What's New with Research and Monitoring?

Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE),
In 2006, Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) in partnership with the California Department of Fish & Game, the Nature Conservancy, and the Sanctuary completed the third annual remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) deep-water monitoring of finfish abundance of the Channel Islands marine reserves. The 2006 season covered 10 priority sites - 5 inside and 5 reference sites outside the reserves – totaling 100 km of deep-water video survey.
Click here pdf to read more about this project. 

Ashy Storm Petrels
(Oceanodroma homochroa),
are thought to number approximately 10,000 worldwide, and over half breed in the Channel Islands.  These small seabirds are vulnerable to various human impacts, such as trampling, pollution, lights, and habitat degradation, plus predation by raptors and small mammals.  Seabird biologists Bill McIver and Harry Carter have been studying and monitoring the Ashy Storm-Petrel population on Santa Cruz Island since 1995.  In cooperation with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Channel Islands National Park, California Department of Fish and Game and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, these researchers have been monitoring nests to determine trends in reproductive success and population size  
Click here pdf to read about a recent monitoring trip on
June 14-16, 2006 

White Abalone Restoration and Education,
Researchers and divers from Channel Islands National Park (CINP), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) recently joined students and teachers from Oxnard College on a combined research and education trip to the kelp forests of Anacapa Island on board the research vessel Shearwater.  Divers were linked to the boat with a live video link and two-way communication while students observed the divers sampling the abalone recruitment devices on high definition televisions on board the vessel. 
Click here pdf to read about the expedition. 

Xantus's Murrelets Monitoring,
Seabird biologists Darrell Whitworth and Josh Koepke of the California Institute of Environmental Studies began the seventh year of Xantus’s Murrelet nest monitoring on Anacapa Island in April 2006.  Anacapa is one of only 12 islands where Xantus’s Murrelets (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus), a California state threatened species, are known to breed.  They nest in caves and crevices, creating challenging conditions for nest monitoring.
 
Click here pdf to read about one of their spring seabird monitoring expeditions.
Click here for more info. about Xantus's Murrelets

 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),
In 2005, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) were completed to evaluate future science and operational requirements within NOAA and NASA plan related to oceanic and atmospheric research, climate research, marine sanctuary mapping and enforcement, nautical charting, and fisheries assessment and enforcement. NOAA recently completed a report of the 2005 trials.  The report states “aggregations of California sea lions and northern elephant seals and approved fishing and diving activities were observed at several Channel Island locations. Large commercial ships were spotted and successfully identified by vessel type from up to 16.1 kilometers away.” 

Click here pdf to read the final report about the Demonstration Project.  Click here for more info. about the program.