HR: 1340h
AN: ED43A-0267    [Abstracts]
TI: Sustainable Seas Student Intertidal Monitoring Project at Duxbury Reef in Bolinas, CA
AU: * Soave, K
EM: kathy_soave@branson.org
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Saltzman, J
EM: jsaltzman@farallones.org
AF: Farallones Marine Sanctuary, PO Box 29386, San Francisco, CA 94129 United States
AU: Scott, J
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Harris, S
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Miles, E
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Neill, M
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Bergmann, S
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Storm, E
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Verkozen, A
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Steiger, R
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AU: Lefebvre, M
AF: The Branson School, PO Box 887, Ross, CA 94957 United States
AB: The Sustainable Seas Student Monitoring Project at the Branson School in Ross, CA has monitored Duxbury Reef in Bolinas, CA since 1999, in cooperation with the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association. Goals of the project include: 1) To monitor the rocky intertidal habitat and develop a baseline database of invertebrates and algal density and abundance; 2) To contribute to the conservation of the rocky intertidal habitat through education of students and visitors about intertidal species and requirements for maintaining a healthy, diverse intertidal ecosystem; and 3) To increase stewardship in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Student volunteers complete an intensive training course on the natural history of intertidal invertebrates and algae, identification of key species, rocky intertidal ecology, interpretation and monitoring techniques, and history of the sanctuary. Students conduct two baseline monitoring surveys three times per year (fall, winter, and late spring) to identify and count key invertebrate and algae species. During four seasons of monitoring (2000-2004), the density of black turban snails, Tegula funebralis, showed very low density in the high intertidal zone the winter of 2000-2001 with very little seasonal variability in the remainder of its range and throughout the period monitored. Most algae species had consistently higher densities in the northern (A) transects than the more accessible southern (B) transects. To test the reliability of the student counts, replicate counts of all species were performed. Replicate counts for invertebrate species within the same quadrat along the permanent transects revealed a very small amount of variability, giving us confidence that our monitoring program can provide reliable data. Student volunteers helped to design and install a rocky intertidal information kiosk to greet visitors at the entrance of Duxbury Reef. The kiosk includes pictures and natural history information on key intertidal species as well as tidepooling etiquette and continues to serve as a focal point of education and interest for visitors to Agate Beach. Students have led annual intertidal walks for the public at Duxbury Reef since 2001.
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0840 Evaluation and assessment
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting