Andrew Molera Long-Term trends
Andrew Molera Biodiversity Survey findings
Andrew Molera is located in the Central Coast region of California, within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. This site is located within the Point Sur State Marine Reserve and Andrew Molera State Park. The site is directly below private property and access is restricted. This site receives low visitation by fisherman and tidepoolers. This gently sloping site consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.
Andrew Molera is dominated by consolidated bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of a mixture of consolidated bedrock, boulder fields, and sandy beach. The primary coastal orientation of this site is west/northwest.
Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Andrew Molera were established in 1999, and are done by University of California Santa Cruz. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Mytilus (California Mussel), Fucus (Northern Rockweed), Silvetia (Golden Rockweed), Endocladia (Turfweed), Phyllospadix (Surfgrass), and Pisaster (Ochre Star). In addition, motile invertebrates, barnacle recruitment, mussel size structure, and water temperature are monitored at this site. For more information see the Long-Term trends at this site.
Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2017, and 2020. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses one section that is approximately 30 meters (along shore) x 33 meters (seaward). For more information see the Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.
For more information about Andrew Molera , please contact Pete Raimondi (raimondi@ucsc.edu).