PISCO
Invertebrate and Algae
Sampling Methods
Training 2014
2014 PISCO Training Overview for
Invertebrates and Algae:
•
2014 PISCO Kelp Forest Survey Modules
•
PISCO Annual Survey Design
•
Swath Protocol
•
UPC Protocol
PISCO Kelp Forest Survey Modules
1. The PISCO annual survey overview
- history and purpose of annual surveys
2. Fish sampling methods
3. Fish identifications
4. Benthic invertebrate and algae
sampling methods
5. Benthic invertebrate and algae
identifications
Annual Survey Design
When
2014: July through September
Where
1. Different oceanographic regimes
a) Lower upwelling – Southern Monterey Bay
b) Higher upwelling – Point Lobos, Carmel Bay
2. Marine protected areas and “paired” comparison sites
a) Lover’s Point SMR, Ed Ricketts SMCA,
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens SMCA
b) Point Lobos SMR, Pescadero Point, Soberanes
Example schematic diagram of stratified random permanent sampling design.
Pacific Grove Marine Gardens SMCA
Fish transects at 5, 10, 15 and 20m
Benthic transects at 5, 12.5 and 20m
Asilomar SMR
Existing PISCO long
term monitoring unit
New randomly selected
monitoring unit
’89 ’99 ’02
Composite Kelp
2005 Kelp
100m buffer from
reserve boundary
Schematic diagram of depth-stratified sampling design
Fish transects at 5, 10, 15 and 20 m
Benthic transects at 5, 12.5 and 20 m
Annual Surveys – Benthic Sampling Design
Site
1
Area
Zone
(5 m, 12.5 m, 20 m)
Transects:
2
……
1999
Time
2
3 …… 25
1
2
S
M
D
20??
Annual Surveys: Spatial Sampling Design
1. Spatial (depth) stratification:
Shallow (S) = 5 m, Mid (M) = 12.5 m, Deep (D) = 20 m
designed to assure that all depth zones are representatively sampled
for description of invert and algae assemblages.
2. Also to assure representative sampling from outer to inner edges of
the reef!
3. If reef depths are constrained (e.g., 5-10 m), then sampling is
distributed from outer to inner edges of reef including comparable
depths (when possible) to those above (e.g., 5 and 10 m), plus
additional depth strata to assure coverage from inner to outer edges
of the reef.
4. Narrow reefs (inner to outer or across depth strata) are sampled with
increased within-stratum replication (i.e. more than 3 transects per
stratum per area (to approximate the usual 24 transects per site).
Swath Surveys
Swaths should extend one meter on either side of the transect
line.
1 meter
Top view of transect
1 meter
Transect line
Maintain reasonable speed (~20 minutes per transect) and
only count invertebrates 2.5 cm or larger in diameter.
Swath Surveys
Swaths extend one meter on either side of the transect line as if
draped over the substrate—remember, you want to cover 60
square meters of surface area
Imagined 1 m extension
on both sides of the
transect tape
Transect line
End-on view of transect
SUB-SAMPLING in each 10 m segment
Once 30 individuals of a species are counted, indicate how many meters
you have sampled within that 10 m segment (NOT THE METER MARK!)
and discontinue counting until you reach the next 10 m segment.
For example, if you count 34 Styela from the 20 m mark to the 17.5 m mark,
then you note 34 @ 2.5 m. Be sure to count all individuals in the rectangle
you sample, even if it is slightly over 30, since the goal is an estimate of
density within a rectangular area.
Use a flashlight at all times when surveying for swath
invertebrates to make sure organisms in cracks and crevices
are accounted for
Algae are also counted using Swath techniques.
Count all individuals 30 cm or larger, except Macrocystis and
Nereocystis (>1 m) and Cystoseira (>6 cm diameter).
1m
Efird
UPC Surveys
Uniform Point Contact
Data are collected every 1 m along the 30 m transect tape
Top view of transect
Transect line
1 meter
Transect tapes are marked at 1 m increments
UPC Surveys
Uniform Point Contact
Remember not to bias your data!
Use an imaginary long, sharp, steel rod (or lightning bolt)
to place your point.
Transect line
Colonial tunicate
on a solitary
tunicate
Lonhart/MBNMS
If your point falls on a mobile invertebrate or epibiont,
ignore it and make sure you are recording the organism
underneath it that is directly attached to the substrate!
Each 10 m segment contains 10 data points for each of three
categories (substrate, relief, point):
Substrate
Relief
Superlayer
(special category)
Point
Substrate type
Barlotti
Superlayer – The special category
The SUPERLAYER category counts things that have an impact
on cover, but are not counted on the data sheet. Examples are
drift algae and juvenile laminariales.
After marking the presence of the superlayer, move the algae
and record the primary substrate holder.
Figurski
Figurski
You do not need 30 points in this category!
Relief is the absolute difference in elevation between the highest
and lowest point within a 1 m by 0.5 m rectangle
1 meter
Top view of transect
Transect line
0.5 meter
Relief is determined within non-overlapping rectangles (1 m by
0.5 m) as depicted below
0
1 meter
Top view of transect
Transect line
1
2
0.5 m
The rectangle is centered on the UPC point. Each rectangle
extends 0.5 m on both sides of the tape, and 0.25 m in front of
and behind the point along the tape.
The rectangle for relief does NOT conform to the surface.
Imagine it is a rectangular column along the plane of the tape
and extending infinitely into the earth and up to the sky.
Top view of transect
Transect line
0
1
2
Within this rectangle you must look for the highest and lowest
points, then determine the vertical distance between the two.
Relief is binned into four categories: 0-0.1 m, 0.1-1 m, 1-2 m, and
>2 m. The red line shown below is the imaginary rectangle (0.5
m along the tape in total, 1 m perpendicular to the tape in total)
that is level relative to the earth’s surface and extends into rock
and out into water as necessary.
Transect line
End-on view of transects
Benthic Transect Strategy
For Benthic surveys, the UPC diver and Swath diver work along
a single transect tape.
Benthic Transect Strategy
The The
UPCSwath
diver swims
the transect
thethe
entire
30 tape.
meters
diver begins
taking tape
data out
along
meter
along the depth contour, without taking data.
Benthic Transect Strategy
The UPC diver secures the meter tape at the end and begins
taking data in the reverse direction along the transect.
Benthic Transect Strategy
The Swath diver completes the 30 m invertebrate transect and begins to
swim in the reverse direction taking algae swath data.
Benthic Transect Strategy
Once the UPC diver reaches the end of the 30 m transect, collect algae
swath data while swimming back towards the Swath diver. These data can
be added onto the UPC sheet in empty rows, but be sure to transcribe them
onto the Swath divers data sheet immediately after the end of the dive.
Benthic Transect Strategy
Once they meet along the meter tape, one diver returns to the end and reels
up the tape. Unlike fish divers, benthic divers begin the next transect by
swimming in the opposite direction of the first transect.
Safety Considerations
1. Dive profiles
- approved by DSO
- well within no-decompression limits
- maximum depth 20 m
- 3-5 min safety stops mandatory on dives >10 m
2. Air consumption
- safety over data collection (500 psi @ surface)
3. Buddy system
- members of a dive team are always in contact via
the transect line
4. Sea conditions
- diving will only be conducted in good conditions
Dive Safety Brief
1. Dive log - sign out and in
2. Dive procedures
- ascent rate 1 ft per 2 sec
- deep-shallow
- maintain dive team
3. On board communications: cell phone, VHF Ch
16 (Paragon), & SPOT system
4. First Aid & Oxygen - Shore and vessel
5. Evacuation plan: this is developed for each site
and must be covered prior to the dive
Locations of
CHOMP and PG
chamber
Locations of LML,
the SC harbor and
Dominican Hospital