Orizaba Cove Biodiversity Survey findings
Orizaba Cove is located in the Northern Channel Islands, within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, on Santa Cruz Island, California. This site is located in an Area of Special Biological Significance (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz Islands ASBS) in Channel Islands National Park. The slope at this site is fairly high, making a narrow intertidal zone which consists of moderately uneven terrain, containing few cracks and folds.
Orizaba Cove is dominated by consolidated volcanic bedrock, and the area surrounding the site is comprised of consolidated bedrock. The site receives some protection from Orizaba Rock but large swells commonly roll over the site and can be quite impressive. The primary coastal orientation of this site is northwest.
Long-Term Monitoring Surveys at Orizaba Cove were established in 1994, and are done by Channel Islands National Park. Long-Term MARINe surveys currently target the following species: Chthamalus/Balanus (Acorn Barnacles), Tetraclita (Pink Barnacle), Mytilus (California Mussel), Hesperophycus (Olive Rockweed), and Silvetia (Golden Rockweed). In addition, motile invertebrates and mussel size structure are monitored at this site. For more information see the Long-Term trends at this site.
Biodiversity Surveys were done in 2022 and 2024. The Biodiversity Survey grid encompasses two sections that are approximately 15 meters (along shore) x 5 meters (seaward), and 12 meters (along shore) x 10 meters (seaward). For more information see the Biodiversity Survey findings at this site.
For more information about Orizaba Cove, please contact Stephen Whitaker (stephen_whitaker@nps.gov).
See Also