VOLUNTEER RESEARCH DIVERS SUPPORTSCIENTIFIC EFFORTS AT CATALINA

Thomas W. Tumey

Catalina Conservancy DiversAvalon, CA 90704

Since 1992, in cooperation with University of Southern California, the CatalinaConservancy Divers (CCD) have participated in projects to monitor the dynamics of kelpforests at the Wrigley Marine Science Center Marine Life Refuge, Catalina Island,California. A diver education course provides training in scientific methods together withaspects of diving safety and kelp forest biology. CCO members who complete the coursemay participate in kelp forest monitoring as active members of the University's divingprogram. Current projects include quarterly assessments of the density, size, and growthof giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), monitoring ocean temperatures at four depths from 4­30 m depth, and measures of biodiversity. To date the CGD program has providedinformation on the effects of EI Nino, and contributed data from Catalina to the ScrippsInstitution of Oceanography long-term surface temperature records for the Pacific Coast.

Keyword~: Kelp forest; monitoring; ocean temperat~re; Catalina; giant kelp

INTRODUCTION

In today·s environment of budget cutting, funding for scientific research is increasingly difficult toobtain. The Federal Government, which accounts for the majority of academic research grants, continuesto cut funding. According to the National Science Foundation, (NSF 1994) research dollars foroceanographic research have grown over the years, but when adjusted for inflation the growth is muchless dramatic as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

$500,000$400,000$300,000$200,000$100,000

$0

~. ~·lf.~1

~II :f~~_~~m tf~II tf~~l ~~~ @;~.tt~~~ ·\:tfft\ ~!~ :~tl.ii@.~i~~ %~j;. ·:,:,.·.:::.:.t..;;..:.~::::..~.;.:>.::.~.::... . ::i.tWj.::;..·.....::.;.:..:~:':':..;.:':·~...::.·.~?i...:

r~~m.f:!J1 ~~~~1 _ :~:.' :;:~~1~;.~t.~~

II i f~

000\.....

Source: National Science Foundation Data adjusted by GDP Deflator

Figure 1. Federal funding for oceanographic research (thousands of 1987 dollars).

http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org

Diving for Science... 1995

25.000;0~i~illi~!il~il~il~~;il~lllllillil20.000;015.000;010.000;05.000;00.000;0

-5.000;0

-15.000;0-20.000;0-25.000;0-30.000;0

Figure 2. Federal funding for oceanographic research (percentage change from prior year).

However, research efforts must continue and researchers need to find ways to turn researchpennies into research dollars. There are essentially two alternatives in this new environment of "notenough. II They can scale back their research efforts or they can develop new paradigms for conductingtheir research. Marine research is more complicated than most sciences because the scientist must dealwith a different physical environment, namely underwater, to conduct the research. This complication isshared only with scientists doing research in space. Because of this complication and the complexities ofdealing with the physical aspects of the underwater environment, marine scientists tend to be a heartygroup. They will adapt to decreased levels of funding more readily than other scientists. One strategy thathas already proven successful is the use of volunteer divers to complete research projects. Indeed theconcept of the "vacation volunteer" (i.e. Earthwatch) is becoming increasingly popular among recreationaldivers who want to assist scientists in their underwater research, particularly in the tropical climates(Sheldon 1995). Problems of incorporating volunteers into long-term underwater projects in cold ortemperate waters present special challenges as evidenced by some of the experiences of the NationalPark Service in the Channel Islands (Davis 1989).

This paper describes how one group of volunteer divers, the Catalina Conservancy Divers (CCD)has undertaken a project of long-term ecosystem monitoring at Catalina Island in cooperation with theWrigley Marine Science Center to help understand the local effects of events such as EI Nino and globalclimate changes.

Catalina Island is one of the southern Channel Islands located 47 km (26 mi) off the coast from LosAngeles. Most of the Island (86°k) is owned by the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, a foundationestablished by Philip K. Wrigley in 1972. The Conservancy's mission is to restore Catalina Island to itsnative state and maintain the Island and its environment for future generations. Since its founding, theConservancy has dedicated its efforts to cataloging, restoring, and maintaining the terrestrial plant andanimal life on the Island. These efforts have been quite successful as evidenced by the removal of feralanimals (goats) that devastated native landscapes and the re-introduction and breeding of bald eagles onthe Island.

As the 1990's unfolded, the Conservancy shifted some of its focus to the marine environmentaround Catalina. Because of its proximity to the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Catalina has become oneof the most heavily dived spots in the world. The impact of this heavy use has been well documented inpersonal recollections and anecdotal histories. However, as compelling as these images are forconservation, quantitative information about the abundance and distribution of marine resources, past orpresent, at Catalina is generally lacking.

116

http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org

Turney: Volunteer Research Divers

In 1990, Catalina Conservancy Divers was organized by a subset of Conservancy members whohave a particular interest in the underwater environment in general, and at Catalina in particular. Themembers span the spectrum both in terms of diving experience and expertise. Several members arenoted photographers both still and video, some are scientists, but most come from a diversity ofprofessions. What binds them together is their love of diving and their interest in restoring and maintainthe underwater environment at Catalina.

At Catalina there is a marine research facility, the P. K. Wrigley USC Marine Science Center(WMSC) located near the West End of the Island. At WMSC there are laboratories, boats, dormitoryfacilities, a hyberbaric chamber, and an underwater marine preserve. In 1991, Dr. William McFarland, thethen scientific director of WMSC, and Dr. Florence McAlary, a research associate at WMSC, undertook acooperative long-term kelp forest and ocean temperature monitoring project in conjunction with theCatalina Conservancy Divers. Training seminars for CCD volunteers were organized at WMSC, and thesesessions continue today. The seminars provide CCO volunteers with important background informationon kelp forest ecology, species identification, marine climates and conservation. Instruction is alsoprovided on underwater research methods that are used to actually monitor the health of the kelp forestsand ocean temperatures at Catalina. The requirements for dive safety, medical training, and WMSC divercertification are completed under the supervision of the WMSC Dive Safety Officer, Mr. Pete Pehl II incompliance with AAUS requirements.

The initial results of this cooperative research effort were first published in the proceedings of theFourth Catalina Island Symposium (McAlary et al. 1994). In her research, Dr. McAlary was able todemonstrate the impact of thermal anomalies such as EI Nino on the giant kelp forests at Catalina.

To broaden assessment of marine resources around Catalina, CCD brought together a group oflocal marine scientists to help in the development of additional projects in partnership with the scientificcommunity and to assist in the interpretation of data gathered in these research projects. The board ofscientific advisors includes: William McFarland, Professor, USC (Retired); Bob Given, Professor,Marymount College; Peter Haaker, California Department of Fish & Game; Kevin Herbason, SeniorResearch Scientist, Southern California Edison; Gary Davis, Channel Islands National Park; and JackEngle, Director, Channel Islands Research Program, Tatman Foundation. Today, there are approximately80 trained research divers involved in a number of projects being conducted at Catalina. These divershave contributed approximately 20,000 hours to these projects since 1991. These projects include:

Project Started

Thermograph Project: 1991

Kelp Growth: 1992

Refuge Census: 1991

Abalone Planting: 1991

Description

Hourly temperature monitoring at four sites at multiple depths.

Quarterly measurement of Macrocystis pyrifera stipe growthover 2 week periods.

Quarterly census of Macrocystis pyrifera along transect lines at3 different depths and annual urchin census.

Periodic placement of juvenile abalone at various sites aroundCatalina. Project currently limited by lack of available plantingstock.

Biodiversity Project:

Project S-4:

1994

1995

Monitoring of a list of approximately 30 plant and animal speciesat 8 sites around Catalina. Data will be analyzed and comparedto prior observations some of which span a period of 20 years.

Continuous monitoring of a variety of ocean conditionsincluding temperature, turbidity, current speed and directionusing an inter-ocean S-4.

117

http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org

Diving for Science... 1995

Diver Awareness/Education: 1993 CCO representatives regularly make presentations to diveclubs and other diving organizations about the marineenvironment in general and Catalina in particular. In 1995 CCDestablished a naturalist trail at Casino Point in Avalon which isaimed at teaching species identification to recreational divers.

CONCLUSION

In the days of tight research budgets, it is possible to use creative methods to expand the scopeand solve some of the complexities associated with marine, particularly underwater, research. CatalinaConservancy Divers is an organization of volunteers trained to support the ongoing research needs of theCatalina Conservancy and the academic research community. CCO has established a number of ongoingresearch projects and the results of this research are available both in previously cited literature (McAlary etal. 1994) as well as upon request. For information please contact CCD's Marine Projects CoordinatingCommittee at mpcc@ccd.org.

LITERATURE CITED

Davis, G. E. 1989. Design of Long Term Ecological Monitoring Program for Channel Islands National Park,California. Natural Areas Journal, 9: 80-89.

McAlary, F. A., W. N. McFarland, and Catalina Conservancy Divers. 1994. Catalina Island Kelp Forests:1992-1993. pp. 35-44. In: The Fourth California Islands Symposium: Update on the Status ofResources, . W. L. Halvorsen and G. J. Maender (ed.). Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History,Santa Barbara, California.

National Science Foundation. 1994. SRS, Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development:Fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994. Table 1.

Seldon, W. L., Jr. 1995. Diving for deductions. Dive Training. February: 79-83.

118

http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org