Why do fish care about marine boundaries?

Why do fish care about marine boundaries?

If the reserve is too small…If the reserve is too small…

Los AngelesLos Angeles

Catalina Island Marine Science Center Catalina Island Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge Marine Life Refuge

Santa Catalina Island

Santa Catalina Island

Catalina Island Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge

(CMLR)

Catalina Island Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge

(CMLR)• 0.13 km2

• Protected since 1988• Was one of the largest no-take reserve in southern California!

• 0.13 km2

• Protected since 1988• Was one of the largest no-take reserve in southern California!

Questions:Questions:• Do larger fish have have larger

home ranges?

• Do the home ranges of these fish in the reserve exceed the boundary?

• What types of habitat in the reserve do these fish prefer?

• Do larger fish have have larger home ranges?

• Do the home ranges of these fish in the reserve exceed the boundary?

• What types of habitat in the reserve do these fish prefer?

Kelp BassKelp Bass

Lowe et al. 2003Acoustic telemetry tracking &

monitoring

SheepheadSheephead

Topping, 2003; Topping et al., in prepAcoustic telemetry tracking & monitoring

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Rock wall Steeprockyrubble

Rockboulder

Rockrubble

Mud/sand Kelp

Ave

rag

e P

erce

nt U

tiliz

atio

n

Geological Habitat Biotic Habitat

Rocky Reef

Mud / Sand41%59 %

Habitat use – Kelp bassHabitat use – Kelp bass

200 m

Why not move?Why not move?

Geological HabitatGeological Habitat

Rock wall

Steep rock rubble

Rock boulder

Rock rubble

Mud/sand

Leaky boundary Tight boundary

Reserve boundaryReserve boundary

Fish Fences?Fish Fences?

Seal Beach Lifeguard HeadquartersStingray Treatment Center

Seal Beach Lifeguard HeadquartersStingray Treatment Center

Seal BeachSeal Beach

Urban Influences?Urban Influences?

Round stingrayVaudo & Lowe unpubl.

Acoustic telemetry tracking

Seal BeachSeal Beach

Southern CaliforniaSouthern California

Sunset BeachSunset Beach

AnaheimBay

AnaheimBay

Hot zone!Hot zone!

Support:Support:

• Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies

• UC Sea Grant

• USC Sea grant

• California Dept. of Fish and Game

• Drs. Rikk Kvitek and Gary Greene

• Dr. Jenn Caselle – PISCO/UCSB

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

• Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies

• UC Sea Grant

• USC Sea grant

• California Dept. of Fish and Game

• Drs. Rikk Kvitek and Gary Greene

• Dr. Jenn Caselle – PISCO/UCSB

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation