GP2 West Transect – 2016

Permanent Control Site: GP2 West Transect; Depth: 12.9 Meters (42.3 Feet); Distance from river mouth: 18.8 Kilometers (11.6 Miles) east; Pre/Post Dam Removal: 4 years post-dam removal; Lat/Long: 48.12781102,-123.31712832; Site Description: This site was established as the eastern control. Substrate is mainly a gravel/sand/cobble mixture surrounding boulders. Red and brown seaweeds were present and more abundant than the previous year. However, only two species of browns were recorded, consisting mainly of the acid kelp Desmarestia (0:16, 1:25 seconds) and a few Agarum fimbriatum (0:42, 1:32 seconds). There were numerous species of invertebrates present. Red sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) were scattered along entire transect (0:24, 1:05, 2:15 seconds) and a few green urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) were also present (1:13 seconds). The graceful decorator crab Oregonia gracilis was common (2:13 seconds) as were blood sea stars Henricia leviuscula leviuscula (0:33, 0:37, 0:43, 1:10 seconds). Other invertebrates seen on video: staghorn bryozoan Heteropora pacifica (yellow clumps on boulders at 0:36, 0:38 seconds), orange sea cucumber Cucumaria miniata (0:39 seconds), gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri (oval shapes at 2:06, 2:13 seconds), egg case of the moon snail Euspira lewisii (2:11 seconds), giant sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus (on rock at 1:07 seconds).