Habitat-Based Assessment of Mf lI b dFihMegafaunal

Habitat-Based Assessment of M f l I b d Fi hMegafaunal Invertebrates and Fish on

Cordell Bank, CaliforniaInvertebrates as Living Components of Habitat

Jodi L. Pirtle *1, B.N. Tissot 1, D.A. Roberts 2,3, D. Howard 2

1 Washington State University, Vancouver, 2 NOAA Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, 3 Point Reyes National Seashore

CollaboratorsCollaborators

Dr Brian N Tissot

Dale Roberts

Dr. Brian N. TissotProgram in Environmental Science Washington State University Vancouver, WA

Dale RobertsNOAA Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Point Reyes National Seashore

D H dDan HowardNOAA Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Funding Provided by: Point Reyes National Seashore

With thanks to: Dr. Tara Anderson, Linda Snook, Jill Baltan, Mark Amend, Dr. Robert Lea, Dr. Gary Greene, and Dave Slater, Jo Lily, and Ch i Ji f D lt O hi d th f th R/V V l

Funding Provided by: Point Reyes National Seashore

Chris Jiames of Delta Oceanographics, and the crew of the R/V Velero

Megafaunal InvertebratesMegafaunal Invertebrates

Epibenthic invertebrates larger than 5cm

ObjectivesObjectives

• Importance of megafaunal invertebrates• Importance of megafaunal invertebrates• Distribution of invertebrates and fish• Cordell Bank communities

• Structure forming• Structure-forming invertebrates and associationsassociations

Importance ofImportance of Megafaunal Invertebrates

• BiodiversityI t t t t• Important ecosystem components

• Indicate environmental conditions• Potential component of essential

habitat for groundfish?g• Unique and beautiful

Cordell Bank Marine SanctuaryCordell Bank Marine Sanctuary

USGS Woods Hole

N

N

Dive Locations• 28 dives• 28 dives

• Variety of depths and bottom typesand bottom types

• 2 or 3 transects (10-15 min each)(10 15 min each)

MethodsMethodsSubmersible Observations:• Taken off starboard-side• Transect width delineated with lasers ≈ 2 m• Transect width delineated with lasers ≈ 2 m

• Fish identified and measuredVideo Analysis:• Invertebrates identified• Size estimated for large

invertebratesinvertebrates

Habitat ClassificationHabitat Classification

• Classified on video by single observer• Classified on video by single observer

• Use binary habitat code combination (R B C P G S M)(R, B, C, P, G, S, M)

• Invertebrates and fish countedInvertebrates and fish counted within contiguous habitat “patches”

RR, RB, RS, RM, BR, BB, BC, BS, BM, CB, SR, SB, SS, MR, MB, MM

Habitat Codes:

High Relief Low

Cordell Bank HabitatsPinnacle

Bedrock Ridgeg

Shallow Rock Reef

Ridge/Large BouldersRidge/Large Boulders

Boulder Field

Boulder/Cobble Field

Consolidated Clay

Sand Sand/G

Mud/Rock Mud/B Mud/C

Unconsolidated Sediment

Cordell Bank Habitats

Shallow Rock Reef

Cordell Bank Habitats

Consolidated Clay

Invertebrate AssessmentInvertebrate Assessment

• 67 taxa from 7 Phyla• 67 taxa from 7 Phyla • 89,000 invertebrates counted• Numerically dominated by -

• Echinoderms: crinoids, brittlestars• Cnidarians: cup coral, anemones, sea pens

Most Abundant Invertebrate TaxaMost Abundant Invertebrate Taxa

Taxa Sum % Cum %TaxaBalanophyllia elegansFlorometra serratissimaOphiacanthidae

Sum36,01630,22610 745

%413412

Cum %417587Ophiacanthidae

Mediaster aequalisParastichopus spp.Serpulid worms

10,7451,6791,2491,228

12211

87899091p

Unknown anemonesFoliose spongesCeramaster spp.

,1,1391,124964

111

929394

Unknown sand anemonesAllocentrotus fragilisSubsellaflorae sea pens

771573486

<1<1<1

959697

Most Abundant Invertebrate TaxaMost Abundant Invertebrate Taxa

Taxa Sum % Cum %TaxaBalanophyllia elegansFlorometra serratissimaOphiacanthidae

Sum36,01630,22610 745

%413412

Cum %417587Ophiacanthidae

Mediaster aequalisParastichopus spp.Serpulid worms

10,7451,6791,2491,228

12211

87899091p

Unknown anemonesFoliose spongesCeramaster spp.

,1,1391,124964

111

929394

Unknown sand anemonesAllocentrotus fragilisSubsellaflorae sea pens

771573486

<1<1<1

959697

Invertebrate-Habitat AssessmentInvertebrate Habitat Assessmente) 3000

Balanophyllia elegans

(#/h

ecta

re

1500

2000

2500

3000

RR RB RS RM BR BB BC BS BM CB SR SB SS MR MB MM

Den

sity

0

500

1000

Bottom TypeRR RB RS RM BR BB BC BS BM CB SR SB SS MR MB MM

High Relief Low Relief

Invertebrate-Habitat AssessmentBalanophyllia elegans

1000

2000

3000 Balanophyllia elegans

RR RB RS RM BR BB BC BS BM CB SR SB SS MR MB MM0

1000

1500are)

Ophiacanthidae

500

1000

1500

ity (#

/hec

ta Ophiacanthidae


Den

si

40 Subsellaflorae Sea Pens

10

20

30f

Bottom TypeRR RB RS RM BR BB BC BS BM CB SR SB SS MR MB MM

0

Fish-Habitat AssessmentP kfi h

1000

2000

3000 Pygmy rockfish


1000

are)

Greenspotted rockfish

25

50

75

ity (#

/hec

ta Greenspotted rockfish


30

Den

si

Stripetail rockfish

10

20

p f


Bottom Type

Cordell Bank Communities

RR/DR(cyn/sp)/602/600/ytail/wdo/rosyRR/DR(cyn/sp)/602/600/ytail/wdo/rosy


RR/SRT(sty/cyn/z/sp)/rosy/ytail/byg


MR/R/14/45/stripe/sharp/flatMR/R/14/45/stripe/sharp/flat


BC/R/51/54/20/pygmy/yoy/ling

Structure-forming InvertebratesStructure forming Invertebrates• Add structure, relief, and complexity to p y

abiotic habitat• Biological component of benthic habitatBiological component of benthic habitat

in continental shelf communities

Classification CriteriaClassification Criteria

• Large size > 30 cm = 1m

• Complex Morphology =• Complex Morphology =

• Density Aggregations =

Structure-forming Invertebratesg

TaxaCriteria

Size ComplexMorphology Density

Decreasing sizeMorphology

Shelf sponge X

Barrel sponge X

Foliose sponge X X

size

Foliose sponge X X

Vase sponge X

White-plumed anemone X

Flat sponge X

Sea pen X X

Mound sponge X

Crinoid X X

Round sponge X

Gorgonian X

Brittlestar X

Sea urchin XSea urchin X

Cup coral X

Sponges of Cordell BankMound

Not pictured -Flat and Vase

Foliose

Flat and Vase

RoundShelf

Barrel

Classification based on morphology

Sponge Habitat F li

100

150

200 Foliose

25are)

BarrelRR RB RS RM BR BB BC BS BM CB SR SB SS MR MB MM

0

50

5101520

ity (#

/hec

ta Barrel

40


Den

si

Shelf

10

20

30f


Bottom Type

Sponge AssociationsSponge Associations

Perching

Perching

ShelterPredator/Prey

Other AssociationsOther Associations

ConclusionsConclusions

I t b t d fi h di t ib t d• Invertebrates and fish distributed across distinct habitats

• Co-occur in unique communities• Certain invertebrates may be biological y g

components of habitat• Functional relationship of associationsFunctional relationship of associations

needs to be further investigated

Where we go from hereWhere we go from here

• Habitat in greater detail and relief analysis• Habitat in greater detail and relief analysis• Percent cover of encrusting species• Examine functional relationship of

associations– Index of activity– Spatial analysis

Documents

Habitat-Based Assessment of Mf lI b dFihMegafaunal