NRS :: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve

Richard R. Vance, Department of Biology, University of California at Los Angeles

Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles

This study is examining the species composition of the salt marsh plant community along an elevational gradient from the seaward limit to the upland limit of the marsh over a period exceeding 10 years. Two permanent transects have been established at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve from the intertidal mud flat to the trees adjacent to the train tracks. These are marked at 5 m intervals with numbered PVC pipes. In 0.25 m2 quadrats placed at meter intervals along both transects, the percent cover of all plant species was estimated in 1996. Similar sampling will occur occasionally during future years, although no sampling was conducted in 1997-98. The CSMR data will be compared to similar data from Mugu Lagoon and Newport Bay salt marshes, as well as to more extensive observations and experiments at Mugu Lagoon.
Funding: California Coastal Commission.

Shane Anderson, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Assesment of parasites in Cerithedia californica and Fundulus parbipinnus.
Funding: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology.

Graduate Research Project:_Vegetative Recruitment into Restored Wetlands as an Indicator of Restoration Success

Sean Anderson, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Richard Vance, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

This study will serve as a comparison to two identical studies currently underway at Mugu Lagoon (Sewage Pond Pilot Restoration and L. Ave. Restoration). At all locations, permanent quadrats will be established to quantify the amount of salt marsh plant recruitment into the new sites just “created”. There currently exists a paucity of understanding of plant recruitment dynamics in Salt Marsh communities in general and in restoration efforts in particular. By comparing recruitment between these two systems (Mugu and Carpinteria), I will be able to both increase understanding of plant population dynamics and make concrete suggestions for future restoration efforts.
Funding: Southern California Association of Botanists.

Andrew Brooks, Marine Science Institute and Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, University of California at Santa Barbara

This project has three main objectives. First, the existing database on the fishes commonly found within the Carpinteria Salt Marsh will be added to the Geographical Information System (GIS) database currently maintained by the reserve. This will allow for the integration of the extensive fish database with other databases containing detailed information on channel morphology and tidal heights and also will allow other researchers access to the database. Second, once restoration efforts have been completed, extensive physical measurements of the newly created channels will be taken in an attempt to categorize the newly created channels. This information, combined with data from the existing fish database, will then be used in a multiple regression model to predict which species of fishes should ultimately colonize the restored channels. Third, in order to test these predictions, the fish populations in the newly restored channels will be monitored quarterly. This monitoring data will then be used in comparisons with data collected from reference sites located in other portions of the marsh and with model predictions to assess the accuracy of the model and to evaluate how quickly species with different life history characteristics colonize the restored channels.
Funding: University of California Natural Reserve System Carpinteria Salt Marsh Crocker Fund.

The Role of Benthic Microalgae and Phytoplankton in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh

Lilian Busse, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The microalgae in salt marshes are generally domintaed by blue-green algae, diatoms and green algae with more than 75% diatoms. These communites are very diverse but poorly understood ecologically although they play an important role in the autrophic community. The species composition of diatoms consists of hundreds of species, is dynamic and linked to the continual accretion and erosion of sediments in a salt marsh. Diatoms are also know to be very good bioindicators for nutrients. Carpinteria Salt Marsh contains intertidal channels with different nutrient concentrations caused by greenhouse outflow. I sample benthic diatoms every 4 weeks on 15 different study sites within the marsh at low tide, high tide, and after storm events in winter. Besides diatoms samples I will do physical measurements (temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygn) and measure waterchemistry (NO3-N, NH4-N, SRP).
Funding: University of California Natural Reserve System Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, University of California at Santa Barbara.

The Effects of Runoff on the Physiology of the Green Macrolalga Entromorpha intestinalis: Implications for Use as a Bioindicator of Freshwater and Nutrient Influx to Estuarine and Costal Areas

Risa Cohen, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Peggy Fong, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

Southern California is a highly populated region with developed watersheds. Thus there is increased risk of pollution reaching coastal waters and estuaries: more runoff reaches marine environments in urbanized areas, and there is year-round influx of effluent from agriculture entering a system typically exposed to freshwater during the rainy season. A major limitation of current methods of freshwater and nutrient measurement is the samples are discrete. Therefore an integrative way to quantify terrestrial inputs to marine communities is necessary. The green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis has the potential to be an indicator of water quality. This alga is tolerant of a variety of environmental conditions and responds to decreased salinity and increased nutrient supply on the cellular level. The focus of this project is to quantify the response of E. intestinalis to factors associated with terrestrial influx of freshwater and nutrients in order to assess its usefulness as a bioindicator. We first measured the effects of short-term salinity reduction, and increased nutrient availability in the laboratory. The next step involves determining whether salinity and nutrient gradients can be detected in the field. The benefits from the results of this research include understanding how short-term environmental changes affect macroalgae, and learning about nutrient uptake and which sources of nutrients are most utilized by algae in the field. With these data we can begin development of a biological indicator to measure runoff in marine and estuarine environments, thus providing an inexpensive, easy way to measure water quality in areas subject to runoff influence.
Funding: Environmental Protection Agency.

Jonathan Fingerut, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Richard Zimmer, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

This project seeks to understand the multi-stage life cycle of the estuarine parasitic trematode. Specifically, the effects of physics and chemistry on the transmittance of infection from their 1st intermediate host, the California horn snail Cerithidea californica, to their second intermediate host which is either another snail, a crab or a fish, depending on the species of trematode. This complex system involves over a dozen species of trematode along with multiple host species. The specificity of 2nd intermediary host choice presents us with a beautiful model system to investigate the interaction of behavior and morphology with the physical environment.
Funding: Self-funded.

Ongoing monthly high and low tide surveys of birds in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
Funding: Self-funded.

Final Hosts (Birds and Mammals) as Determinants of Community Structure of Castrating Trematodes
Ryan F Hechinger, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Armond Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This project will use video cameras to survey bird and mammal habitat usage at two NRS wetlands, Carpinteria Salt Marsh (CSM) and Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh (KF). The plan is to sample eight sites simultaneously within CSM during four periods (winter, spring, summer, and fall 2001) for a minimum of two weeks each sampling period. There will be one video camera set up at each of eight sites that will consist of a measured plot demarcated with stakes. The exact sites for CSM will be predetermined based upon four years of historical sampling of the larval trematode parasite communities that use the Cerithidea snail as a host. Birds and mammals are the final hosts for these parasites and their activities should directly impact the parasites in the snails (since the parasites leave the birds via feces). The cameras will record five seconds for every minute they run, for the entire sampling period. I will return to the setups and change batteries and tapes before the end of each 24 hours. The cameras will be left up for a minimum of two weeks, in order for the sampling to encompass a wide variation of tidal cycling. At the end of each sampling, I will collect young snails from each site and take them to the laboratory for processing. Large snails are used in our lab’s standard sampling protocols and the parasite communities are more integrative of time since larger snails harbor infections from previous years. Infections in younger snails will be more of a direct result of recent final host activity. Larger snails will be sampled in the summer as part of other long-term trematode surveys.
Funding: Self-funded.

Mark Holmgren, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Ongoing surveys of the Savannah Sparrows at Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
Funding: Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology.

Western Center for Estuatine Ecosystem Indicator Research - Invertebrate Assessment_

Roger Nisbet and Kevin Lafferty, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology , University of California at Santa Barbara
Andrew Brooks, Mark Page and Todd Huspeni, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara

The overall goal of our work at Carpinteria Salt Marsh is to develop a suite of ecological indicators to rapidly assess the integrity and sustainability of wetlands in West Coast estuaries.
Funding: Environmental Protection Agency.

Using Trematode Communities to Assess the Broad Scale, Long Term Success of the Ash Avenue Restoration Project

Todd Huspeni and Kevin Lafferty, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The Ash Avenue project is an experiment in restoring a 15-acre eastern portion of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve. The Ash Avenue restoration area will be graded to improve tidal circulation and create new tidal channel, then landscaped with native plants. The overall goal is to create habitat similar to the rest of Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve. As with any restoration, there is need to study the Ash Avenue project to be able to assess its success. Environmental assessments involve quantifying physical measurements, species of special interest and sentinel species. In addition, some studies look at broader measures of the community such as the species richness of various guilds. Before-after-control-impact (BACI) designs are useful for investigating distinct qualitative impacts such as might follow a restoration project in that they can accommodate spatial and temporal heterogeneity (Green 1979). They are most appropriate for cases where we foresee a change and can acquire adequate baseline information at sites that will and will not experience the change. I propose to quantify parasite communities in a BACI design to assess the success of the Ash Avenue restoration project.
Funding: Self-funded.

Julie Kellner, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Steven Gaines, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Globally, most of our watersheds and coastlines are increasingly subjected to human usage and, as such, are exposed to a variety of pollutants from agricultural and urban runoff, sewage out falls and storm drains. The release of nutrients and xenobiotics into aquatic ecosystems is generally not constant over time or space. More commonly, pollutant loading is highly variable and dependent upon both spatial and temporal factors including rainfall, topography, and site-specific factors such as proximity to an emission source. The purpose of this project is to realistically evaluate the effects of organic enrichment and toxicants in coastal habitats by investigating the response of intertidal communities to watershed runoff across various seasonal and spatial scales. Sandy beaches are frequently exposed to watershed runoff, and as such can become highly contaminated. Current methods of accessing beach health rely upon bacterial measurements in the water column that can fluctuate greatly over time. Infaunal organisms which remain in constant contact with the sediment may provide a more accurate representation of beach health. This study will complement ongoing research by other University of California at Santa Barbara investigators. Previous studies have shown that the Carpinteria Salt Marsh is influenced by upstream sources of nutrients as well as tidal action. The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of invertebrate community structure beyond the marsh mouth. As watershed runoff is one of the leading sources of marine pollution, this investigation will also give us further insight on potential management strategies of our coastal waters.
Funding: Self-funded.

Rachel Kennison, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

Estuaries in southern California and throughout the world suffer from extensive inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) that often result in macroalgal blooms comprised of green algae such as Enteromorpha and Ulva. Large macroalgal blooms can reduce the habitat quality by depleting the water column and sediments of oxygen leading to shifts in community structure and degradation of water quality. The objective of my proposed research is to gather new information on the relationship between nutrient dynamics and macroalgae blooms. There has been very little data gathered pertaining to nutrient dynamics in southern California estuaries, whereas there has been extensive studies on the East coast and other parts of the world. The research I am proposing will help to fill in some of these gaps. I hope to sample Carpinteria three times annually for the following parameters: water column organic and inorganic N and P, oxygen content, sediment N and P, redox potential, algal species percent cover, biomass, tissue N and P content, and 15N isotope ratios. The expected results of this research will provide new information and increase our knowledge of how to safely manage and restore these areas.
Funding: Environmental Protection Agency.

Mosquito Abatement Establishment of Experimental Populations of the Ventura Marsh Milkvetch

Mary Meyer, California Department of Fish and Game
Valerie Sousa, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden

California Department of Fish and Game proposes to establish a small population of Ventura Marsh Milkvetch (ca 100 plants) to help conserve and recover this very rare species. This study is intended to plant in localized microsites or along environmnetal gradients and document biotic and hbiotic variables that may influence survivorship and mortality.
Funding: California Department of Fish and Game.

Undergraduate Research Project:_Analysis of the Parasite Community of the Arrow Goby

Martin Moretti, College of Creative Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara
Advisor: Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The objective of this project is to examine the role that these fish and their parasites play in the ecology of the Carpenteria Reserve. It is a two phase project, which focuses on the fish as an intermediate host for trophically transmitted parasites. The first phase, set for winter quarter, refquires the careful dissection of gobies caught in the marsh to locate and identify parasitic infections. Data on the general health of the fish will be compared to the intensity of parasites. The second phase, set for spring quarter, is to perform tests in the lab to determine if the behavior of the fish is effected by parasites.
Funding: Self-funded.

EPA Wetland Center for Estuarine Ecosystem Indicator Research - Nutrient/Invertebrate Component

The objectives of this project are to 1) develop indicators of wetland ecosystem health that are both simple aggregations of data as well as more complex expressions of fish, and invertebrate populations within wetlands, 2) develop indicators of integrity for specific plant, fish, and invertebrate populations within wetlands, and 3) develop indicators of toxicant-induced stress and bioavailability for wetland biota. Drainage channels entering Carpinteria Salt Marsh will be targeted during sampling of algae and invertebrates.
Funding: Environmental Protection Agency.

This project will examine the ithe plant community structure at Carpinteria Salt Marsh, and especially in changes in community patterns among years. These changes likely reflect annual changes in the physical environment in the marsh, driven by changes in rainfall, relative sea level, or nutrient inputs. We use a combination of annual monitoring of permanent plots and shorter-term (2-3 year) experiments to address these issues.
Funding: Self-funded.

Undergraduate Research Project_In-vitro Analysis of Interspecific Interactions among Larval Digenetic Trematodes from the Snail Cerithidae californica

Chris A. Schmidt, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Thirteen species of digenetic trematodes parasitize the host snail, Cerithidea californica, at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. Evidence suggests that these parasites engage in competitive interactions with other species during their larval stages with the snail. These interactions likely structure the parasite community within the intermediate snail host population, as well as the parasite community within subsequent intermediate invertebrate and definitive vertebrate host populations. This structuring likely affects the species diversity at many levels of the ecosystem. The purpose of this project is to study these interactions in vitro, starting with two of the most common trematode species. I hope to study the mechanism and dynamics of their interactions, if present, as well as the specificity of any predatory or competitive behaviors, specialization for competition, presence or absence of intraspecific interactions, (i.e. cannibalism). I will then expand the study to other pairs of species, in the hope of clarifying unknown relationships in the dominance hierarchy proposed for these parasites.
Funding: Self-funded

Graduate Research Project_PISCO: Larval Identification by species-specific DNA probes_

Kim Selkoe, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Marine Biology
Ph.D. Advisor: Steve Gaines, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

I am working to develop a technique to use species-specific DNA probes that are fluorescently labeled in order to automate plankton samples sorting. This technique will get around the need for the slow, painstaking process of sorting/ counting plankton samples by hand. At present it is difficult or impossible to identify some marine larvae to species, except by veteran taxanomicists. Automated plankton sorting will be done by exposing the plankton to species specific probes that will glow under fluorescent light when they bind to the targeted organism. We are starting the technique development with Pachygraspus crassipes as the first targeted organism, mainly because the DNA probe has been created for it. To test out the techinque, we are using pure samples of P. crassipes larvae that need to be collected from ovigerous adult females brought in to the lab.
Funding: Self-funded.

Graduate Research Project:_Survey of Mycorhizzal Associations in Salt Marsh Plants

Julie Simpson, Department of Ecology, Evolution Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

In the study of plant ecology, much attention has been given to above-ground processes. But in order to fully understand the controls on plant distribution and production, it is necessary to study the whole plant, not just the more obvious, easily measurable parts. In recent decades more research has incorporated below-ground plant parts and processes. For instance, mycorrihizae, close mutualistic associations between plant roots end fungi, have been found to be important to plant growth, at the levels of both individual and community. Mycorrhizae have bee shown to improve plant nutrition and water uptake, help prevent disease, and even mediate competitive interactions between plants. While they are found in almost every terrestrial habitat on earth, it has traditionally been thought that mycorrihzae are either nonexistent in wetlands or unimportant to wetland plants. Coastal wetlands in particular, which are frequent anoxic, flooded and/or hypersaline, are believed to be prohibitively inhospitable to the fungal partners of a mycorrhizal association. However, there is evidence that mycorrhizae not only exist in such habitats, but that they may be important to plant growth. Available information on mycorrhizae in salt marshes is still quite limited. I propose to survey Carpinteria salt marsh to determine the prevalence of and seasonal changes in mycorrhizal associations in the marsh plants and nutrients in the soil. From this information, the potential importance of these associations to the growth and community dynamics of the marsh plants, and ultimately to landscape scale processes such as nutrient uptake, can be hypothesized.
Funding: Self-funded.

Graduate Research Project:_Effects of Trematode Infection on Grwoth and Survival of the California Horn Snail

Mark Torchin, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The goals of this project are to determine the effect of trematode infection (specifically metacercarial stage) on the growth and survivorship of the California horn snail, Cerithidea californica. This is part of a larger project examining the interactions of two snail species. The other part of the project is not being conducted at Carpinteria Salt Marsh NRS. The significance of the project is to determine if trematodes can facilitate competition between two snail species.
Funding: Self-funded.

Graduate Research Project:_The Evolutionary Response of Plants to Root Herbivory_

Sean Mark Watts, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: O. J. Reichman, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Most of what we know about the way plants and animals interact stems from studies of the interactions between aboveground plant parts and aboveground herbivores. Below ground herbivory has especially strong direct effects because of the importance of roots to plants. Without accounting for the impacts of root herbivores theories regarding plant-herbivore interactions may be incomplete. Furthermore, a lot of work has been done on plant responses to root herbivory in short term studies, but no work has been published on plant responses to root herbivory on an evolutionary time scale. I will compare the Channel Islands, which have no record of pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae), to mainland sites with high gopher activity to gain some insight into the evolution of plant responses to below ground herbivory. I intend to monitor island and mainland plant responses to herbivory in mainland common garden sites. I will also use live, captive pocket gophers to determine if island plant forms have reduced their defenses against root herbivory. Cafeteria style diet-choice experiments will be used to compare the palatability of root tissue from island vs. mainland populations. This study has the potential to elucidate the role of below ground herbivores in aboveground plant-herbivore interactions and plant responses to root herbivory on an evolutionary time scale.
Funding: Sigma Xi; University of California Natural Reserve System Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant.

Graduate Research Project:_Trematode Parasites and Avian Hosts in Coastal Wetland Ecosystems: Relationship Dynamics and Impacts to Avian Hosts

Kathleen Whitney, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Ph.D. Advisor: Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This research involves examining several aspects of the interactions between birds, trematodes, and infected intermediate hosts. I wish to explore both ecological and evolutionary components of this relationship with an emphasis on the avian hosts. Additionally, I will be looking at foraging behavior of piscivorous birds to determine if they forage preferentially in areas with infected fish (parasite-induced behavior modification of these hosts may make them easier to catch) and to see if birds who feed on infected fish are able to forage more efficiently on these "disabled" prey. Finally, I wish to look at impacts to the birds from trematode infection. In helminth infections pathology is often density dependent (heavier parasite loads are associated with more extreme pathology in the host.) Are birds that forage more often on infected intermediate hosts (therefore acquiring more parasites) paying a cost in terms of fitness? Are they suffering from parasite related mortality, morbidity, or decreased reproduction? For this component, I will be looking particularly at "over-summering" shorebirds, those who fail to migrate and therefore forego a year's reproduction.
Funding: Self-funded.

Graduate Research Project_Internal Parasites in Wetland-associated Bird Species: Ecological Aspects and Fitness Consequences

Kathleen Whitney, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The focus of this research is to obtain an understanding of ecological attributes that contribute to differential parasite acquisition in migratory shorebirds and attempt to assess and quantify physiological effects of parasite infection to both migratory shorebirds and resident wading bird species that utilize coastal wetland habitats. This study has important conservation applications for bird species in wetland ecosystems. Birds are hosts for a variety of internal and external parasites. Birds that forage in wetland habitats may be particularly susceptible to a variety of internal parasites. Parasites may contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in birds and almost certainly play an important role in the regulation of bird populations. Birds that rely on coastal wetland habitats acquire many parasites via ingestion of infected intermediate hosts (trophic transmission) or infective stages in the habitat. These parasites include trematodes (flukes), cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (roundworms), and acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms). Destruction and degradation of coastal habitats forces ever larger numbers of migratory and resident birds to use the remaining habitat, increasing the exposure of individual birds to infective stages in foraging areas and increasing localized deposition of infective stages in bird feces in these areas as well. Over time, this could potentially result in higher average parasite loads in birds that depend on these wetland habitats. The potential effects on the bird populations are unknown at this time. The objectives of this research are to determine parasite loads in individual birds, identify factors that influence host susceptibility to these parasites, and quantify physiological effects on target wetland-associated bird species. Much of this work will be observational. Birds will be captured, assessed, tagged, and samples will be taken to determine their parasite loads. Tagged birds will then be monitored for the duration of this study to assess habitat use, reproductive fitness (where possible) and survivorship.
Funding: Self-funded.

Richard Zembal, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University at Long Beach

The salt marsh at Carpinteria held 3 pairs of endangered light-footed clapper rails and 4 advertising (unmated) females on April 16, 1998. Call counts earlier in the month at upper Newport Bay revealed the presence of at least 16 unmated males. I have a permits to move unmated males to Carpinteria. This would be a demographic and genetic boost for the Carpinteria sub population of this endangered rail. A recent publication documented very poor genetic variability in the small sub populations of this rail and recommended moving individuals from big populations like Newport into the smaller. Unmated rails make themselves unusually conspicuous to predators by calling incessantly. Without this project, the females at Carpinteria have little chance of mating and are greater risk of perishing than the mated females. The same is true of unmated males of Newport.
Funding: United States Department of the Navy.

Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles

Vegetative Recruitment into Restored Wetlands as an Indicator of Restoration Success

Sean Anderson, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Richard Vance, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

Andrew Brooks, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The Role of Benthic Microalgae and Phytoplankton in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh

Lilian Busse, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The microalgae in salt marshes are generally dominated by blue-green algae, diatoms and green algae with more than 75% diatoms. These communities are very diverse but are poorly understood ecologically although they play an important role in the autotrophic community. The species composition consists of hundreds of species, is dynamic and linked to the continual accretion or erosion of sediments in a salt marsh. Carpinteria Salt Marsh contains nonvegetated and vegetated estuarine habitats including subtidal and intertidal channels, mud flats, sandbars and salt flats. In all these areas I will sample the benthic microalgae and phytoplankton communities every 4 weeks between July 2000 and May 2001 at low and high tide and after storm events in the winter. I will identify the benthic algae and phytoplankton communities and measure chlorophyll as a biomass parameter. Besides the physical measurements in situations (temperature, conductivity, salinity, oxygen content) I will measure the following water chemistry parameters: NO3-N, NH4-N, SRP, TN, TP, Silicate.
Funding: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve.

Bioindication with Diatom Communities along a Eutrophication and Salinity Gradient in Carpinteria Salt Marsh

Lilian Busse, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

There is significant information about the use of algae and especially diatoms as bioindicators. However, most of the studies done are based on freshwater habitats. Diatoms respond directly to nutrients, organic pollution, toxicants, acidification and salinity. They are the most important group of benthic microalgae, occur the whole year round, are species rich, have short life-cycles, and the autoecological is available. There is only little known about diatoms as bioindicators in salt marshes and combined affects of salinity. The microalgae in salt marshes are generally dominated by blue-green algae, diatoms, and green algae with more than 75% diatoms. These communities are very diverse but are poorly understood ecologically although they play an important role in the autotrophic community. The productivity of microalgae is less well understood than that of vascular plants. Some studies in Southern California showed that the productivity of algae in a salt marsh was between 80 and 140% of the vascular plant productivity because the arid hypersaline conditions favor algal growth. This research project asks the following questions: 1. What species of benthic microalgae, especially diatoms, occur in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh? 2. How are the spatial (different habitats, polluted/unpolluted, restored/unrestored sites) and temporal (tides, storm events) heterogeneity within the wetland? 3. Can we use diatoms as nutrient and/or salinity indicator in the salt marsh?
Funding: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve.

Jonathan Fingerut, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Richard Zimmer, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

This project seeks to understand the multistage life cycle of the estuarine parasitic trematode. Specifically, the effects of physics and chemistry on the transmittance of infection from their first intermediate host, the California Horn Snail Cerithidea californica, to their second intermediate host which is either another snail, a crab, or a fish, depending on the species of trematode. This complex system involves over dozen species of trematode along with multiple host species. The specificity of 2nd intermediary host choice presents us with a beautiful model system to investigate the interaction of behavior and morphology with the physical environment.
Funding: Sea Grant

The Leptostraca of Coastal California: a Survey Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence

Todd Allen Haney, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. David K. Jacobs, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This project proposes to survey marine environments of the University of California at Natural Reserves that characteristically support leptostracans. Specimens will be collected in the intertidal, shallow sub tidal reef zones, shallow lagoon waters, and marshes of the reserve. Focus will be placed on detrital mats, algal colonies, root systems, and other micro habitats with which these animals are known to be associated. Specimens will ultimately be studied using light and electron microscopy and DNA sequence analysis for use in studies of leptostracan population genetics and evolution.
Funding: Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant.

Ongoing monthly high and low tide surveys of birds in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
Funding: Self-funded.

Using Trematode Communities to Assess the Broad Scale, Long Term Success of the Ash Avenue Restoration Project

Todd Huspeni, Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of California at Santa Barbara

Julie Kellner, Deptartment of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Steven Gaines, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Globally, most of our watersheds and coastlines are increasingly subjected to human usage and, as such, are exposed to a variety of pollutants from agricultural and urban runoff, sewage out falls and storm drains. The release of nutrients and xenobiotics into aquatic ecosystems is generally not constant over time or space. More commonly, pollutant loading is highly variable and dependent upon both spatial and temporal factors including rainfall, topography, and site-specific factors such as proximity to an emission source. The purpose of this project is to realistically evaluate the effects of organic enrichment and toxicants in coastal habitats by investigating the response of intertidal communities to watershed runoff across various seasonal and spatial scales. Sandy beaches are frequently exposed to watershed runoff, and as such can become highly contaminated. Current methods of accessing beach health rely upon bacterial measurements in the water column that can fluctuate greatly over time. Infaunal organisms which remain in constant contact with the sediment may provide a more accurate representation of beach health. This study will complement ongoing research by other UC Santa Barbara investigators. Previous studies have shown that the Carpinteria Salt Marsh is influenced by upstream sources of nutrients as well as tidal action. The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of invertebrate community structure beyond the marsh mouth. As watershed runoff is one of the leading sources of marine pollution, this investigation will also give us further insight on potential management strategies of our coastal waters.
Funding: Self-funded.

Sources of Inorganic Nitrogen Utilized by Salt Marsh Macroalgae: Identification Using Stable Nitrogen Iostope Ratios

Nutrient availability can control the rate of algal production in estuarine systems. Surface runoff entering estuaries from adjoining watersheds is frequently nutrient-enriched. Identifying the source of nitrogen used by macroalgae during bloom events is critical to determine the extent to which the ecology of coastal wetlands is coupled to land use in the watershed. Data from tracer studies, together with information on nutrient loading and variation in macroalgal biomass, may provide strong evidence for coupling between anthropogenic nitrogen inputs and blooms of macroalgae in coastal wetlands. We have been identifying sources of inorganic nitrogen in the watershed adjoining Carpinteria Salt Marsh and investigating the potential of stable nitrogen isotope ratios to trace the utilization of fertilizer-derived nitrogen by salt marsh macroalgae.
Funding: University of California at Water Sources Center

This is a long-term study aimed at understanding the factors that structure the plant community at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. We annually survey the vegetation present in a large number of permanent plots in order to document long-term dynamics of individual species and correlations between species over time (for example, if one species decreases while another increases, this suggests the possibility of a competitive interaction). We use short-term experiments to explore the hypotheses generated by our larger data set. We are currently examining 1) the impact of the parasitic plant Cuscuta on the abundance and diversity of other plant species and 2) how direct, indirect and diffuse interactions mediate plant diversity in the high marsh.
Funding: Self-funded.

Genetic Variability and Fitness in the Spider Genus Lutica (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Martin Ramirez, Biology, Loyola Marymount University
Funding: Academic Vice President’s Office, Loyola Marymount University

Undergraduate Research Project:_In-vitro Analysis of Interspecific Interactions among Larval Digenetic Trematodes from the Snail Cerithidae californica

Chris A. Schmidt, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara

Call Count Surveys for Light-Footed Clapper Rails within the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve

Julie Simpson, Department of Ecology, Evolution, Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Host-Parasite Interactions in Native and Introduced Species in California Estuaries
Mark Torchin, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara
Advisor: Dr. Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This thesis project examines the role parasites play in the invasion success of exotic species. In Bolinas Lagoon, California, the introduced Japanese mud snail Batillaria afremuntara (sp) competes with the native mud snail Corithideg Californica while Cerithideg is infected as a second intermediate host of a larval trematode, Acanthoparyphium spinulosum Batillaria is not. My aim is to determine the effect of this trematode on the growth of Cerithideg and to examine the indirect effects of parasites on competition between the two snail species. Using Carpinteria Salt Marsh allows me to examine the effect of the parasites on Cerithideg in a geographically favorable location.
Funding: Self-funded

Trematode Parasites and Avian Hosts in Coastal Wetland Ecosystems: Relationship Dynamics and Impacts to Avian Hosts

Internal Parasites in Wetland -associated Bird Species: Ecological Aspects and Fitness Consequences

Kathleen Whitney, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Dieter Wilken, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The purpose of the project at Carpenteria Salt Marsh is to determine if there exists potential sites for recovery of the Ventura Marsh Milkvetch. Analyses to be conducted include chemical, site inspection of habitat and soil structure.
Funding: State Department of Fish and Game

Richard Zembal, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University at Long Beach

Comparative Toxicity Analysis of Southern California Wetland Porewater Toxicity

Richard Ambrose, Monique Myers, Michelle Anghera, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of California at Los Angeles_

This project proposes to assess the toxicity of tidal creek pore water using the sea urchin 12 hour larval development test. A chemical analysis on samples determined to be toxic will be performed. Sites include a variety of southern California wetlands, including Mugu Lagoon, Goleta Slough, Carpinteria Salt Marsh, Upper Newport Bay, San Juan Creek, Malibu and Ballona.
Funding: UC Toxics Program.

Vegetative Recruitment into Restored Wetlands as an Indicator of Restoration Success

Andrew Brooks, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This research investigates the effects of chemistry and physics on the transmission of trematode parasite infection. These multihost parasites are an important aspect of the marsh ecosystem, effecting both population levels and predator-prey interactions. Specifically, this project will determine the patterns of emergence, transport and settlement (host recognition and infection) for one of the trematode’s dispersal stages called a cercaria. This larval stage emerges from the California horn snail Cerithidea californica and seeks out its next host (another invertebrate or fish depending on the species of trematode) in the mud channels when they are tidally inundated. Detailed study of the larval behavior and the environmental flow conditions in the channels will allow predictions to be made as to where and when these larvae are distributed in the environment. Subsequent determination of the distribution of hosts, and the routes of infection used by the larvae will allow predictions to be made on transmission rates and the effect of environmental variability on this process.

Todd Haney, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. David Jacobs, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

This project proposes to survey marine environments of the University of California Natural Reserves that characteristically support leptostracans. Specimens will be collected in the intertidal, shallow sub tidal reef zones, shallow lagoon waters, and marshes of the reserve. Focus will be placed on detrital mats, algal colonies, root systems, and other micro habitats with which these animals are known to be associated. Specimens will ultimately be studied using light and electron microscopy and DNA sequence analysis for use in studies of leptostracan population genetics and evolution.
Funding: National Science Foundation; UC Los Angeles Latin American Center.

Various weed eradication methods will be investigated in an attempt to extirpate a European Salt Marsh plant that has become naturalized at the mouth of the UC Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve. The European species, Limonium ramossisimum (Sea Lavender), is currently out competing a state and federally listed endangered species; Cordylanthus maritimus spp maritimus (Salt Marsh Bird’s Beak), that grows in the same zone as the Sea Lavender. Attempts will be made to translocate the endangered species to other appropriate areas in the reserve.
Funding: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Julie Kellner, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Steven Gaines, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

The aim of this study is to enhance our knowledge of invertebrate community structure beyond the marsh mouth. As watershed runoff is one of the leading sources of marine pollution, this investigation will also give us further insight on potential management strategies of our coastal waters.

Benthic Invertebrate Communities at the Brackish Freshwater Interface in Coastal Lagoons

This project is exploring variations in benthic invertebrate communities in lagoons at the mouths of creeks and rivers along the California coast, especially how they vary with watershed degradation and general hydrology.
Funding: Self-funded

Cristina Sandoval, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This project proposes to understand lepidopteran species diversity and how they use different host ants for adult and larval stages at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve and the adjacent Ash Avenue Restoration Site (AARS). n addition, we will study the role of ant mutualisms in the Lycaneidae butterflies (Pygmy Blue and Marine Blue). Our primary goal will be to compare lepidopteran diversity between the two sites, and to determine the reasons for deficiencies, if any, at AARS. In particular, we will investigate the role of host plant diversity in supporting the different life stages of lepidoptera.
Funding: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Crocker Fund.

Call Count Surveys for Light-Footed Clapper Rails within the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve

Host-Parasite Interactions in Native and Introduced Species in California Estuaries

Mark Torchin, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara
Advisor: Dr. Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Trematode Parasites and Avian Hosts in Coastal Wetland Ecosystems: Relationship Dynamics and Impacts to Avian Hosts

Richard Zembal, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University at Long Beach

Richard R. Vance, Department of Biology, University of California at Los Angeles
Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles

Vegetative Recruitment into Restored Wetlands as an Indicator of Restoration Success

Sean Anderson, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Richard Vance, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

The Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Structure and Function of Estuarine Macroalgal Communities in Southern California

Karleen A. Boyle, Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Unknown

The purpose of my proposed research project is to investigate the environmental fate and potential ecological effects of chemicals associated with airports located near coastal habitats. Air sampling at Los Angeles International Airport and several other reference sites provided data on the quantity and chemical composition of particulate pollutants impacting the coastal sand dune habitat under the airport’s flight path. Sampling in Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve will provide information on the impacts of these pollutants on coastal wetland habitats.
Funding: the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation; University of California at Toxic Substances Training and Research Program.

Andrew Brooks, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

This project has three main objectives. First, the existing database on the fishes commonly found within the Carpinteria Salt Marsh will be added to the Geographical Information System (GIS) database currently maintained by the reserve. This will allow for the integration of the extensive fish database with other databases containing detailed information on channel morphology and tidal heights and also will allow other researchers access to the database. Second, once restoration efforts have been completed, extensive physical measurements of the newly created channels will be taken in an attempt to categorize the newly created channels. This information, combined with data from the existing fish database, will then be used in a multiple regression model to predict which species of fishes should ultimately colonize the restored channels. Third, in order to test these predictions, the fish populations in the newly restored channels will be monitored quarterly. This monitoring data will then be used in comparisons with data collected from reference sites located in other portions of the marsh and with model predictions to assess the accuracy of the model and to evaluate how quickly species with different life history characteristics colonize the restored channels. Funding: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve Crocker Fund.

Richard Doutt, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, University of California at Berkeley

The insect fauna associated with Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve has not been thoroughly inventoried. The identification of the salt marsh insects is fundamental to understanding the biodiversity of the system, so an attempt to achieve this inventory is the motivation for this insect survey. Furthermore, the life histories of many insects obligatorily associated with the Carpinteria Salt Marsh halophytes, intertidal muck, and marine algae are unknown, so where possible, these are being investigated.
Funding: Self-funded.

Chemical and Physical Factors Mitigating the Dispersal and Infection of Trematode Parasites in Salt Marsh Invertebrates_

Jonathan Fingerut, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Richard Zimmer, Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of California at Los Angeles

The subjects for this research are the larval stage of a trematode parasite that lives in salt marsh invertebrates. These trematodes have a complex life cycle and use the marsh snail Cerithidia californica as a intermediary host before moving on to a second invertebrate host. Since these parasites live, reproduce and subsequently destroy the gonadal tissue of the snail, the infected snails are essentially castrated. As these snails are one of the primary members of the salt-marsh ecosystem, we feel it is very important to understand the ecology of how these parasites disperse and what factors effect that dispersal.
Funding: Self-funded.

Ongoing monthly high and low tide surveys of birds in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh.
Funding: Self-funded.

Mark Holmgren, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

To assess Beldings’ Savannah Sparrow abundance and distribution across the entire salt marsh. Breeding status and habitat usage will also be assessed. Our methods will be walking transects through the salicornia and recording bird localities and activity on maps. Funding: Department funds.

Effects of Tidal Prism History on High Marsh Vegetation of Southern California Salt Marshes

David Hughes, Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory, San Diego State University
M. A. Advisor: Dr. Joy B. Zedler, Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory, San Diego State University

My thesis project is to correlate the tidal history of southern California’s salt marshes to the species richness of each marsh as well as the frequency of different species, excluding exotics. I will also be investigating the effect of various disturbances, such as roads, trails, and urban runoff on the composition of the high marsh vegetation.
Funding: Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory.

Using Trematode Communities to Assess the Broad Scale, Long Term Success of the Ash Avenue Restoration Project

Todd Huspeni, Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of California at Santa Barbara

Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Armand Kuris, Department of Ecology, Evolution, University of California at Santa Barbara

Seasonality and Biogeography of Variable Development Nodes in Modes in the Estuarine Slug Alderia modesta

This project involves a multiyear study of the seasonality, biogeography, and dispersal pattern of variable development modes of the ascoglossan opisthobranch mollusk Alderia modesta. I have found that in southern California, A. modesta exhibits a reproductive poly morphism unique among all marine mollusks: whereas most species produce either a few large offspring (lecithotrophy) or many small offspring (planktotrophy), A. modesta does both. Although this species has a worldwide distribution, lecithotrophy is only found in A. modesta in southern California. Work in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve focuses on studying the larval settlement of Alderia modesta under laboratory and natural flow conditions. We are characterizing the flow regimes over mud flats in San Diego to determine the types of water flow that settling larvae experience in the field. Ultimately, our aim is to release larvae upstream of settlement-inducing algae pathers and video record larval settling behavior under natural field conditions.
Funding: Self-funded.

Water Quality Impacts to Carpinteria Salt Marsh Associated with Greenhouse Development in the Carpinteria Valley

The principle objective of this water quality study is to assess, to the extent possible, the effect of greenhouse development on the quality of freshwater entering Carpinteria Salt Marsh and on marsh biota. Specifically, this study will 1) review and synthesize information from previous and ongoing water studies, 2) characterize point sources of nutrient discharge into drainages entering the marsh through field samplings, 3) discuss greenhouse development in n the context of the “Management Plan for Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve, A Southern California Estuary”, and, 4) discuss specific mitigation measures that may be applied to future greenhouse development that may help avoid or lessen water quality impacts. Funding: Santa Barbara County.

Sediment and Nutrient Transport into Carpinteria Salt Marsh: Relationships to Freeway Drainage Channels

Ecological processes in Carpinteria Salt Marsh are closely linked to activities in the watershed by drainage channels that pass beneath Highway 101. Culverts direct agricultural and urban runoff from the watershed into Basin 3 in the western portion of the marsh. In addition, channelized stream beds convey the discharge of Santa Monica and Franklin Creeks beneath the freeway into the eastern portion of the marsh. Sedimentation and water quality are identified in the “Management Plan for Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve. A Southern California Estuary.” as two of the most important management issues affecting the long-term health and preservation of the marsh. These management issues are also important to the health and preservation of coastal marshes throughout California. The objectives of this study are to: 1) identify the relative contribution of freeway culverts to nutrient and sediment inputs into the marsh, 2) develop methods to track inorganic nutrient inputs into the marsh, 3) measure the rates of sediment deposition/erosion in the marsh relative to drainages entering Basin 3, and 4) develop proposals/solutions for modifications of drainage channels and/or of land use practices in the watershed, if necessary, to reduce sedimentation in the marsh.
Funding: City of Carpinteria.

Comparison of Nitrogen Dynamics in Vegetated Marsh and Channels of Newly Restored and Mature Areas of Carpinteria Salt Marsh

Mark Page, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara
Jenifer Dugan, Marine Science Institute, University of California at Santa Barbara

The purpose of this research is to 1) measure empirical and spatial patterns in the relative availability of nitrogen from different sources to producers in vegetated marsh and channels, 2) compare the nitrogen recovery rates of channel and vegetated marsh habitats, 3) identify principal source(s) of nitrogen assimilated by marsh primary producers and consumers in vegetated marsh and channel , and 4) evaluate the importance of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae to the nitrogen development of marsh soils and to the growth of marsh vascular plants.
Funding: Carpenteria Salt Marsh Reserve Crocker Fund.

Cris Sandoval, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara
Greg Grether, Department of Biology, University of California at Los Angeles

This research project proposes to survey the insects of Carpinteria Salt Marsh and produce a species list. Focus will be on rare and endangered species, including the Pygmy Blue butterfly and tiger beetles.
Funding: Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve Crocker Fund.

Cristina Sandoval, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Call Count Surveys for Light-Footed Clapper Rails within the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve

Call count surveys of Light-footed Clapper Rails are being conducted to determine the calling frequency at different times of the year, the types of calls, including duets (mated pairs), and locations within the reserve preferred by the Rails. Listening stations will be established so that all the available habitat will be covered and the approximate numbers of Clapper Rails and their locations can be documented. Funding: Self-funded.
Translocation of Female Endangered Light-Footed Clapper Rails _Richard Zembal, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Biological Sciences Department, California State University at Long Beach __The salt marsh at Carpinteria held three pairs of endangered Light-footed Clapper Rails and four unmated females on April 16, 1998. Call counts earlier in the month at upper Newport Bay revealed the presence of at least 16 unmated males. Translocation of unmated males to Carpinteria Salt Marsh would be a demographic and genetic boost for the marsh subpopulation for this endangered rail. Unmated rails make themselves unusually conspicuous to predators by calling incessantly. Without this project, the females at Carpinteria have little chance to mating and are at greater risk of perishing than the mated females.
Funding: Self-funded.

1997-1998 Research Reports

Andrew Brooks, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB
Ph.D. Advisors: Sally Holbrook and Roger Nisbet, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

My research documents major patterns of fish distributions and abundance throughout CSMR. Although greater than usual numbers of young-of-the-year California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, and Pacific staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus, were recruited into the marsh during the late fall and early winter, the total number of fishes and species diversity have remained relatively unchanged since 1993, suggesting that all species are experiencing population level declines. These declines may be related to sedimentation patterns, which have led to the gradual filling of many of the channels throughout Basin 3. Water depths are now shallower and water temperatures warmer than at any time since fish surveys were began in 1993. I have also continued my study of interspecific competition between the long-jawed mudsucker, Gillichthys mirabilis, and the Pacific staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus. Results from field experiments conducted during the summer clearly indicate that these two species are capable of negatively affecting each other’s individual growth rates. The strength of the competitive effects appears to be approximately equal, suggesting that these two species should be able to co-exist throughout much of the marsh. Funding: CSMR Crocker Fund; University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program, NRS Mildred E. Mathias Student Research Grant.

Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of the Resistance of a Native Snail to Invasion by an Exotic Competitor

James Byers, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB
Ph.D. Advisors: Bill Murdoch and Russ Schmitt, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

The mud snail, Cerithidea californica, inhabits salt marshes along the Pacific coast from Laguna San Ignacio (Baja California) to Tomales Bay (Marin County). It is one of the few macrofaunal intertidal grazers in salt marshes along this stretch. The introduction of the Japanese oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in the early part of this century, primarily to several bays and lagoons in northern California, incidentally introduced an exotic mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, which appears to be an ecological equivalent to Cerithidea. Batillaria has become quite abundant in several of the northern bays where C. gigas was planted. In several of these bays it appears that the native Cerithidea is being replaced by Batillaria. My experiments are designed to examine why the exotic mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, has failed to colonize marshes in southern California despite its marked success in northern California estuaries. The specific hypothesis I am examining is that in southern California marshes, which represent a habitat more central to its overall distribution, Cerithidea exhibits increased resource conversion efficiency. A relative increase in resource conversion efficiency represents an increase in Cerithidea’s exploitative competitive ability. I will also determine if Batillaria experiences decreased resource conversion efficiency in the southern marshes of its distribution. Either or both of these findings would support the hypothesis that Batillaria has been unsuccessful in the south, at least in part, due to the native snail’s ability to compete more strongly and effectively in central areas of its distributional range. Alternatively, Batillaria might not have been introduced at all or in sufficient numbers to invade successfully in southern California. Funding: UC NRS Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant, National Science Foundation Doctoral Fellowship.

Population Biology and Shell Morphology of Littleneck Clam, Protothaca staminea

Jenifer Dugan, Marine Science Institute and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

This project investigates the response of the bivalve Protothaca staminea to different microhabitats in Carpinteria Salt Marsh and other locations. We will compare population density, biomass, size, structure, and shell morphology between cobble habitats near the inlet and sandy/mud tidal channel habitats within the marsh. Funding: Self-funded.

Chemical and Physical Factors Mitigating the Dispersal and Infection by Trematode Parasites in Salt Marsh Invertebrates

Jonathan Fingerut, Department of Biology, UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. Advisor: Richard Zimmer-Faust, Department of Biology, UC Los Angeles

The subjects for this research are the intermediary larval stages of parasitic trematodes that live in salt marsh invertebrates. These trematodes (there are 18 spp.) have a complex life cycle which includes the marsh snail Cerithidia californica as an intermediary host before moving on to a second intermediary invertebrate host (specific to each species of trematode). These parasites live in, reproduce in, and may subsequently destroy the gonadal tissue of the snail, essentially castrating their host. Because these snails are one of the primary members of the salt-marsh ecosystem, it is important to understand what factors affect the dispersal of their parasites. The first part of the study, now underway, is looking at the natural history of the trematodes; when do they emerge, what cues do they use to time their emergence from the snail, what is their swimming behavior, and what are the hydrodynamic conditions under which they live? Once these basic factors are understood, we will then be able to investigate the interaction of physical and chemical factors with behavior, and their effects on the dispersal of these trematodes. The final goal of this study is to understand, and possibly model, the dispersal dynamics of these parasites and their effects on the marsh ecosystem. Funding: National Science Foundation; Sea Grant.

Using Trematode Communities to Assess the Broad Scale, Long-Term Success of the Ash Avenue Restoration Project

Kevin Lafferty and Todd Huspeni, Marine Science Institute and Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

This project consists of using the digenean trematode parasite of the horn snail, Cerithidea californica, to evaluate the effects of the restoration of the 15-acre eastern portion of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. A sample of the surface of the marsh mud will be taken to quantify physical measurements in species of special interest and sentinel species. Changes in the environment may affect larval digenes at many parts in their complex life cycles. Although bird abundance and diversity is likely to be the most important factor structuring the trematode community, the presence of second intermediate hosts, such as fishes, clams, and crabs will also play a role. Thus, a diverse and abundant trematode community should be reflective of a diverse and rich community of free-living species in the marsh. Funding: CSMR Crocker Fund.

Sediment and Nutrient Transport into Carpinteria Salt Marsh: Relationships to Freeway Drainage Channels

1) identify the relative contribution of freeway culverts to nutrient and sediment inputs into the marsh, 2) develop methods to track inorganic nutrient inputs into the marsh, 3) measure the rates of sediment deposition/erosion in the marsh relative to drainages entering Basin 3, and 4) develop proposals/solutions for modifications of drainage channels and/or of land use practices in the watershed, if necessary, to reduce sedimentation in the marsh. Funding: City of Carpinteria.

Comparison of Nitrogen Dynamics in Vegetated Marsh and Channels of Newly Restored and Mature Areas of Carpinteria Salt Marsh

This study complements previous and on-going work on nutrient dynamics and food chain relationships in Carpinteria Salt Marsh and provides basic information that will contribute to the success of the Ash Avenue marsh restoration. In restored and reference marsh locations, we will measure temporal and spatial patterns in the relative availability of nitrogen from different sources to producers in vegetated marsh and channels, compare the nitrogen recovery rates of channel and vegetated marsh habitats, identify principal source(s) of nitrogen assimilated by marsh primary producers and consumers in vegetated marsh and channel, and evaluate the importance of nitrogen fixing blue-green algae to the nitrogen development of marsh soils and to the growth of marsh vascular plants. Funding: CSMR Crocker Fund.

Aeration Effects on the Partitioning of a PCB to Anoxic Estuarine Sediment Pore Water Dissolved Organic Matter

Irwin H. Suffet, Diane Lynch, Joel A. Pedersen, Christopher Gabelich, Chen-Hung Lin, Environmental Science and Engineering Program, School of Public Health, UC Los Angeles

This project involves collecting anoxic estuarine sediments free from gross contamination with PCBs to use in pollutant binding studies. We wish to investigate whether aeration of sediment interstitial water results in a change in the amount of a pollutant (a polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB) associated with the dissolved organic matter in the interstitial water. Funding: Office of Naval Research.

Vegetation and Photographic Monitoring of Ash Avenue Marsh Restoration: Pre-Construction, Construction, Revegetation and Maintenance Phases

The proposed study will produce a quantitative description of upland and marsh plant communities before the construction phase of the Ash Avenue marsh restoration, then monitor vegetation and restoration activities during construction, revegetation and maintenance phases. The study will provide reference data on the cover and diversity of native and exotic plants in several vegetation communities and document changes in those communities. Restoration activities will be monitored using photographs from fixed reference points. In addition, data will be collected on native soils exposed when fill dirt is removed from the site. Funding: CSMR Crocker Fund.

Impact of a Parasitic Plant on the Structure and Dynamics of Salt Marsh Vegetation

Steven C. Pennings, Marine Institute, University of Georgia
Ragan M. Callaway, Department of Biology, University of Montana

We investigated the effect of a native parasitic plant, Cuscuta salina, on the structure and dynamics of the plant community in a California salt marsh. Cuscuta is common in the middle marsh zones, and we found that the abundance of Cuscuta positively correlated with the abundance of Limonium californicum at two sampling scales (0.25- and ˜40-m2 quadrats). Sampling at the scale of individual plants indicated that the dominant plant in the marsh, Salicornia virginica, was preferred by Cuscuta as a host over Arthrocnemum subterminale, Limonium californicum, and Frankenia salina. This result was confirmed by host-choice experiments in the field. Based on spatial correlations and host-choice experiments, we hypothesized that Cuscuta indirectly facilitated Limonium and Frankenia, increasing plant diversity and initiating vegetation cycles. This hypothesis was supported by sampling patches with different histories of Cuscuta infection. Patches with recent heavy Cuscuta infection had reduced Salicornia biomass and increased Limonium and Frankenia biomass relative to controls. This effect was most pronounced at higher elevations and in larger, older patches. The hypothesis was also supported by sampling permanent quadrats repeatedly over time. The probability that Cuscuta would invade a quadrat increased with increasing cover of Salicornia. Quadrats containing Cuscuta showed increased Limonium and Frankenia cover between censuses relative to quadrats lacking Cuscuta. Our results indicate that parasitic plants can have strong effects on the structure and dynamics of natural vegetation assemblages; however, these effects are influenced by physical and biological gradients across the landscape. Funding: Westmont College; CSMR Crocker Fund.

Richard R. Vance and Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Biology and Department of Environmental Health Sciences, UC Los Angeles

This study is examining the species composition of the salt marsh plant community along an elevational gradient from the seaward limit to the upland limit of the marsh over a period exceeding 10 years. Two permanent transects have been established at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve from the intertidal mudflat to the trees adjacent to the train tracks. These are marked at 5 m intervals with numbered PVC pipes. In 0.25 m2 quadrats placed at meter intervals along both transects, the percent cover of all plant species was estimated in 1996. Similar sampling will occur occasionally during future years, although no sampling was conducted in 1997-98. The CSMR data will be compared to similar data from Mugu Lagoon and Newport Bay salt marshes, as well as to more extensive observations and experiments at Mugu Lagoon. Funding: California Coastal Commission.

Monthly high and low tide surveys of birds in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh have been on-going for the past seven years. Funding: Self-funded.

This project consists of having volunteers walk through the marsh counting sparrows during low tide conditions, as well as noting observations that indicate breeding or stage of the breeding cycle. and distinguishing adults from juveniles individuals. Funding: Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology.

Call count surveys will be conducted on an approximately bi-monthly basis. Listening stations will be established to cover all available habitat and the approximate numbers of clapper rails and their locations will be documented. These surveys will be conducted on a regular basis and will record the calling frequency at different times of the year, the types of calls, including duets (mated pairs), and locations within the reserve preferred by the rails. Funding: Self-funded.

1996-1997 Research Reports

Ph.D. Advisors: Sally Holbrook and Roger Nisbet, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

Participants: J. Kim, S. Begitschke, A. Heyerly, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

The loss of California's once extensive system of coastal wetlands and salt marshes has been well documented over the past 50 years. The loss of this unique habitat is particularly alarming given the role these areas play as nursery grounds for many commercially and recreationally important species of fishes and invertebrates and as breeding sites for several species of rare, threatened, and endangered birds. Wetland restoration projects represent attempts to reverse this trend of declining wetland habitat area and are increasingly used to mitigate private or commercial development within California's coastal zone. Unfortunately, very little is known about the interplay between the physical and biotic factors which influence the nature of wetland functioning and ultimately, determine how successful these areas are in supporting a diverse marine fauna. The fish communities inhabiting southern California's coastal wetlands typically consist of a mixture of transient species with open populations and obligate estuarine species characterized by having much more restrictive or closed populations. Because of this combination of closed and open species, estuarine systems provide a unique opportunity to explore the effects of recruitment strategy, i.e. open or closed populations, on several of the proposed mechanisms potentially responsible for limiting the distributions of fish species within a single wetland location. My previous work has centered on determining population sizes and distribution patterns for the fishes inhabiting the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. Results from surveys that I have conducted over the last five years indicate that while distribution patterns remain relatively constant from year to year for almost all species, many species have shown considerable fluctuations in their abundances. My current work centers around tests of the following three hypotheses, amount and timing of larval supply, abiotic environmental conditions (i.e. temperature or salinity effects), and biotic environmental conditions (i.e. number of prey or competitors present) in an attempt to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for these observed patterns. Results suggest a limited role for abiotic conditions in explaining abundance patterns, but it is possible that these factors do influence species' distributions. Field experiments designed to measure the strength of intra and interspecific competition strongly indicate that at least two species, the longjawed mudsucker and the staghorn sculpin, strongly compete with members of their own species and with each other. This result has the potential to explain abundance patterns for these two species. Funding: CSMR Crocker Fund; University of California Toxic Substances Research and Teaching Program.

Toward a Mechanistic Understanding of the Resistance of a Native Snail to Invasion by an Exotic Competitor

Ph.D. Advisors: Bill Murdoch and Russ Schmitt, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

The mud snail, Cerithidea californica, inhabits salt marshes along the Pacific coast from Laguna San Ignacio (Baja California) to Tomales Bay (Marin Co.). It is one of the few macrofaunal intertidal grazers in salt marshes along this stretch. The introduction of the Japanese oyster, Crassostrea gigas, in the early part of this century, primarily to several bays and lagoons in northern California, incidentally introduced an exotic mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, which appears to be an ecological equivalent to Cerithidea. Batillaria has become quite abundant in several of the northern bays where C. gigas was planted. In several of these bays it appears that the native Cerithidea is being replaced by Batillaria. My experiments are designed to examine why the exotic mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, has failed to colonize marshes in southern California despite its marked success in northern California estuaries. The specific hypothesis I am examining is that in Southern California marshes, which represent habitat more central to its overall distribution, Cerithidea exhibits increased resource conversion efficiency. A relative increase in resource conversion efficiency represents an increase in Cerithidea's exploitative competitive ability. I will also determine if Batillaria experiences decreased resource conversion efficiency in the southern marshes of its distribution. Either or both of these findings would support the hypothesis that Batillaria has been unsuccessful in the south, at least in part, due to the native snail's ability to compete more strongly and effectively in central areas of its distributional range. Alternatively, Batillaria might not have been introduced at all or in sufficient numbers to invade successfully in southern California. Funding: NRS Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant. (back to top)

Population Biology and Shell Morphology of Littleneck Clam, Protothaca staminea

Visitor: R. Creese, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand

This project investigates the response of the bivalve Protothaca staminea to different microhabitats in Carpinteria Salt Marsh and other locations. We will compare population density, biomass, size structure, and shell morphology between cobble habitats near the inlet and sandy mud tidal channel habitats within the marsh. Funding: Self-funded.

Benthic Microalgae: Importance in Food Chain Support and Nutrient Cycling in Tidal Channels of Carpinteria Salt Marsh

A variety of potential food sources are available to consumers in salt marsh tidal channels, including benthic macroalgae and microalgae, phytoplankton, and vascular plant detritus. This study continues previous work suggesting that in situ benthic algal production, particularly benthic microalgae, represent an important component in the diet of benthic consumers and thus of the marsh food web. Benthic microalgae may also represent an important biogeochemical link between anthropogenic dissolved nitrogen in the water column and marsh invertebrates. To compare the assimilation of microalgae among benthic consumers, microalgae are labeled in situ with ¹⁵N and incorporation of label in invertebrates measured after three days. As expected, deposit-feeding bivalves (Macoma nasuta and M. secta) showed large ¹⁵N-enrichments in both stomach contents and in adductor muscle. Suspension-feeding bivalves (Tagelus californianus, Protothaca staminea) also showed large ¹⁵N-enrichments, indicating that benthic microalgae, resuspended and transported along the bottom, are assimilated by these consumers. Current work is attempting to quantify the relative contribution of benthic microalgae and phytoplankton to the diet of suspension-feeding consumers and determine nitrogen turnover times in these species. Partial funding: CSMR Crocker Fund. (back to top)

Impact of a Parasitic Plant on the Structure and Dynamics of Salt Marsh Vegetation

We investigated the effect of a native parasitic plant, Cuscuta salina, on the structure and dynamics of the plant community in a California salt marsh. Cuscuta was common in the middle marsh zones. The abundance of Cuscuta was positively correlated with the abundance of Limonium californicum at two sampling scales (0.25- and 40-m²quadrats). Sampling at the scale of individual plants indicated that the dominant plant in the marsh, Salicornia virginica, was preferred by Cuscuta as a host over Arthrocnemum subterminale, Limonium californicum, and Frankenia salina. This result was confirmed by host-choice experiments in the field. Based on spatial correlations and host-choice experiments, we hypothesized that Cuscuta indirectly facilitated Limonium and Frankenia, increasing plant diversity and initiating vegetation cycles. This hypothesis was supported by sampling patches with different histories of Cuscuta infection. Patches with recent heavy Cuscuta infection had reduced Salicornia biomass and increased Limonium and Frankenia biomass relative to controls. This effect was most pronounced at higher elevations and in larger, older patches. The hypothesis was also supported by sampling permanent quadrats repeatedly over time. The probability that Cuscuta would invade a quadrat increased with increasing cover of Salicornia. Quadrats containing Cuscuta increased Limonium and Frankenia cover between censuses relative to quadrats lacking Cuscuta. Our results indicate that parasitic plants can have strong effects on the structure and dynamics of natural vegetation assemblages; however, these effects are mediated by physical and biological gradients across the landscape. Funding: Westmont College; CSMR Crocker Funds. (back to top)

Richard R. Vance and Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Biology and Environmental Health Sciences, UC Los Angeles

This study is examining the species composition of the salt marsh plant community along an elevational gradient from the seaward limit to the upland limit of the marsh over a period exceeding 10 years. Two permanent transects have been established at Carpinteria Salt Marsh from the intertidal mudflat to the trees adjacent to the train tracks. These are marked at 5 m intervals with numbered PVC pipes. In 0.25 m² quadrats placed at meter intervals along both transects, the percent cover of all plant species will be estimated. Similar sampling will occur occasionally during future years. The CSMR data will be compared to similar, but much more extensive, data from observations and experiments at Mugu Lagoon. (back to top)

Monthly high and low tide surveys of birds in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh have been ongoing for the past seven years.

Mark Holmgren, Museum of Systematics and Ecology, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

On 24 June 1997, our three-person team found 98 adult and at least 4 juvenile Savannah Sparrow individuals. At a time when many adults should be raising young, very little evidence of breeding was obtained. This follows the 1996 breeding season when only 69 individuals were present and no evidence of breeding was observed. Information on sparrows using the Ash Avenue portion of the reserve was obtained in advance of the restoration of that part of the estuary. This information will allow an evaluation of the responses by birds to the restoration. Very few birds use Ash Avenue and no indication of breeding or feeding was obtained there this year. Summary of survey results of Belding's Sparrows at Carpinteria Salt Marsh: Bradley, 1973, 100 singing males; Massey, 1977, 34 breeding pairs (also based on singing males?); Zembel, et al, 1986, 74 breeding pairs (technique unknown); Holmgren, and team, 1995, 90 pairs minimum; Holmgren, and team, 1996, 69 individual adults, no juvs, no breeding evidence. 28 June; Holmgren, and team, 1997, 98 individual adults, 4 juveniles. 24 June. Funding: Museum of Systematics and Ecology, UCSB. (back to top)

Student Researcher: Chris Caldow, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

Participants: A. J. Brooks, E. DeRijke, J. Kim, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

This project involved the role of larval supply in determining the abundance and distribution of the young of a variety of estuarine fishes. The fish populations at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve have been well-studied over the past three and a half years and there is monthly abundance data available for most of the species found in the marsh. These data indicate that the young of most species are not uniformly distributed within or across marsh channels but tend to be concentrated in particular regions of certain channels. The research attempted to determine how the supply of fish larvae to a given area might influence uneven patterns in the abundance and distribution of young. To accomplish this we have been using plankton nets to sample fish larvae at nine sites within the estuary during the flood tide of each full moon. These data will then be correlated with abundances of young sampled at each of those sites. Preliminary data shows that there are indeed differences in the number of larvae supplied to each of our sampling sites. Funding: NRS Robert M. Norris Undergraduate Research Grant. (back to top)

Student Researcher: Bridgette Stoffey, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

Advisor: Sally Holbrook, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

This project focused on the effect of locality within a salt marsh habitat on the density and shell length of Cerithidea californica. The horn snail, Cerithidea californica, inhabits coastal salt marshes where they are primarily found along the banks of the tidal channels. Observations made in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh showed that larger C. californica in less dense aggregations are closer to the main channel whereas smaller sized individuals are in more dense populations further inland (Lafferty 1993). I tested to see if this relationship was statistically significant and whether the material make-up of the substratum was a factor. Five sites were studied with three samplings from each at an upper, middle and lower station relative to the low tide. Distance from the main channel did not have a statistically significant effect on the density nor shell lengths of C. californica. Grain size was not an indicator of preferred settlement stations. A trend was noticed within the sites that showed shell length increasing and density decreasing as the distance of the station from the middle of the channel decreased. Possible explanations, not tested in this paper, that may play a role in this trend are: food availability, larval settlement, and intraspecific competition. (back to top)

Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology 192. Special Topics in Biological Science

Instructors: Kevin Lafferty, Marine Science Institute and Armand Kuris, Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

Participants: Todd Huspeni, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

The trematode Acanthoparyphium spinulosum uses the mud snail Cerithidea californica as both a first and second intermediate host, providing a unique opportunity to study parasite transmission dynamics. This study indicates that the second metacercarial stage of the parasite is always common, even in areas where the first stage of the parasite is rare. This suggests that the free swimming cercarial stage of the parasite can disperse long distances and is relatively efficient at infecting snails. (back to top)

Student Researcher: Regine Castelli, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

Advisor: Jenifer Dugan, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, UCSB

This project examined the effects and management of the invasion of an exotic plant, Limonium, on the endangered Cordylanthus maritimus in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. Progress was made on determining the composition of plants associated with Cordylanthus maritimus in the high marsh by examining the growth and survival of the endangered species by growing it with several native species and the invasive weed. The project also investigated the possible hybridization of the invasive weed with the native Limonium californicum.

1995-1996 Research Reports

Recent debates in marine ecology have often centered on the question of which processes or mechanisms, if any, are responsible for controlling the numbers of fish and, thus, their distributions in marine communities. Early workers often viewed marine fish communities as closed systems with patterns of species abundance and distribution determined largely by the level of some resource which was in short supply. More contemporary workers have tended to view marine fish communities as open systems. Proponents of this "open" perspective argue that fluctuating levels of larval supply determine the size of marine fish populations and set the limits of their distributions. Fish communities inhabiting southern California's coastal wetlands usually consist of populations representing a mixture of transient estuarine species with open populations and resident estuarine species with closed populations. Because of this combination of closed and open species, estuarine systems provide a unique opportunity to explore the effects of recruitment strategy, i.e. open versus closed populations, on several of the proposed mechanisms potentially responsible for limiting the distributions of these species within a single wetland. In general, my work over the last year has centered on determining population sizes and distribution patterns for the fishes inhabiting the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. Although much is known about the plant and bird species inhabiting the marsh, relatively little is known about the fish fauna. More specific work has focused on the populations of two particular species, the long jawed mudsucker, Gillichthys mirabilis, and the staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus. Surveys of the fish community in Carpinteria Salt Marsh conducted over the last year suggest that populations of mudsuckers can be classified as closed, whereas populations of staghorn can be classified as open. Further, analysis of distributional and abundance data obtained for sculpin and mudsuckers from Carpinteria show that sculpin and mudsuckers occur together throughout most of the marsh. Following the settlement pulse of sculpin in the early spring, there are areas where each species is found in the absence of the other. My current work centers around tests of three hypotheses concerned with the distributional patterns of these species, including the amount and timing of larval supply, lack of appropriate environmental conditions, and lack of biological resources. As a result of this work, I hope to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for limiting the population sizes and distributions of these two commonly

co-occurring salt marsh fishes which differ in their recruitment strategy. Funding: CSMR Crocker Donation; NRS Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Grant.

This research will quantify the degree to which varying densities of Cerithidea affect both the density and the size distribution of the diatom assemblage on which it feeds. In turn, the effects of the resource base on the growth rate of Cerithidea will also be quantified. This project will also gather data on the relationship between size and fecundity in these snails, and how the incidence of parasitism effects egg production. Funding: NSF Predoctoral Fellowship.

The California mud snail, Cerithidea californica, serves as a first intermediate host for 18 described species of trematodes. The definitive hosts for these trematode species are migratory shore birds. Many of the trematode species reported to occur in C. californica are also reported from other species of Cerithidea. Specifically, several of these same trematode species have been reported from other Cerithidea species on the west coast (C. mazatlanica), the Gulf of California (C. valida & C. albonodosa), the east coast (C. scalariformis), and the Gulf of Mexico (C. pliculosa). The distributions, prevalences, and highly vagile definitive hosts of these parasites make these trematodes ideal candidates for comparing the genetic structure of different species. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve supports large populations of C. californica and it is located at the mid-point of the geographic range of C. californica. It serves as an ideal field site for gathering baseline genetic data on these trematodes. The data from CSMR will be compared to trematode genetic data obtained from other C. californica populations and other Cerithidea species.

The Importance of Spatial Heterogeneity and Recruitment in Organisms with Complex Life Cycles: Analysis of Digenetic Trematodes in a Salt Marsh Community

Populations of organisms often exhibit surprisingly heterogeneous spatial distributions. Spatial

heterogeneity may result from recruitment variation, habitat variability, or post-recruitment processess such as competition, predation, or disease. Parasites, particularly those with complex life cycles, are ideal for studying recruitment and generation of spatial heterogeneity because the sampling units (their hosts) are biologically meaningful replicates and spatially heterogeneous in their distributions. Furthermore, the parasites must recruit from one host to another to complete their life cycles, which may intensify or diminish spatial variability. Digenetic trematodes have complex life cycles, which require at least two hosts. In this study, the first intermediate host is the snail, Cerithidea californica. Second intermediate hosts include the crab, Hemigrapsus oregonensis, two fishes, Gillichthys mirabilis and Fundulus parvipinnus, and the clam, Tagelus californianus. The snail population at Carpinteria Salt Marsh harbors 13 different trematode species. Of these 13 species, two parasitize the crab, two parasitize the fishes, and one parasitizes the clam. These studies confirmed that there was significant spatial heterogeneity of trematode infections in the snail, crab, and clam populations, but not in the fishes. Emergence of infective larvae from the source snail population was intermittent over daily and seasonal cycles. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity was also observed in the diversity and abundance of infective larvae in the water. Temperature was the factor that most strongly influenced emergence of infective larvae from the snail population, and there was a highly significant, positive correlation between temperature and the daily abundance of larvae. Salinity had no effect on larval emergence patterns. Experimental investigations on free-ranging versus restrained crab hosts showed that restrained crabs had lower infection levels than free ranging individuals.

Use of the Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratio (¹⁵N) as a Tracer of Fertilizer-derived Nitrogen

This work, examining the fate of groundwater nitrogen using stable nitrogen isotope ratios, has identified the upland-salt marsh ecotone as an important site of inorganic nitrogen transformations. Changes in the ratio of the stable isotopes of nitrogen in ground water suggest high rates of denitrification at the marsh-upland boundary. Distinctive isotopic signatures are evident in Salicornia virginica and the parasite, Cuscuta salina, along the marsh boundary, indicating the uptake of anthropogenic nitrogen by the marsh biota. Current work focuses on using stable nitrogen isotopes to identify the extent to which anthropogenic nitrogen subsidizes simple marsh food chains. Funding: CSMR Crocker donation.

Impact of a Parasitic Plant on the Structure and Dynamics of Salt Marsh Vegetation

Richard R. Vance and Richard F. Ambrose, Department of Biology and Evnironmental Health Sciences,

This study will examine the species composition of the salt marsh plant community along an elevational gradient from the seaward limit to the upland limit of the marsh over a period exceeding 10 years. Two permanent transects will be established at Carpinteria Salt Marsh from the intertidal mudflat to the trees adjacent to the train tracks. These will be marked at 5 m intervals with numbered PVC pipes. In 0.25 m² quadrats placed at meter intervals along both transects, the percent cover of all plant species will be estimated. Similar sampling will occur occasionally during future years. The CSMR data will be compared to similar, but much more extensive, data from observations and experiments at Mugu Lagoon.

My investigations were limited to one trip in 1995-96. On 28 June 1996, our four-person team found 69 Savannah Sparrows. Activity was low, so I believe we counted fewer birds than were present. Also, we failed to see any juvenile birds this year. Previous surveys at CSMR have found the following: Bradley, 1973, 100 singing males; Massey, 1977, 34 breeding pairs (also based on singing males?); Zembel, et. al., 1986, 74 breeding pairs; Holmgren, et. al., 1995, 90 pairs minimum.

This experiment attempted to identify the biological and physical factor(s) that induce winter hibernation in the mud snail Cerithidea californica. Three factors were measured; including temperature, salinity, and food abundance. Samples of substrate (mud cores) and snails (Cerithidea) were exposed to various levels of temperature, salinity, and food, and the behavior of Cerithidea was recorded.

I examined optimal foraging theory for Leptocottus armatus (sculpin) preying on Clevelandia ios (arrow goby). My first experiment tested the predictions of Werner & Hall's (1974) economic model using Leptocottus armatus as the predator and Clevelandia ios as the prey to see if Werner's economic model holds true for non-planktivorous fish. I hypothesized handling time would increase as prey size increased and the larger the predator body size the lower the handling time for successful prey captures. In the second experiment, I hypothesized that, based on optimal foraging model predictions, Leptocottus will always select larger over smaller Clevelandia to maximize its return for time spent handling and searching for prey. Results demonstrated that handling time was relatively constant for failed prey attacks, as the model predicts. Also, the energy return for a given prey scaled positively with increasing prey size. On the other hand, I found inconsistent data that did not follow the model's predictions for handling time of each prey size, predator body size versus prey body size and handling time relationships, or for predator selectivity when presented a choice of prey types. Possible reasons for these results included poor representation of the natural range of Clevelandia sizes, the artificial size and shape of arenas, distorted size images of the prey due to reflections from the arena's walls, low prey densities in selectivity trials, or high Leptocottus hunger levels.

1994-1995 Research Reports

General Patterns in the Structure of Coastal Wetlands Communities--Richard Ambrose, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, UC Los Angeles
--Kevin D. Lafferty, Department of Biological Sciences, UCSB

In a broad scale evaluation of coastal wetlands, Richard Ambrose and I have been sampling the common plants, insects, fishes and birds at CSMR and COPNR, as well as several other wetlands in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties in an attempt to look for general patterns in the structure of these communities. This study will also provide baseline information to help assess the impact of oil spills. Funding: California Coastal Commission.

Distribution of Marine Communities
--Andrew J. Brooks, Marine Science Institute and the Department of Biological Sciences, UCSB
C. Campbell, H. Coleman, K. Kahara, C. Lewis, L. Metcalf, T. Miller, S. Rueter: Biological Sciences, UCSB

Recent debates in marine ecology have often centered on the question of which processes or mechanisms, if any, are responsible for controlling the numbers of fish and thus their distributions in marine communities. Early workers often viewed marine fish communities as closed systems with patterns of species abundance and distribution determined largely through the level of some resource which was in short supply. More contemporary workers have tended to view marine fish communities as open systems. Proponents of this "open" perspective argue that fluctuating levels of larval supply determine the size of marine fish populations and set the limits of their distribution. The fish communities inhabiting southern California's coastal wetlands usually consist of populations representing a mixture of transient estuarine species with open populations and resident estuarine species with closed populations. Because of this combination of closed and open species, estuarine systems provide a unique opportunity to explore the effects of recruitment strategy, i.e. open versus closed populations, on several of the proposed mechanisms potentially responsible for limiting the distributions of these species within a single wetland location. In general, my work over the last year has centered on determining population size and distribution patterns for the fishes inhabiting the Carpinteria Salt Marsh. Although much is known about the plant and bird species inhabiting the marsh, relatively little is known about the fish fauna. More specific work has focused on the populations of two particular species, the long jawed mudsucker, Gillichthys mirabilis, and the staghorn sculpin, Leptocottus armatus. Surveys of the fish community present in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh conducted over the last year suggest that populations of mudsuckers can be classified as closed, while populations of staghorn can be classified as open. Further, analysis of distributional and abundance data obtained for sculpin and mudsuckers from Carpinteria show that sculpin and mudsuckers occur together throughout most of the marsh. Following the settlement pulse of sculpin in the early spring, there are areas where each species is found in the absence of the other. My current work centers around tests of three hypotheses concerned with the distributional patterns of these species, including the amount and timing of larval supply, lack of appropriate environmental conditions, and lack of biological resources. As a result of this work, I hope to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for limiting the population size and distribution of these two commonly co-occurring salt marsh fishes which differ in their recruitment strategy. Funding: CSMR Crocker Grant, NRS Mathias Grant.

Effect of the Trematode parasite Euhaplorchis californiensis on the Behavior of the Estuarine Killifish, Fundulus parvipinnis
--Kevin D. Lafferty, Marine Science Institute, UCSB
A. K. Morris: Department of Biological Sciences, UCSB

The trematode parasite Euhaplorchis californiensis uses the salt marsh snail Cerithidea californica as its first intermediate host. Populations of the Pacific Killifish, Fundulus parvipinnis, sympatric with this snail (such as at Carpinteria Salt Marsh) suffer a high proportion and intensity of parasitism (metacercariae encyst in the fish¹s brain). Other populations of fish from areas where the snail is not present (such as at Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve) are free from infection. Last year, we demonstrated that the parasite alters killifish behavior in ways that make it more conspicuous. This year we evaluated the hypothesis that these behavioral changes would lead to increased rates of predation on infected fish by wild birds, the parasite¹s final host. Infected fish were obtained at Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve and uninfected fish were obtained from the Ventura River. Fish from the two populations were mixed together and put into two fish pens that were placed along the edge of the UCSB Campus Lagoon. The top of one pen was covered with a mesh to prevent birds from foraging while the other was left accessible. For twenty days, we watched as egrets and herons foraged in the open pen. Afterwards, by comparing what types of fish remained in each pen, we found that infected fish were eaten thirty times more frequently than uninfected fish. In addition, heavily infected fish were eaten substantially more than lightly infected fish. These results support the idea that parasites are able to alter the behavior of their intermediate hosts in order to increase transmission to their final hosts. Our results were recently highlighted in a news article in Science Magazine. Funding: NRS Norris Grant.

Spatial Heterogeneity and Recruitment in Organisms with Complex Life Cycles: Analysis of Digenetic Trematodes in a Salt Marsh Community
--Theresa Stevens, Department of Biological Sciences, UCSB

Populations of organisms often exhibit a surprisingly heterogeneous spatial distribution. Spatial heterogeneity may result from recruitment variation, habitat variation, or post-recruitment processes such as competition, predation or disease. Parasites, particularly those with complex life cycles, are ideal for studying the generation of spatial heterogeneity and recruitment because the sampling units (their hosts) are biologically meaningful replicates and spatially heterogeneous in their distribution. Furthermore, the parasites must recruit from one host to another to complete the life cycle, which may intensify or diminish spatial variability. Spatial heterogeneity and recruitment of parasites can be studied at several levels: within individual hosts, host populations or host communities. Host behavior may also affect the distribution of parasites at the individual, population, or community level. Specifically, the movement of a host within its¹ habitat (host vagility) may effectively diminish spatial heterogeneity imposed upon parasites which recruit from a local source. Digenetic trematodes have complex life cycles, which require at least two hosts. In this study, the first intermediate host is the snail, Cerithidea californica. Second intermediate hosts include the crab, Hemigrapsus oregonesis, two fishes, Gillichthys mirabilis and Fundulus parvipinnus, and the clam, Tagelus californianus. The snail population of Carpinteria Salt Marsh harbors 13 different trematode species. Of these 13 species, two parasitize the crab, two parasitize the fishes and one parasitizes the clam. These studies confirm that there was significant spatial heterogeneity of trematode infections in the snail, crab, and clam populations, but not in the fishes. Emergence of infective larvae from the source snail population was intermittent on a daily basis and seasonally variable. Spatial and temporal heterogeneity was also observed in the diversity and abundance of infective larvae in the water. Temperature was the factor that most strongly influenced emergence of infective larvae from the snail population, and there was a highly significant, positive correlation between temperature and the daily abundance pattern. Salinity had no effect on emergence patterns. Experimental investigations on free ranging versus restrained crab hosts showed that restrained crabs had lower infection levels than free ranging individuals.

Project 1: Monitoring Toxicants in Carpinteria Salt Marsh
Project 2: Use of the Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratio (15N) as a Tracer of Fertilizer-derived Nitrogen
--Mark Page, Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara
Robert Petty: Marine Science Institute, UC Santa Barbara

Project 1: This work is a continuation of water quality studies in the marsh and focuses on determining the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in sediments and biota. The marsh receives runoff from upland areas developed for agriculture and thus may receive inputs of chemicals detrimental to marine organisms. Sediments from four locations and mussel tissue from eight locations have yielded residues of six chemical species that include the breakdown products of DDT and Endosulfan. Residue levels are low, with a couple of exceptions, indicating a general improvement in water quality over the past decade.

Project 2: This work, examining the fate of ground water nitrogen using stable nitrogen isotope ratios, has identified the upland-salt marsh ecotone as an important site of inorganic nitrogen transformations. Changes in the ratio of the stable isotopes of nitrogen in ground water suggest high rates of denitrification at the marsh boundary. Distinctive isotopic signatures are evident in Salicornia virginica and the parasite, Cuscuta salina, along the marsh boundary, indicating the uptake of anthropogenic nitrogen by the marsh biota. Current work focuses on using stable nitrogen isotopes to identify the extent to which anthropogenic nitrogen subsidizes simple marsh food chains.

Host Specificity Experiments for Cuscuta
--Ragan Callaway, University of Montana
--Steve Pennings, Marine Institute, University of Georgia
J. Schloss, J. Ball, and G. Lyons: Biology Department, Westmont College, Santa Barbara

Vegetation was sampled and monitored on comparative growth plots to determine the effects of parasite interaction on community diversity across topographic and competitive gradients. Funding: Westmont College, CSMR Crocker Fund.

Survey of Savannah Sparrows
--Mark Holmgren, Department of Biological Sciences, UCSB
C. Farmer, K. Kudrak, K. Fahy, J. Greaves: UCSB

My investigations were limited to one trip in 1994-95. On 4 April 1995, our five-person team found 112 individual Savannah Sparrows. To attempt to make our data comparable to those of other researchers, I estimated that our 1995 population was approximately 90 pairs. However, this was an incomplete survey because we failed to cover a small but potentially high density section of the slough just west of the south end of Apple Street. To my knowledge, this is the first full slough survey since 1986. Previous surveys at CSM have found the following:

Bradley, 1973. 100 singing males
Massey, 1977. 34 breeding pairs (also based on singing males?)
Zembel, et al, 1986. 74 breeding pairs
Holmgren, et al, 1995. 90 pairs minimum

Biology 141. Biology of the Marine-Land Interface
Student Researcher: Blake Kuhn
Instructor: Mark Page, Marine Science Institute, UCSB
Describe general and specific pollinators of two plant species, Cordylanthus maritimus and Lasthenia glabrata. The purpose is to ascertain the life cycles of the two plants, and also to determine whether certain habitats may be sensitive areas for both specific pollinators and the existence of the listed plants. This information may be important in deciding possible wetland restoration or enhancement alternatives.

Biology 120L. Independent Study
Student Researcher: Sheri Mayta
Instructor: Sally Holbrook, Biological Sciences, UCSB
Study of Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets during winter quarter to record abundance and distribution of these birds and their behavior patterns.

Geology 162. Marine Micropaleontology and Paleobiology
Student Researcher: Christine Lewis
Instructor: James Kennett, Geology Department, UCSB
Core samples were taken from six different locations in the marsh and examined for foraminifera.

1993-1994 Research Reports

Incorporating the Effects of Differing Recruitment Strategies into Models of Interspecific Interactions
Andrew J. Brooks, Department of Biological Sciences, UC Santa Barbara

	Copyright 2002 University of California, Natural Reserve System

Last Updated 10/15/02

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1997-1998 Research Reports

1996-1997 Research Reports

1995-1996 Research Reports

1994-1995 Research Reports

1993-1994 Research Reports