridge,
Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

A pilot hatchery for the locally common serranid is currently under development in Redondo Beach,
CA. A captive broodstock of 36 adult individuals began voluntary spawning on May 19, 2002. Adult
spotted sand bass were captured via hook and line from San Diego Bay, San Diego, CA. Eggs were
collected continuously throughout the Summer into Fall 2002 until spawning ended in early December.
Water temperature ranged from 18.5—22.5°C during that same timeframe. Spawning, and corresponding
behavior, was documented in the evening hours (1700—2100hrs). Eggs were hatched from random
spawns based on tank availability. Hatching rates in excess of 90% were routinely achieved, with
hatching occurring 18—26 hrs after spawning. Large hatches (>200 individuals) of larvae were suc-
cessfully developed up to 24 days after hatch (dah) with oldest larvae reaching 35 dah. Settlement
was found to initiate after 25 dah in limited observations.

58 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STEELHEAD: RESTORING A LIVING LEGACY

David Pritchett. Southern California Steelhead Coalition, P.O. Box 91034, Santa Barbara, CA
93190 dapritch@cox.net; and Sabrina Drill, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2
Coral Circle, Bldg. B, Floor 2, Monterey Park, CA 91755-7425 sldrill@ucdavis.edu

The poster depicts with maps and photos a variety of conservation issues for endangered steelhead
trout (Salmonidae: Oncorhynchus mykiss) in southern California. Thirty-three projects or plans
throughout southern California are highlighted, involving fish passage barrier removals, large dam
deconstructions, Corps of Engineers feasibility studies, watershed plans, and population monitoring.
The poster was developed jointly by Southern California Steelhead Coalition, University of California
Cooperative Extension, and California Department of Fish and Game. Posters (24 X 36 inches) are
available for purchase at $75 each to cover the large-format plotting, laminating, and mailing. The
poster also is available as a free downloadable PDF file at the Steelhead Coalition web site
(www.socalsteelhead.org).

59 ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF 1,1’-BINAPHTHYL-2, 2’-DIAMINE

Mehdi Sina-Kahdiv, Maya Thaman, and Taeboem Oh. California State University Northridge,
Department of Chemistry, Northridge, CA 91330-8262

Chiral BINOL and its derivatives have become very important as ligands for asymmetric synthesis.
Many of these derivatives are also natural products with biological activity. The unique axis of chirality
exists due to the rotational barriers of the naphthyl groups. Asymmetric syntheses of these compounds
have been successful through copper catalyzed coupling reactions. However, the amine analog has
resisted a practical asymmetric synthesis. We have approached the asymmetric synthesis of binaphthyl
diamine synthesis via benzidine rearrangement. Benzidine rearrangements traditionally have been pro-
moted by bronsted acids. Our approach has been to use both chiral bronsted acids as well as chiral
Lewis acids. We will present our efforts in the asymmetric synthesis of the 1,1’-binaphthyl-2,2'-
diamine.

ABSTRACTS 35

60 SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN OSMOSIS AND DIEF-
FUSION LAB ACTIVITIES: AN ANALYSIS OF TEN LABORATORY MANUALS

M.E. Tweedy and W.J. Hoese. California State University Fullerton, Department of Biological
Science, Fullerton, CA 92834

In order to assist student understanding of scientific concepts and the nature of scientific inquiry,
the National Science Education Standards recommend that laboratory activities engage students in all
steps of a scientific investigation, from forming questions to drawing conclusions and applying the
results to new examples. This study used a modified version of the Laboratory Structure and Task
Analysis Instrument (LAI) to evaluate 63 exercises from ten college laboratory manuals to assess the
degree of student involvement in each. All exercises focused on the concepts of osmosis and diffusion.
This instrument assesses 1) the presence of a pre-laboratory activity, 2) the students’ role in the
planning of the experiment, 3) student performance during the activity, 4) the amount of analysis and
interpretation required, and 5) the application of knowledge. The most common pre-laboratory activity
was a Selected reading (76.2%). Students’ involvement in planning exercises was limited to identifying
a hypothesis in 17.5% of the exercises, the independent variable in 9.5% and predicting results in
23.8%. Most often students performed the exercise according to a given set of instructions (76.2%)
or observed an instructor demonstration (20.6%). Questions often guide students to draw conclusions
(60.3%) but rarely asked them to provide evidence (14.3%) or apply the results to a practical object
(14.3%). We recommend revising exercises to encourage students to learn concepts through the use
of scientific inquiry, which increases student involvement in a scientific investigation and teaches the
student to investigate the world as scientists.

61 SURFACE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN COLON CANCER AND NON-CANCER CELL LINES

L.Y. Welty, M. Khurrum, H. Hekmatjou, I. Livshin, J. Calderon, S. Sajadi, L. Baresi, and S.
Oppenheimer. Department of Biology and Center for Cancer and Developmental Biology, Cal-
ifornia State University Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

This laboratory has developed an assay to examine the surfaces of cells by assessing the binding
properties of various cell lines to agarose beads derivatized with about 50 different compounds. Human
colon cancer cell lines and non-cancer colon cell lines have been examined using this assay. The
results showed statistically significant binding differences between the colon cancer cell lines and
normal cell lines to various derivatized beads. In the present study, we focus on colon cancer cell
line, CCL-220 and a non-cancer colon cell line, CRL-1459. The results indicate that of the many
observed bead binding differences of these cell types, the cancer cell line more consistently bound to
beads derivatized with 5 lectins: Phaseolus vulgaris, Lens culinaris, Triticum vulgaris, Arachis hy-
pogaea and Artocarpus integrifolia. We are now undertaking studies to examine the surfaces of these
two cell lines via micro gel electrophoresis and labeled lectins to ascertain whether cell-type specific
surface components can be identified that would account for the observed lectin bead-cell binding
differences. These studies may help lead to a useful approach in the development of anti-cancer drugs,
based on differential binding of toxic compounds to cancer cells versus normal cells of the same tissue
type. Presently this laboratory is beginning to explore this possibility in tissue culture studies (Sup-
ported by NIH RISE, ONR RISE, and Joseph Drown Foundation).

62 THE EFFECTS OF AN INVASIVE PLANT COMMUNITY ON THE COASTAL SAGE
SCRUB SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY7

Winters, M. and Lipson, D. San Diego State University, Department of Biology, San Diego,
CA92 182

Previous studies suggest the division between grassland and shrubland has several causes involving
herbivory, allelopathic responses, and climate (Mooney 1988). The differences between grassland soils
and coastal sage scrub (CSS) soils from this study indicate that the soil microbial community may
have a role as well. In this study, soils were tested from sites covered with the predominant coastal
sage scrub shrub, Artemisia californica with varying levels of invasive non-native grasses. Different
enzyme analyses (cellulase, ligninase, protease) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) analyses of
different substrates (glycine, glucose, salicylate) were used to elucidate a difference in the structure
of the microbial community. An analysis of soil characteristics (pH, soil moisture content, organic

36 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

matter, and microbial biomass) was made to determine how the amount of invasive plants directly
affects the soil. A higher pH was found under bare ground and non-native grasses than under A.
californica. With increases in invasive non-native grasses, a decrease in soil moisture content and
organic matter was observed. Results of the enzyme and SIR analyses concur with a difference in
microbial community structure between grassland and shrubland communities. These findings indicate
changes in the structure of the CSS soil microbial community with increasing levels of invasive
grasses.

63 SOIL NITROGEN STORAGE IN AREAS OF VARYING ANTHROPOGENIC NITROGEN-
DEPOSITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

G. Zorba and G. Vourlitis. California State University, San Marcos, Department of Biological
Sciences, San Marcos, CA 92078

Southern California’s expanding population and geography have caused an increasing amount of
atmospheric nitrogen (N) pollution to be deposited into semi-arid shrubland ecosystems. The effects
of anthropogenic nitrogen deposition on temperate coniferous-forest ecosystems have been previously
studied in Europe and the northeast and western United States. However, the effects of N deposition
on semi-arid shrublands of Southern California are still poorly known, and therefore, need to be
addressed. This research investigated soil nitrogen storage in several areas of Southern California,
which received different levels of exposure to atmospheric nitrogen pollution. Soil samples from four
sites of varying atmospheric deposition were analyzed for available nitrogen, total nitrogen and pH.
Preliminary results indicate that sites with higher pollution exposure had higher total N and extractable
N, lower pH, and lower C:N ratios than sites with lower pollution exposure. The increases in soil N
suggest that atmospheric N deposition can significantly increase soil N content in southern California
shrublands.

64 PCR BASED SECONDARY SCREENING OF CLONED DNA USED FOR SEQUENCING
DECISION MAKING

J. A. Sonnentag, S. Yamamoto, and R. L. Carter. Loma Linda University, Natural Sciences
Department, Loma Linda, CA 92350

Following cloning of restricted DNA into pUC19 plasmids and selection of positive colonies of E.
coli (based upon blue/white screening) a secondary screening procedure was performed in order to
further characterize cloned DNA prior to sequencing. Additional information obtained from PCR based
screening included fragment length and, if present, location of repeat units within the fragment. Based
upon this supplemental information, total cost of sequencing for laboratory projects was significantly
reduced. 100% of sequenced inserts in plasmids contained sought after microsatellite repeats.

65 SPAWNING BEHAVIOR OF THE KELP BASS, PARALABRAX CLATHRATUS, FROM
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA

B.E. Erisman. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, Depart-
ment of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

The spawning behavior of the kelp bass, Paralabrax clathratus, was studied on Santa Catalina
Island, California from 2000 to 2002. Behavioral observations were conducted at several sites near
the marine reserve adjacent to the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center. In addition, an aggregation
of 108 individuals was observed in a 700 m? outdoor, floating net-pen for more detailed descriptions
of spawning behavior. Approximately 250 spawning events were observed over the entire study period.
Adults formed aggregations that ranged in size from 30 to 200+ individuals. However, spawning
occurred within smaller subgroups of 3 to 20+ individuals. Spawning groups consisted of a single,
gravid female and several males. Adults were sexually dichromatic during the spawning season, with
ripe males adopting bright orange snouts. Males and females also exhibited ephemeral color changes
during courtship and spawning periods. Spawning occurred between 1900—2130 hours and the onset
was highly correlated with sunset. Both males and females were capable of spawning multiple times
during a single evening. Spawning occurred on a daily basis from June through August 2002 and
showed no significant relationship with the lunar cycle. The behavior patterns observed in the field

ABSTRACTS Sif)

were virtually identical to those observed in the captivity study. In general, the spawning behavior of
kelp bass was consistent with other gonochoric, group-spawning serranids.

66 OBSERVATIONS OF COURTSHIP AND SPAWNING BEHAVIOR IN THE CALIFORNIA
SHEEPHEAD, SEMICOSSYPHUS PULCHER

Adreani, M.S.', B.E. Erisman' and R.R. Warner’. 'Department of Biology, California State
University, Northridge, CA 91330; *Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology,
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106

The courtship and spawning behaviors of a protogynous fish, the California sheephead (Semicos-
syphus pulcher), were recorded weekly throughout their spawning season (late June—early September).
Behaviors were recorded while on SCUBA using slates and digital video at Bird Rock, Santa Catalina
Island, CA. Additional observations were made at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and confirmed the
details of behavior seen in the field. Large males held spawning territories in which females congre-
gated approximately one hour before sunset. Courtship commenced shortly before sunset and involved
the male approaching each female, making lateral contact and leading her in a circular pattern. Large
males engaged in an average of 11.8 spawns during observation periods, which averaged 34 minutes.
Smailer males attempted to court females within the territories, prompting aggressive chases by the
large males, even at the expense of aborted spawns. Females were not faithful to a particular territory
throughout the day or spawning season, indicating that they are not part of a strict harem. Both field
and aquarium observations confirm that the mating system can be successfully predicted from the size
advantage model. Current regulations on the sheephead fishery allow the removal of large, rare males
and consideration of the mating systems of protogynous fishes could lead to better fishery management
strategies.

67 THE SPAWNING ACTIVITY AND ASSOCIATED SOUND PRODUCTION OF WHITE
SEABASS, ATRACTOSCION NOBILIS, AROUND SANTA CATALINA ISLAND

S.A. Aalbers. CSU Fullerton, Department of Biology, Fullerton, CA 92834

White seabass, Atractoscion nobilis (Sciaenidae), supported economically important recreational and
commercial fisheries throughout California prior to a population collapse. Although white seabass
stocks are currently recovering, management efforts are compromised by insufficient information on
fish spawning activity and sound production. During 2001 and 2002, the spawning behavior and
periodicity of 61 white seabass (15 male, 46 female) were observed within a 525 m? net pen. In
addition, underwater audio recordings were taken to determine diel sound patterns and sound produc-
tion during spawning events. Calibrated sound recordings were spectrally analyzed to determine the
rate and frequency range (Hz) of individual calls. Spawning was observed on 49 occasions, and 148
spawning events were documented through regular sampling for eggs within the net pen. Consistent
spawning activity was observed between April and June, 2001, and between February and July, 2002,
within a temperature range of 12.3-19.3°C. Peak spawning activity occurred from one hour before
sunset to three hours after sunset. There was no correlation between spawning activity and lunar phase.
Sound production was recorded during 37 spawning events. Male white seabass produce a unique and
discernible sound coinciding with the release of gametes. Additional fieldwork is in progress to identify
the source level (dB re | Pa at | m) of white seabass sounds and to locate white seabass spawning
aggregations around Santa Catalina Island through the detection of spawning sounds. This research
provides essential information that can be used by fishery managers to design regulations that protect
white seabass spawning stocks.

68 WHEELER NORTH’S “TAMPICO MARU”: RE-DISCOVERING BAJA CALIFORNIA’S
“EXXON VALDEZ”

Alan J. Mearns. Senior Staff Scientist, Hazardous Materials Reponse Division, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington 98115

There is great need for preserving and using historical information about our coastal ecosystems. In
March, 1957, the Tanker Vessel Tampico Maru ran aground 60 km south of Ensenada, releasing over
800,000 gallons of black diesel. Within a month the late Dr. Wheeler North, then at Scripps Institution
of Oceanography, lead an expedition to observe the plight of marine life. This was followed by about

38 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

20 site visits over the next 22 years, involving many of California’s leading marine scientists. However,
only data from the first several years was actually published: the remaining information remained with
Dr. North for many decades. In 1997 Dr. North became aware of our interest in longterm recovery from
oil spills and happily agreed to mobilize the old data. As time and health permitted, Dr. North resurrected
photos and data and began to write a new manuscript on the incident. In addition, I subjected available
information to analysis using our current oil fate and trajectory models. The incident changes our thinking
about the effect of oil spills on subtidal ecosystems: although the spill was highly toxic to intertidal and
subtidal marine life over a large area, kelp beds quickly recovered and canopy covered much larger area
than had previously existed, apparently due to prolonged lack of grazing and protection from waves by
the vessel’s hull. Over the longterm, Dr. North and many associates recorded the arrival of various plants
and animals. Wheeler North passed away in December, 2002, while completing work on resurrecting
the Tampico Maru story. In February, 2003, I was privileged to provide a briefing of this incident to
Mexican and California spill responders at a recent joint spill response workshop (MEXUSPAC). Western
Mexico now has its own “Exxon Valdez” and all of us have access to information about recovery from
the largest diesel spill in history along the west coast.

69 THERE AND BACK*, THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
KELP BEDS FROM THE 1997-1998 EL NINO SUMMARY 1997-2002

Michael D. Curtis and Wheeler J. North (Professor Emeritus—deceased). MBC Applied Envi-
ronmental Sciences Costa Mesa, and CalTech Kerchkoff Marine Laboratory

In 1997, we went to the brink as kelp beds were decimated in San Diego and Orange Counties leaving
kelp resources at their lowest ebb recorded during the century. In 1999, we began a slow but steady
march back from that brink to a substantial recovery of the resource. Although all the beds lost biomass,
not all of the beds recovered as rapidly or completely. By looking at the long-term record, we explore
herein the reasons for these incongruities. A database to assess these changes was available as quarterly
kelp bed aerial surveys are a requirement, since 1983, of discharge permits into the offshore waters
under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. By means of aerial
infrared photography, the 24 distinct beds that occur offshore of Orange and San Diego Counties were
recorded as best as possible at the maximum areal extent of any canopies during the year. Although the
intention was that a synoptoic survey of the beds would allow a determination of the potential effects
of waste water (both heated effluent and sanitary) on the kelp beds, insight is provided, through the
medium of aerial photographs, the kelp beds response to and the aftermath of the El Nino.

Based on these data, a synopsis of the health of each of the kelp beds and the effects of these
environmental perturbations, as it compares with the other kelp beds in the region, can be determined.
Although it is not possible to determine the cause of a decline or decrease in a single kelp bed by
aerial photographs, it does determine whether the bed in question is responding to an area wide event,
or if it is atypical of the beds in the region. Atypical beds can then be categorized according to their
distance from other beds, substrate depth, and potential biological factors. Looking at these factors
then offer some insight as to the cause and effect of the differences noted.

*With apologies to B. Baggins

70 PATTERNS OF HABITAT AND ABUNDANCE IN THE LA JOLLA KELP BED
Ed Parnell. Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD

Surveys of habitat, algae, fish and invertebrates were conducted throughout the La Jolla kelp bed
during spring, summer, and early fall of 2002. The work was part of an effort to (1) determine the
effectiveness of the relatively small San Diego-La Jolla Ecological Reserve (established in 1971), (2)
to provide data that would be useful for the design of a new reserve or redesign of the present reserve,
and (3) to serve as a baseline of fish and invertebrate abundance patterns for future studies. The
patterns of habitat and the association of fishes and invertebrates with these habitats will be presented.

71 LONG-TERM VARIATION IN A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA KELP FOREST
L. Honma, AMEC Earth & Environmental, 5510 Morehouse Dr., San Diego, CA 92121. M.
Foster, Moss Landing Marine Labs, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Variation in large kelps and invertebrates in a giant kelp forest near San Onofre, CA was assessed
over 22 years (1978-2000) based on abundance estimates of large kelps and invertebrates in six
stations within the forest. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) density was cyclic, with large peaks in

ABSTRACTS 39

1981 and 1992. Recruitment occurred approximately every three years. The understory kelp Ptery-
gophora californica and red and purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus spp.) were abundant at the
beginning of the study, but declined to near extinction at most stations in 1980—85. Pterygophora
abundance increased beginning in 1986, but declined to near zero by 1997. Strongylocentrotus spp.
abundance began to increase in 1990, and has remained high but variable since 1996. Bat stars
(Asterina miniata) declined to near extinction by 1983 and have remained rare. The white sea urchin
(Lytechinus anamesus), increased in 1982—4 and then declined to near zero by 1990. Dramatic declines
in giant kelp abundance were associated with warm water/low nutrients in 1981—4 and 1997-8, and
increases with cooler water in 1990. Variation in kelp abundance among stations appears to be neg-
atively associated with sand cover and sea urchin abundance. These data and historical records indi-
cating that entire kelp forests in the San Onofre region can be buried by sand suggest that temporal
variation in this kelp forest is largely driven by variation in the physical environment.

72 EVALUATION OF EELGRASS MITIGATION AND FISHERY ENHANCEMENT STRUC-
TURES IN SAN DIEGO BAY

D. J. Pondella, I', L. G. Allen’, J. R. Cobb', M. T. Craig* and B. Gintert'. 'Vantuna Research
Group, Department of Biology, Moore Laboratory of Zoology, Occidental College, Los An-
geles, CA 90041; *Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge; *Scripps
Institution of Oceanography

From September 1997—August 2002 the Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College monitored
the fish populations of an eelgrass mitigation site in San Diego Bay for the U.S. Navy. This mitigation
area was located in outer San Diego Bay proximate to North Island. During this period, this enhance-
ment effort was surveyed 34 times in a standardized fashion. With the planting of eelgrass the density
of fishes quickly reached the densities observed in the reference eelgrass habitat. The eelgrass persisted
throughout the scope of the study and fish utilization of the transplant area continued to be high at
the termination of this study. There was not a significant difference between the densities of fishes in
the transplant area when compared to a reference eelgrass bed.

In addition to the eelgrass transplant area four replicated artificial reefs were placed proximate to
the new habitat on the slope of the channel of San Diego Bay. These reefs were designed to increase
fishery productivity. The four reefs contained both concrete and rock replicates in a paired design.
For fish density there was not a significant difference between rock and concrete reefs. For the three
major fishery species observed by divers there was differential utilization of this newly created habitat.
Spotted bay bass (Paralabrax maculatofasciatus) utilized this reef area in the winter when fish pro-
duction in San Diego Bay is low, and were generally absent from the reefs during their spawning
season. For kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus), a more Open coast species, they were found to utilize
this habitat by all life stages. Similarly for barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer), young-of-year,
subadult and adult fishes were present on the reefs throughout the study period. The density of each
year class of barred sand bass was positively correlated with the successive year class throughout the
life history of this species. This is an indication of the ability of these reefs to enhance the fishery
productivity of this region. Overall, the enhancement effort was successful in terms of fish abundance.

73 HABITAT-DEPENDENT RECRUITMENT OF TWO TEMPERATE REEF FISHES AT MUL-
TIPLE SCALES

K.S. Andrews. Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182

The distribution and abundance of reef fishes often has been attributed to several processes that
result in a measure of recruitment success. We employ a large-scale experimental reef system to
examine patterns of recruitment of two rocky reef fishes, the California sheephead (Semicossyphus
pulcher) and the blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii). We quantified recruitment on twenty-one
experimental reefs (each 1600 m°’) that represented low, medium, or high treatments of habitat coverage
in 2001 and 2002. Recruitment of California sheephead was higher on reefs of medium coverage than
on other coverages, while the blackeye goby exhibited lower recruitment on reefs of low coverage
than on other coverages. Within reefs, recruitment to “‘edge”’ habitat was lower than “‘inside”’ the reef
for each species. At the smallest scale, several measures of habitat structure were quantified within I-
m? quadrats to identify potentially important microhabitat characteristics. Rugosity was important in
predicting the presence of recruits for each species at this small scale.

40 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The densities of recruits of California sheephead corresponded to the densities of age 1+ individuals
the following year, suggesting that spatial patterns of abundance may be established early in life, and
the abundance of predators does not appear to influence the patterns observed. Low densities of recruits
for each species may have led to the habitat-dependent patterns of recruitment through habitat selection
at setthement and density-independent mortality because of the low densities of recruits observed.
Longer temporal studies with variable recruitment are needed to determine the importance of habitat
structure relative to other processes.

74 POPULATION DYNAMICS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CRYPTIC FISHES
Jana Cobb. Dept of Biology, California State University, Northridge

This study was designed to characterize cryptic fish populations by |) productivity 2) composition
and principal species 3) diversity and seasonal dynamics with comparisons to conspicuous fishes and
4) microhabitat and spatial variation. Two reefs (KHO06-shallow and KH12-deep) within King Harbor,
Redondo Beach, California, were sampled from January 2000 to September 2002, with monthly sam-
ples taken from July to November of 2000 for productivity estimates. Fishes were collected from
random | m/’ replicates using quinaldine. Fifty meter visual transects were used to assess composition
and density of conspicuous fish populations in the same locations. Collections were also made at Palos
Verdes Peninsula and Catalina Island to address questions of spatial variation.

Annual production of cryptic fishes in King Harbor was 14.4 g WW/m~?. Paraclinus integripinnis
contributed to 74.3% to total production followed by Gibbonsia elegans (14.3%) and Hypsoblennius
Jenkinsi (11.5%). The annual production was higher at KHO6 than KH12. P. integripinnis contributed
to most of the total production for both reefs (86.5% KH06, 56.8% KH12). The top 5 species accounted
for 97% of the total numbers of individuals and 88% of the total biomass. One species, P. integripinnis
predominated in both numbers (82.0%) and biomass (52.8%). This dominance lead to low overall H’
diversity (0.34), but KH12 was more diverse than KHO06. Species richness, H’ diversity, number of
individuals and biomass were all greatest in the summer and early fall. Numerical density of conspic-
uous fishes was significantly lower than that of the cryptics on the same reef, while their diversity
was greater. There were multiple correlations between species and microhabitat preferences, and great
spatial variation on a larger scale was also found. The Palos Verdes collections were dominated by
cottids while the Catalina Island collections were predominately composed of gobies.

75 A COMPARISON OF REEF FISH ASSEMBLAGES BETWEEN SANTA CATALINA IS-
LAND AND THE OUTER LOS ANGELES FEDERAL BREAKWALL

Froeschke, John T. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University,
Northridge, Department of Biology, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330

The fish assemblage of the rocky reef kelp forest habitat of Santa Catalina Island, California was
compared to the outside of Los Angeles Federal breakwater, a mature artificial reef. Two sites along
the breakwall as well as four sites at Catalina (two inside and two outside of a marine reserve) were
sampled approximately bimonthly using visual census on SCUBA at depths of six and 12 meters.
Cryptic fishes were sampled at the breakwall and at Catalina outside the reserve using mesh bags and
anesthetic in one meter square collections at each site. Preliminary data suggests significant differences
in both density and species composition of fishes between the mainland and island sites. Densities of
recreationally important species, Paralabrax clathratus and Semicossyphus pulcher were significantly
higher at Catalina within the marine reserve. Densities of cold water fishes including scorpaeniformes
and embiotocids were significantly higher at mainland sites. Clustering analysis by species and sites
resulted in primarily mainland and island groups. Inclusion of cryptic fishes significantly increased
both densities and species richness at both island and mainland locations. Preliminary results of this
study suggest that there are more significant differences between the island and mainland reef fish
assemblages than would be predicted with only 40 kilometers separating the two locations.

76 RELATIONSHIP OF MORPHOLOGY, DIET, AND FEEDING GUILD STRUCTURE IN
THE INTERTIDAL FISH ASSEMBLAGE OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

Kelly S. Boyle and Michael H. Horn. Department of Biological Science, California State Uni-
versity, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850 email: kb055939 @student.fullerton.edu

The intertidal fish assemblage of central California comprises four feeding guilds: (1) a carnivore

guild, (2) a microcarnivore guild, (3) a guild of polychaete feeders, and (4) an omnivore guild. The

relationship between morphology, diet, and guild membership was examined for the 14 most abundant

ABSTRACTS Al

species of this assemblage. The purpose of the study was to determine whether: (1) dietary similarity
parallels morphological similarity; (2) any morphological features are associated with the consumption
of a particular type of prey, and (3) unique morphological configurations are associated with a partic-
ular feeding guild. Twelve morphological measurements potentially related to feeding were made and
involved the head, mouth, gill rakers, and gut. Linear regression revealed no assemblage-wide rela-
tionship between dietary similarity and morphological similarity, but a significant relationship was
found between taxonomic relatedness and morphological similarity. A significant positive relationship
was found between mouth height and the amount of amphipods consumed. In addition, a significant
positive relationship was found between the amount of algae consumed and both mouth angle and
gut length. A significant negative relationship was found between mouth angle and the amount of
gastropods consumed. Principal components analysis revealed considerable overlap in morphology
between the four feeding guilds. The microcarnivore guild contained the widest array of morphologies,
and the carnivore guild was the least diverse in morphology. The morphological variation of the central
Californian intertidal fish assemblage is correlated more closely with taxonomic affiliation than with
specific types of prey.

al DIGESTIVE ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN THE OMNIVOROUS PHYTICHTHYS CHIRUS
(STICHAEIDAE): EVIDENCE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN AN HERBIVOROUS CLADE OF
PRICKLEBACK FISHES

D.P. German, M.H. Horn, and A. Gawlicka. Department of Biological Science, California State
University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834

We measured the activities of proteases, carbohydrases, and a lipase in Phytichthys chirus to deter-
mine whether this fish exhibits digestive enzyme activities supporting its current position in a clade
of largely herbivorous pricklebacks (Stichaeidae) or in an adjacent clade of carnivorous species. Ac-
tivity profiles of digestive enzymes in three members of the herbivorous clade, Cebidichthys violaceus,
Xiphister atropurpureus, and X. mucosus, reveal a profile expected in plant-eating fishes, i.e., high
carbohydrase and lipase but low protease activities, whereas Anoplarchus purpurescens, a member of
the carnivorous clade, exhibits the opposite pattern. The previous work showed that the carnivorous
X. atropurpureus displays an activity profile most similar to its sister taxon, the herbivorous X. mu-
cosus, suggesting that phylogeny influences digestive enzyme activities. The current study examined
further the possible constraints of phylogeny on digestive enzyme activity. We measured the activities
of eight digestive enzymes in P. chirus, the omnivorous taxon sister to the two species of Xiphister.
Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that P. chirus exhibits activities of amylase, maltase,
isomaltase, aminopeptidase, and lipase similar to other members of the herbivorous clade. The results
showed that all four members now studied of the herbivorous clade are similar to each other with
respect to the overall suite of digestive enzyme activities but different from the suite displayed by A.
purpurescens. These outcomes support the phylogenetic relationships of pricklebacks hypothesized
earlier based on morphological characters and also challenge the current paradigm that diet is more
important than phylogeny in affecting digestive enzyme activity.

78 ONTOGENY OF DIET AND TROPHIC POSITION IN HERBIVOROUS AND CARNIVO-
ROUS PRICKLEBACK FISHES (STICHAEIDAE): DIETARY AND STABLE ISOTOPE
ANALYSES

Michael V. Saba and Michael H. Horn. California State University, Fullerton, Department of
Biological Science, Fullerton, CA 92834-6850

We compared gut contents and stable isotope signatures (in progress) of carbon (61°C) and nitrogen
(6'°N) of four phylogenetically-related, wild-caught, and experimentally-fed (high-protein animal diet)
prickleback fishes. 6'°C and 6!5N signatures (in progress) of invertebrate, algae, and a seagrass from
the prickleback habitat also were assessed to determine food origins and ontogenetic changes in trophic
positions of these fishes as they grow. Two of the pricklebacks, Cebidichthys violaceus and Xiphister
mucosus, begin life as carnivores, then become herbivores at sizes >44 mm SL, whereas X. atropur-
pureus and Anoplarchus purpurescens are carnivores throughout life. We hypothesized that, consistent
with the dietary analyses, stable isotope values will show that: (1) Wild-caught C. violaceus and X.
mucosus shift to an algal diet and decrease in trophic position with increasing size; (2) Wild-caught
X. atropurpureus and A. purpurescens shift their diet to somewhat larger animal prey and show a

42 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

slight increase in trophic position with increasing size; and (3) On the animal diet, the two carnivores
exhibit greater 6'°N enrichment than the two herbivores. Results obtained to date show that trophic
position based on 6!°N signatures of the pricklebacks on natural diets reflect phylogeny more than
diet in that the three members of the largely herbivorous clade, C. violaceus, X. atropurpureus, and
X. mucosus, were all nearly one trophic level lower than A. purpurescens, in an adjacent carnivorous
clade. Nevertheless, trophic positions of the four species on the animal diet were similar, the fishes
thus appearing to show a plastic response to diet.

79 MOVEMENTS AND SITE FIDELITY OF THE ROUND STINGRAY, UROBATIS HAL-
LERI, AT SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA: A PRELIMINARY REPORT

J. J. Vaudo, C. G. Lowe, and G. J. Moss. California State University, Long Beach, Department
of Biological Sciences, Long Beach, CA 90840

The round stingray, Urobatis halleri, is a common nearshore elasmobranch in southern California
waters. At Seal Beach, CA, round stingrays are found in high densities and are responsible for over
300 injuries to humans each year. Little, however, is known about their movement patterns or residence
time in the Seal Beach area. Fine-scale movements and site fidelity of round stingrays at Seal Beach
are being determined using acoustic telemetry. To date, six rays have been manually tracked contin-
uously for up to 90.5 h, and 14 rays have been monitored using automated acoustic monitors for up
to 176 d. Manually tracked rays exhibited limited daily movement, with a median rate of movement
of 32.0 m h"!", which varied with tidal stage. Rate of movement was lower during periods of incoming
tide (19.2 m h"!, median) than high slack tide (38.6 m h~', median) and outgoing tide (44.4 m h“!,
median). Acoustically monitored rays typically remained off Seal Beach for weeks after they were
tagged and two rays were detected at Seal Beach approximately six months after being tagged. During
this time, rays were most often recorded at the mouth of San Gabriel River at the west end of Seal
Beach. During the 176-d period, six rays were observed to move to neighboring beaches between |
and 2.5 km away and five of these rays later returned to Seal Beach. So far, rays monitored have
showed periods of littke movement followed by movement out of the area.

80 DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE ROUND STINGRAY, UROLOPHUS HAL-
LERI, NEAR A THERMAL OUTFALL AT SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA

G. Hoisington and C.G. Lowe. Department of Biological Sciences, California State University,
Long Beach, CA 90840-3702

Large numbers of round stingrays, Urolophus halleri, are known to inhabit nearshore areas at Seal
Beach, California. It has been hypothesized that U. halleri are attracted to thermal effluent discharged
into the intertidal zone by power-generating stations at Seal Beach; however, nearshore distribution
and abundance of U. halleri are unknown. Distribution and abundance of U. halleri are being compared
between two sites at Seal Beach (outfall sites) and one site at Surfside Beach (reference site) using
beach seines and diving surveys. Stingray abundance obtained during monthly beach seines from July
2002 through the present is higher and more variable at Seal Beach compared to Surfside Beach.
Intermittent diving surveys from August—October 2002 indicate higher densities within 30 m of the
surfzone, but densities decrease markedly 31—60 m from the surfzone at all sites. Sea floor water
temperatures are also higher and more variable at Seal Beach than at Surfside. Additionally, sea floor
temperatures are also higher within 30 m of the surfzone than 31—60 m of the surfzone. Preliminary
analyses of environmental parameters indicate that water temperature and swell height explain up to
76% the variation in nearshore stingray abundance at Seal Beach.

81 CAPTIVE SPAWNING BEHAVIOR OF THE SPOTTED SAND BASS (PARALABRAX
MACULATOFASCIATUS)

E. F. Miller. Nearshore Marine Fish Research Program, California State University, Northridge,
Department of Biology, Northridge, CA 91330-8303

The reproductive biology of Paralabrax maculatofasciatus has received close scrutiny. In contrast,
the spawning behavior of this diandric protogynous hermaphrodite has received far less attention.
During the development of a pilot hatchery for the species, observations were made of the courtship
and spawning of the captive broodstock. Most observations were made twice weekly from June—

ABSTRACTS 43

August 2002 during the hours of 1600—2000 via digital videotape. Two tanks housed a cumulative
total of thirty-six adults, ten and twenty-six fish, respectively. Each tank contained a minimum of three
males, determined by secondary sex characteristics. The predominant gender in each tank was female,
to maximize egg output for the hatchery effort. Each tank represented a spawning aggregation density
hypothesized for a diandric protogynous reproductive strategy. A low density tank of ten fish showed
spawning activity dominated by a single male, who actively courted and pair-spawned with females,
while intimidating subordinate males. The high density tank of twenty-six fish showed no male dom-
inance and three major spawning types; pair spawning, sneak spawning and group spawning. Signif-
icant color modification was found within each sex and sexual dichromatism during spawning events.
Females took on a overall darker green punctuated with dark vertical bars while males showed dark
vertical bars with very light, off-white, background. The males were able to modify their color based
on interaction intensity and type. Aggressive behavior was more prevalently during spawning periods,
both male to male and male to female. Courtship and subsequent spawning occurred almost daily
during the period of observation.

82 ARE JUVENILE TOPSMELT REALLY BEACH FISH?
A. Jahn. Port of Oakland, Oakland, CA 94607

To explore habitat associations and abundance of an important prey item of the endangered Cali-
fornia least tern, Sterna antillarum browni, we sampled age-O jacksmelt, Atherinopsis californiensis,
and topsmelt, Atherinops affinis, in eastern San Francisco Bay. We used beach seines and a surface-
skimming (neuston) net in waters near Alameda Point during the tern nesting season. About 85% of
all silversides identified were topsmelt. Day-time neuston tows took mainly larval silversides, and all
size classes studied were more abundant in beach seine samples. Analysis of habitat associations was
made difficult by differential tide height restrictions at some sites. Beach seine capture frequency of
fish >15 mm total length (TL) was significantly greater at tide heights >60 cm than at lower tides.
During higher tides, when juvenile silversides are available to the beach seine, the seineable area
constitutes less than 4% of the available shallow water habitat in the study area. Nighttime neuston
tows in protected open water took larger catches per unit effort of the size class of interest (15—50
mm TL) than did day-time beach seines on average.

83 GRUNION GREETERS: VOLUNTEERS MONITORING GRUNION RUNS IN SAN DIEGO

K. Martin, T. Speer, R. Pommerening, J. Flannery, and K. Carpenter. Department of Biology,
Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90263-4321

Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis), the only marine fish that spawn completely out of water, are restricted
to a narrow, long distribution in coastal California and Baja California. The populations are difficult
to assess because grunion are not caught in trawls and are difficult to locate except during spawning
runs. Over 200 volunteers were trained during two workshops at the Birch Aquarium, Scripps Insti-
tution of Oceanography in February and April of 2002. They then were assigned to monitor grunion
appearances at ten sites on four city beaches. Within 24 hours after each scheduled run, they reported
data by telephone and by an interactive web questionnaire. The scientific team verified the spawning
sites in the field by finding the eggs on shore and recording locations with GPS coordinates. Data on
numbers of grunion, spawning areas on the beach, and other conditions were collected from twenty
nights for ten runs beginning March | and ending July 13, 2002. We found that San Diego is home
to a very strong spawning population of grunion. Grunion appeared at the earliest predicted run date,
March 1, and spawning continued into July. Extensive runs were seen at many locations on all four
city beaches. Heaviest runs occurred at the end of April and at the end of May, on Ocean Beach,
Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and La Jolla Shores. We are continuing to work with volunteers to
monitor grunion populations in 2003.

84 AGGREGATION RESPONSE TO CHEMICAL ATTRACTANTS RELEASED BY TEGULA
SPECIES

G.K. Nishiyama and C.A. Kay-Nishiyama. College of the Canyons, Department of Biology,
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Spatial partitioning was observed between Tegula funebralis and Tegula gallina in a survey conducted
in the rocky intertidal zones at both White’s Point and Dana Point, CA. Although niche overlap was
evident, mono-specific aggregations were commonly observed. An aggregating behavior has been pro-

44 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

posed as a mechanism to reduce inter-specific competition. A preliminary study was conducted to de-
termine the factors responsible for the maintenance of the dispersions and distributions observed. In a
series of preference experiments conducted, it was determined that a chemical attractant released by
Tegula funebralis was responsible, in part, for the aggregation behavior. The test apparatus consisted of
an acrylic maze which presented centrally located test snails with various potential attractants or deter-
rents at the ends of the maze. In particular, test snails were presented with either aggregates of the same
species, water conditioned by those aggregates, or aggregates of other species as well as empty shell
and seawater controls. The 7. funebralis test snails had a preference for 7. funebralis aggregates and
water conditioned by those aggregates. In many instances, when test snails located an aggregate, their
searching behavior ceased. An attraction by the test snails to water conditioned by aggregates of the
same species suggested that a chemical attractant may be involved in the initial formation of clusters of
Tegula. Although metabolites have been isolated from conditioned water samples, the active metabolite
has not yet been ascertained. This work provides some preliminary information on a potential mechanism
by which spatial partitioning between similar species can be maintained.

85 CLIMATIC AND LITHOLOGIC INFLUENCES ON QUATERNARY TERRACE FORMA-
TION BASED ON PRELIMINARY SOIL INDICES, SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS, CALI-
FORNIA

Otto F. Figueroa, Nancy A. Ikeda, Christine M. Irwin, Rene A. Perez, Andrea M. Stein and
Jeffrey R. Knott. Department of Geological Sciences, California State University Fullerton,
Fullerton, California 92834-6850

We made field observations and calculated Harden soils indices for three terraces (Qoa 1—3, oldest
to youngest) near the confluence of Silverado and Santiago Creeks of Santa Ana Mountains. We
compared these indices to other dated southern California soil chronosequences to elucidate the age
and geomorphic factors contributing to terrace formation.

Prominent terraces are found in the last 3 km reach of Silverado Canyon downstream from where
the resistant Baker Canyon Conglomerate yields to more erosive lithologies. The erosive character is
expressed by increasing valley floor width to height ratios (0.26 upstream; 7.6 at the confluence).

Qoal has a profile index of 233 and thickness of 676 cm which correlates to an age of 300,000—
700,000 yr B.P. Qoa2 has a profile index of 32 and a 152 cm thick soil, which correlates to 22,700—
63,000 yr B.P. Qoa3 has a profile index of 18 and is 76 cm thick, which correlates to 5,900—11,500
yr B.P. Metasedimentary/plutonic clasts comprise 10% and 66% of Qoal and Qoa3, respectively.

We infer that terraces formed here in response to decreased precipitation during the change to
interglacial climates and lower stream power in the less resistant lithology. Qoa2 and Qoa3 formed at
the oxygen isotope stage 4/3 and Holocene-Pleistocene transitions, respectively. The correlated age of
Qoal is too broad to infer a specific oxygen isotope stage. We interpret the clast composition change
from Qoal to Qoa3 as headward erosion of streams into metasedimentary rock found to the northeast,
possibly caused by uplift along the Elsinore fault.

86 DIETARY SHIFTS OF ELEGANT TERNS AND CASPIAN TERNS AT TWO SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA NESTING COLONIES: RESPONSES TO CHANGES IN OCEAN CLIMATE
AND PREY POPULATIONS

Ingrid Chlup'! and Michael H. Horn’. California State University, Fullerton, 'Environmental
Studies Program and *Department of Biological Science Fullerton, CA 92834-6850

We reported previously on the diets of Elegant Terns and Caspian Terns nesting at the Bolsa Chica
Ecological Reserve from 1993 to 1999 and extended the work through 2002 and included the Los
Angeles Harbor colony. Our now 10-year analysis of fish prey delivered to the colonies by parental
birds is based on identifying fish dropped or regurgitated at the nests. For the diets of each tern
species, we report here (1) the proportion of each prey taxon including the two main species, northern
anchovy and Pacific sardine, (2) the ratio of anchovies to sardines, and (3) the composition of dropped
vs. regurgitated samples, to assess the foraging responses of the terns to changing ocean temperature
and food supply. The proportions of anchovy and sardine in the diet were plotted against ENSO
ratings (reflecting sea surface temperatures) and estimated biomass of the two prey species for 1993—
2002. The results to date indicate that (1) dropped fish are an adequate measure of the proportions of
anchovies and sardines in regurgitated samples, (2) Elegant Terns appear to prefer anchovies while

ABSTRACTS 45

Caspian Terns appear to prefer sardines, and (3) the proportions of anchovy and sardine in the ocean
and in the terns’ diets appear to cycle out of phase with each other, anchovies increasing during cold
ENSO (La Nina) episodes and sardines increasing during warmer ENSO (El Nino) episodes. This
cyclic pattern appears to result in the rather consistent annual availability of lipid-rich prey for terns
in southern California coastal waters.

87 A VASCULAR FLORA OF THE OWENS PEAK EASTERN WATERSHED

Naomi S. Fraga. Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate University, Rancho Santa Ana
Botanic Garden, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711

A thorough understanding of a region’s botany must begin with a basic flora. The importance of
phytogeography is demonstrated in our continued discovery of new plant species, range extensions
and rediscoveries of species previously thought to be extinct. Owens Peak and its eastern watershed
lie at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada within the Owens Peak Wilderness Area in Kern County.
Owens Peak itself is the highest in the Southern Sierra rising to more than 2,600 meters. The location’s
floristic composition is unusual, possessing elements of the southern Sierra Nevada, the Great Basin,
and the Mojave Desert. The flora of this area has been poorly documented in the past, therefore a
flora treatment of this region is of pivotal importance, both systematically, to catalogue the location’s
diverse flora and ecologically, allowing analysis of the impacts and interactions of these floristic
elements in a relatively confined area. The aim of this project is to produce a comprehensive flora of
the Owens Peak eastern watershed.

88 WHAT DID THE FIRST CACTUS LOOK LIKE? EVIDENCE FROM NEW MOLECULAR
DATA

M. P. Griffith. Department of Botany, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA 91711

Early systematic treatments considered the most relictual members of the cactus family (Cactaceae)
to be woody broadleaved trees of the genus Pereskia, as they resemble ‘typical’ dicot morphology
more closely than any other cacti. One treatment in particular (Britton and Rose, 1919) has greatly
influenced subsequent work, which advances the widely accepted view that stem-succulence and habit
reduction represent derived character states within the Cactaceae, which evolved from a Pereskia-like
ancestor. Recent independent phylogenetic papers, although explicitly or implicitly advancing this
traditional view, often present evidence that does not support this hypothesis. One subfamily of Cac-
taceae, the Opuntioideae, is seriously underrepresented in recent work, and is absolutely critical to
our understanding of early cactus evolution. The current study investigates deep, early-diverging lin-
eages within Cactaceae using phylogenies inferred via Bayesian and parsimony analyses of nuclear
(ITS) and chloroplast (trnL-F) DNA sequence data, emphasizing the relationships among the subfamily
Opuntioideae, and interprets those results in the context of other phylogenetic work. The following
hypotheses are supported: the relationships among the subfamilies of Cactaceae are not clear; the
Opuntioideae may be sister to all other cacti; plants of the geophytic, leafless genera Maihueniopsis
and Puna are sister to all other opuntioids; geophytism, leaflessness, and architectural simplicity seem
plesiomorphic in Opuntioideae. In context with other recent work and the outgroups of the Opuntioi-
deae and Cactaceae, this suggests the possibility that early cacti were not leafy Pereskia-like shrubs,
but instead may have been diminutive, succulent geophytes.

89 MARIANO AND MANUEL’S MILPA: SUBSISTENCE FARMING IN THE SOCONUSCO
REGION OF CHIAPAS

S. Alves. California State University Dominguez Hills, Anthropology Department, Carson, CA

The Soconusco region of the Southern Mexican State of Chiapas is a lush tropical lowland envi-
ronment. As in many tropical regions of the world, the forests are disappearing to agribusiness and
land extensive swidden farming practices. Population pressure and run off from agricultural chemicals
have affected the quality of life for the indigenous population. Subsistence farming and traditional life
ways closely tied to the forest are undergoing drastic changes. It is vital that the ethnoecological
knowledge that the people of this region posses be preserved before it and the forests are forgotten.
In June of 2002, I went to Chiapas as a member of an ethnobotany field class to do an ethnographic
study of subsistence farmers and to explore the extent to which modern pesticides, herbicides and

46 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

fertilizers are used in their corn cultivation. Finally, the use of agricultural chemicals among subsis-
tence farmers is a recent phenomenon and recording of the types of chemicals and quantities used
will provide a way to project future contamination of the environment and the impact on local plant,
animal and human populations.

92 PHOTOMETRIC DETECTION OF AN EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETARY TRANSIT ACROSS
THE SUN-LIKE STAR HD 209458

Ved Chirayath'. 'Southern California Academy of Sciences & The California Academy of Math
and Science, 1000 E. Victoria St. #8002, Dominguez Hills, CA 90747

Sponsored in part by a grant from the Southern California Academy of Sciences and cooperation
from Meade Instruments Inc.

I report photometric measurements of HD 209458, an extra-solar planetary system known by radial
velocity measurements to have an orbiting planetoid of Jupiter mass. The star has been observed with
a 10” Meade Schmidt-Newtonian LXD 55 telescope and a Nikon Coolpix 995 CCD. I detect two full
transits at projected transit times defined by radial velocity measurements (Mazeh et al.). An accuracy
of +0.01 stellar magnitudes has been achieved. The photometric dimming measured, attributed to the
transit of a planet across the stellar disk, is consistent with past photometric measurements made by
considerably large observatories (Hubble, Keck I). Also presented are derived values for the diameter
of the planetary disk.

93 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PLANKTON DENSITIES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER
NEWPORT BAY AND THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT IT

Anuj Chaudhary. Oxford Academy High School, Cypress, CA 90630

Plankton densities were measured in upper and lower Newport Bay, an estuary in Southern Cali-
fornia. Samples were taken at the mouth of the bay, and just above the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge,
which represents the division between upper and lower bay, a distance of about 4.5 miles. Plankton’s
primary food source is phytoplankton, small producers that are at the bottom of the ocean food web.
Phytoplankton growth is known to be affected by phosphates and nitrogen, both of which were mea-
sured, along with other water quality data. Density was generally much higher in the upper bay as
compared to the lower bay.

94 CONVERSION OF A-AMINO ACIDS INTO NITRILES USING TRICHLOROISOCYANUR-
IC ACID (TCICA)

Jason Bae! and Gene Hiegel*. 'Cypress High School, Cypress, CA 90630; *Department of Chem-
istry and Biochemistry, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92834-6866

a-Amino acids were converted into nitriles by reaction with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCICA) in
methanol or water. The reaction proceeded rapidly at room temperature with the evolution of carbon
dioxide to give high purity nitriles in yields of 41-77%. Nitriles were purified by distillation or column
chromatography and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and gas
chromatography. Phenylalanine (C,H;CH,CH(NH,)CO,H) gave phenylacetonitrile (Cj;H;CH,CN) in
77% yield and 99.0% purity. Valine ((CH;),;CHCH(NH,)CO,H) gave isobutyronitirile ((CH,),CHCN)
in 41% yield and 97.1% purity. Leucine ((CH,;),;CHCH,CH(NH,)CO,H) gave isovaleronitrile
((CH;),;,CHCH,CN) in 49% yield and 97.4% purity. Isoleucine (CH;,CH,CH(CH,)CH(NH,)CO,H) gave
2-methylbutyronitrile (CH,CH,CH(CH,)CN) in 40% yield and 96.8% purity.

96 AUREOCOCCUS ANOPHAGEFFERENS IN COASTAL WATERS: PREVENTION CON-
TROL AND MITIGATION

Saloni Kadakia. University of Southern California, Department of Biology, Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium

Aureococcus anophageferen is a toxic species of algal bloom that has been shown to have devas-
tating impacts on the local coastal resources. This brown tide has had a severe impact on the eel grass
populations which in turn effects scallops. This experiment deduced the grazing rates of protozoan
communities, the isolation and culturing of the protozoan, and the usage of mescocosm experiments

ABSTRACTS AT

to measure the effect and manipulation of nutrient forms and concentrations. From these experiment
a new method of culturing and treating these blooms was found that reduced the grazing rates of this
toxic species to nearly % the original bloom and created an environment around the algea that pre-
vented the blooms from further progressing as quickly as they usually would in the ocean thus pre-
venting the algae’s toxic product to enter the gills of water species.

97 A TWO-YEAR STUDY: SAND CRABS, SAND PIPERS & POLLUTION: FACTORS EF-
FECTING SAND CRAB AND SAND PIPER POPULATIONS AT SITES IN THE SANTA
MONICA BAY AND LOS ANGELES HARBOR

Katherine Nakaba. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

The dominant species in the swash zone is the Hippid sand crab, Emerita analoga. A study was
conducted to determine if water temperature, salinity, barometric pressure, precipitation and/or pol-
lution factors effect sand crab population density. I hypothesized that sand crabs would have a smaller
population where higher levels of ocean pollution were found. The first year, after measuring the
abiotic factors, the number and size of sand crabs were recorded at one location. After these results,
the trials were expanded to include a second location. Both locations were chosen based on ocean
bacteria counts (enterococcus, total and fecal coliforms )—that indicate pollution from numerous sourc-
es including fecal waste. The second year, I chose to analyze the difference in substrate as an additional
abiotic factor, to corroborate previous results, and to determine if lower sand crab population numbers
had a corresponding lower number of sandpipers. The study continued to measure bacterial levels,
salinity, barometric pressure, precipitation, and water temperature and increased the number of sites
from two to four, expanding from the Santa Monica Bay to the LA Harbor. At one site (Pico-Kenter)
the storm drain run-off is now being cleaned through a SMURFF facility. Previous and current bacteria
and sand crab data were compared. While the abiotic factors remained constant at all locations, the
bacteria count was significantly different. The results obtained support the hypothesis that the popu-
lation density of sand crabs and sandpipers is effected by bacterial pollution. There is minor variation
in substrate that will generate further study.

98 GLOBAL WARMING: CAN BACTERIA REALLY HELP STOP IT?
S.F. Ong. California Academy of Mathematics and Science, Carson 90747

Trichodesmium is a form of oceanic cyanobacteria, a type of bacteria known for its photosynthe-
sizing and nitrogen fixing ability. They are one of the very few organisms that can convert atmospheric
nitrogen into an organic form that can be used by plants. The importance of 7Trichodesmium as a
major contributor to the oceanic ecosystems and cutting down on global warming is becoming known
in the scientific world. Very little is known about these microscopic wonders. This experiment was
conducted into order to study its optimal irradiance level for nitrogen fixation. It was also conducted
to determine if phosphorous is a limiting factor in the nitrogen fixation rates of Trichodesmium. It
was found that Trichodesmium grown in 5 4M phosphorous concentrations had an optimal irradiance
level of 105 Quanta/sec/cm? and Trichodesmium grown in 50 4M phosphorous concentrations had an
optimal irradiance level of 80 Quanta/sec/cm? in respect to nitrogen fixation ability. It was also con-
cluded that, in this experiment, phosphorous was a limiting factor. These data will lay the vital foun-
dation for future researchers and scientists to build upon.

99 DISTRIBUTION OF OXIDATIVE AND GLYCOLYTIC ENZYMES IN ELECTROCYTES OF
PHYLOGENTICALLY DIVERSE SPECIES OF FISH

Edward Smetak, Jr., La Habra High School, La Habra Hts, CA 90631; and G.H. Kageyama,
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Pomona, CA
91768

Electric fish generate energy for, and produce an electric current from electrocytes which are derived
from muscle tissue, or in some cases nervous tissue. The type of energy metabolism that creates the
needed high amounts of ATP in the electrocytes can vary, possibly depending on the type of muscle the
electrocyte has evolved from, either fast or slow. The goal of this research is to determine how various
electric fish generate ATP in their electric organs, either through oxidative respiration or glycolysis.
Cytochrome oxidase histochemistry was used to localize oxidative metabolic activity and lactate dehy-

48 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

drogenase histochemistry was used to localize glycolytic enzymes in the muscle derived electrocytes of
the weakly electric fish Gnathonemus, commonly known as the elephant-nosed fish. These findings were
then compared to Apteronotus albifrons, whose electrocytes originates from nervous tissue. By examining
the differential distribution of metabolic enzymes in both species, it can be determined if electrocytes
utilize one or both, oxidative respiration and/or glycolysis, in the production of ATP.

100 DISTRIBUTION OF ARGENTINE ANTS ON THE PALOS VERDES PENINSULA: EF-
FECTS OF ABIOTIC FACTORS AND HUMAN DISTURBANCE

G. Y. Williams. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90275

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, has spread worldwide, often decimating native ant species
and other arthropod species. Numerous investigations have shown biotic aspects that contribute to the
Argentine’s success, such as its ability to exploit resources, but fewer and somewhat contradictory studies
have been made of abiotic or non-biological conditions that limit the Argentine’s distribution. This study
investigated the abiotic factors-light, temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and soil temperature
in three habitat areas on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, non-developed, semi-developed, and fully-developed.
Measurements of the factors where Argentines were established suggest that the Argentine prefers cooler
air and soil temperatures and dry soils with high relative humidity. Disturbance, especially in the form
of human-installed water sources, nonnative plants, human activity, and human litter appear to attract
the Argentine. The most popular habitat area was the semi-developed, possessing human-installed water
sources, nonnative plants, moderate human activity, and dryer soil moisture.

101 RECLAIMING THE ECOSYSTEM: EUTROPHICATION CONTROL WITH CALCIUM
CARBONATE (PHOSPHATE-BINDING ION-EXCHANGE) FILTERS AND DENITRIFT-
CATION IN FRESH WATER LAKES

Vijay Yanamadala. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, 27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills
Estates, CA 90274

Eutrophication, the process by which a lake becomes rich in dissolved nutrients due to various
pollutants, mainly phosphates and nitrates, is a major cause of the loss of natural lake ecosystems
throughout the world. This process occurs naturally in all lakes, but phosphate-rich nutrient runoff
from storm drains and agricultural runoff 1s a major human cause. Especially in Madrona Marsh, one
of the last remaining vernal marshes in the Greater Los Angeles Area, cultural eutrophication has
become a major problem. In this experiment, calcium carbonate was found to be an excellent phosphate
binder, reducing up to 70% of the phosphates in a given sample of water, and it posed relatively
negligent ecological repercussions. This project involved the testing of this principle in both the
laboratory and in the real ecosystem. A calcium carbonate lacing procedure was first carried out in
order to determine its efficacy in Madrona Marsh. Ammonia was found to interfere with the solubility
of calcium carbonate and therefore is a hindrance to the reduction of phosphate. Therefore, various
approaches for reduction of ammonia were tested including aeration, use of bacteria growth medium,
and plants, mainly in an attempt to increase population of Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas. All were
successful in moderately reducing ammonia levels. The effect of phosphate and ammonia reduction
on the populations of pathogenic bacteria was an important focus of this experiment. There was a
strong correlation between phosphate concentrations and bacterial populations: a 66% decrease in
phosphate resulted in a 35% reduction in bacterial populations and a 45% reduction in enteropatho-
genic populations. Likewise, a strong correlation was shown between calcium carbonate concentrations
greater than that which can be attributed to the phosphate reduction alone. This was followed by the
construction of various phosphate binding calcium carbonate filters, which utilized the ion exchange
principle. The experiment was extremely successful in designing a working phosphate binding and
ammonia reducing filter, and a large-scale filter is currently being constructed in Madrona Marsh; this
filter will reduce phosphate and ammonia levels substantially in the following years.

ABSTRACTS 49

102 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PATTERNS OF PALEOMAGNETIC INTENSITY
VARIATIONS IN EAST ASIA VERSUS THE PATTERNS OF INTENSITY ON OTHER
PARTS OF THE WORLD

Jj. Lee and S. Lund. University of Southern California, Department of Earth Sciences, 3651
Trousdale Pkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089

The earth’s magnetic field variation during times of stable polarity, termed secular variation, has a
wide range of space-time variability. Although secular variation denotes both directional and intensity
variability, in this study the emphasis will be on the intensity variation of the magnetic field. Such
intensity variability can be determined in sediment sequences by measuring the natural remnant mag-
netization (NRM) and then dividing the NRM by some sediment magnetic parameter which estimates
the amount of magnetic material present. We have compiled such sediment paleointensity records from
Lake Barrine and Eacham of Austrailia, and from Lake Baikal of Siberia. Other intensity variability
can be determined by measuring the NRM in archaeological materials. The data was compiled from
three regions of China and one region of Japan. The results show that the data gathered from each
region closely correlate with each other even across broad geographical distances. In all the regions,
there are two distinct peaks in magnetic intensity at approximately 300 A.D. and 1300 B.C., as well
as various other smaller correlating features at dates of 1300 A.D., 2800 B.C., and 4500 B.C. It thus
appears that East Asia has varied in intensity in a systematic manner for the last 8000 years. This
pattern is significantly different from the intensity variability in Europe and North America in the
same time interval.

103. CLONING THE C-TERMINUS OF ATCDPPITVIN TO A BACTERIAL EXPRESSION VECTOR

M. Hong', B. Thorson’ and J. Brusslan’. 'Torrance High School, Torrance, CA 90501; *Dept.
of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long
Beach, CA 90840

We studied the plant Arabidopsis thaliana in order to isolate the AtcDPPIV gene. The fact that the
genome of A. thaliana has been completely sequenced makes this angiosperm the ideal plant to study.
After running a PSI-BLAST search on the AftcDPPIV gene, we suspected that the gene codes for a
serine protease. This is of interest to us because a serine protease has never before been observed in
a plant naturally. To produce an antibody that would recognize this protein, we used a method of gene
cloning. We cloned the AfcDPPIV insert into a pET32b vector; the clones were sent to UC Davis to
be sequenced. We achieved only one perfect construct. We expressed the gene with IPTG, and purified
the protein. In the future the purified protein will be injected into rabbits for antibody production.

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Scott A. Aalbers
Mia S. Adreani
Larry G. Allen
M.J. Allen

M.J. Allen
Shannon Alves
Kelly S. Andrews
Jason Bae
Shane Beck
Jono Blodgett
Kelly S. Boyle
Greg Briscoe
Andrew J. Brooks
Aimee Bullard
Donald G. Buth
John Butler
Carmen Caceres
Kim Carpenter
Anuj Chaudhary
Carey Chen

Ved Chirayath
Ingrid Chlup
Jana Cobb
Tricia Collins
Erin Cox

Cathy Coyle-Thompson

Michael Curtis
Mary Drexler
Sabrina Drill

Brad Erisman
Melissa Evanson
Leonore G. Field
Otto F. Figueroa
Jonathan Fong
Naomi Fraga

John Froeschke
Maelanie M. Galima
Donovan P. German
Lisa Gilbane
Kenneth J. Goldman
M. Patrick Griffith
Candice Groat
Antonett Gutierrez
Eileen L. Heinrich
Norm Herr
Gregory Hoisington
Michael Hong
Lawrence Honma
Caryn Howland
Andy Jahn

Erica Jarvis

Scott Johnson

Alphabetical List of all Presenters.

Abstract no.

67
66
10

Name Abstract no.
Saloni Kadakia 96
Kevin M. Kelley 12
Maria R. Khurrum 56
James Bok Lee 102
Kimberly Mahr Hill 20
Henry Marr ot
Karen Martin 83
Janet Mason 1]
Jennifer McAdam 32
A. Mearns 68
Robert Medina 22
Eric Miller 8]
Eric Miller 37
Katherine Nakaba 97
Matt Neilson 43
Danielle Neumann 53
Gregory Nishiyama 84
Andrew Norris 36
Jerrold G. Norton 6
Richard J. O'Neil A
Steve Oppenheimer Dig}
Su Fey Ong 98
Ed Parnell 70
Lalit Patel 90)
Laura M. Peters 4]
Daniel Pondella II 9
Daniel Pondella II TD
Christina Porcu 54
David Pritchett 58
Kevin Rivera 24
Michael V. Saba 78
Alex Schultz 33
Brenda C. Sill 25
Gery Simila Sil
Mehdi Sina-Kahdiv 59
Edward J. Smetak Jr. 99
J.A. Sonnentag 64
Anthony Spina iS
Kili Sueda 42
Bryan Swig 46
Tania Tasu 34
Maryanne Tweedy 60
Gini Oberholzer Vandergon 30
Jeremy Vaudo We)
Lily Anne Y. Welty 61
Genevieve Williams 95
Karen Williams 100
Raymond R. Wilson Jr. 7
Monica Winters ; 62
Vijay Yanamadala 101
Gypsi Zorba 63

CONTENTS

SCAS News, Acknowledgements

SCAS Board Members and Officers

Research Training Program

Student Award Winners

Schedule of Program for 2003 Annual Meeting
Abstracts

Alphabetical List of Presenters at 2003 Annual Meeting

COVER: Seal of the Academy.

ISSN 0038-3872

Pe rHeERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

BULLETIN

Volume 102 Number 3

AL sé Ys 3 ant
te PAY a iF
RepPAs ke Vi i

BCAS-A102(3) 99-150 (2003) nee O8 2009 DECEMBER 2003

Southern California Academy of Sciences
Founded 6 November 1891, incorporated 17 May 1907

OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2001—2004 2002—2005 2003-2006
Brad R. Blood Ralph G. Appy James Allen
Chuck Michell Jonathan N. Baskin John Dorsey
Daniel Pondella Cheryl Hogue Judith Lemus
Raymond Wells John W. Roberts Karen Martin

Raymond Wilson Gloria J. Takahashi Susan E. Yoder

Professional Memabers” =. 2.5.05 (Sie se) GP Re ae
Student Members... 2 8 20 6 ae eth bee Reals eee de eee ee
Memberships in other categories are available: see academy web page at http://scas.jsd.claremont.edu/

Date of this issue | December 2003

This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY
OF SCIENCES

CALL FOR SYMPOSIA & PAPERS
2004 ANNUAL MEETING
May 7-8, 2004
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY

LONG BEACH

Aco 90)
RPORATED
O

FIRST CALL FOR SYMPOSIA
Annual Meeting of the Southern California Academy of Sciences
California State University, Long Beach
May 7-8 2004

The Southern California Academy of Sciences will hold its 2004 annual meeting on the campus of
the California State University, Long Beach. Presently planned symposium topics are listed below.
Additional proposed symposium topics are invited. Please contact Raymond Wilson (rwilson/] @
csulb.edu) or David Huckaby (dhuckaby@csulb.edu) at CSU, Long Beach to propose additional sym-
posia.

Proposed Symposia

*“‘Wetlands Ecology” will be devoted to studies of the biological, chemical, and geological processes
of Southern California’s wetlands. If you wish to participate please contact Tonny Wijte at CSU, Long
Beach (wijte@csulb.edu) or Martha Sutula at SCCWRP (marthas @ sccwrp.org).

**Molecular Ecology of Southern California” will be broadly devoted to ecological studies involving
the use of molecular-genetic tools. If you wish to participate please contact Raymond Wilson at CSU,
Long Beach (rwilson! @csulb.edu).

‘Biological and Management Perspectives on Stress Responses in Fish: ‘Catch & Release’ and
Other Human-derived Impacts.” is being co-organized by Kevin Kelley (kmkelley@csulb.edu) and
Chris Lowe (clowe @csulb.edu).

**Environmental Simulation” will be devoted to studies that model environmental processes. If you
wish to participate please contact Drew Ackerman at SCCWRP (drewa@sccwrp.org).

‘Safe in the Surf?: Advances in Microbial Testing” will be devoted to techniques in pollution
monitoring in the nearshore. If you wish to participate, contact (jJdorsey@Imu.edu, or call at (310) 338-
T3NF):

“Reef Ecology” is a continuing symposium on the ecology of rocky substrates. If you wish to par-
ticipate, contact Dan Pondella (pondella@oxy.edu) or Robert Grove (grovers@sce.com).

“Ecology of Soft Bottom Fishes and Invertebrates” is being organized by Jim Allen
(jima@sccwrp.org) who should be contacted if you are interested in participating.

‘*Paleontology and Archeology of Southern California” will be devoted-to recent discoveries on
the prehistory of our area. Contact Mark Roeder (mroeder! @earthlink.net) if you wish to participate.

There will be additional sessions of Invited Papers and Posters and of papers by Junior Academy
members.

Abstracts of presented papers and posters will be published in 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. Biology: ecology and evolution, biology: genetics and physiology, physical sci-
ence. 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 one 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: www.lam.mus.ca.us/~scas/

Pacific Footballfish, Himantolophus sagamius (Tanaka)
(Teleostei: Himantolophidae), Found in the Surf-zone at Del Mar,
San Diego County, California, with Notes on its Morphology

Cynthia Klepadlo, Philip A. Hastings, and Richard H. Rosenblatt

Marine Vertebrates Collection, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University
of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0208, USA

Abstract.—On 15 December 2001, a moribund adult female Himantolophus sa-
gamius (Tanaka 1918) was found in the surf at Del Mar, San Diego County,
California. This poorly known but widespread Pacific Ocean species has been
previously reported off Chile and Ecuador, off Hawai, off northwest New Guinea,
off California and from the surf-zone in Japan. Examination of the visceral anat-
omy revealed a surprisingly long digestive tract (combined length of the stomach
and intestine 5.6 times the standard length).

The ceratioid anglerfishes of the family Himantolophidae are most frequently
caught at depths of 200—800 m (Bertelsen and Krefft 1988), mainly in tropical
and subtropical waters. Specimens of the genus Himantolophus have been found
down to a depth of 1800 m; the known distribution in the Atlantic is as far north
as about 65°N and in the Pacific from about 40°N (Kharin 1984; Bertelsen and
Krefft 1988) southward to about 55°S (Meléndez and Kong 1997). On 15 Decem-
ber 2001, a 380 mm standard length (SL) moribund adult female Himantolophus
(Fig. 1) was found in the surf-zone at Del Mar, San Diego County, California
(32°57.5'N, 117°15.9'W), by Mark Grundler of Carlsbad, California. Mr. Grundler
placed the specimen on ice and notified the Marine Vertebrates Collection at
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) where the specimen has been cata-
logued as SIO 02-2. Other institutional abbreviations are as given by Leviton et
al. (1985).

The specimen is in excellent condition. Only the skin over the dermal spines
was abraded, due in all probability to rolling about in the surf. There are no cuts,
bites, tears, or other outward signs of damage. The internal organs show no signs
of damage (though there was a heavy nematode infestation external to the stom-
ach), and there is no indication of the cause of death or how the specimen made
its way to shore.

External Morphology

Meristics and illicial characters agree closely with the H. groenlandicus-group
of Bertelsen and Krefft (1988). The specimen was identified as H. sagamius
(Tanaka 1918), with all meristics and measurements falling within the ranges
given by Bertelsen and Krefft (1988). Fin-ray counts of SIO 02-2 are dorsal 5;
anal 4; pectoral 14,14. The membranes between the dorsal, anal and caudal rays
are distinctly white, and the membranes between the pectoral rays are black. The
body and fin rays are uniformly black. There are 48 dermal spines on the left

100 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Fig. 1. Himantolophus sagamius, SIO 02-2, 380 mm SL. Scale bar = 15 cm.

side of the body (from the posterior part of the head to the caudal peduncle) and
44 on the right, with 3—4 spines on each pectoral peduncle.

The esca (Fig. 2A, B) has the light-guiding distal appendage (DA) divided at
the base; each main branch has a bifurcated tip and two tiny papilliform side-
branches; the base is surrounded by four escal lobes of about equal size, each
with a slightly roundish tip; length of the DA is 24 mm (6.3% SL). The unpaired
anterior escal appendage (AA) is simple with two short side-branches near the
tip; its length is 91 mm (23.9% SL). The unpaired posterior escal appendage (PA)
is bifurcated; one branch is simple and the other branch has three short side-
branches near the tip; its length is 147 mm (40.8% SL). There are three pairs of
illicial appendages (IA) near the base of the escal bulb; both distal appendages
are bifurcated and both proximal appendages are simple; no side-branches are
present on any pair; the length of the longest is 172 mm (45.3% SL). All escal
appendages and side-branches are black with bright silvery tips. The illictum and
esca of H. sagamius has also been illustrated in Lea (1988) and Bertelsen and
Krefft (1988).

Himantolophus sagamius can be readily distinguished from the four other mem-
bers of the groenlandicus-group. Himantolophus sagamius has an anterior escal
appendage (AA), absent in both H. paucifilosus Bertelsen and Krefft 1998 and
H. crinitus Bertelsen and Krefft 1988. It has longer distal appendages (DA) (6.3%
SL versus 3.8—4.2% SL for specimens greater than 325 mm SL), and a longer
posterior appendage (PA) (40.8% SL versus 24—33% SL for specimens greater
than 325 mm SL) than H. groenlandicus Reinhardt 1837. Himantolophus sagam-
ius has bright silvery tips on all escal appendages and side-branches, with the
escal lobes rounded, whereas H. danae has pigmented tips on its escal appendages

PACIFIC FOOTBALLFISH FROM CALIFORNIA 101

fecal

Fig. 2. Esca of Himantolophus sagamius, SIO 02-2. Scale bar = 5 cm. (A) Photograph and (B)
line drawing: AA = anterior escal appendage, DA = light-guiding distal appendage, PA = posterior
escal appendage, and IA = illicial appendages.

(except the third pair of IA), and the distal lobes pointed, with the anterior pair
prolonged into filaments.

Visceral Anatomy

The visceral anatomy of antennaroids has been described and figured by Su-
yehiro (1942) and Le Danois (1974), but only sketchy information is available
for ceratioids (Bertelsen 1951; Pietsch 1976; Bertelsen and Krefft 1988).

In SIO 02-2, the broad esophagus merges ventrally into the stout-walled stom-

102 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Fig. 3. Internal organs in situ.

ach, which has a rounded posterior extension. The internal wall of the broad
esophagus is gathered into a series of accordian-like pleats (Figs. 3, 4), so that it
may be very distensible. At the point where it enters the stomach, the esophagus
is 6 cm in diameter. The stomach projects anteriorly and posteriorly to the esoph-
agus. The wall of the stomach, which is empty, is, like that of the esophagus,
deeply folded internally. The anterior portion tapers to a well-developed and mus-
cular pylorus. The stomach is 11 cm from posterior end to the pylorus. The thick-
walled tubular intestine runs anteriorly for 5 cm then abruptly turns posterodor-
sally, passes on the right side of the esophagus, then runs posteriorly to the level
of the rear of the stomach, where it begins a series of loops as a tapering tube.
The intestine ultimately enters a broad, thinner-walled, posteriormost section, 15
cm in length, which extends below the fused portion of the ovaries to the vent.
The length of the intestine from the pylorus to the vent is 200 cm. Thus the total
digestive tract length (stomach plus intestine) is 5.6 times the SL. The internal
organs are suspended on stout mesenteries strengthened by connective tissue
cords. A well-developed spleen, 1.5 cm in length, is suspended in the mesentery
above the intestine. The liver is bilobed, with the left lobe much the larger. The
gall bladder (Fig. 4) is about 50 mm long and 35 mm wide. It is filled with clear
fluid, with no trace of bile pigment. The ovaries are thick walled, nearly circular
in outline in lateral view, and laterally compressed (Fig. 5). They are broadly
fused posteriorly to form a stout common oviduct. The medial wall of each is
lined with villus-like ovarian lamellae about | cm long (Fig. 6) with non-vitel-
logenic oocytes. The lateral walls of the ovaries are smooth.

Discussion

Himantolophus sagamius is known from wide-ranging collections in the Pacific
Ocean (Bertelsen and Krefft 1988). In the western Pacific, it has been reported

PACIFIC FOOTBALLFISH FROM CALIFORNIA 103

esophagus |

Fig. 5. Internal organs removed from body cavity showing lateral view of-right ovary.

104 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Fig. 6. Internal view of right ovary showing medial surface lined with villus-like ovarian lamellae.

from off Japan and off New Guinea, and in the central Pacific it has been collected
off the Hawaiian Islands. In the eastern Pacific, its occurence off California has
previously been reported by Lea (1988) as Himantolophus sp. Bertelsen and Krefft
(1988) later identified the two specimens (LACM 43760-1 and CAS 57639) as
H. sagamius. Meléndez and Kong (1977) reported on a specimen of H. sagamius
from off Coquimbo, Chile (MNHNC P.6848), and there are two additional eastern
Pacific records from off Ecuador, both from the stomachs of sperm whales (ISH
18/55a,b; Bertelsen and Krefft 1988).

SIO 02-2 is the largest known specimen of H. sagamius. At present there are
12 known adults (32—380 mm SL) and three juveniles (32—40 mm SL).

The occurrence of this specimen of H. sagamius in the surf-zone with no
significant damage or signs of predation is remarkable. The inshore terminus of
the La Jolla Submarine Canyon, which seems a possible route inshore from deeper
waters, 1s about five miles south of where the specimen was found. Haneda (1968)
reported on a specimen of Himantolophus (356 mm TL) found “as it floated
along the beach at the tidal mark.”’ It was initially identified as H. groenlandicus,
but Bertelsen and Krefft (1988) re-identified it as H. sagamius based on Haneda’s
(1968) description and photographs (the specimen was not preserved). In photo-
graphs of Haneda’s specimen, the esca is similar to that of SIO 02-2 except for
the presence of white reflective tissue on the proximal areas of various append-
ages. Why either female moved, or was driven, inshore remains a mystery.

The digestive tract of this specimen of H. sagamius is surprisingly long, with
the combined length of the stomach and intestine being approximately 5.6 times
the SL. Although ceratioids are carnivorous, the digestive tract of carnivores is
typically less than the SL, while that of omnivores ranges from 1.3 to 4.2 times
the SL; that of herbivores ranges from 2 to 20 times the SL (Horn, 1989; Helfman

PACIFIC FOOTBALLFISH FROM CALIFORNIA 105

et al. 1997). Montgomery (1977) cautioned against uncritical comparisons of rel-
ative gut lengths in fishes of radically different body forms. Nonetheless, even
considering the relatively short, deep body typical of ceratioids, the gut of this
specimen of H. sagamius is much longer than would be expected for a carnivorous
fish. The stomach was empty and the intestine contained a fine chyme that was
otherwise unidentifiable. Perhaps the relatively long digestive tract slows the pas-
sage of food items and permits maximum breakdown of prey items and absorption
of nutrients.

The ovaries do not correspond exactly to the available descriptions of ceratioid
gonads (Bertelsen 1951; Pietsch 1976; Bertelsen and Krefft 1988). The ovarian
lamellae are in the form of a series of villiform projections, united at the base.
Pietsch (1972:24—25) reported “‘villi-like projections of the epithelium” in Cen-
trophryne spinulosa but did not specify their arrangement. In C. spinulosa, the
ovarian lumen is described as being “filled with villi-like projections’? whereas
in our specimen the villi are restricted to the medial wall of the ovary. Details of
Ovarian anatomy of other ceratioid genera are unknown. In contrast to C. spinu-
losa, which has a single ovary (Pietsch 1972:24, fig. 5), H. sagamius has paired
Ovaries, united posteriorly. This is the condition reported by Bertelsen (1951) for
other ceratioids.

As reported for most ceratioid females, the ova of SIO 92-2 are represented by
small oocytes, although the individual is large enough to be sexually mature. The
phenomenon of large females with undeveloped eggs has been attributed to ex-
patriation, lack of an attached male (Bertelsen 1951), or as evidence of recent
spawning. However, we suggest that maturation of ova in female ceratioids may
be dependent on the presence of a suitable large prey item to provide the material
for o6genesis.

Acknowledgments

We thank Mark Grundler for collecting the specimen and for bringing it to our
attention, H.J. Walker, Jr. (SIO) for curatorial assistance, and two anonymous
reviewers for helpful suggestions.

Literature Cited

Bertelsen, E. 1951. The ceratioid fishes. Ontogeny, taxonomy, distribution and biology. Dana Report
39: 1-276.

, and Krefft, G. 1988. The ceratioid family Himantolophidae (Pisces, Lophiiformes). Steen-
strupia 14:9—89.

Haneda, Y. 1968. Observations on the luminescence of the deep sea luminous angler fish, Himanto-
lophus groenlandicus. Sci. Rept. Yokosuka City Mus. 14:1—6.

Helfman, G. S., Collette, B. B., and Facey, D. E. 1997. The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science,
Malden, Mass.

Horn, M. H. 1989. Biology of herbivorous fishes. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 27:167—272.

Kharin, V. E. 1984. Two new species of deep water anglerfishes (Ceratioidei: Himantolophidae, Gi-
gantactidae) from the North Pacific. J. Ichthyol. 24:112—117.

Lea, R. N. 1988. Family Himantolophidae added to the ichthyofauna of the temperate eastern North
Pacific. Calif. Fish Game 74:180-182.

Le Danois, Y. 1974. Etude ostéo-myologique et révision systématique de la famille des Lophiidae
(Pédiculates Haploptérygiens). Mem. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., n.s., Sér. A, Zool, 91:1—127.

Leviton, A. E., Gibbs, R. H., Jr, Heal, E., and Dawson, C. E. 1985. Standards in herpetology and

106 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

ichthyology. Part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology
and ichthyology. Copeia 1985:802—832.

Meléndez, R., and Kong, I. 1997. Himantolophid fishes from Chile (Pisces: Lophiiformes). Rev. Biol.
Marina y Oceanogr. 32:11—15.
Montgomery, W. L. 1977. Diet and gut morphology in fishes, with special reference to the monkeyface
prickleback, Cebidichthys violaceous (Stichaeidae: Blennioide1). Copeia 1977:178—182.
Pietsch, T. W. 1972. A review of the monotypic deep-sea anglerfish family Centrophrynidae: taxonomy,
distribution and osteology. Copeia 1972:17—47.

. 1976. Dimorphism, parasitism and sex: reproductive strategies among deepsea ceratioid ang-
lerfishes. Copeia 1976:781-—793.

Suyehiro, Y. 1942. A study on the digestive system and feeding habits of fish. Japan. J. Zool. 10:1—
303:

Accepted for publication 12 December 2002.

Decapod Crustaceans from the Puente Formation
(Late Middle to Early Late Miocene), California:
A Possible Mass Death

Rodney M. Feldmann

Department of Geology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242
email: rfeldman@kent.edu

Abstract.—Decapod crustaceans are reported for the first time from the late middle
to early late Miocene Puente Formation, Riverside County, California. A single
specimen of penaeid shrimp and numerous cancrid crabs, referred to Metacarcinus
danai Nations, were collected in association with a mixed assemblage of terrestrial
plants, a few bivalves, marine mammals, and numerous taxa of microfossils. Liv-
ing species of Metacarcinus are found in temperate, normal-marine conditions in
water depths up to about 100 m. Thus, an inner shelf, shallow-water environment
of deposition is postulated for this part of the Puente Formation. The accumulation
of many articulated fossils suggests rapid killing and burial of many individuals,
suggestive of a mass death.

Thirteen samples of siltstone bearing fossil decapod crustaceans from the Mio-
cene Puente Formation, Riverside County, California, form the basis for this
study. The samples were examined in the context of the Eagle Glen paleontologic
resource impact mitigation program conducted by Paleo Environmental Associ-
ates, Inc., and L & L Environmental, Inc., during grading associated with devel-
opment of the Corona Country Club Estates in the city of Corona, California
(Lander 2002). The fossils have been identified, and their biostratigraphic and
paleoecologic significance has been evaluated. It appears that the fossils accu-
mulated in a nearshore, marine environment, possibly as a result of a mass-mor-
tality event.

Location and Stratigraphic Position

The studied fossils were collected from rocks assigned by Gray (1961) to the
undifferentiated Puente Formation of Eldridge and Arnold (1907) at a locality
situated on the north slope of Bedford Canyon, Riverside County, California, at
latitude 33°48'21”N, longitude 117°32'17”W, in section 19, T4S, R6OW, of the
Corona South 7.5’ Quadrangle (Figure 1). The stratigraphic section for the upper
part of the rock sequence in this general area (Figure 2) spans an interval of over
700 feet (213 m) of Miocene and post-Miocene sedimentary rock. The lower 170
feet (52 m) of this section is composed of fossiliferous siltstone and claystone
that are lithologically similar to those identified as the Puente Formation by Gray
(1961) approximately 11 km (7 mi) to the north and northwest of the Bedford
Canyon locality in the Corona North and Prado Dam 7.5’ quadrangles. In the
northern part of his study area, Gray (1961) recognized four members of the
Puente Formation. In ascending order these are the La Vida, Soquel, Yorba, and

107

108 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Sycamore Canyon members. He established the age of the undifferentiated for-
mation as middle to late Miocene, based upon benthic foraminiferans.

Some confusion about the naming of the Puente Formation has arisen recently
by the assignment of the La Vida, Yorba, and Soquel members to the Monterey
Formation and the elevation of the Sycamore Canyon Member to formational
rank (Dibblee 1999a). However, Dibblee (1999b) and Dibblee and Ehrenspeck
(2000) continued to use the name Puente Formation for subsurface rocks north
of the Palos Verdes Hills, approximately 80 km (50 mi) west from Corona. Sub-
sequently, Dibblee (2000) and Dibblee and Ehrenspeck (2001) applied the terms
Monterey Formation and Sycamore Canyon Formation as far east as the Prado
Dam Quadrangle. However, the terminology of Dibblee (1999a and b) has not
been used in the area of the Corona South Quadrangle, and the rocks in that area
have not been assigned to a specific member within the Puente Formation. Thus,
the most prudent course of action is to retain the name Puente Formation in an
undifferentiated sense for the purposes of this study.

Vertebrate and invertebrate megafossils as well as foraminiferans and diatoms
previously have been reported from the Puente Formation. In describing the ge-
ology of the formation, Gray (1961, p. 35) listed 27 species of foraminiferans in
nine genera and one species of diatom, based on the identifications of P. B. Smith.
Gray made no mention of megafossils. Although Rigby and Albi (1996) described
a new species of hexactinellid sponge from the Puente Formation in Orange Coun-
ty and noted that pelecypods as well as fish were present in the unit, Schoellhamer
et al. (1981) do not show any Puente Formation in that area. Although this ac-
counting is not exhaustive, I know of no previous references to decapods in the
formation. Schweitzer and Feldmann (2002) described several new decapod fos-
sils from southern California and summarized known occurrences of Cretaceous
through Pliocene decapods in the state. None was noted in the Puente Formation.
During the present paleontological resource evaluation, a wide range of micro-
and mega-invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants were collected. Those relevant to
the present study will be noted below and are listed in the Appendix.

Age of the Puente Formation

Based upon the enclosed benthic foraminiferans, Gray (1961, p. 35) placed a
late Miocene (upper Mohnian) and possibly middle Miocene (Luisian) age on the
Puente Formation. However, benthic foraminiferan ages in the Cenozoic rocks of
the Pacific coast of North America have been shown to be unreliable because
they are time transgressive, relative to ages derived from planktonic microfossils
(Prothero 2001: 389). Foraminiferans, diatoms, and radiometric dates determined
as part of the Eagle Glen paleontologic resource impact mitigation program con-
firm that age (Lander 2002). Specifically, *?Ar/#°K dates were determined on ash
beds 3 and 4 (Figure 2) by Geochron Laboratories. The dates of 12.6+0.4 MA

Fig. |. Location map showing the position, south from Corona, Riverside County, California, from
which fossil decapods were collected.

DECAPODS FROM THE PUENTE FORMATION 109

CORONA SOUTH QUADRANGLE
CALIFORNIA
7.5-MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC)
ZA He, SS

Cun

~
4
Lo Regervoir\
4 :

sffs
«>

&
ear

Lox Sk
WAS Pit NS
ne Q\ Butigrfidld Stage Sta

Historical M

SCALE 1:24 00

*
MN 1 5 0
Gi MILES
1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10.000
£ FEET
Le ee ee a =f

ane a aaa. are QUADRANGLE LOCATION

110 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

for ash bed 3 and 12.4+0.4 MA for ash bed 4 are statistically indistinguishable.
These radiometric ages place the ash deposits at a late middle Miocene age.
However, the diatoms are assignable to early late Miocene Subzone D of the
Denticulopsis hustedtii—D. lanta Zone (Lander 2002). Because both ash beds and
diatoms occur within the part of the formation in which the crabs in the present
study were collected, the age of the decapods is reasonably well defined as late
middle to early late Miocene.

Metacarcinus spp. range from Oligocene to Recent (Schweitzer and Feldmann
2000) with certainty. A single chela from the Centinela Formation, Santa Cruz
Province, Argentina, probably is referable to the genus (Schweitzer and Feldmann
2000), and this would extend the range back to the Eocene. The genus appeared
in the Oligocene of Alaska and, by the Miocene, had dispersed along the west
coast of North America and into Japan. That same geographic range is observed
in the Pliocene. Recent occurrences of the genus are known from the northeast,
southeast, and southwest Pacific Ocean basin and from the North Atlantic. Thus,
the late middle to early late Miocene age based upon radiometric dating and the
enclosed microfossils is well within the temporal and geographic range of the
genus. The type locality of M. danai is in the middle Miocene Briones Formation,
based upon a single specimen at a single locality (Nations 1975). The occurrence
of this species in the Puente Formation reinforces that age.

Systematic Paleontology
Order Decapoda Latreille, 1802
Suborder Dendrobranchiata Bate, 1888
Superfamily Penaeoidea Rafinesque, 1815
Family Penaeidae Rafinesque, 1815

Remarks.—The sole specimen under consideration, LACMIP 6945, bears most
of the characteristics of the superfamily Penaeoidea and family Penaeidae. The
carapace is preserved in lateral aspect, which suggests that it was originally lat-
erally compressed and that the sternal region was very narrow. There is no evi-
dence of a well developed groove pattern. The rostrum is well developed and is
spinose, at least on the dorsal surface. The ventral surface of the rostrum is
obscured. Although the pereiopods are not well-represented, one of the anterior-
most, possibly the first, is relatively long. The abdomen is well-developed, curving
ventrally and then anteriorly, and the telson and uropods are well developed.
Unfortunately the detail of the pleura of the second abdominal somite is lacking.
Penaeidea are characterized by having a second pleuron that does not overlap the
pleuron of the first somite whereas the Caridea includes taxa in which the second
pleuron overlaps the pleura of the first and third somite. One aspect of the mor-
phology that confirms that the specimen is not an oddly preserved crab is that a
segment of the antenna is preserved. That segment is longer than the carapace
and is folded back over the top of the carapace. This is characteristic of the
shrimps and quite unlike the brachyurans, or true crabs. The antennae on crabs
tend to be very short. Thus, although the specimen is crushed and incompletely
preserved, placement in the Penaeidea is likely; however, the Caridea cannot be
entirely ruled out.

DECAPODS FROM THE PUENTE FORMATION 111

UNNAMED SAND UNIT

PUENTE FORMATION

Fine to coarse quartz arenite with clay lenses
Fine to coarse sandstone with pebbles and cobbles
Silty sandstone FEET

Fine to coarse sandstone with pebbles, cobbles, 760
and concretions

Siltstone to very coarse sandstone with pebbles
and cobbles

Fine to very coarse quartz arenite

Fine to very coarse sandstone with clay lenses 700

Fine to very coarse sandstone with pebbles

Silty sand

Fine to very coarse quartz arenite with concretions

Fine to very coarse sandstone

Covered 600

Siltstone
Fine to very coarse quartz arenite

Very fine sandstone with siltstone interbeds

Siltstone with foraminiferans
Siltstone with abundant foraminiferans LACMIP 17584
Ash 4
Siltstone with abundant foraminiferans LACMIP 17584
Ash 3

500

Siltstone with foraminiferans

Ash 2

Silt-rich claystone LACMIP 17583
Ash |
Silt-rich claystone

Silt-rich claystone
Silt-rich claystone

Siltstone with foraminiferans and shelly fauna

LACMIP 17582

BASE OF SECTION

Pig: 2.

UNNAMED SAND UNIT (CONTINUED)

SYMBOLS

QUATERNARY COLLUVIUM Siltstone

Fine to coarse sandstone
Sandstone
Fine to coarse quartz arenite
Biotite seam in quartz arenite
Fine to coarse quartz arenite aS
Clay-rich fine sandstone Pebbles and cobbles 12 ° o

Fine to coarse quartz arenite

with sand concretions at base [=e

Clay-rich fine to coarse sand Concretions ins |

Fine to coarse, cross bedded quartz arenite

Covered
Decapods ER

Fine to medium quartz arenite

Fine to coarse quartz arenite Colleciing locality !ACMIP 17583

Fine sandstone with pebbles and cobbles

Silt to very coarse quartz arenite

Fine to coarse sandstone with pebbles and cobbles

Very fine to coarse quartz arenite

Fine to coarse sandstone with pebbles and cobbles

Fine to coarse quartz arenite with clay lenses

Stratigraphic section through the Puente Formation in Bedford Canyon, Riverside County,
California, showing the horizons from which fossil decapods were collected and ash samples were
collected for radiometric dating.

Fig 73:
LACMIP 17583 in the Puente Formation of Bedford Canyon. :

LACMIP 6945, penaeid shrimp (Family Penaeidae, Genus and species indet.) from Locality

112 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Genus and Species Indeterminate
Figure 3

Discussion.—The single specimen, LACMIP 6945, appears to bear no resem-
blance to any of the other decapods collected in the Puente Formation, all of
which are crabs. It is an elongate form with a smooth carapace and curved ab-
domen. A long, slender, chelate appendage extends downward from near the an-
terior end of the specimen. Although segmentation appears to be present on the
abdomen, details necessary to confirm the generic placement are not discernable.

Although it might be anticipated that crabs and shrimps would be preserved
together, it rarely happens, perhaps because the conditions for preservation of the
benthic crabs is different from that of the pelagic shrimp. Glaessner (1969) noted
that preservation of the fragile remains of shrimp 1s favored in acidic conditions.
Such conditions would not enhance preservation potential of the more strongly
calcified crabs. Both groups occupy normal marine habitats and both could be
found in coastal areas. However, because the identification of this single specimen
is tentative, no paleoecological conclusions will be based upon its occurrence.

Infraorder Brachyura Latreille, 1802
Superfamily Cancroidea Latreille, 1802
Family Cancridae Latreille, 1802
Genus Metacarcinus A. Milne Edwards, 1862

Diagnosis.—The diagnosis of the genus Metacarcinus, with reference to the
carapace only, is, ““Carapace ovate, about two-thirds wider than long. Front with
five spines including inner-orbital spine, inner three spines closely spaced; front
usually not produced beyond orbits. Fronto-orbital width about 0.26—0.34 maxi-
mum carapace width; orbits shallow, directed forward. Anterolateral margin with
nine or ten spines; anterolateral spines variable in form; small, sharp, and sepa-
rated to bases or small, sharp and fissured; spine margins simple, serrate, or
granular. Posterolateral margins rimmed, sometimes with one spine; carapace re-
gions poorly developed, smooth or ornamented with fine granules ” (Schweitzer
and Feldmann, 2000, p. 235).

Discussion.—Nations (1975) studied the genus Cancer and subdivided that ge-
nus into four subgenera: Cancer (Cancer) Linnaeus, 1758; C. (Gelbocarcinus)
Nations, 1975; C. (Romaleon) Gistl, 1848; and C. (Metacarcinus) A. Milne Ed-
wards, 1862. The genus Cancer subsequently has been demonstrated to be com-
prised of several clusters of species, and Schweitzer and Feldmann (2000) ele-
vated the subgenera described by Nations to generic level, reevaluated the place-
ment of species within those genera and, in so doing, revised the entire family
Cancridae. Although none of the specimens at hand is preserved well enough to
exhibit all the above-mentioned characteristics, each of the specimens exhibits
some of the diagnostic features. Therefore, nearly all the characteristics can be
recognized. Thus, the generic identity of the crabs from the Puente Formation is
certain.

DECAPODS FROM THE PUENTE FORMATION 13

Fig. 4. LACMIP 6946, Metacarcinus danai from Locality LACMIP 17584 in the Puente Forma-
tion of Bedford Canyon.

Metacarcinus danai Nations, 1975
Figure 4

Discussion.—Of the 24 specimens of decapods from the Puente Formation that
can be identified with any confidence, all but the one referred to the Penaeidae
are referable to Metacarcinus danai (Nations 1975). Cancer danai Nations, 1975,
was referred to the subgenus Cancer (Metacarcinus) by Nations (1975, p. 53).
He noted its close similarity to Cancer (Metacarcinus) magister Dana, 1852.
Examination of the description and illustration of Cancer danai (Nations 1975,
p. 53, fig. 34—4) confirms that the Puente Formation material can confidently be
referred to that species. The frontal region on all the preserved carapace material
is very poorly preserved, but the texture of the dorsal surface; the size, shape,
and serration pattern on the teeth on the anterolateral margin; and the nature of
the posterolateral margin conform closely to the type description. Nations (1975)
based this taxon, known only from the middle Miocene Briones Formation, Contra
Costa County, northern California, on a single specimen with a carapace width
of 54.2 mm. This is slightly larger than the largest specimen that could be mea-
sured in the Puente Formation, which was over 40 mm wide. Most specimens are
too fragmentary to measure. That difference in size suggests that the specimens
at hand may be juvenile forms. Certainly, the size difference is not extraordinary.

Paleoecology

The occurrence of decapod crustaceans collected in the Puente Formation is
atypical in that they were found in association with a wide variety of vertebrate
and invertebrate megafossils and terrestrial plants (see Appendix). Microfossils

114 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

were reported from one of the sites, LACMIP 17582; however, at the other two
localities they were absent. This absence is unusual for the Puente Formation,
which is dominated by microfossils elsewhere. For example, the microfossils of
the formation were first detailed by Smith (1960), and subsequently Gray (1961)
presented a list of 27 species of foraminiferans, identified by Smith, from the
formation in the Corona South Quadrangle. Despite the fact that four of the spe-
cies identified by Smith, Buliminella curta Cushman, 1925; B. subfusiformis
Cushman, 1925; Epistominella subperuviana (Cushman, 1926); and Uvigerina
subperegrina Cushman and Kleinpell, 1934, are considered indices of outer shelf
and bathyal depths (Finger, 1990), Gray interpreted the Puente Formation in his
study area as having been deposited in a nearshore, shallow water environment.
He made no mention of a megafauna. Schoellhamer et al. (1981) also noted the
dominance of microfossils in the formation, in an area west from the current site
of interest, but noted the presence of bivalves and fish scales as well.

Interpretation of the paleoecological setting in which the crabs lived, and pre-
sumably died, will be drawn from three independent lines of evidence. First, the
ecology of living representatives of Metacarcinus will be used to define the mod-
ern ecological and biogeographic setting of the genus. Second, the association of
the crabs with the other elements of the biota will be discussed. Third, the nature
of the occurrence of the crabs will be considered.

The ecological setting of four extant species of Metacarcinus was summarized
by Rathbun (1930). The species presumably most closely related to M. danai, M.
magister (Dana, 1852), has been collected from low water to 50 fathoms (100 m)
and is known to live on a wide range of substrates from mud to gravel and bare
rock. The species ranges from Alaska to Monterey Bay, California. Another spe-
cies, M. anthonyi (Rathbun, 1897), ranges from 6—50 fathoms (12—100 m) in water
temperatures from 13—19.5 degrees C. This species is known from Monterey Bay
to Baja California, Mexico. Metacarcinus gracilis (Dana, 1852) lives from low
water to 56 fathoms (112 m) and has been collected from Alaska to Baja Cali-
fornia, Mexico. In what is probably a good example of a disjunct, amphitropical
generic distribution, M. edwardsii (Bell, 1853) ranges from Ecuador to Chile.
Garth (1957) recorded a depth range for the species of 0-45 m. All species of
the Cancridae living today are restricted to temperate and subpolar temperatures
of 1.3—25 degrees C (Williams and Wigley, 1977, in Williams, 1984). There are
no strictly tropical or subtropical occurrences of cancrids except in very deep,
offshore habitats where the animals live in cool water below the thermocline. No
restricted, brackish water occurrences have been noted. Thus, presuming that the
ecological requirements have not changed substantially since the Miocene, Me-
tacarcinus danai probably lived in temperate waters at oceanic salinity, and in
water depths ranging somewhere from low water to about 100 m; that is to say,
it lived somewhere within the typical continental shelf depths in the temperate
zone.

Consideration of the biotic associations of Metacarcinus danai may further help
to define its ecological habitat. The associated fossils in the Puente Formation
(Appendix) suggest mixing of marine and non-marine elements. Presence of sev-
eral types of plant material, including algae, conifers, and dicotyledonous plants,
indicates mixing of terrestrial and marine elements, a condition that would be
anticipated in inshore habitats and would not be nearly as likely in offshore, outer

DECAPODS FROM THE PUENTE FORMATION is

shelf settings. Presence of bivalves and marine mammals is consistent with this
interpretation, and, although the precise identity of the mammals and the algae is
not known, they may suggest a kelp forest or other euphotic area in which attached
plants flourished. The light-colored sediments enclosing the crab fossils suggests
a well-aerated, oxidizing sedimentary environment.

Finally, the mode of occurrence of the fossil crabs is unusual and provides
evidence suggesting that they may have been victims of a mass-kill event, con-
ceivably a toxic algal bloom. Because of the fragmentary nature of the crab
specimens, it is not possible to determine with confidence whether the specimens
represent molted remains or corpses. The carapaces are extremely thin and, in
some cases, folded and distorted. This suggests that the animals might have been
in the molt condition. Typically, the carapaces of cancrid crabs are quite thick
and strong. However, molted remains are often typified either by complete sep-
aration of the legs from the carapace or by partial separation and rotation of the
legs (Glaessner 1969; Feldmann and Tshudy 1987). A sufficient number of spec-
imens exhibit the legs in living position, relative to the carapace, to suggest that
at least some individuals were corpses. Partial dissolution of the carapace would
account for the fragile nature of the preserved remains.

Examination of the systematic literature and personal observations indicate that
the “‘typical’’? mode of occurrence of fossil decapod crustaceans is as single in-
dividuals. The individuals can be relatively abundant in a rock unit and can be
preserved in concretionary structures or on bedding plane surfaces. In either case,
individuals generally are not confined to a single stratigraphic horizon but may
be found throughout the sedimentary sequence. Examination of the specimens in
the collection at hand indicates that at least two horizons within the Puente For-
mation were sites of accumulation of numerous individuals that died suddenly
enough to come to rest on single bedding horizons and were buried very rapidly.
This type of mass mortality was recently documented in a Turonian decapod
assemblage from Colombia (Feldmann et al. 1999). The preservational style in
the Colombian rocks is quite similar to that in the Puente Formation; both display
a very large number of specimens arrayed on discrete bedding planes, and, in
both cases, the cuticular material is extremely thin and delicate. It is possible that
in both cases the calcareous material in the cuticle was leached out during dia-
genesis. Event beds such as this are relatively rare in the fossil record of crabs
and, for this reason alone, the occurrence is noteworthy.

In summary, it is likely that the crabs were killed during a brief interval of
time, possibly as victims of an algal bloom, and that they were buried and pre-
served very near their living site. The composite of information regarding paleo-
ecology suggests a normal marine, inshore habitat that was biologically rich. Wa-
ter depth was probably very shallow, much less than the projected maximum
depth of 1000 meters, and water temperature was temperate.

Acknowledgments

This work was originally undertaken as part of the Eagle Glen Phase III pa-
leontologic resource impact mitigation program. The paleontologic monitoring of
grading, preparation of fossils, and final report on the Corona Country Club Es-
tates were funded by Forecast homes under the direction of Dorian Johnson, Vice
President of Land Development, and Mr. Gene Schutt, Project Manager. Ms. Les-

116 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

lie N. Irish of L & L Environmental provided environmental compliance man-
agement. Paleontologic monitors were David A. Alexander, Nina Jimerson, Mi-
chael H. Stevens, Kimberley M. Scott, and Jeffrey D. Cassidy, who collected the
fossils and ash samples and recorded associated stratigraphic data. Kimberley
Scott measured and drafted the stratigraphic section. The paleontologists were Dr.
E. Bruce Lander and Mr. Mark A. Roeder of Paleo Environmental Associates,
Inc., who prepared the final report for the mitigation program (Lander, 2002).
Data regarding associated microfossils and radiometric ages were provided by
Micropaleo Consultants, Inc. (Boettcher and Kling, 2001) and Geochron Labo-
ratories. Dr. Carrie E. Schweitzer, Department of Geology, Kent State University
Stark, and Dr. Frederick Schram, University of Amsterdam, read drafts of the
manuscript and provided useful comments. Reviews by Dr. William Orr, Univer-
sity of Oregon, and an anonymous reviewer provided thoughtful comments.

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Accepted for publication 11 December 2002.

Appendix

Stratigraphic Array of Samples
Locality LACMIP 17582

Sample JDC 010208—3—part of left lateral margin with anterolateral teeth like those of Metacarcinus.
Associated organisms: pollen, fungal spores, silicoflagellates, dinocysts, foraminiferans, diatoms,
leaves, bivalves, fish

Locality LACMIP 17583
Sample MHS 010130.1—good claw specimen and possibly a telson

118 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Sample MHS 010130.3—possible penaeid shrimp, LACMIP Hypotype 6945—antennae very long,
curving abdomen exhibiting some metamerism, pleurae vague (Figure 3)

Sample MHS 010130.6—numerous specimens, two with anterolateral margins lobed with denticles
posteriorly becoming simple anteriorly—typical of Metacarcinus danai

Sample MHS 010130.7—42 mm wide carapace with good anterolateral margin and claw with small,
domed denticles

Sample MHS 010130.8—Large sample with fragments of carapace—small sample with claw or walk-
ing leg fragments

Associated organisms: ebredians, silicoflagellates, diatoms, whale bone

Locality LACMIP 17584

Sample KMS 010109.1—part and counterpart of large sample with as many as eight complete spec-
imens, some of which exhibit well preserved margins, LACMIP Hypotype 6946 (Figure 4)

Sample MHS 001228.1—-venter with legs, possibly a sternum, possibly a male; good carapace wider
than long, with orbits, sulcate front, and weakly developed axial regions

Sample NLJ*001227.1—crushed venter of? female

Sample NLJ 001228.8—pair of claws; venter with buccal frame, antennal fragment

Sample NLJ 001228.9—fragment of dorsal carapace

Sample NLJ 001228.11—walking legs with lanceolate dactyl

Sample NLJ 001228.12—-venter of male? with some pereiopods

Associated organisms: plants, bivalves, fish

* Note that NLJ, as denoted here and on the specimens, appears to correspond to NHJ on the Eagle
Glen Phase HI—master list.

Soil Compaction and Moisture Status from Large Mammal
Trampling in Coleogyne (Blackbrush) Shrublands of
Southern Nevada

Simon A. Lei

Department of Biology, WDB, Community College of Southern Nevada,
6375 West Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89146-1139

Abstract.—Soil compaction from large mammal trampling was quantitatively in-
vestigated in Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush) shrublands of the Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) in southern Nevada. Fecal den-
sity decreased significantly when moving away from water sources, and was neg-
atively correlated with increasing distance from water courses. Path analysis re-
vealed that trampling severity was a significant positive predictor of soil com-
paction and soil bulk density, and was a negative predictor of the presence of
macropores. Soil compaction was a significant positive predictor of soil bulk
density, and was a negative predictor of the presence of macropores. Significant
interaction was detected between trampling severity and geomorphic surface for
area of water spread (surface water runoff). Significant differences were observed
in trampling severity and geomorphic surface for all measured soil moisture var-
lables. The degree of soil compaction through large mammal trampling was a
function of distance from water in Coleogyne shrublands of the RRCNCA in
southern Nevada.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA) may seem
rugged and desolate at first glance, but a closer look reveals an area teeming with
wildlife (BLM 1999). A variety of wild mammal species live within the bound-
aries of Coleogyne ramosissima (blackbrush) shrublands, a major mid-elevation
vegetation zone in the RRCNCA. During the peak of dry summer seasons, most
large mammals prefer to be active from dusk to dawn hours where air tempera-
tures are cooler compared to midday hours. These typical nocturnal mammals
include Urocyon cineroargenteus (gray foxes), Vulpes macrotis (desert kit foxes),
Canis latrans (coyotes), Lynx rufus (bobcats), Odocoileus hemionus (mule deer),
and Felis concolor (mountain lion) (Eifert and Eifert 2000). Ovis canadensis
nelsoni (desert bighorn sheep) and Equus asinus (burro) are active during the day
(Eifert and Eifert 2000). Although Felis and Ovis inhabit high cliffs and canyons,
they can be found occasionally in the Coleogyne shrublands. Equus asinus and
E. caballus (wild horses) are often seen in the vicinity of Bonnie Springs and
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, the southernmost part of the RRCNCA. Equus
caballus are also active during the day (BLM 1994).

Large mammals derive some moisture from their food but require drinking
water periodically. Ovia c. nelsoni will not live more than two miles from a water
source. They may expand their range after rains fill more potholes, but such
expansions are only temporary (BLM 1999). Equus asinus are frequently seen on
roadsides begging for food (Lei, personal observation 2001). Approximately 50

WS)

120 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

E. asinus and 70 Ovis live within the Conservation Area (Eifert and Eifert 2000).
Odocoileus hemionus prefer foothills with low scrub growth or thickets along
washes. By late evening, Odocoileus leave their daytime hiding places to search
for water in seeps and springs (BLM 1999).

Many mammal species are faithful to their home ranges, although home ranges
tend to be larger in fall and winter than in summer and spring (Douglas and Haitt
1987; Douglas and Hurst 1993). Home ranges are smallest during dry summer
seasons because the proximity to a water source is crucial to survival. Cool winter
air temperatures permit a greater dispersal of large mammals from water sources
(Norment and Douglas 1977).

Since large, heavy mammals follow many paths over the ground surface, severe
soil compaction may occur, especially near water sources. Soil compaction has
been defined by Lull (1959) as the packing together of soil particles by instan-
taneous forces exerted at the soil surface. These forces (animal, human foot or
vehicle traffic) can increase soil bulk density and reduce macropore space. The
loss of macropores reduces water infiltration and water movement through the
soul, thus increasing surface water run-off and fluvial erosion (Scholl 1989). A
significant increase in bulk density has been the most common means of express-
ing soil compaction problems. Both penetrometer and bulk density are used to
assess compaction effects of vehicles, humans, and animals in the Mojave Desert
of southern California (Webb et al. 1986).

Studies of cattle trampling under semiarid conditions have shown detrimental
effects on various soil properties (Reed and Peterson 1961; Orr 1975; Warren et
al. 1986; Stephenson and Veigel 1987; and Van Havern 1983). Yet, soil compac-
tion from large, heavy mammal trampling under arid conditions of southern Ne-
vada have not been documented. The objective of this study is to quantitatively
evaluate changes in soil attributes (compaction, bulk density, macropore, and
moisture status) resulting from mammal trampling in Coleogyne shrublands of
the RRCNCA.

Methods
Study Site

Southern Nevada is in the Basin and Range physiographic province, a region
characterized by annual weather extremes and a sparse vegetation cover (Brit-
tingham and Walker 2000). Most precipitation in southern Nevada occurs in the
winter, while summer storms are highly localized and unpredictable (Brittingham
and Walker 2000).

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (roughly 36°05'N, 115°15’W)
of the Spring Mountains, Nevada, was chosen because it supports well-estab-
lished, nearly monospecific Coleogyne shrublands, ranging from approximately
1,450 to 1,775 m in elevation. Coleogyne shrublands support at least nine rela-
tively large mammal species (Table 1) as indicated by large numbers of dung,
paw and hoof prints, and grazed vegetation. Blue Diamond Wash, Willow Spring,
Pine Creek, Oak Creek, Calico Hills, First Creek, Lost Creek Canyon, and Ice
Box Canyon are some of the major areas within the RRCNCA that can provide
ample water for large mammals throughout much of the year. Water can be re-
plenished with melting snow from adjacent high mountains in the spring, erratic

MAMMAL TRAMPLING EFFECTS ON A DESERT SOIL 121

Table |. Nine large mammal species found within the boundaries of Coleogyne shrublands in the
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (Eifert and Eifert 2000). These mammal species are
arranged by weight, from heaviest to lightest.

Mean weight

Common name Species name (kg) Type of track
Horse Equus caballus 409.1 Hoof
Burro Equus asinus 181.8 Hoot
Desert bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis nelsoni 105.0 Hoof
Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus 90.9 Hoof
Mountain lion Felis concolor 63.6 Paw
Coyote Canis latrans 1326 Paw
Bobcat Lynx rufus OS Paw
Gray fox Urocyon cineroargenteus 4.5 Paw
Desert kit fox Vulpes macrotis Dal Paw

precipitation during fall and winter, as well as with occasional monsoon thunder-
storms in the summer. Summer thunderstorms often cause locally intense rainfall
where intermittent washes throughout the RRCNCA can rapidly collect excess
running surface water during and shortly after major storm events. Prolonged
cloudbursts in the summer can create major flash floods in wash and depression
areas.

Large, heavy mammals directly trample and turn up the fragile desert soil.
Sandstone and limestone are both rock types that have shallow soils in which
Coleogyne and other associated woody species grow well (Callison and Broth-
erson 1983; West 1983). Within Coleogyne vegetation zones, many common her-
baceous species are members of the Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, and Po-
aceae families.

Field Design and Sampling

Field studies were conducted in animal trails during Summer 2000 in the
RRCNCA. A total of 49, 1-ha plots containing paw and hoof prints and fecal
material was established within 7 km of intermittent springs and streams. Because
animal trails were not conspicuous, sampled plots were randomly selected at each
distance (1 to 7 km) from water courses, and individual piles of fecal material
(fresh and dried) were counted.

Within each kilometer (1, 2, and 6) of water in the same plots, 60 soil samples
containing clearly defined paw and hoof prints were randomly collected. Adjacent
reference soils were collected beyond 7 km of water, with no clear evidence of
paw or hoof prints, dung, and grazed vegetation. Soil samples were excavated
approximately 10 cm in diameter to depths of 15 cm. Soil compaction was ob-
tained in the field using a penetrometer inserted into the soil after removing the
stony surface (Lei and Walker 1997; Lei 1999; Lei 2000). The compaction read-
ings were taken at the point where the cone base reached the soil surface (point
depth = 3.7 cm). Soil samples were sifted through a 2-mm mesh to remove plants
roots and rocks > 2 mm in diameter. Soil bulk density measurements were per-
formed on sifted soils that were oven-dried at 65°C for 72 h.

For each sampled plot, soil surface characteristics of bare ground, gravel (2—

122 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

64 mm in diameter), cobble (65—256 mm), and boulder (> 256 mm) were visually
quantified using 10% increments.

Soil moisture characteristics were stratified by trampling severity (control, light,
moderate, and heavy) and geomorphic surfaces (terrace and slope sites). Water
infiltration rates were measured by using PVC pipe, 5.5 cm in diameter and 9.5
cm tall. This pipe was open at both ends and was gently tamped into the trampled
and non-trampled soils to a depth of 2 cm to prevent leakage, and then 50 mL
of water was poured into the pipe. Time taken for the water to soak completely
into the soil was recorded with a stop-watch.

Approximately 1.5 L of water, acting as an artificial rain, was manually poured
through a perforated 13-cm disk, with perforations being evenly spaced on a 0.1-
cm grid. The disk was placed at 1.0 m aboveground. Total delivery time was |
min for the water to be dispensed on the soil surface and to create precipitation
at a cloudburst level (Brotherson and Rushforth 1983). A sudden heavy precipi-
tation is significant due to its impact on surface-water runoff and fluvial erosion.
Depth of water penetration was measured once the water had disappeared com-
pletely into the soil surface.

Surface-water runoff was measured by recording the downslope and across-
slope spread of water that was artificially rained onto study sites (Brotherson and
Rushforth 1983). The shape of surface-water runoff resembled an ellipse, thus
was computed using the following formula: (atab) where a and b are radii of an
ellipse (Larson et al. 1994). Since surface water runoff did not form a perfect
elliptical shape, measured areas were likely to be overestimates.

Soil movement was assessed by estimating the amount of soil moved through

fluvial erosion during a measured rain. The following index was used: | = no
appreciable movement; 2 = moderate movement, up to 10 % of soil particles
being displaced; and 3 = heavy movement, between 10 % and 20 % of soil

particles being displaced (Brotherson and Rushforth 1983).

Laboratory and Statistical Analyses

A set of soil cores of known volume was carefully removed from the field.
Fresh soil cores were oven-dried at 65°C until they reached constant mass. Soil
bulk density was estimated by dividing dry mass by known volume. Average pore
space was determined using the equation: per space (%) = 100 — (D,/D, * 100),
where D, is bulk density of the soil and D, is average particle density, usually
about 2.65 g cc”! (Hausenbuiller 1972; Davidson and Fox 1974).

One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA; Analytical Software 1994) was used
to determine if fecal densities differed with respect to distance from water, and
to compare physical property differences between trampled and adjacent reference
soils. Tukey and Scheffe’s multiple comparison tests (Analytical Software 1994)
were then performed to compare site means when a significant trampling effect
was detected. Linear regression analysis was performed to correlate fecal density
with increasing distance from water courses.

Path analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis (Analytical Software 1994)
were conducted to correlate trampling severity with soil compaction, soil bulk
density, and macropore, as well as to intercorrelate among these three soil prop-
erties. Path analysis was used to examine proposed causal links between trampling
and soil moisture attributes, and among the three soil physical properties.

MAMMAL TRAMPLING EFFECTS ON A DESERT SOIL 123

ee) T I

Ne PGES
fey

(

F
je)
oO

Oe
LJ
(aa)
ze Die 7
a
We
= ‘S
O |
2 S 4 5 6 7;
DISTANCE, BROOMS WATER. kia)
Fig. 1. Fecal density (mean + SE; n = 60 per distance from water) of large mammals sampled

in |-ha plots locating at various distances from water in Coleogyne shrublands. Narrow vertical bars
denote standard errors, and letters at column tops indicate significant differences at p = 0.05.

Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA; Analytical Software 1994)
was conducted on six soil moisture attributes, with trampling severity and geo-
morphic surface (terrace and slope) as main variables, and with rock size (gravel,
cobble, and boulder) and rock abundance (percent rock cover) as covariate vari-
ables. Percent ground cover of gravel, cobble, and boulder was visually quantified
using 10 % increments. Tukey and Scheffe’s multiple comparison tests were then
performed to compare site means when significant effects of trampling severity
and geomorphic surface were detected. The presence of abundant rocks on the
soil surface would influence various soil moisture regimes. Mean values were
presented with standard errors, and statistical significance was determined at p <=
0.05.

Results

Fecal density decreased significantly (p = 0.001; Fig. 1) when moving away
from water sources, and was negatively correlated (R? = —0.88; p = 0.001) with
increasing distance from water courses in the RRCNCA.

Moderate to heavy mammal trampling had a significantly lower macropore
(percent pore space), and higher soil compaction and soil bulk density compared
to light or no trampling (p S 0.01; Table 2). However, significant differences were
not detected (p > 0.05; Table 2) in soil compaction, soil bulk density, and percent
pore space between moderate and heavy trampling, as well as between light and

124 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Table 2. Physical characteristics (mean + SE; n = 60 per treatment per characteristic) of non-
trampled (reference) and various levels of trampled soils in Coleogyne shrublands. Heavily, moder-
ately, and lightly trampled soils are located within 1, 2, and 6 km of water, respectively. Mean values
in rows followed by different letters are significantly different at p = 0.05.

Trampling severity

Soil property Control Light Moderate Heavy
Compaction (kg/cm?) Gol == OF45a 63. 23:057) 4 LO =-0:5 Bb 7.3) = 0336
Bulk density (g/cm?) 1.24 + 0.04 a 129% 0054 Ai 0079b 1.43 + 0.06b
Pore space (%) SS 2a 24 a SS Sa 2a 46.88 2:3. b 449+2.2b

no trampling. Path analysis revealed that trampling severity was a significant
positive predictor of macropore, soil compaction, and soil bulk density (Fig. 2).
Soil compaction was a significant positive predictor of bulk density, and a neg-
ative predictor of macropore (Fig. 2).

Significant interaction (p <= 0.05; Tables 4 and 5) was detected between tram-
pling severity and geomorphic surface for area of water spread (surface water
runoff) only. Significant differences were observed in trampling severity and geo-
morphic surface for all measured soil moisture variables.

Discussion

Excessive trampling by large mammals significantly altered a number of soil
properties and moisture characteristics in Coleogyne shrublands of the RRCNCA.
Location of water was a main factor in large mammal movement. The extent of
trampling disturbances was a function of their distance from water sources. In
this study, fecal density increased significantly when approaching water sources.

Dry summer seasons are the time of greatest soil disturbance as large herbivores
congregate in large numbers near water to graze upon shrubs, perennial forbs and
grasses. In summer, approximately 60 % of the entire EF. asinus populations is
found within a 2-km radius of water, and about 98 % of the E. asinus are restricted
to within 4 km of water (Douglas and Hurst 1993). In contrast, about 80 % are
seen at distances greater than 6 km of water in winter (Douglas and Hurst 1993).

Because mammal trails radiate in all directions from springs, soil disturbance
is substantially greater near a spring in Death Valley of southern California (White

Table 3. Relationship between mammal trampling severity and three soil physical attributes and
relationship among these three soil attributes in Coleogyne shrublands. The direct causal effect of each
pairing of variables is the standard partial regression coefficient (path coefficient). Total causal influ-
ence (Pearson’s r-value) sums all direct and indirect pathways. Heavily, moderately, and lightly tram-
pled soils are located within 1, 2, and 6 km of water, respectively. All computed values are statistically
significant at p = 0.001.

Pairing of variables Direct causal Indirect causal Total causal
Compaction X trampling severity 0.85 0.10 0.95
Bulk density < trampling severity 0.88 0.09 Oy
Macropore X trampling severity —0.88 =(),09 =0:97
Bulk density < compaction 0.94 0.05 0.99
Macropore X compaction —(0.94 =0:05 = 0:99

Macropore < bulk density —0.98 =—0:01 S034

MAMMAL TRAMPLING EFFECTS ON A DESERT SOIL 125

Soil Compaction

0.86"
-0.94"™

Trampling Severity

0.887** - 0.88***

MJ £ Va NS -2 [4
Macropore ————_______________—_-- Soil Bulk Density
-0.98***

Fig. 2. Path diagram showing predictor variables influencing three soil physical properties. Path
coefficients quantify direct causal influences of severity of large mammal trampling on macropore,
soil compaction, and soil bulk density. All pathways are statistically significant at p = 0.05.

1980). Within 0.5 km of a spring in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area,
the number of converging trails contributes to severe soil compaction (O’ Farrell
1978). Animals have caused a moderate to severe soil compaction within 0.8 km
of major water courses in the Las Vegas valley (Woodward 1976). Nevertheless,
ecological impacts on soil and vegetation beyond 0.8 km of the spring has been
minor in southern California (Woodward 1976).

Path analysis indicated that percent pore space, soil compaction, and soil bulk
density were significantly directly influenced by the severity of mammal tram-
pling. Percent pore space and bulk density were also significantly directly affected
by the severity of soil compaction. Short, unlabeled (residual) arrows shown in
the path diagram (Fig. 2) indicated that these variables are also subject to addi-
tional biotic influences, which include small animal and human trampling (rec-
reational) activities. After all, the RRCNCA is a popular place for year-round,
outdoor recreational activities. Humans and their motor vehicles go off-trails pe-
riodically.

Significant increases in soil compaction and bulk density can lead to a signif-
icant decrease in the percentage of macropores in heavily trampled compared to
lightly or non-trampled soils. Pore space consists of macropores that allow the
ready movement of air and water (Davidson and Fox 1974). The increase in soil
compaction, along with the subsequent increase in soil bulk density and decrease
in macropore space in heavily trampled soils, reduces the amount of water that
the soil can hold and the rate at which water can flow through the soil.

Furthermore, soil compaction resulting from heavy paw and hoof impacts sig-

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

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MAMMAL TRAMPLING EFFECTS ON A DESERT SOIL 27

Table 5. Summary from two-way ANOVA with trampling severity, geomorphic surface, and their
interactions on various soil moisture characteristics. df = 1 for geomorphic surface; df = 3 for tram-
pling severity and for the trampling severity * geomorphic surface combination.

Trampling severity Geomorphic surface Trampling < surface

Moisture parameter F li le P le P
Water infiltration 56.23 0.0000 2623 0.0014 0.65 0.6092
Depth of water penetr. 254.77 0.0000 t5293 0.0052 1.38 OB3ih7
Downslope water spread 10.03 0.0063 31.49 0.0008 0.13 019359
Across-slope water spread 35.02 0.0001 78:32 0.0000 0.05 0.9861
Area of water spread 999.79 0.0000 27 SMG 0.0000 6.42 0.0022

Soil movement 6.22 020219 16.80 0.0046 0.62 0.6193

nificantly reduced water infiltration and water movement into the soil, and in-
creased surface-water runoff in Coleogyne shrublands. Soil compaction greatly
reduces water infiltration in alluvial soils of the Mojave Desert in southeastern
California (Webb and Wilshire 1980; Vasek et al. 1975). Severely compacted
animal trails are nearly impervious to penetration by water so that heavy precip-
itation tends to run-off compacted soils, leading to fluvial erosion and resistance
to plant colonization (Carothers 1976).

A high percentage of rock cover was observed on the soil surfaces throughout
much of the study site. By far, gravel was the most common type of rock com-
pared to cobbles and boulders. In New Mexico, rock size and abundance may
influence a variety of other soil attributes including infiltration, porosity, water-
holding capacity, and erodibility (Carlson and Whitford 1991). Fluvial erosion
and surface water runoff were significantly greater for slope than terrace site. At
some slope sites, a small movement of soil particles occurred when water traveled
rapidly downslope during a cloudburst, perhaps due to a lack of abundant rocks
on the soil surface to reduce fluvial erosion and surface water runoff.

Excessive trampling by large mammals significantly altered a number of edaph-
ic attributes where Coleogyne and associated woody taxa exist. Research plots
containing heavily trampled soils included countless visible, overlapping paw and
hoof prints on the soil surface. Some of the trampling herbivore (prey) species
were a much more important source of soil compaction than others. Among the
five large mammal species, FE. asinus were most frequently seen during the course
of study. In this study, wild E. caballus, by far, were the heaviest in weight,
averaging 409 kg. Equus asinus and Ovis were the second and third heaviest
mammals, weighing 182 and 105 kg, respectively (Table 1). Although Canis,
Lynx, Urocyon, and Vulpes are considered as light-weighted mammals, having a
high traffic volume contributed to the overall water infiltration rate, as well as to
the overall severity of soil compaction and surface-water runoff. The predators,
however, would have a minimal impact on soil compaction because they were
smaller and considerably less abundant compared to those large prey species.

Soil compaction is an aspect of land degradation associated with excessive foot
traffic from large animals. Heavily compacted soils through animal trampling can
alter the composition of Coleogyne shrublands through time, favoring weedy,
pioneer plant species. Proximity to water courses, along with preference for abun-
dant food supply during dry seasons, appear to be the driving force in producing

128 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

massive soil disturbance. Equus asinus, E. caballus, and Ovis are large, heavy
opportunistic herbivores. Their generalized feeding behavior provide them with
the ability to exploit and degrade many aspects of desert woody vegetation zones
in southern Nevada and the southwestern United States.

Acknowledgments

I gratefully acknowledge Steven Lei, David Valenzuela, and Shevaun Valen-
zuela for valuable field assistance. Steven Lei assisted with statistical analyses,
and David Charlet provided helpful comments on earlier versions of this manu-
script. The Department of Biology at the Community College of Southern Nevada
(CCSN) provided logistical support.

Literature Cited

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lytical Software, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Brittingham S.B. and L.R. Walker 2000. Facilitation of Yucca brevifolia recruitment by Mojave Desert
shrubs. Western N. Amer. Nat. 60:374—383.

Brotherson, J.D. and S.R. Rushforth. 1983. Influence of cryptogamic crusts on moisture relationships
of soils in Navajo National Monument, Arizona. Great Basin Nat. 43:73—78.

Bureau of Land Management. 1994. Southern Nevada Times: Las Vegas Territory, Volume I. Bureau
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. 1999. Mammals. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Red Rock
Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Callison, J. and J. Brotherson. 1985. Habitat relationship of the blackbrush community of southern
Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 45:321—326.

Carlson, S.R. and W.G. Whitford. 1991. Ant mound influence on vegetation and soils in a semiarid

mountain ecosystem. Amer. Mid. Nat. 126:139-—159.

Carothers, S.W. 1976. An ecological survey of the riparian zone of the Colorado River between the
Grand Wash Cliffs, Arizona. Report on file at National Park Service in Death Valley National
Monument.

Davidson, E. and M. Fox. 1974. Effects of off-road motor cycle activity on Mojave Desert vegetation
and soil. Madrono 22:381—390.

Douglas, C.L. and H.D. Haitt. 1987. Food habits of feral burros in Death Valley, California. National
Park Service, Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Nevada, Las
Vegas.

and T. Hurst. 1993. Review and annotated bibliography of feral burro literature. Cooperative
National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Eifert, L.E. and N.C. Eifert. 2000. Red Rock Canyon Nature Guide. The Red Rock Canyon Interpre-
tation Association, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hausenbuiller, R.L. 1972. Soil science. William C. Brown Company Publishers, Dubuque, Iowa.

Larson, R.E., R.P. Hostletler, and B.H. Edwards. 1994. Calculus, 5th edition. D.C. Health and Com-
pany, Lexington, Massachusettes. 1256 pp.

Lei, S.A. 1999. Postfire woody vegetation recovery and soil properties in blackbrush (Coleogyne
ramosissima Torr.) shrubland ecotones. J. of the Arizona-Nevada Acad. Sci. 32:105—115.

2000. Ecological impacts of seed harvester ants on soil attributes in a Larrea-dominated
shrubland. Western N. Amer. Nat. 60:439—444.
and L.R. Walker. 1997. Biotic and abiotic factors influencing the distribution of Coleogyne

communities in southern Nevada. Great Basin Nat. 57:163—171.

Lull, H.W. 1959. Soil compaction on forest and rangelands. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Misc. Publ. No. 768.

Norment, C. and C.L. Douglas. 1977. Ecological studies of feral burros in Death Valley. National
Park Service, Contribution No. 17, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.

O'Farrell, M.J. 1978. An assessment of impact of feral burros on natural ecosystems of the Lake Mead

MAMMAL TRAMPLING EFFECTS ON A DESERT SOIL Ve)

National Recreation Area, Arizona-Nevada. National Park Service, Cooperative National Park
Research Studies Unit, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Orr, H.T. 1975. Recovery form soil compaction on bluegrass range in the Black Hills: Trans. Amer.
Soc. Agricultural Engineers 18:1076—1081.

Reed, M.J. and R.A. Peterson. 1961. Vegetation, soil, and cattle responses to grazing on northern
Great Plains range. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin 1252.

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Mexico. New Mexico J. Sci. 29:105—112.

Stephenson, G.R. and A. Veigel. 1987. Recovery of compacted soil on pastures used for winter cattle
feeding. J. Range Management 40:46—48.

Van Haveren, B.P. 1983. Soil bulk density as influenced by grazing intensity and soil type on a
shortgrass prairie site. J. Range Management 36:586—588.

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scrub vegetation of the Mojave Desert. Madrono 23:1—13.

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on hydrologic condition of rangeland under intensive rotation grazing. J. Range Management
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town, Nevada, USA. J. Arid Environ. 3: 291-303.

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Accepted for publication December 11, 2002.

An Inexpensive Method to Identify the Elevation of Tidally
Inundated Habitat in Coastal Wetlands

Henry M. Page, Stephen Schroeter, and Daniel Reed,

Marine Science Institute, University of California,
Santa Barbara, California 93106

Richard EF Ambrose

Environmental Science and Engineering Program, University of California,
Los Angeles, California 9OO95

John Callaway

Department of Environmental Science, University of San Francisco,
San Francisco, California 94117

John Dixon

Marine Science Institute, University of California,
Santa Barbara, California 93106

Abstract.—We explored the use of an inexpensive “‘vial”’ method to measure the
elevations reached by a series of high tides, which included the highest tides of
the year, at sites in four southern California wetlands, examined variation in the
distribution and abundance of marsh, transition, and upland vegetation as a func-
tion of elevation, and assessed whether our measure of height of tidal inundation
correlated with the distribution of these plants, permitting the use of vegetation
boundaries as a proxy for the height of tidal inundation. The potential effects of
factors unrelated to tidal inundation render elevational boundaries of native marsh
plants unattractive as a general criterion for defining the upper edge of tidally
influenced habitat. By contrast, both the upper limit of tidal inundation as mea-
sured by the vial method and the lower elevational limit of exotic grasses, such
as Parapholis incurva, appears to be useful in delineating the upper edge of tidally
influenced habitat. This elevation coincided with the highest spring tides and
varied among sites in association with the extent of tidal muting. The vial method
is a useful technique to identify sites of comparable tidal influence in restored
and reference wetlands and can provide an early indication of tidal muting in
restored wetlands.

The performance of restoration projects in tidal wetlands has been assessed
using several methods (reviewed in Kentula 2000). One approach is to compare
the degree of similarity of the restored site, in terms of selected physical and
biological criteria, to natural reference wetlands. For tidal wetlands, a definition
of “‘tidally-influenced”’ habitat may first be needed to delineate the general area
for comparison across sites. Physical criteria used to define “‘tidally influenced”

130

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT il

habitat are ambiguous, but may include that the “‘substrate is at least irregularly
exposed and flooded by oceanic tides” (Ferren et al. 1996abc). Tidal wetland
soils are characterized by low permeability and halophytic vegetation (e.g., Sal-
icornia, Spartina) may be present.

Unfortunately, these definitions are subject to interpretation. Tidal influence can
be defined statistically as a greater than zero probability of inundation by tidal
waters. In practice, such a definition could include habitats that are inundated by
tidal waters much less frequently than even once per year (e.g., once every five
or ten years). Such a definition does not consider that ecological functioning may
vary greatly as a function of inundation frequency; habitat at the upper end of
the tidal gradient may function differently relative to habitats lower (e.g., be more
susceptible to invasion by exotic species). Similar problems occur when using the
presence of hydric soils or halophytic plants to define tidally influenced habitat,
since both can occur in seasonal wetlands far removed from tidal influence (Ferren
et al. 1996a).

In addition, the biological structure and function of the restored site may be
compared to those characteristics in control or reference sites in “‘equivalent”’
tidally influenced habitats. Elevation per se is only an approximate measure of
tidal influence or the frequency of tidal inundation because local hydrology and
soil characteristics may influence the relationship between these variables (Van
Der Molen 1997). To permit comparisons of habitats characterized by similar
inundation regimes, it is necessary to examine the relationship between elevation
and inundation in wetlands. Unfortunately, this comparison can require use of
expensive instruments, thereby limiting the number of sites that can be simulta-
neously measured.

The distribution and abundance of plant species may also be used to charac-
terize “‘equivalent”’ habitats. The distribution and abundance of marsh plants and
the lower limits of transition and upland plants vary as a function of elevation
and, by inference, frequency of tidal inundation (e.g., Zedler 1977; Callaway et
al. 1990; Bertness 199lab; Pennings and Callaway 1992; Zedler et al. 1999).
Despite the existence of numerous studies on the distribution of plants in salt
marshes, however, little published information is available on how plant distri-
butions may be related to the height of tidal inundation; information that could
prove useful in the development of criteria to define “‘tidally influenced”’ habitat
and in choosing “‘equivalent”’ habitats for comparisons across restored and ref-
erence wetlands. Previous work has suggested that the elevational limits of marsh
plants may vary among estuaries even within the same region (Frenkel et al.
1981).

In this study, we explored the use of an inexpensive technique to measure the
elevations reached by a series of high tides, which included the highest tides of
the year, at sites in four southern California wetlands. We examined whether our
measure of height of tidal inundation correlated with the distribution and abun-
dance of marsh, transition, and upland vegetation, thus permitting the use of
vegetation boundaries as a proxy for the height of tidal inundation.

Materials and Methods

Study Sites

To examine relationships between elevation, the height of tidal inundation, and
the distribution and abundance of vegetation, we collected data along transects at

132 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Carpinteria Salt Marsh

ee ye a
we 100 km
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a Mes 2 ~
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aD, i Santa Barbara |
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SS Los Angeles
w itd

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ox
La Jolla
Ge “an Diego

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Tijuana Estuary, and Mugu Lagoon. Tide data from the open coast measured at Santa Monica and La
Jolla and reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (see text). Inset maps
modified from Ferren (1985), Onuf (1987), SAIC (2000), and Zedler et al. (1992).

8 sites distributed among 4 wetlands (San Dieguito Lagoon, Tijuana Estuary,
Carpinteria Salt Marsh, and Mugu Lagoon) that incorporated a range of inundation
regimes. Four sites were located at varying distances from the ocean inlet in San
Dieguito Lagoon (32°58'N, —117°08'W) (Fig. 1). This wetland, located at the
northern edge of the City of Del Mar, consists of ~61 ha of estuarine habitat,
including 25 ha of tidal salt marsh (SAIC 2000) (Fig. 1). The western portion of
the estuary consists of salt marsh with tidal channels 15 m to 30 m wide and one
28 ha basin. The eastern portion of the estuary consists of the San Dieguito River
channel with a narrow strip of salt marsh along the southern border of the river.
ichree ssites (Sed. Je pate were located in the western portion of the estuary
at distances of ~1.4, 1.3, and 1.9 km, respectively from the inlet. One site (SL4)
was located in the eastern portion ~2.6 km from the inlet. Two transects spaced
~2 m apart were established at each site perpendicular to tidal channels (SLI,
SEZ SUA) ora basing (Ses):

Tidal exchange in San Dieguito Lagoon occurs through an inlet to the Pacific
Ocean. Sand accretion can block the inlet preventing tidal exchange. For example,
between March 1992 and May 1993 the inlet was closed (MEC 1993). However,
the inlet was estimated to have been open 90% of the time from October 1994
through September 1997 (Boland 1998).

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT 133

Two sites (TE1, TE2) were sampled in Tijuana Estuary (32°33’N, —117°05'W),
located in the southwestern corner of San Diego County. Tijuana Estuary encom-
passes ~712 ha of wetland habitat, including ~249 ha of tidal salt marsh. The
ocean inlet is generally open but is relatively shallow, which could reduce tidal
exchange in this estuary (Zedler et al. 1992). One transect was established at each
site, which extended perpendicular to the edge of | to 2 m wide tidal creeks
located ~1.6 km (TE1) and 2.2 km (TE2) from the inlet (Fig. 1).

One site (CM) was located in the eastern portion of Carpinteria Salt Marsh
(34°24’N—119°31'W). This marsh contains ~93 ha of wetland habitat, including
~54 ha of tidal salt marsh (Ferren 1985; Page et al. 1995). Tidal exchange occurs
year round through the inlet that is flanked by rock revetments. However, total
tidal range and the tidal prism are reduced due to a cobble sill at the inlet (Hub-
bard 1996). One transect was established perpendicular to the edge of a small (1
m wide) tidal creek ~0.9 km from the inlet (Fig. 1).

The last site (ML) was located east of the central basin at Mugu Lagoon
(34°06’N—119°05'W). Mugu Lagoon contains ~597 ha of wetland habitat, in-
cluding ~382 ha of tidal salt marsh (Onuf 1987). The lagoon consists of a western
arm, an eastern arm, and a central basin section. The inlet/barrier beach varies
dynamically with fluvial and nearshore processes, but the inlet is continuously
open to tidal exchange. One transect was run perpendicularly from the edge of a
5 m wide tidal channel approximately |.0 km from the inlet (Fig. 1).

Transects extended from the nonvegetated waters edge into upland vegetation.
Consequently, transect length varied depending on the elevational slope at each
site (1.e. <30 m at SLI and SL4 to >200 m at ML, CM, and TE1). Measurements
of elevation, plant species composition and percent cover were taken at stations
located at uniform distances along each transect. Stations along the transects were
generally spaced 10 m apart except at sites SLI and SL4, where stations were
spaced 2 m apart because of the relatively short length of these transects. It should
be noted that data on elevation, tidal inundation, and vegetation from our study
sites were collected for the purpose of examining relationships among these var-
iables rather than to fully characterize these variables for each wetland.

Measurements of Tidal Elevation and Height of Tidal Inundation

Elevations were determined at every station along each transect using a differ-
ential GPS system (Sokkia RTK Receiver System) in October 1998. To determine
the repeatability of these measurements, the elevation of 25 stations at San Die-
guito Lagoon were remeasured in January 1999. Measurements of elevation in
January were similar to those determined in October, differing on average by 2.1
cm (range O to 4.8 cm) from the previous measurements. All elevations are ex-
pressed relative to NGVD (National Geodetic Vertical Datum = Mean Sea Level
in 1929). Current mean sea level (MSL) is 0.017 m NGVD.

We explored the use of an inexpensive “‘vial’’ method to measure the elevations
reached by a series of high tides between November 1997 and March 1998 at
each site. This series included the highest tides of the year. We placed a vertical
stake at or near the beginning of each transect at a known elevation. Glass 20 ml
vials were attached to each stake at 3 cm intervals. The elevation reached by a
given high tide in the marsh was measured by noting the elevation of the highest
vial on the stake that was filled with seawater. Vials were emptied prior to each

134 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

measured high tide. Our measurements presumably correlated with inundation
frequency and submersion time for a given elevation and thus provided a com-
parative measure of the inundation environment at each site.

Using the vial measurements, we determined the degree of muting of the high
tides at the study sites relative to tides on the coast. High tides in San Dieguito
Lagoon and Tijuana Estuary were compared with the same high tides at La Jolla
(Scripps Pier), as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion (NOAA). San Dieguito Lagoon and Tijuana Estuary are located 11 km south
and 37 km north of La Jolla, respectively (Fig. 1). The elevations reached by high
tides at Mugu Lagoon and Carpinteria Salt Marsh were compared with the same
high tides observed at Santa Monica (NOAA). Mugu Lagoon and Carpinteria Salt
Marsh are located 60 km and 120 km north of Santa Monica, respectively (Fig. 1).

Vegetation Sampling

We identified and measured the percent cover of plant species along the tran-
sects at each site. Percent cover was determined using point-contact sampling. A
4 mm diameter rod was dropped through 25 randomly placed holes in a sampling
table situated above a 0.5 m X 0.5 m quadrat at each station along the transect
lines. All species touching the rod were recorded and the percent cover of each
plant species was determined by multiplying the number of contacts by four.
Because more than one species could contact the rod, the total cover can exceed
100%. Following quantitative sampling, each quadrat was searched and any ad-
ditional species encountered were recorded as covering <4%. Although we col-
lected data on all marsh plant species, here we present only data on the most
ubiquitous species (the native succulents Salicornia virginica and Arthrocnemum
subterminale, the invasive grass, Parapholis incurva, and a grouping of transition/
upland species that included the native rush, Juncus bufonius, non-native grasses
Polypogon monspeliensis, Lolium multiflorum, Bromus diandrus, and B. hordea-
ceus, the native shrubs /socoma mensiezii, Lycium californicum, Rhus integrifolia,
and the weeds Brassica sp. and Gnathophalium sp).

Data Analyses

All statistical analyses were done using Systat Version 8.0 (SPSS Inc. 1998).
Linear regressions of the elevation reached by high tides on the stakes against
the elevations reached by high tides on the coast were compared among sites
using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) to determine whether the degree of
muting varied among sites. In this analysis, site was the categorical variable with
elevation as the covariate. We used multiple regression analysis to evaluate re-
lationships between the lower elevational limits of Arthrocnemum subterminale,
Parapholis incurva, and grouped transition/upland species, and the independent
variables of tidal muting and marsh slope. The upper limits of distribution of
these plants were not considered in this analysis because these species occur in
non-tidal habitats. Tidal muting at the lower limits of plant species was calculated
from the regression equation that described the relationship between the elevations
reached by high tides at each site and along the open coast at La Jolla or Santa
Monica. Slope was calculated as the average change in elevation over a distance
of 10 m (the typical distance between stations) from the lower limit for each plant
group towards the creek, channel or basin.

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT aye)

Results
Site Elevations and Marsh Topography

Elevation and marsh topography varied among sites (Fig. 2). As expected,
elevation was highly correlated with distance from tidal creek, channel, or basin
ferealleianseets (P — 0:001 foriSLti, 3, 4, ML, CM, TEL, TE2; P < 0.01 for
SL2). However, the marsh plain (sensu Zedler et al. 1999) occurred at higher
elevations (>0.75 m NGVD) at SLI, 2, 3, 4, and ML compared with CM, TE1
and TE2. The marsh plain at CM and ML had a uniform, gradual slope while the
elevation of TEI! varied primarily at distances of 160 to 240 m from the channel.
TE2 crossed irregular topography that included a low nonvegetated area 60 m
from the channel. The elevations of SL1, 2, and 4 varied primarily at the channel
and upland ends of the transects. Much of SL3 covered elevations >1.5 m with
abrupt changes in elevation at the basin and upland ends of the transect.

Elevation of High Tides

As expected, there was a linear relationship between the elevation reached by
high tides at each site and high tides measured along the open coast (Fig. 3).
However, vial measurements of tidal inundation indicated that high tides were
muted at 7 of the 8 sites. Within San Dieguito Lagoon, high tides were from 0.06
to 0.09 m lower at SLI, 2, and 3 compared with those measured on the open
coast. Because there was no difference between these sites (P > 0.05, ANCOVA),
the data are grouped in Figure 3. In contrast, high tides at SL4, the most landward
site, reached higher elevations than those measured on the open coast. This “‘run-
up” effect appeared to increase with height of the high tide. For example, from
the regression equation for SL4, a high tide of 1.8 m on the open coast would
yield a tide of 2.0 m at this site (Fig. 3). High tides were also from 0.06 to 0.09
m lower at ML compared with those measured on the open coast. Because there
was no difference between ML and SLI, 2, and 3 (P > 0.05, ANCOVA), the
data from ML are grouped with the latter sites in Figure 3.

The greatest muting of tides occurred at CM, TE], and TE2; high tides at these
sites were ~0.3 m lower than the same tides along the open coast. There was no
difference in tidal muting between CM, TE], and TE2 (P > 0.05, ANCOVA)
and the data from these sites are grouped in Figure 3.

Plant Species Distributions and Elevation

There was broad overlap in the distribution of Salicornia virginica and Ar-
throcnemum subterminale. However, as expected (Zedler et al. 1992; Pennings
and Callaway 1992), the highest cover of these species occurred at different el-
evations; highest cover of S. virginica, occurred consistently at lower elevations
than the highest cover of A. subterminale (Fig. 4). However, across sites, the
highest cover of these species generally varied with the degree of tidal muting
(Fig. 4). For example, highest cover of S. virginica (to 100%) occurred at ele-
vations of >0.60 m NGVD at the least muted sites (SLI, 2, 3, and ML), but was
virtually absent at elevations of >0.60 m NGVD at the most muted sites (CM,
TE1, and TE2). Similarly, highest cover of A. subterminale occurred at elevations
occupied by transition/upland plants at the most muted sites (Figs. 4, 5). At the
site of tidal “‘run-up”’ (SL4), S. virginica also occurred at elevations of >0.60 m

136 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Elevation (m, NGVD)
Elevation (m, NGVD)

LOO S120

12 14 16 18 920

Elevation (m, NGVD)
Elevation (m, NGVD)

Elevation (m, NGVD)

1 —t 4

100 150 200

Distance (m) Distance (m)

Fig. 2. Profiles of elevation (m, NGVD) versus distance from channel/basin at sites in San Dieguito
Lagoon (SLI, 2, 3, 4), Carpinteria Salt Marsh (CM), Tijuana Estuary (TEI, 2), and Mugu Lagoon
(ML), and the distribution of Salicornia virginica, Arthrocnemum subterminale, Parapholis incurva,
and grouped upland plants along transects. Values from means of two transects at SLI, 2, 3, and 4
and from one transect at CM, TEI, 2, and ML. Note that the scale of the x-axis varies among sites.
Plant abbreviations: Sv—Salicornia virginica, As—Arthrocnemum subterminale, Pi—Parapholis in-
curva, Up—transition/upland group.

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT Iis7

1.8 s
i ye SUAES;, ML
15 x
Ae?
0.9

0.6

Elevation in marsh (m, NGVD)

Or 0.6 0.9 ile iW) Alas)

Elevation on coast (m, NGVD)

Fig. 3. Linear regressions of the elevation of high tides measured at the wetland study sites against
the elevation of high tides measured on the open coast on the same date. Elevations at San Dieguito
Lagoon (SL) and Tijuana Estuary (TE) are compared with elevations at Scripps Pier. Elevations at
Carpinteria Salt Marsh (CM) and Mugu Lagoon (ML) are compared with elevations at Santa Monica.
Each point represents one high tide. Common regression line computed for SL1-3 (A) and ML
(i) 97 —-097x — 0:06, r — 0:89, mi— 27; SL4 =—— (A): y= 1.22x = 0.52, r? = 0.88, n = 8.
Common regression line — —— for CM (@) and TE (©): y = 0.91x — 0.70, r? = 0.98, n = 12.

NGVD, but was not abundant (cover <20%) and A. subterminale was absent.
Jaumea carnosa was the most abundant plant at this site (unpubl. data). At two
sites (SL2, SL3), A. subterminale occurred at elevations (1.95 m NGVD) above
the highest observed water level reported along the coast (1.5 m NGVD, August
O83) (ris. 4).

There were also differences in the lower limits of distribution of transitional
and upland species among sites having different degrees of tidal muting. For
example, the lower limit of the invasive grass, Parapholis incurva, occurred on
average ~0.54 m lower at the sites of greatest tidal muting (CM, TEI, and TE2)
(Fig. 5). The lower limit of plants grouped in the transition/upland category oc-
curred 0.75 m lower at CM compared with SL4. These species were present in
high cover (70—100%) at CM, TEI, and TE2 at elevations (0.90—1.20 m NGVD)
occupied entirely by marsh plants at SLI, 2, 3 and 4. The lower limits of Para-
Pholis incurva and transition/upland plants at the different sites were significantly
correlated with the elevation reached by the highest high tide measured in this
study (3 December 1998, third highest tide of 1998 at La Jolla with an observed
high of 1.41 m, P. incurva, P < 0.01, r = 0.95, df = 4; transition/upland: P <
0.001, r = 0.95, df = 6: Fig. 6).

Relationship between the Lower Limit of Vegetation, Tidal Muting, and Marsh
Slope

Tidal muting explained a significant amount of variation in the lower limits of
Parapholis incurva and the transition/upland group, but not in Arthrocnemum
subterminale (Table 1). In contrast, marsh slope did not explain any significant
variation in the lower limits of any of the species studied.

138 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Di, ol2

100 100 ,
So 80 |
o

So 60 60 |
5 |
6 40; 40
oO

Percent cover

0.0 0:5 1.0 1:5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

_ TE2 h. ML
100, 9 100 | AA.

2 80 f \ 80 | '
fe) \ \
= 60 | / \ P 60 |
® \ /
a os al ae 40 |
A 40 \\ | \ s

20 | \ | oa 20 |

\ | wa \
0 0-0-0-o ee poe ee .

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 eS) 2.0
Elevation (m, NGVD) Elevation (m, NGVD)

Fig. 4. Percent cover versus elevation (m, NGVD) for Salicornia virginica (@) and Arthrocnemum
subterminale (©). Data grouped in 0.15 m elevation classes. Mean values +1SE. Standard errors are
shown only when number of quadrats >2. Note that the y-axis of (d) extends only to 50% cover. A.
subterminale absent from SL4 (d) and ML (h).

Discussion

Our study was motivated by the desire to identify similar tidally influenced
habitats at different wetland sites on the basis of elevation, height of inundation,
and/or vegetation. We used an inexpensive vial method to characterize sites in
terms of height of tidal inundation and examined whether plant distribution and
cover were similar for equivalent heights of inundation.

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT 139

2, SIL4

80 | 80
g
9 60 ; a 60 4
ec
ed vf 40
Oo /
20 y/ 20 |
(O) = feo (oye o
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 0.0 0.5
er =e 59. d SLA
[7 80 | 40 ;
>
3 604 30
iS
& 40; 20
oO
ae. "
\ 10 oO
\ S oD
OF: {+} — oO at ge eg
0.0 0.5 1.0 AKS 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 les 2.0
120, & CSM 400 ef =a
100 80 |
2 80 | P
8 60 | i
= 60 /
40 | /
5 40 | \
AN
20 20 | ie
ioe
0 OOH CH 0 am
0.0 0.5 1.5) 2.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 We) 2.0
A004 9° VEZ 100 Me
_ 80 80
oO
>
8 60 60 |
ec
8 404 40 |
©
= 204 / 20 | p
(Wasgeoeas : (ae oe
0.0 0. 1.0 15 20 0.0 0.5 1.0 1158) 2.0
Elevation (m, NGVD) Elevation (m, NGVD)

Fig. 5. Percent cover versus elevation (m, NGVD) for Parapholis incurva (HB) and grouped tran-
sitional/upland plants (LJ). Data grouped in 0.15 m elevation classes. Mean values +1SE. Standard
errors are shown only when number of quadrats >2. Note that the y-axis of (d) extends only to 50%
cover. P incurva absent from SL1 (a) and SL 4 (d).

The relationship between elevation and height of tidal inundation varied among
sites making elevation per se unattractive as a general criterion for delineating
““tidally influenced”’ habitat. High tides were muted relative to coastal high tides
at all but one site (SL4). The specific reasons for the differences in tidal muting
among sites are not known, but channel morphology may be a contributing factor
(e.g., Wan der Molen 1997). Transects at Tijuana Estuary and Carpinteria Salt
Marsh ran perpendicular to small tidal creeks (<1 m wide) while transects at

140 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

1 { 1 aL

CM TET 2. Mike Sit 25> ae

Location

Fig. 6. Lower limit of Parapholis incurva (©) and grouped transition/upland plants (@) at study
sites. P. incurva not present at SLI and 4. Species grouped in the transition/upland category given in
text. Elevation reached by the highest high tide measured during this study (3 December 1998) also
plotted (J). No tidal height data are available from SL1 and SL3 on this date.

Mugu and San Dieguito Lagoons originated off wider, deeper channels (>5 m
wide) (or a basin).

The elevational range of distribution of Salicornia virginica, Arthrocnemum
subterminale (absent at SL4 and ML), Parapholis incurva, and transition/upland
species generally reflected the degree of tidal muting across sites. Indeed, marsh
plants at the least muted sites (SLI, 2, 3, 4, ML) occurred in high cover at
elevations occupied only by transition/upland plants at the most muted sites (CM,
TEI, TE2). As expected, the upper limit of distribution of native marsh plants
was not useful in defining tidally influenced habitat; A. subterminale occurred at
or above (SL3, Fig. 4, Page, unpublished data) the highest observed tidal water
level of 2.3 m NGVD measured at Scripp’s Pier on 8 August 1983 (MEC, 1993).
A. subterminale, S. virginica, and other marsh plants may be found in nontidal
habitats (seasonal marsh) if soil salinities and moisture conditions are suitable
(e.e., Ferren: 1935; emen eral, 99Ge)r

Results of multiple regression analysis also indicated that variation in the lower

Table 1. Summary of the results of multiple regression analysis evaluating the relationship between
the lower elevation limit of Arthrocnemum subterminale, Parapholis incurva, a grouping of transition/
upland plant, and marsh slope and tidal muting.

Arthrocnemum

subterminale Parapholis incurva Transition/upland plants
(n = 6) (nls )) (n = 8)
Std Std Std
Eifect. ) Cochhverron s, it BP Coeff error t P Coeff error t P

Constant’ + 10:83) (0:24, 93°51 JO039) Mey 3 0:09 Oni 0.003. 1.40 0.08 17.67 <0.001
Slope 3:84, 2.02 » 1.90: 0.154, 0.5 10:23. 2.27. OL Sie sOr 7a OS OR sO 0.685
Muting 0:28 0:30 0:93 0.423. 2535, 0) 6.91 0:020: “039° 10512.) 3262 0.014

ELEVATION OF TIDALLY INFLUENCED HABITAT 14]

limit of Arthrocnemum subterminale could not be accounted for simply in terms
of tidal muting and marsh slope (Table 1). Biological interactions (Pennings and
Callaway 1992) and disturbance (Callaway and Pennings 1998) may obscure re-
lationships between tidal muting and the lower limit of this species. For example,
competition between A. subterminale and Salicornia virginica can affect the lo-
cation of the boundary of both species (Pennings and Callaway 1992). A. subter-
minale has a greater tolerance of high soil salinity, allowing this species to exist
high in the marsh while S. virginica has a greater tolerance of inundation, allowing
this species to exist lower in the marsh. In areas where both species overlap, small
differences in soil salinity and moisture over short distances may modify the
outcome of competitive interactions between these species (Pennings and Calla-
way 1992).

The lower elevational limits of Parapholis incurva and transition/upland species
were correlated with variation in the degree of tidal muting across sites (Table 1)
and with the elevation reached by the highest tide (1.4 m NGVD at La Jolla). P.
incurva and other transition or upland plants are sensitive to elevated soil salin-
ities, which probably limits these species from occurring at lower elevations (Cal-
laway and Sabraw 1994; Kuhn and Zedler 1997; Callaway and Zedler 1998).

Exotic grasses such as Parapholis incurva and Polypogon monspeliensis are
not desirable in restored marshes because they occupy space, preclude the estab-
lishment of native species, and may not provide the functions (e.g., food, shelter,
nesting habitat) of native plants (Zedler 1996). Results from this study show that
the lower elevational limit of such species may prove to be a useful proxy for
delineating the upper edge of tidally influenced habitat. Below the lower limit of
exotic grasses, the vial method is an effective and inexpensive technique that can
be used to identify sites of comparable tidal influence in restored and reference
wetlands.

Acknowledgements

We thank S. Anghera and M. Meeker for field assistance, T. Keeney and the
U. S. Naval Air Station at Point Mugu for permission to work at Mugu Lagoon,
and M. Pessino and J. Jones for Figure 1. We also thank D. Hubbard and J. Dugan
for comments on the manuscript. Funding for this study was provided by Southern
California Edison as required by the California Coastal Commission under SCE’s
coastal development permit (No.6-81-330-A, formerly 183-73) for Units 2 and 3
of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

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Reserves Division, Washington, D. C.

, J. C. Callaway, J. S. Desmond, G. Vivian-Smith, G. D. Williams, G. Sullivan, A. E. Brewster,

and B. K. Bradshaw. 1999. Californian salt-marsh vegetation: an improved model of spatial

pattern. Ecosystems, 2: 19-35.

Accepted for publication 12 December 2002.

Research Notes

Gastrointestinal Helminths of the Black-tailed Brush Lizard,
Urosaurus nigricaudus (Phrynosomatidae), from Baja California
Sur, Mexico

Stephen R. Goldberg!

'Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, California 90608
e-mail: sgoldberg @ whittier.edu

Charles R. Bursey?

*Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus,
Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146
e-mail: cxb13@psu.edu

Kent R. Beaman?

3Section of Herpetology, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900
Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 9OOO7
e-mail: kbeaman@nhm.org

The black-tailed brush lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus (Cope, 1864), is found in
a variety of habitats along the eastern side of the Peninsular Ranges from San
Diego County, California, southward to the Cape Region of Baja California (Gris-
mer 2002). This note constitutes the first report of helminths from U. nigricaudus.

Forty-two adult U. nigricaudus, (mean snout—vent length (SVL) = 44.6 mm +
3.1 SD, range = 38-51 mm), collected 1977-1978 in the vicinity of La Paz,
(24°10'N, 110°20'W) Baja California Sur, Mexico, were examined (Appendix).
The sample consisted of 28 males (mean SVL = 45.5 mm = 2.8 SD, range =
39-51 mm) and 18 females (mean SVL = 42.7 + 3.0 SD, range = 38—48 mm).
Adult males are typically larger than females as was the case in this sample
(unpaired t test, t = 2.99, P = 0.005, df = 40). Specimens were fixed in 10%
formalin and preserved in 70% ethanol. The digestive tracts were removed,
opened longitudinally and the contents of the esophagus, stomach, small and large
intestines were searched in situ for helminths using a dissecting scope in July
2002. Helminths were placed on microscope slides, cleared in a drop of concen-
trated glycerol under a coverslip, and identified with a compound microscope.

Gravid individuals of two species of Nematoda, Strongyluris similis Caballero,
1938, Thubunaea iguanae Telford, 1965 and one cystacanth of a species of oli-
gacanthorhynchid Acanthocephala were found. Two male U. nigricaudus harbored
1 male Strongyluris similis each (one in the stomach, one in the large intestine);
3 male U. nigricaudus harbored 7 female Thubunaea iguanae, 1, 1, 5, respectively
(all in stomachs); | male U. nigricaudus harbored | oligacanthorhynchid cysta-
canth (in the body cavity). No host had a dual infection. Prevalence (number of
infected lizards divided by sample size) was 5%, 7%, and 2%, respectively. Mean

143

144 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

intensity + 1 SD (mean number of helminths per infected lizard) was 1 + O, 2
+ 2 SD, and | = O, respectively. Helminths were placed in vials of 70% ethanol
and deposited in the United States National Parasite Collection, (USNPC), Belts-
ville, Maryland: Strongyluris similis 92433; Thubunaea iguanae 92434; acantho-
cephalan cystacanth 92435.

Thubunaea iguanae was previously found in the Isla Cerralvo spiny lizard,
Sceloporus grandaevus, from Cerralvo Island, Baja California Sur (Goldberg et
al. 2002) and from unidentified lizards from Baja California (Telford 1965). Other
North American lizard hosts include Callisaurus draconoides, Cnemidophorus
hyperythrus, C. tigris, Coleonyx variegatus, Gambelia wislizenti, Sceloporus mag-
ister, S. orcutti, Uma exsul, and Uta stansburiana (Baker 1987). Urosaurus ni-
gricaudus represents a new host record for Thubunaea iguanae.

Strongyluris similis was originally described by Caballero (1938) from Scelo-
porus torquatus collected in the Districto Federal, Mexico. It was reported from
Sceloporus jarrovii collected from eight other Mexican states (Goldberg et al.
1996) as well as in Sceloporus nelsoni from Nayarit (Mayén-Pefia and Salgado-
Maldonado 1998), Sceloporus formosus from Oaxaca, and Sceloporus mucronatus
from the Mexican states of Hidalgo and Mexico (Goldberg et al. 2003). It also
occurs in sceloporine lizards from Arizona (Sceloporus jarrovii, Goldberg et al.
1995a) and Texas (Sceloporus grammicus, S. merriami, S. olivaceus, S. serrifer,
S. undulatus, S. variabilis Goldberg et al. 1995b). The Goldberg et al. (1999)
record of Strongyluris rubra in Urosaurus microscutatus should be corrected as
Strongyluris similis. Strongyluris similis appears to occur primarily in Mexico,
reaching its northern distributional limit in the southwestern United States. Uro-
saurus nigricaudus represents a new host record for Strongyluris similis and Baja
California Sur is a new locality record.

Moravec et al. (1990) reviewed North and Central American species of Stron-
gvluris (S. rubra Harwood, 1935; S. similis; S. ranae Reiber, Byrd and Parker,
1940; S. acaudata Caballero, 1941; S. riversidensis Edgerley, 1952; and S. readi
Rothmann, 1954) and suggested that these species were identical based upon
morphological similarity, host type, and geographical distribution. However, using
caudal papillae patterns, spicule lengths and other morphological differences, Bur-
sey et al. (2003) considered them to be valid species.

Acanthocephalan cystacanths have been reported from Ctenosaura pectinata,
Phyllodactylus lanei, Sceloporus jarrovii and S. merriami collected in Mexico
(Guajardo-Martinez 1984; Goldberg et al. 1996; Mayén-Pena and Salgado-Mal-
donado 1998) and from Cnemidophorus dixoni, C. gularis, C. neomexicanus, C.
septemvittatus, C. sonorae, C. tigris, C. uniparens, Cophosaurus texanus, Eu-
meces gilberti, Sceloporus jarrovii, S. magister, and S. merriami from the south-
western United States (Telford 1970; Benes 1985; Goldberg and Bursey 1990;
McAllister 1990a,b, 1992; Goldberg et al. 1995b; McAllister et al. 1991, 1995).
Species of acanthocephalans require an arthropod host (Schmidt 1985), and be-
cause cystacanths are frequently found in cysts, the possibility of lizards as par-
atenic hosts must be considered. This is the first report of cystacanths in the genus
Urosaurus.

Urosaurus nigricaudus is the fourth species within the genus to be examined
for helminths (Table 1). It is apparent that the helminth fauna, while varying

145

BLACK-TAILED BRUSH LIZARD HELMINTHS

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146 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

between species, is depauperate. The reasons for low helminth diversity in North
American species of Urosaurus are yet to be determined.

Acknowledgment

We thank D. Kizirian (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) for
permission to examine specimens.

Literature Cited

Baker, M. R. 1987. Synopsis of the Nematoda parasitic in amphibians and reptiles. Memorial Univ.
Newfoundland, Occas. Pap. Biol., 11:1—325.

Benes, E. S. 1985. Helminth parasitism in some central Arizona lizards. Southwest. Nat., 30:467—473.

Bursey, C. R., S. R. Goldberg, and S. R. Telford, Jr. 2003. Strongyluris panamaensis n. sp. (Nematoda:
Heterakidae) and other helminths from the lizard, Anolis biporcatus (Sauria: Polychrotidae),
from Panama. J. Parasitol., 89:118—123.

Caballero, E. 1938. Nematodes of the reptiles of Mexico.—II. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol., 32:225—229.

Goldberg, S. R., and C. R. Bursey. 1990. Gastrointestinal helminths of the Yarrow spiny lizard,
Sceloporus jarrovii Jarroviit Cope. Am. Midl. Nat., 124:360—365.

, and K. R. Beaman. 2002. Gastrointestinal nematodes of the Isla Cerralvo spiny lizard,

Sceloporus grandaevus (Phrynosomatidae) from Baja California Sur, Mexico. Bull. So. Calif.

Acad. Sci., 101:142—143.

; , and R. L. Bezy. 1995a. Helminths of isolated montane populations of Yarrow’s spiny

lizard, Sceloporus jarrovii (Phrynosomatidae). Southwest. Nat., 40:330—333.

, and . 1996. Gastrointestinal helminths of Yarrow’s spiny lizard, Sceloporus

Jarrovii (Phrynosomatidae) in Mexico. Am. Midl. Nat., 135:299—309.

: , and J. L. Camarillo-Rangel. 2003. Gastrointestinal helminths of seven species of

sceloporine lizards from Mexico. Southwest. Nat., (in press).

3 , and H. Cheam. 1999. Urosaurus microscutatus (Small-scaled lizard). Endoparasites.

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; , and C. T. McAllister. 1995b. Gastrointestinal helminths of nine species of Sceloporus

lizards (Phrynosomatidae) from Texas. J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash., 62:188—196.

and R. Tawil, 1993a. Gastrointestinal helminths of the western brush lizard, Urosaurus

graciosus graciosus (Phrynosomatidae). Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sct., 92:43—51.

, and N. Zucker. 1993b. Gastrointestinal helminths of the tree lizard, Urosaurus or-
natus (Phrynosomatidae). J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash., 60:118—121.

Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California, including its Pacific islands and the
islands in the Sea of Cortés. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley, 399 pp.

Guajardo-Martinez, G. 1984. Preliminary survey of parasites of Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, México.
J. Arizona-Nevada Acad. Sci., 19:81—83.

Mankau, S. K. and E. A. Widmer. 1977. Prevalence of Mesocestoides (Eucestoda: Mesocestoididea)
tetrathyridia in southern California reptiles with notes on the pathology in the Crotalidae. Jap.
J. Parasitol., 26:256—259.

McAllister, C. T. 1990a. Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in
North America. IV. The Texas spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus gularis). Texas J. Sci., 42:381—
388.

. 1990b. Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North Amer-

ica. Il. The New Mexico whiptail (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus). J. Wildl. Dis., 26:403—406.

. 1992. Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North Amer-

ica. VIII. The Gila spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus flagellicaudus), Sonoran spotted whiptail

(Cnemidophorus sonorae), and plateau striped whiptail (Cnemidophorus velox). Texas J. Sci.,

44:233-239.

, J. E. Cordes, and James M. Walker. 1991. Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual

whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North America. VI. The gray-checkered whiptail (Cnemidophorus

dixoni). Texas J. Sci., 43: 309-314.

, and

. 1995. Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards

BLACK-TAILED BRUSH LIZARD HELMINTHS 147

(Teiidae) in North America. IX. The plateau spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus gularis septem-
vittatus). Texas J. Sci., 47:83—88

Mayén-Pena, E., and G. Salgado-Maldonado. 1998. Helminths of four lizards from Nayarit, México:
Anolis nebulosus (Polychrotidae), Ctenosaura pectinata (Ilguanidae), Phyllodactylus lanei (Gek-
konidae), and Sceloporus nelsoni (Phrynosomatidae). J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash., 65:108—111.

Moravec, E, A. Coy Otero, and V. Barus. 1990. Two remarkable nematodes from Leiocephalus sp.
(Sauria: Iguanidae) from Bahamas. Helminthologia, 27:225—232.

Schmidt, G. D. 1985. Development and life cycles. Pp. 273—305 in Biology of the Acanthocephala.
(D. W. T. Crompton and B. B. Nickol, eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK..,
Sopp:

Specian, R. D., and J. E. Ubelaker. 1974. Parathelandros texanus n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from
lizards in west Texas. Trans. Am. Microscop. Soc., 93:413—415.

Telford, S. R., Jr. 1965. A new species of Thubunaea (Nematoda: Spiruroidea) from California lizards.
Jap. J. Exp. Med., 35:111-114.

. 1970. A comparative study of endoparasitism among some southern California lizard popu-
lations. Am. Midl. Nat., 83:516—554.

Walker, K. A., and D. V. Matthias. 1973. Helminths of some northern Arizona lizards. Proc. Helmin-
thol. Soc. Wash., 40:168—169.

Accepted for publication 12 December 2002.

Appendix

Specimens of Urosaurus nigricaudus examined from the herpetology collection of the Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM): 126101, 126103, 126104, 126105, 126107—126111,
Io A2ollss 126121—-126123, 126125, 128182, 128183, 128185—128198, 128200—128202,
128204, 128205, 128213—128215, 128220, 128224, 128232

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INDEX TO VOLUME 102

Ackerman, Drew, Kenneth Schiff, Heather Trim, and Mike Mullin. Characteriza-
tion of Water Quality in the Los Angeles River. 17

Andrews, Allen H., Kenneth W. Gobalet and Terry L. Jones. Reliability Assess-
ment of Season-of Capture Determination from Archaeological Otoliths 66

Beaman, Kent R., see Stephen R. Goldberg
Bursey, Charles R., see Stephen R. Goldberg (2)

Diamant, Erika, see Mark P. Walberg

Dominguez-Torres, Jorge and Eric Mellink. Invasive Aquatic Animals and
Possible Effects on Native Frogs and Toads in Mediterranean Baja Cali-
fornia. 89

Feldmann, Rodney M. Decapod Crustaceans from the Puente Formation (Late
Middle to Early Late Miocene), California: A Possible Mass Death. 107
Frontana-Uribe, S.C., see P. Hernandez-Alcantara

Gobalet, Kenneth W., see Allen H. Andrews

Goldberg, Stephen R. and Kent R. Beaman. Reproduction in the Baja California
Rattlesnake, Crotalus enyo (Serpentes: Viperidae). 39

Goldberg, Stephen R., Charles R. Bursey and Kent R. Beaman. Gastrointestinal
Helminths of the Black-tailed Brush Lizard, Urosaurus nigricaudus (Phry-
nosomatidae), from Baja California Sur, Mexico. 143

Gonzalez-Camacho, José Ramon, see Jorge Adrian Rosales-Casian

Hastings, Philip A., see Cynthia Klepadlo

Hernandez-Alcantara, P, S.C. Frontana-Uribe, and V. Solis-Weiss. Commented
Checklist of the Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Area Adjacent to
Islands of the Mexican Pacific and Gulf of California. 1

Huang, David, Robert N. Lea and Jennifer Wolf. Occurrence of the Bluefin Kil-
lifish, Lucania goodie, in the San Dieguito Riber, Southern California. 46

Jones, Terry L., see Allen H. Andrews

Klepadlo, Cynthia, Philip A. Hastings, and Richard H. Rosenblatt. Pacific Foot-
ballfish, Himantolophus sagamius (Tanaka) (Teleostei: Himantolophidae),
Found in the Surf-zone at Del Mar, San Diego County, California, with Notes
on its Morphology. 99

Lea, Robert N., see David Huang.
Lei, Simon A., Soil Compaction and Moisture Status from Large Mammal Tram-
pling in Coleogyne (Blackbrush) Shrublands of Southern Nevada. 119

Maimone-Celorio, Maria Rosa and Eric Mellink. Shorebirds and Benthic Fauna
of Tidal Mudflats in Estero de Punta Banda, Baja California, México. 24

149

150 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Mellink, Eric, see Maria Rosa Maimone-Celorio

Mellink, Eric, see Jorge Dominguez-Torres

Muleady-Mecham, Nancy Eileen. Differential Preservation of Fossil Elements in
the Maricopa Brea, California. 79

Mullin, Mike, see Drew Ackerman

Page, Henry M., Stephen Schroeter and Daniel Reed. An Inexpensive Method to
Identify the Elvation of Tidally Inundated Habitat in Coastal Wetlands. 130

Reed, Daniel, see Henry M. Page

Rosales-Casian, Jorge Adrian and José Ramon Gonzalez-Camacho. Abundance
and Importance of Fish Species from the Artisanal Fishery on the Pacific
Coast of Northern Baja California. 51

Rosenblatt, Richard H., see Cynthia Klepadlo

Schiff, Kenneth, see Drew Ackerman
Schroeter, Stephen, see Henry M. Page
Solis-Weiss, V., see P. Hernandez-Alcantara

Trim, Heather, see Drew Ackerman

Walberg, Mark P, Erika Diamant, and Kelly Wong. Occurrence of Gyrodactylus
perforatus (Monogenea) on its fish host Clevelandia ios (Gobiidae) from
Bodega Bay and Tomales Bay, California. 43

Walgren, Michael. Distribution and Morphotyhpes of the Federally Endangered
Land Snail Helminthoglypta (Charodotes) walkeriana (Hemphill, 1911). 96

Wolf, Jennifer, see David Huang.

Wong, Kelly, see Mark P. Walberg

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PROCEDURE

CONTENTS

Pacific Footballfish, Himantolophus sagamius (Tanaka) (Teleostei:
Himantolophidae), Found in the Surf-zone at Del Mar, San Diego
County, California, with Notes on its Morphology. Cynthia Klepadlo,
Philip A. Hastings, and Richard H. Rosenblatt

Decapod Crustaceans from the Puente Formation (Late Middle to Early Late
Miocene), California: A Possible Mass Death. Rodney M. Feldmann

Soil Compaction and Moisture Status from Large Mammal Trampling in
Coleogyne (Blackbrush) Shrublands of Southern Nevada. Simon A.
Lei

An Inexpensive Method to Identify the Elevation of Tidally Inundated
Habitat in Coastal Wetlands. Henry M. Page, Stephen Schroeter, and
Daniel Reed

Gastrointestinal Helminths of the Black-tailed Brush Lizard, Urosaurus
nigricaudus (Phrynosomatidae), from Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Stephen R. Goldberg, Charles R. Bursey, and Kent R. Beaman

Index to Volume 102

Cover: Pacific Footballfish, Himantolophus sagamius (S1O 02-2). Scale Bar = 15 cm.

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