Download - Oh Kelp, Where Art Thou?

Spatial Sciences Institute

Oh Kelp,Where Art Thou?

Stephen Daire, Alicia Evans, Trey Lee, Benecia Zahrani, 03/27/2017-05/03/2017


• Washington Department of Natural Resources standardized kelp forest mapping

• Mayne Island Conservancy in British Colombia built upon this methodology, setting collection criteria based on kelp density

Introduction

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Kelp Significance• An indicator for ocean

habitat health• Population decline is

indicative of increasing water temperature, pollution, and overfishing

• Provides resting and feeding grounds for marine life

• Reduces beach erosion and oxygenates water

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Objective

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1. Map kelp forests within the -5m bathymetric contour of Big Fisherman’s Cove

2. Determine feasibility of mapping kelp beds using the Mayne Island Conservancy methodology

3. Collection to establish a spatial and temporal baseline

4. Determine site suitability for kelp beds, while noting present invasive species


Combined Data

Spatial Analysis

Data Collection

Concept and

Hypothesis Formulation

Conclusion

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Project ProposalSignificance of Study

Preliminary Site Survey

Research Habitat Requirements

Locate Online DatabasesGPS Data Acquisition

Analysis of Areas with Kelp Presence

Based on Temperature and Bathymetry

Flow Chart & Data Dictionary

Mapping in ArcMapPoster Adobe InDesign

Kelp Data Type Value

Temperature Surface and bottom

Numeric in Celsius

Tide level High or Low Coded Value (Y/N)

Depth Bathymetry Numeric in Meters

Substrate Rock or sand Qualitative Text

Condition Living or Dead Coded Value (Y/N)

Invasive Presence Coded Value (Y/N)


Study Area

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Suitability Analysis• Identified suitable habitat based

on temperature, depth, and substrate for:

-Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp) 6-20m depth5-20°CRock substrate

-Sargassum horneri 3-15m depth10-25°CRock and Sand

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Suitability Map

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Data Capture Methodology Pt. 1• Appropriate data collection parameters based on: the

length of the vessel (2.5m) and diver (1.5m) with a 1m buffer in between the two for diver safety

• Points: individual organisms

• Lines: areas narrower than 5m, with the diver guiding the vessel down the midline of the biological density

• Polygons: secluded patches larger than an area of 5m2

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Data Capture Methodology Pt. 2• Bathymetric depth

recorded at low tide using an anchored 30m tape with dive computer attached

• Collection completed within the WGS 1984, and analyzed within ArcMap using UTM Zone 11N

• Surface and bottom temperature measured with

Shearwater Petrel dive computer

• Surface line transects by snorkeling and kayaking

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Equipment

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Diver 1. Snorkel,

Mask, Fins2. Dry/Wet Suit3. Anchored

30m tape with dive computer attached

4. Buoy markers5. Whistle

Surface Support1. 1-2 person

Sea Kayaks, Paddles

2. Trimble Juno 3B (TerraSync)

3. Personal Floatation Device

4. Dry Bag5. Laptops


Expected Results• Due to fluctuations in

sea temperature our expectations are

1. Invasive seagrass encroaching on kelp habitat

2. Kelp recruitment is moving into colder and deeper waters

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Survey Results

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Statistics

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DiscussionWhat worked

-Initial Site Survey: confirm study area viability, validity of tools and methods What Did Not

-Undefined default variables.

-GPS Accuracy: Receiver issues. Caused omega, phi, and kappa angles

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-Due to study area over water: Backscatter, Overhead obstruction-Variable Ocean Conditions:

-Stability issues in 1-man kayak.

-Inability to maintain position for point collection.


Opportunities

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Lessons Learned-Do not use a default value

definition due to complications, it is better to use radial buttons

-Include comments on non-numeric attributes

-Ensure GPS setting integrity across all units prior to field work

-More conditional information: For Kelp health than living or dead


Conclusion

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• Observed a relationship between kelp colonization, temperature, and sunlight exposure

• Due to the prevalence of kelp on the South West face of the cove, which is shaded by a cliff for the entire day

• Kelp within the study area is colonizing in shallow depths and shady areas to compete with Sargassum horneri


Future Research• Shaded Shoreline and Sun

exposure as temperature variables.

• Research on Membranipora membranacea (Lacy Crust Bryozoan): population genetics and density decline.

• Survey Man-Made surfaces as artificial reefs.

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Video

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Produced by Trey Lee. Footage by Alicia Evans, Benecia Zahrani, Carina Ucciferi, Stephen Frochen, Stephen A. Daire “Oh Kelp Where Art Thou?” https://youtu.be/7TYwq_AY2Wc

https://youtu.be/7TYwq_AY2Wc



References1. Grotefend, R. Holzer, R. Klemens, K. Ruhl, S. (2015) Spatial Distribution of Eisenia Arborea

(Southern Sea Palm) in Big Fisherman’s Cove. Spatial Sciences Institute.2. Freiwald, J. Wisniewski, C. Wehrenbreg, M. Shuman, C. & Dawson, C. 2015. Reef Check

California Instruction Manual: A Guide to Rocky Reef Monitoring. 8th Etd. Reef Check Foundation.

3. Mayne Island Conservancy Society. 2010 The Mayne Island Conservancy in British Colombia established guidelines and a methodology to map kelp forest habitats, for monitoring. http://www.conservancyonmayne.com/docs/kelp%20mapping%20methodsDartf1-2.pdf

4. Produced by Trey Lee. Footage by Alicia Evans, Benecia Zahrani, Carina Ucciferi, Stephen Frochen, Stephen A. Daire “Oh Kelp Where Art Thou?” https://youtu.be/7TYwq_AY2Wc

5. Marine Region GIS Downloads. Accessed March 1, 2017. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/GIS/Downloads.

6. Sea Surface Temperature Contour Charts. Accessed March 1, 2017. http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/contour/californ.c.gif.

7. California Cities Point Shapefile. Accessed March 1, 2017. http://52.26.186.219/internships/useit/content/california-cities-point-shapefile.

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http://www.conservancyonmayne.com/docs/kelp%20mapping%20methodsDartf1-2.pdf




https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/GIS/Downloads

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/GIS/Downloads

http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/contour/californ.c.gif

http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/contour/californ.c.gif

http://52.26.186.219/internships/useit/content/california-cities-point-shapefile

http://52.26.186.219/internships/useit/content/california-cities-point-shapefile


References1. Data Library: California Seafloor Mapping Project: Catalina Island. Accessed March 1, 2017.

http://seafloor.otterlabs.org/SFMLwebDATA_CSMP_Catalina.htm.2. "Giant kelp." Giant kelp, Kelp Forest, Plants & algae, Macrocystis pyrifera at the Monterey

Bay Aquarium. Accessed March 01, 2017. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/plants-and-algae/giant-kelp.

3. Marks, L. Sargassum horneri Information Sheet. PDF. Santa Cruz: University of California, Santa Cruz, August 27, 2015.

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http://seafloor.otterlabs.org/SFMLwebDATA_CSMP_Catalina.htm

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-guide/plants-and-algae/giant-kelp