| STUDENT |
MASTER'S THESIS (Research or PSM Intern) |
| |
2015 |
| Evan Dailey |
PSM Intern. High-water Coast Erosion Monitoring |
| Alex Snyder |
PSM Intern. Development and implementation of coastal mapping techniques to study coastal processes |
| |
2014 |
| Winn McEnery |
PSM Intern. Data collection, analysis, and map creation for the CSMP Southern California Data Gap project |
| |
Fall 2013 |
| Alex Davis & Craig Mueller |
A regional analysis of the distribution of Rippled Scour Depressions along the California coast. [PDF] |
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Summer 2011 |
| Steven Quan |
Using vessel-based LiDAR to quantify coastal erosion during El Nin~o and inter-El Nin~o periods in Monterey, CA. |
| |
Vessel-based LiDAR was employed to measure shoreline geomorphology, and quantify the rates of erosion and spatial distribution of coastal retreat around Monterey Bay, California during the 2008–2009 normal (non-El Nin~o) winter and 2009–2010 El Nin~o winter. These data were compared with pre- and post- El Nin~o airborne topographic LiDAR data from 1997 and 1998 to assess shoreline change since 1997. |
| Corina Marks |
PSM Intern. Technological advances during 18 year bathymetric time series of ESNERR improves management and monitoring of tidal scour |
| |
Spring 2011 |
| Todd Hallenbeck |
Rippled scour depressions add ecologically significant heterogeneity to soft sediment habitats on the continental shelf. |
| |
Comprehensive high-resolution seafloor mapping of California's state waters have revealed rippled scour depressions (RSD) to be one of the most abundant and widespread habitats of the inner continental shelf. These sharply delineated elongate features range in size from 100's to 1000's of m² in aerial extent and are characterized by 30 to 50 cm deep depressions of coarser sediments and longer period bedforms than found on the surrounding seabed. Although RSDs have been identified on many of the world's continental margins, previous studies focused on their geomorphology and dynamics, leaving the ecological influence and associated biological communities of RSDs unexplored. Here we test the hypothesis that there are ecologically important differences in the distribution and abundance of benthic fish and invertebrate groups inside and outside RSDs. . [PDF] |
| |
Spring 2009 |
| Shinobu Okano |
A Predictive Habitat Model for Endangered White Abalone Restoration Planning in Southern California. |
| |
The aim of this study was to develop a predictive white abalone habitat model from high-resolution multibeam bathymetry data by analyzing relationships between occurrence patterns and geomorphology of the seafloor at Tanner Bank in California, where the presence white abalone has been well documented using ROV video transect surveys. |
| Krystle Gomez |
PSM Intern. California State Mapping Project |
| |
|
| STUDENT |
CAPSTONE
PROJECT |
| |
Spring 2009 |
| Michelle Sandersfeld |
Detection of Geomorphic Change in the Monterey Submarine Canyon Head. |
| |
Although past research showed expansion in the canyon, it is still not understood if this is a long term pattern or part of an oscillation pattern. The results of the raster subtraction indicate that the canyon is in a state of erosion with an annual net loss of 240,000 m³ of substrate between fall 2005 and fall 2008. The rate of erosion has decreased since Smith et al. 2007 found the annual net rate of erosion to be 400,000 m³ between fall 2002 and winter 2005. Both techniques of tracing the canyon lip statistically gave the same results. The study failed to reject the null hypothesis of no change occurring in the canyon lip. Comparison between current study and fall 2002 also failed to show significant change. These results indicate that in the scope of this time series study of the canyon lip is not moving monotonically toward Moss Landing Harbor but rather in a pattern of oscillation.[PDF] |
| |
Fall 2007 |
| Rich Maillet |
Using sidescan sonar in determining the spatial and temporal distribution of the market squid (Loligo opalescens) spawning event, Monterey Bay, California. |
| |
The squid Loligo opalescens (market squid) has become the most important fishery in California in both commercial landings and their monetary value. Market squid are also important to other commercially valuable species as food as well as protected marine mammals and birds. Five surveys were conducted in southern Monterey Bay to determine if sidescan sonar could be used to accurately assess egg abundance and therefore predict squid landings. The reliability of sidescan sonar in predicting egg abundance was found to be good as long as mean individual egg patch area was above the threshold of 0.25m2 and the data was of good quality and easily interpreted. Market squid was found to not have a preference for depth of egg laying activities beyond their normal limits. It was also found that sidescan sonar can predict landings (r2=0.980) with some certainty. [PDF] |
| |
Spring 2007 |
| Mary Young |
Modeling rockfish abundance and distribution at Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, California |
| |
The general hypothesis is that because rockfish are not randomly distributed across habitats, it should be possible to model and predict their distribution and abundance based on habitat maps and biological data. The purpose of this study was to test this hypothesis using autoclassification of multibeam bathymetry and acoustic backscatter data along with submersible video data of the seafloor and rockfish from Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary to determine how well rockfish distribution of three species of rockfish could be modeled based on seafloor habitat parameters. [PDF] |
| Emiko Shironaka |
Mapping coastal wetland loss: a study of an Elkhorn Slough tributary |
| |
Past studies have quantified the widening, deepening and rate of change in the Elkhorn Slough main channel and tributaries. This study determined whether the Parson Slough tributary is changing as rapidly, and in the same direction, as the main channel. . [PDF] |
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|
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Spring 2006 |
| Josh Sampey |
A bathymetric analysis of equilibrium potential within Elkhorn Slough, California |
| |
Critical areas affected by tidal scour have been identified as a result of multi-year mapping efforts. This project had three goals: 1)creating a bathymetric model of the slough environment, accomplished by the use of multibeam sonar, single beam sonar and terrestrial LIDAR, 2)quantifying rates and spatial distribution of erosion and deposition accomplished via GIS analysis, and 3)calculating the tidal prism of the slough in GIS for comparison to previous estimates. [PDF] |
| Kendra Wong |
Mapping annual sediment change in the Monterey Canyon head using serial multibeam bathymetry surveys |
| |
The goal of this study was to understand patterns of yearly sediment change in the monterey Bay Submarine Canyon Head. [PDF] |
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|
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Fall 2005 |
| King Wayman |
Bedform migration and sediment transport rates in the mouth of the San Francisco Bay |
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The purpose of this study was to determine sediment transport and sand wave migration rates in the mouth of the San Francisco Bay west of the Golden Gate Bridge. [PDF] |
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|
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Spring 2004 |
| Saori Zurita |
Marine Protected Area Control Site Suitability Analysis Based On Geomorphic Interpretation Of Multibeam Bathymetry Data Using GIS. [PDF] |
| |
This project conducted a comparative study of the newly designated Carrington Point, Santa Rosa Island MPA and its control site. The comparison was based on a geomorphic analysis of high-resolution multibeam bathymetry data used to quantify the relative abundance and distribution of seafloor habitat within both areas to assess the suitability of the selected control site.
|
| Erica Morris |
Using GIS landscape analysis tools with high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and ROV mapping to model rockfish distribution and abundance on the Del Monte shale beds, Monterey Bay, California. [PDF] |
| |
For this study, high-resolution multibeam data of the Del Monte shale beds in Monterey Bay, California were analyzed in GIS for slope, rugosity, and relative topographic position to assess and quantify rockfish (Sebastes spp.) habitat preference. |
| Bryan Jones |
Use of multi-beam bathymetric data to compare suitability of Marine Protected Areas with their control sites within the Channel Island MPA Networks. [PDF] |
| |
The goal of this project is to assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas by evaluating habitat similarity between designated MPAs and adjacent proposed control sites in the Channel Islands Marine Protected Area Network (CIMPA) off of Southern California.
|
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|
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Spring
2003 |
| Jason
Mansour |
Use
of Acoustic Remote Sensing to Estimate the Distribution of White Abalone
(Haliotis sorenseni) at Tanner Bank, California. [PDF] |
| |
This
project used spatial analysis of multibeam bathymetry data to identify
suitable habitat for the endanged white abalone, H. sorenseni in Tanner
Bank, an island complex 100 mi off of Southern California. |
| Henna
Ruiz |
An
Interpretation of the General Geomorphology and the Processes Occurring
in the Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. [PDF] |
| |
An
examination of the Monterey Bay submarine canyon head using high resolution
multibeam bathymetry data. |
| Edwin
Dean |
Tidal
Scour in Elkhorn Slough, CA: A Bathymetric Analysis. [PDF] |
| |
A
study looking at bathymetric change over time in the shallow and mudflat
areas of the Elkhorn Slough using multibeam bathymetry data. |
| |
|
|
Spring
2002 |
| Tania
Leisten |
Coastal
Watershed Development, Erosion, Marine Habitat Loss and Kelp Forest
Decline in Santa Monica Bay, California. [PDF] |
|
This
study tested the hypothesis that the dramatic decline in the kelp
forests of Santa Monica Bay, California, can be attributed, in part,
to sediment deposition and the resultant loss of near shore rocky
habitat. |
| William
Jakl |
The
relationship of Rockfish (Sebastes) CPUE to Marine Habitat
Loss and Kelp Forest Decline on Palos Verdes Peninsula in Santa Monica
Bay, California. [PDF] |
| |
This
project tested the hypothesis that the declines in rockfish catch
per unit effort (CPUE) can be attributed to declines in the extent
of kelp forest stands and rocky habitat on Palos Verdes Peninsula
in Santa Monica Bay. |
| |
|
|
Spring
2001 |
| Jerry
Brantner |
Rates
of erosion and habitat loss in the Elkhorn Slough. [PDF] |
|
A
bathymetric survey of the slough designed to determine the degree
that erosion is changing the slough channel was conducted for this
project. |
| Holly
Lopez |
How
anchoring locations can be changed to minimize damage to sensitive
habitats near Monterey Harbor. [PDF] |
| |
Determining ideal location for vessel anchorage in regions of sensitive marine habitat |
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|
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Spring
2000 |
| Mike
Castleton |
Depth
and Substrate Preferences of Preadult Cabezon (Scorpaenichthys
marmoratus) in Point Lobos Marine Reserve. [PDF] |
|
Underwater
video transects were used to quantify preadult cabezon distribution
by depth and substrate. Management policies relevant to cabezon and
the live-fishery are discussed. |
| Maria
Ferdin |
Emerita
analoga (Stimpson) - Possible Indicator Species for The Phytotoxin
Domoic Acid in Coastal California. [PDF] |
|
This
research augmented the current marine biotoxin monitoring program
in California to include a bioindicator species suitable for monitoring
domoic acid along sandy shores. |
| Amanda
Green |
Identifying
Mapping Needs - The California Marine Habitat Task Force Meeting. [PDF] |
|
Important
coastal habitats were identified to assess regulatory needs for limiting
overfishing and pollution and to protect coastal biodiversity. |
| Talitha
Manouki |
Emerita
analoga (Stimpson) as an Indicator Species of Paralytic Shellfish
Poisoning Toxins Along the California Coast. [PDF] |
|
This
study was an effort to augment the current PSPT monitoring program
by testing the application of Emerita analoga as a bioindicator for
levels of PSP toxins in the environment. |
| Mira
Park |
The
Use of Species-Habitat Association to Identify Habitats Sensitive
to Disturbance by Trawling. [PDF] |
|
Habitat
maps of species sensitive to disturbance were used to serve as a proxy
to identify areas likely to be sensitive to trawling. |
| Kate
Thomas |
The
Effects of Human Activity on the Foraging Behaviors of Sanderlings
(Calidris alba). [PDF] |
|
This
study determined the impact of human activity on beaches on the foraging
behavior of shorebirds. |
