Fish assemblages in Macrocystis and Nereocystis kelp forests off Central California

The abundance and species composition of conspicuous fishes were compared within two canopy forming kelp forests (giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, and bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana) in Central California. The primary investigative method was a subtidal belt transect, in which visual observation was used. The species composition of fish assemblages in the two canopy types was similar. Densities of fish were generally greater in Macrocystis than in Nereocystis forests. The major difference was the density of midwater species of the genus Sebastes. The blue rockfish, Sebastes mystinus, was the numerically dominant species in both canopy types. Estimates of the biomass of fish were about 2.4 times greater in Macrocystis beds than in Nereocystis beds.