Cavalero Beach - July 1, 2008

Cavalero quadrat

Handheld recording

Inspecting line area

An enthusiastic group of 15 Beach Watchers and guest volunteer, Bill B., gathered at 8:00 am on the first day of July at Cavalero Beach to perform Intertidal Monitoring. It was a pleasant dry day with temperatures in the mid 60s. The group led by Cathy surveyed a single profile line with 21 segments out to -3.3 feet low tide level, layed-out and evaluated nine quadrats, and identified 35 species. Two handhelds were also employed supplementing hard copy data recording.

Similar to last year, the beach substrate lacked ground shell and clay/silt earthen materials. Marine organism variety and abundance was up from the 2007 levels, where only 16 species were identified. This year, the levels were similar to that found in the years 2004 thru 2006.

New information collected in the profile line this year for tracking of certain invertebrate allowed us to determine that the main species for barnacles was Balanus (segments 4-21), for crabs was Hemigrapsus (segments 6-21) and for snails was Littorina (segments 5 to 14) and Nucella (segments 14-21).

Invertebrates found included amphipods, anemones, arachnid, barnacles, crabs, fish, isopods, limpets, mussels, polychaete, ribbon worms, snails, and bald eagles. In addition to green, red and brown seaweed the true plant dunegrass (Elymus mollis) was also found. To the enjoyment of the monitors an

Sculpin

Eggs under rock

8 inch Sculpin (Oligocottus maculosus) was found under a rock with eggs attached to the bottom of the rock.

We ended a successful monitoring event with a group photo and a picnic in the Park.

Cavalero Team

Written by Cathy M. Thanks Cathy for all your hard work with the handhelds.