Fish diversity in southern California using scuba surveys in kelp forests.

The Shannon Index of diversity was calculated from diver surveys on kelp beds in Southern California. Kelp diver visual census data was combined for two separate southern California datasets. The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) provided information collected at 15 sites, and Vantuna Research Group (VRG) at 29 sites. Visual transect surveys were completed by SCUBA divers along the bottom of the kelp forest. The VRG dataset provided fish counts along 2m x 60m transects which were subsequently averaged for comparison with the PISCO dataset. The PISCO dataset provided mean counts along a 2m x 30m transect which were doubled before combining with the VRG data. The diversity analysis included 84 species of fish.

Data were analyzed to provide fish diversity information as part of a more comprehensive biogeographic analysis of resources within southern California and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

285

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Marine Sanctuary Program will incorporatethis assessment with cultural and socio-economic analyses to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to fully analyze boundary change concepts.

These data were prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

The analytical results present in the report and in this shapefile are available as a download either from a CD-Rom or from the NCCOS/CCMA/Biogeography Branchs website. http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/sanctuaries/chanisl_nms/; Contact Randy Clark (randy.clark@noaa.gov);

None

Please reference report and source data.

none

none

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.0.0.535

This data depicts fish diversity in kelp forests in the region of southern California as part of a comprehensive biogeographic assessment for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Not applicable