Peter
Brian
Celp camp site Here.
Sandy Bottom Fish
Our trip to Santa Catalina Island proved fruitful. We researched many things that all pertained to the kelp forest, depth, clarity, PH, salinity, and other various scientific things. We took way points on a GPS and did a Roving Diver Fish Count (RDFC). The question we are trying to answer is what fish live on the sandy bottom areas vs the rocky bottom areas. During our data collecting session, we had many resources. We kayaked, snorkeled, used secchi discs, water probes, depth measurement instruments, water samplers, our semses and the ocean itself. We took RDFC and this told us what fish live where. our research showed that although the numbers of fish in certain areas change due to nutrients and food, they also depend on the habitat around them. Some fish, like the California Kelp Bass, do not prefer either habitat and are neutral, but some, like the bat rays love the sandy bottoms. Giant kelp needs rocky bottoms in order to anchor to the bottom of the ocean, some fish depend on that kelp, and therefore prefer rocks. All in all, I found out that there is more life and activity in the reefs and the rocks then in the sand. One of the issues with the voyage was that we didn't spend any time to examine the underwater landforms. If someone else decided to pick up this project where we left off, they should spend more time examining their surroundings under the water. They should spend time memorizing the names and appearance fish that live around Catalina so they can identify them more quickly. If an El Nino year came along, most fish would move farther out to sea in search of their natural environment. Some fish would perish while searching for colder, nutrient-rich waters.