Pre-operational baseline studies of selected nearshore marine biota at the Diablo Canyon power plant site: 1979-1982

Gotshall, Daniel W. and Raymond Ally, J.R. and Vaughan, Douglas L. and Hatfield, Brian B. and Law, Philip (1986) Pre-operational baseline studies of selected nearshore marine biota at the Diablo Canyon power plant site: 1979-1982. Long Beach, CA, California Department of Fish and Game, (Marine Resources Technical Report, 50)

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Abstract

This is the final report of the California Department of Fish and Games intertidal and subtidal surveys of plants and animals in the vicinity of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. These studies cover the period from 1979 through 1982. Our previous report (Gotshall, et al. 1984) covered the period from 1973 through 1978. The report includes abundances and statistical analyses of comparisons of abundances between years and study areas for selected intertidal and subtidal plants and animals. A total of 556 random subtidal stations, 540 intertidal stations and 67 permanent abalone transects were completed during this report period. Trends in abundances of most species observed during our 1973 through 1978 studies continued, i.e. the population of giant red sea urchins remained at a very low level, bull kelp Nereocystis leutkeana densities continued to decline in Diablo Cove and North Control. These two trends are probably due to the effects of continued sea otter foraging in the study area. Our observations of the presence or absence of fishes at subtidal 30m stations indicate a continued decline in the abundances of lingcod, Ophiodon elongatus and a decline in the abundance of blue rockfish since the 1973 through 1978 study period. A new study was begun during this study period, the use of baited stations to obtain relative abundance indices for those species of fishes attracted to the bait. Black-and-yellow rockfish were the most frequently observed fishes at Diablo Cove stations, while blue rockfish were the most frequently observed fish at North control baited stations. (Document has 393 pages)

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