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appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

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Executive Summary<br />

which was collected at three Los Angeles stations (LA7, LA14, <strong>and</strong> LA15) <strong>and</strong> six Long Beach<br />

Harbor stations (LB1, LB3, LB5, LB7, LB12, <strong>and</strong> LB14).<br />

Non-indigenous invertebrates comprise about 15% <strong>of</strong> the infauna <strong>and</strong> macroinvertebrate<br />

species occurring in the Ports, with some <strong>of</strong> these species representing numerical dominants.<br />

The relative abundance <strong>of</strong> these species has increased in the harbors since the 1970s.<br />

A total <strong>of</strong> 10 non-indigenous (introduced) <strong>and</strong> 32 cryptogenic species (<strong>of</strong> unknown origin) were<br />

identified among the 313 species <strong>of</strong> infauna <strong>and</strong> macroinvertebrates collected during the<br />

present study. The overall percentage <strong>of</strong> introduced <strong>and</strong> cryptogenic species identified in the<br />

present study (14%) is similar to the 15% reported by MEC (2002) in 2000. However, some <strong>of</strong><br />

these differences may be due to further distinction <strong>of</strong> introduced versus cryptogenic species<br />

since the 2000 study.<br />

Occurrences <strong>of</strong> invasive exotic algae within the harbors include the brown algae Sargassum<br />

muticum <strong>and</strong> Undaria pinnatifida. While Sargassum has become a commonly observed<br />

component <strong>of</strong> the algal flora in southern California, including the Ports, Undaria was first<br />

reported in the United States in spring 2000 during the previous baseline study (MEC 2002).<br />

Notably, Undaria was documented during the present study at all eight inner harbor sites <strong>and</strong> at<br />

7 <strong>of</strong> 12 outer harbor locations, indicating an exp<strong>and</strong>ed distribution since 2000. Undaria has also<br />

been reported at Port Hueneme, Santa Barbara Harbor, <strong>and</strong> Catalina Isl<strong>and</strong> (MEC 2002), <strong>and</strong><br />

as far north as Monterey Bay <strong>and</strong> as far south as Ensenada, Mexico (Chapman 2005).<br />

ES–6<br />

<strong>2008</strong> Biological Surveys <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Harbors<br />

April 2010

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