Southern California Bight

The Southern California Bight is a 426-mile-long (685 km) stretch of curved coastline that runs along the west coast of the United States and Mexico, from Point Conception in California to Punta Colonet in Baja California, plus the area of the Pacific Ocean defined by that curve.[1][2] This includes the Channel Islands of California and the Coronado Islands and Islas de Todo Santos of Baja California.[1][3]

Southern California Bight
Satellite view of the Southern California Bight in California, including the Channel Islands
LocationCalifornia, United States
Baja California, Mexico
Coordinates32°43′N 118°21′W
Length426 mi (685 km)

The region is known for having a climate similar to that of the Mediterranean, consisting of rainy winters and dry summers. The Southern California Bight has a thriving ecosystem that is home to many species of plant life, fish, birds, and mammals.

History

Various Native American peoples occupied the lands in and around the Southern California Bight for tens of thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. When Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century the Chumash people occupied the northern coastal region of the bight, as well as the four Northern Channel Islands,[4] and the Tongva (or Gabrieleño) occupied the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands.[5]

In 1542, at present day San Diego Bay, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Spain, along with his crew, were the first European explorers to land in the region. Cabrillo is said to have been buried on one of the Channel Islands.[5] The first permanent European settlers of the Southern California Bight, led by Juan Pérez, arrived in 1769 on the San Antonio. The Spanish government had planned a three-part occupation plan to check Russian settlement in Alta California.[6][7]

In 2013-14, scientists witnessed the largest die-off of sea stars ever recorded along the Pacific Coast. The outbreak of sea star wasting disease caused significant changes to the ecosystem as sea stars are a keystone species that plays an important role in controlling the numbers of other creatures.[8]

Climate

The climate of the region that constitutes the Southern California Bight is consistent throughout the area. There is a difference in monthly mean temperature of 50 °F (10 °C) between the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. Most precipitation in this coastal area takes place in the months of December, January, and February with a monthly mean rate of 2.0–3.3 inches (51–84 mm)[9]

Biology
See also: California coastal sage and chaparral

The Southern California Bight acts as a transition between many different water masses, including the Pacific subarctic, Pacific equatorial, and the North Pacific central water masses. Due to its central location, the fish fauna includes species native to these other water masses. A total of 481 species of California marine fish, 195 species of birds, and seven species of pinnipeds inhabit the Southern California Bight.[6]

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton serve an important role in the Southern Californian coastal ecosystem. These single-celled organisms are the main food source for zooplankton and help support the fish population. In doing so, they help establish a stable food chain for all the animals in the coastal region. Since the population of fish is directly related to the production of phytoplankton, the growth in phytoplankton numbers increases the yield of local fisheries.[6]

Fish

Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) are being studied through a research program begun in 2009 by NOAA.[10]

Common fish found in the epipelagic zone include:

Common fish found in the neritic zone include:

  • Queenfish (Seriphus politus)
  • White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus)
  • Pacific butterfish (Peprilus simillimus)
  • Walleye surfperch (Hyperprosopon anale)

Common fish found in the rocky intertidal zone include:

Many different species of fish rely on the kelp forests as a source of life. Populations of fish are larger in areas with a higher concentration of kelp. Fish that live in and rely on kelp forests include kelp surfperch (Brachyistius frenatus), kelp bass (Paralabrax clathratus), giant kelpfish (Heterostichus rostratus), and kelp rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens). A study conducted near San Luis Obispo, California showed that when kelp was removed from a nearby reef, fish biomass declined by 63%. Juvenile fish rely on kelp beds a nursery grounds. Southern California Edison built a 174-acre kelp reef (70 ha) off San Clemente in 2008.[11]

Birds

The Southern California Bight is home to 195 species of birds, including endangered species such as the light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes). Some birds nest and hunt near bodies of waters, such as bays, harbors, and oceans, including areas where kelp grows. Some species, such as the brown pelican and some species of cormorants commonly dive head first into the water, attempting to catch fish. Other species of birds, such as grebes and loons migrate from Baja California over the nearshore waters, and will stop to fish and feed. Birds that live in the rocky shore have adapted to finding food, and specialize in prying grabbing prey that clings to the rocky shore. Common birds of the rocky seashore include black oystercatchers (Haemotopus bachmani), wandering tattlers (Heteroscelus incanus), and Surfbirds (Aphorize virgata). Other birds, such as sandpipers, egrets, and herons utilize tidal patterns, venturing out to rocks during low tide in hopes of catching prey. Non-seabirds also nest on rocky seashore surfaces. Peregrine falcons and ravens are known to nest on remote sea cliffs. Sandy beaches are inhabited by plovers, terns, marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa), and several species of gulls.[6][7]

Marine mammals

Due to its central location of warm and cool ocean currents, the Southern California Bight sees a wide variety of marine mammals. Some reside here regularly, some pass through on migratory routes, and others only show up to utilize a certain food source. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act helped to prevent any marine mammal "take", which entails hunting, harassing, exploiting marine mammals for their pelt, meat, oil, etc.[6]

Pinnipeds

The most abundant pinnipeds in the Southern California Bight are the California sea lions. Northern elephant seals are known to have breeding grounds in the Southern California Bight, mostly on San Miguel and San Nicolas islands. Sea otters were once common in the Southern California Bight, but due to hunting, they have since mostly retreated to northern waters. Otter sightings in the Southern California Bight happen rarely.

Cetaceans

Gray whales pass through the Southern California Bight on their migration routes, typically migrating very close to land. They pass through the Southern California Bight on their southbound route from December through February towards Baja California, and return northbound towards southern Alaska, passing the Southern California Bight from February to May. Their migration patterns are among the longest of any mammal, spanning over 10,000 miles (16,100 km). Blue whales also use the Southern California Bight as a part of their migratory routes. They leave Baja California by early summer, and are usually present in the Southern California Bight in June. The common dolphin is the most abundant cetacean in the Southern California Bight. Common dolphins typically appear in the Southern California Bight during years with warmer water, and are more abundant in the summer and winter.

Natural resources

The Southern California Bight is characterized by coastal and offshore oil reserves. For the past century, the offshore areas of coastal cities such as Goleta, Santa Monica, and Huntington Beach have been home to oil extraction sites. With the presence of these oil reserves comes the construction of relative infrastructure including pipelines.

Other primary resources that come from the Southern California Bight region include anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and bass. The thriving marine life and accessible seafood source has led to the development of harbors and marinas all across the Southern California coast.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Restoration Activities - Montrose/PV Shelf, CA - Southwest Region - DARRP". webarchive.library.unt.edu. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. "Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program". Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  3. Dailey, M. D., Reish, D. J., Anderson, J. W. (editors), 1993. Ecology of the Southern California Bight: A Synthesis and Interpretation. University of California Press, Berkeley / Los Angeles / London, 926 pp.
  4. Ward, Michael K. "Timoloqinash: Incorporating Chumash Cultural Self-History into the History of California" (PDF). Wishtoyo. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2015.
  5. Encyclopædia Britannica, Editors of. "Channel Islands (islands, California, United States)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  6. Dailey, Murray. "Ecology of the Southern California Bight".
  7. Lentz, Joan (2006). Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast. ISBN 9780520243217.
  8. Netburn, Deborah (November 26, 2014) "Scientists find likely culprit behind mysterious sea star deaths" Los Angeles Times
  9. Panel on Southern California Bight of the Committee on a Systems Assessment of Marine Environmental Monitoring. "Monitoring Southern California's Coastal Waters".
  10. Carlson, Cheri (May 3, 2018). "Sharks the length of a small bus are showing up off Ventura and some say that's great news". Ventura County Star. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  11. Swegles, Fred (April 17, 2015). "Artificial reef: plenty of kelp, not enough fish". The Orange County Register.
  12. Panel on Southern California Bight of the Committee on a Systems Assessment of Marine Environmental Monitoring. "Monitoring Southern California's Coastal Waters".
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