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Introduction:
On October 15th through October 19th 2007, the entire 8th grade class
from Phoenix Country Day School went to Catalina Island. Before the class
left the grade was split up into working groups of 2-3. These smaller
groups worked together on a science project. Our group consisted of (Unnamed)
and Quinn. The groups had a scientific question to answer. Our question
was: “What are characteristics for a health kelp forest and how
do El Niño and La Niña events effect Kelp forest location.”
While at Catalina, went snorkeling and kayaking to collect data. Catalina
Island is technically part of the Channel Islands Formation, however it
is not part of the Channel Islands National Park. There are large amounts
of kelp around the entire island and, there are a couple of research stations
nearby. We focused our work on a cove called Howland’s Landing,
a short distance from the Two Harbors area.
Research: In order to obtain our information we used a variety of tools. We used the GPS (Global Positioning System), a depth-measuring device, and water thermometer. We used the GPS for marking all the locations where we saw kelp. We did this by marking the locations where we found kelp. Then, we measured depth and temperature at that location. Most of the kelp that we found was a relatively short distance from our camp. The second largest area of kelp we found was just north of the camp on an outcropping of rock. That area of kelp extended between Emerald Bay and Howland’s Landing. The largest area of kelp that we came across was in Emerald Bay around Indian Rock. Indian Rock is in the center of Emerald Bay and there was a variety of life in to forests. We tried to finish all of our mapping on the first day. On the first day, our group went on a kayak that went about a mile southeast of Howland’s landing where we found a patch of kelp. On the kayak, we took the necessary measurements, which included temperature and depth. The temperature measurement device consists of a tube that is attached to a rope that snaps shut when jerked slightly. This allowed us to bring the sample water to the surface in order to measure the temperature with a thermometer. The depth measurer went as a weight device on a string, which is marked every meter. Most of the data we collected on the trip was collected while we were in the kayaks. We gathered data on all of the kayaks and snorkels. Another place where we collected a large amount of data was during the Emerald Bay snorkel/kayak. We found an abundance of kelp on our way to Emerald Bay and while we were snorkeling in Emerald Bay.
Before going to Catalina Island, we looked at a map of Catalina that showed
where kelp had previously been. Using this data, we correctly predicted
the location of the kelp forests. When we arrived at the locations where
we wanted to record data, we first took a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite)
point on a GPS unit. We recorded the boundaries of where the kelp was
present. The main locations where kelp was visible were around the tip
of Indian Rock, in Emerald Bay, the small island in Emerald Bay and southwest
of Howland’s Landing. Kelp was visible in areas where it had been
in previous years and that were 6.5 to 18 meters deep. Most of the places
where we saw kelp were places where there had been a lot of kelp in past
years.
The temperature of the water when we went in October 2007 was about 20
degrees Celsius. The average water temperature in 2005 was about 19.5
degrees Celsius and in 2006 was about 22 degrees Celsius. We reviewed
a map of locations from years that ranged from 1989 to 2005 and data we
recorded on our trip. The kelp extent information for 2006 is not available
yet but 2006 was a normal temperature year until a warm water surge in
July killed most of the kelp. Apparently the kelp forests bounced back
quickly because they were abundant this year. We recorded most of our
information this year while in the kayaks. Kelp thrives in water temperatures
that range from 13 to 16 degrees Celsius. Kelp will survive in temperatures
that are 4 to 5 degrees Celsius out of that range, only for a few weeks,
and will then begin to die off. Catalina Island and its coast provides
an ideal environment for kelp growth.
Conclusion: If either on of us went back to Catalina for another scientific project, we would spend more time kayaking farther northwest and southwest of Howland’s Landing than where we went this year. We would also like to record water temperature, depth, and clarity in the areas that we would go. We would also like to go scuba diving in deeper parts of the kelp forests to see what is down there. If we went back, we would also record data in areas where kelp does not live and compare that with the data of where kelp does live.
