INTRODUCTION

This project stems from the realization that there is a need for consensus on the sampling strategies that could be used to determine natural resource injury to rocky intertidal populations and communities during and following an oil spill. A priori guidelines for evaluative work will enable the collected data to meet the needs of the various concerned parties, minimize duplication, and foster sharing of data among groups, and also ensure that valid comparisons can be made between and among researchers. As a first step to accomplishing this goal, we have worked with California Department of Fish and Game's Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Damage Assessment Center (NOAA), and Minerals Management Service (MMS) to develop a handbook that will provide guidance to intertidal scientists in developing and performing monitoring programs designed to determine the status of rocky shore populations and communities and for purposes of evaluating damage to natural resources in the event an oil spill. This handbook will contain the scientific rationale for various sampling approaches as well as decision-trees and guidelines for developing programs for studying rocky intertidal populations and communities. The handbook will serve as a reference guide for the sampling methods to be used by these joint teams and others in performing this evaluative research.

The scope of the handbook is limited to rocky intertidal living resources (macro-invertebrates, macroalgae, and seagrasses) in the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo County areas. Further, the handbook focuses on only stable rocky intertidal surfaces and large boulder habitat.

This project consists of two phases. In Phase I, the currently funded phase, we have drawn on the expertise of west coast rocky intertidal scientists to develop criteria for designing study programs to accomplish the targeted objectives. These criteria will include, for example, site selection, species selection for population studies, sampling methodologies, and study design. In Phase II, we propose to strive for consensus on the most appropriate sampling strategies and procedures for performing rocky intertidal field studies and for data analysis and presentation.

WORK TO DATE

Under the guidance of Steve Murray (CSU Fullerton), who serves as chair, a Planning Team was established consisting of the following members: Rich Ambrose (UCLA), John Cubit (NOAA), John Tarpley (OSPR), Rob Ricker (OSPR), Maurice Hill (MMS) and Mary Elaine Dunaway (MMS). The Planning Team's initial task was to make decisions on the contents of the handbook. After the first draft of the handbook was completed (see below), they reviewed handbook chapters.

Once consensus on the approach of the handbook was reached, the PIs (Ambrose and Murray) developed the detailed contents of the chapters comprising the manual. During this past year, Ambrose and Murray, along with Megan Dethier from the University of Washington, drafted the handbook chapters. The three authors met in the beginning of 1998 to discuss individual chapters, the overall handbook, and possible future directions. The final organization of the handbook is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Table of Contents for Handbook.

Chapter 1	Introduction to the Handbook
Chapter 2	Site and Habitat Types
Chapter 3	Biological Units
Chapter 4	Sampling Design
Chapter 5	Sampling Units
Chapter 6	Non-Destructive Methods for Quantifying Abundance
Chapter 7	Destructive Methods for Quantifying Abundance
Chapter 8	Age-Determination, Growth Rates, Size-Structure, and Reproductive Condition

The first draft of the handbook was completed in mid-April 1998. Murray and Ambrose met with the Planning Team on April 30 to discuss this draft. We also discussed possible directions for Phase II of this project. We have since received additional comments, and we are in the process of revising the handbook.