Here's a glimpse of what our group has been working on this week. The video is part of our presentation, so there's no sound. But in short, we've been mapping out kelp growth around Catalina Island and analyzing threats to the kelp population. Special thanks to the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies for all of the resources they provided us.

1. Spatial Sciences Institute
Oh Kelp,
Where Art Thou?
Stephen Daire, Alicia Evans, Trey Lee, Benecia Zahrani,
03/27/2017-05/03/2017

2. Spatial Sciences Institute
• Washington
Department of Natural
Resources standardized
kelp forest mapping
• Mayne Island
Conservancy in British
Colombia built upon this
methodology, setting
collection criteria based
on kelp density
Introduction
2/21

3. Spatial Sciences Institute
Kelp Significance
• An indicator for ocean
habitat health
• Population decline is
indicative of increasing
water temperature,
pollution, and overfishing
• Provides resting and
feeding grounds for
marine life
• Reduces beach erosion
and oxygenates water
3/21

4. Spatial Sciences Institute
Objective
4/21
1. Map kelp forests within the -5m bathymetric contour
of Big Fisherman’s Cove
2. Determine feasibility of mapping kelp beds using the
Mayne Island Conservancy methodology
3. Collection to establish a spatial and temporal baseline
4. Determine site suitability for kelp beds, while noting
present invasive species

5. Spatial Sciences Institute
Combined
Data
Spatial
Analysis
Data
Collection
Concept
and
Hypothesis
Formulation
Conclusion
5/21
Project Proposal
Significance of Study
Preliminary Site Survey
Research Habitat
Requirements
Locate Online Databases
GPS Data Acquisition
Analysis of Areas with
Kelp Presence
Based on Temperature
and Bathymetry
Flow Chart & Data Dictionary
Mapping in ArcMap
Poster Adobe InDesign
Kelp Data Type Value
Temperature Surface and
bottom
Numeric in
Celsius
Tide level High or Low Coded
Value
(Y/N)
Depth Bathymetry Numeric in
Meters
Substrate Rock or sand Qualitative
Text
Condition Living or Dead Coded
Value
(Y/N)
Invasive Presence Coded
Value
(Y/N)

6. Spatial Sciences Institute
Study Area
6/21

7. Spatial Sciences Institute
Suitability Analysis
• Identified suitable habitat based
on temperature, depth, and
substrate for:
-Macrocystis pyrifera (Giant Kelp)
6-20m depth
5-20°C
Rock substrate
-Sargassum horneri
3-15m depth
10-25°C
Rock and Sand
7/21

8. Spatial Sciences Institute
Suitability Map
8/21

9. Spatial Sciences Institute
Data Capture Methodology Pt. 1
• Appropriate data collection parameters based on: the
length of the vessel (2.5m) and diver (1.5m) with a 1m
buffer in between the two for diver safety
• Points: individual organisms
• Lines: areas narrower than 5m, with the diver guiding the
vessel down the midline of the biological density
• Polygons: secluded patches larger than an area of 5m2
9/21

10. Spatial Sciences Institute
Data Capture Methodology Pt. 2
• Bathymetric depth
recorded at low tide using
an anchored 30m tape
with dive computer
attached
• Collection completed
within the WGS 1984, and
analyzed within ArcMap
using UTM Zone 11N
• Surface and bottom
temperature measured
with
Shearwater Petrel dive
computer
• Surface line transects
by snorkeling and
kayaking
10/21

11. Spatial Sciences Institute
Equipment
11/21
Diver
1. Snorkel,
Mask, Fins
2. Dry/Wet Suit
3. Anchored
30m tape
with dive
computer
attached
4. Buoy
markers
5. Whistle
Surface Support
1. 1-2 person
Sea Kayaks,
Paddles
2. Trimble Juno
3B (TerraSync)
3. Personal
Floatation
Device
4. Dry Bag
5. Laptops

12. Spatial Sciences Institute
Expected Results
• Due to fluctuations in
sea temperature our
expectations are
1. Invasive
seagrass
encroaching on
kelp habitat
2. Kelp recruitment
is moving into
colder and
deeper waters
12/21

13. Spatial Sciences Institute
Survey Results
13/21

14. Spatial Sciences Institute
Statistics
14/21

15. Spatial Sciences Institute
Discussion
What worked
-Initial Site Survey:
confirm study area viability,
validity of tools and
methods
What Did Not
-Undefined default
variables.
-GPS Accuracy:
Receiver issues. Caused
omega, phi, and kappa
angles
15/21
-Due to study area over
water: Backscatter,
Overhead obstruction
-Variable Ocean
Conditions:
-Stability issues in 1-
man kayak.
-Inability to maintain
position for point
collection.

16. Spatial Sciences Institute
Opportunities
16/21
Lessons Learned
-Do not use a default value
definition due to complications, it is
better to use radial buttons
-Include comments on non-
numeric attributes
-Ensure GPS setting integrity
across all units prior to field work
-More conditional
information: For Kelp health than
living or dead

17. Spatial Sciences Institute
Conclusion
17/21
• Observed a relationship between kelp colonization,
temperature, and sunlight exposure
• Due to the prevalence of kelp on the South West face of
the cove, which is shaded by a cliff for the entire day
• Kelp within the study area is colonizing in shallow
depths and shady areas to compete with Sargassum
horneri

18. Spatial Sciences Institute
Future Research
• Shaded Shoreline and Sun
exposure as temperature
variables.
• Research on Membranipora
membranacea (Lacy Crust
Bryozoan): population
genetics and density decline.
• Survey Man-Made surfaces
as artificial reefs.
18/21

19. Spatial Sciences Institute
Video
19/21
Produced by Trey Lee. Footage by
Alicia Evans, Benecia Zahrani, Carina
Ucciferi, Stephen Frochen, Stephen
A. Daire “Oh Kelp Where Art Thou?”
https://youtu.be/7TYwq_AY2Wc

20. Spatial Sciences Institute
References
1. Grotefend, R. Holzer, R. Klemens, K. Ruhl, S. (2015) Spatial Distribution of Eisenia Arborea
(Southern Sea Palm) in Big Fisherman’s Cove. Spatial Sciences Institute.
2. Freiwald, J. Wisniewski, C. Wehrenbreg, M. Shuman, C. & Dawson, C. 2015. Reef Check
California Instruction Manual: A Guide to Rocky Reef Monitoring. 8th Etd. Reef Check
Foundation.
3. Mayne Island Conservancy Society. 2010 The Mayne Island Conservancy in British Colombia
established guidelines and a methodology to map kelp forest habitats, for monitoring.
http://www.conservancyonmayne.com/docs/kelp%20mapping%20methodsDartf1-2.pdf
4. Produced by Trey Lee. Footage by Alicia Evans, Benecia Zahrani, Carina Ucciferi, Stephen
Frochen, Stephen A. Daire “Oh Kelp Where Art Thou?” https://youtu.be/7TYwq_AY2Wc
5. Marine Region GIS Downloads. Accessed March 1, 2017.
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/GIS/Downloads.
6. Sea Surface Temperature Contour Charts. Accessed March 1, 2017.
http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/sst/contour/californ.c.gif.
7. California Cities Point Shapefile. Accessed March 1, 2017.
http://52.26.186.219/internships/useit/content/california-cities-point-shapefile.
20/21

21. Spatial Sciences Institute
References
1. Data Library: California Seafloor Mapping Project: Catalina Island. Accessed March 1, 2017.
http://seafloor.otterlabs.org/SFMLwebDATA_CSMP_Catalina.htm.
2. "Giant kelp." Giant kelp, Kelp Forest, Plants & algae, Macrocystis pyrifera at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium. Accessed March 01, 2017. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animal-
guide/plants-and-algae/giant-kelp.
3. Marks, L. Sargassum horneri Information Sheet. PDF. Santa Cruz: University of California,
Santa Cruz, August 27, 2015.
21/21