Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring: Trends and Synthesis
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Coal Oil Point
Click here for Long-Term trends
Click here for Biodiversity Survey findings
Coal Oil Point is located in the South Coast region of California, in the University of California Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve. The site is located within the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, and is near the Santa Barbara Point Mussel Watch site. This gently sloping site consists of relatively flat terrain.
Coal Oil Point is dominated by a mixture of consolidated sandstone and mudstone bedrock, boulder fields, and cobble beach, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock and sandy beach. Sand innundation of the plots (sometimes 100% cover in the Anthopleura plots) is common at this site. The primary coastal orientation of this site is south.
Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Coal Oil Point were established in 1992, and are done by University of California Los Angeles. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Anthopleura (Anemones), Mytilus (California Mussel), Phyllospadix (Surfgrass), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). In addition, motile invertebrates, barnacle recruitment, and mussel size structure are monitored at this site. Click here to view Long-Term trends at this site.
Biodiversity Surveys were done by University of California Santa Cruz in 2002 and 2006. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 50 meters (seaward). Click here to view Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.
For more information about Coal Oil Point, please contact Rich Ambrose.