Unit Description |
Background |
Resources |
Unit Outline |
Evaluation
Unit Description |
Background |
Resources |
Unit Outline |
Evaluation
Each student will:
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument
Gary E. Davis
Principal InvestigatorAlong with Jack Engle, Gary developed the tools that are used for the study of the Cabrillo tidepools. He helps Cabrillo scientists like Samantha Weber use these tools to conduct the study. Gary is the Senior Scientist at Channel Islands National Park. He designs, conducts, and evaluates ecological studies that guide national park stewardship. He explores ways to simultaneously sustain biodiversity and fisheries in coastal parks. He also consults world-wide on ecosystem health monitoring, national park research and management, and marine invertebrate fisheries. A native of San Diego, California, he holds Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees in Biology from San Diego State College. (more)
Jack M. Engle
Principal InvestigatorAlong with Gary Davis, Jack developed the tools and helps Samantha Weber. Jack is an Associate Research Biologist at the University of
California at Santa Barbara, and the Director of Research for the Tatman
Foundation, which sponsors the Channel Islands Research Program. From
rockweed to limpets, kelp to urchins, lobsters to sea bass, and eelgrass to
mantis shrimp, Jack has studied the ecology of California marine plants,
invertebrates, and fishes for 25 years. He has coordinated 120 scuba diving
cruises and monitors intertidal life at 25 locations. The results of these
surveys help agencies such as the National Park Service understand species
dynamics so they can properly manage these valuable resources.
Terry DiMattio
Park SuperintendentTerry's leadership and direction are essential. He decides how the information about resource conditions are used, how the public education program is structured, and what actions are taken to provide access while restoring and protecting the tidepools. Terry makes the decisions about what to do about the resources. No stewardship program can be successful without someone like Terry. The ultimate responsibility for passing unimpaired tidepools on to future generations rests with Terry.
Samantha Weber
Acting Chief of Natural Resource ScienceSamantha uses the tools developed by Gary Davis and Jack Engle to assess the resources at the Cabrillo National Monument tidepools. A native of San Diego, Samantha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of California, at San Diego (UCSD), in 1989 and left to conduct research at the University of Michigan. She returned to San Diego the following year to accept a position as a seasonal Park Ranger at Cabrillo National Monument. During her two seasons in the Resource Management Division, she studied the native plants and animals in the park, and learned to help monitor the tidepools from Gary Davis and Jack Engle. Then she left to earn her Master of Science degree in Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management, at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment. (more)
George Herring
Park RangerGeorge, like most park rangers, performs many duties. When Gary, Jack and Samantha need help performing studies in Cabrillo's tidepools, he piches in to help. Sometimes George patrols the tidepools to keep people from damaging the tidepools and to make sure dishonest people do not steal animals from their homes. You are, however, more likely to meet George leading a nature walk in the tidepools or giving a history talk somewhere else in the park. George is also the Web coordinator for the park, which means that part of his job is to make sure educational web sites like this one are available to young folks like you. George has a college degree in Parks and Natural Resources Managment from California State University Chico. He loves to spend his free time being outdoors, hiking, kayaking and, yes, exploring tidepools.
Andrea Compton
Wildlife Biologist and VolunteerAndrea is a member of the tidepool sampling team and is primarily involved with the owl limpet census. She is a wildlife biologist who currently teaches biology at San Diego Mesa College. She also volunteers for other environmental projects (e.g., herpetological and raptor surveys, habitat restoration projects) in the San Diego and southern California areas. Andrea has a B.S. in Animal Ecology and a M.S. in Wildlife Biology. Andrea finds volunteering enjoyable for several reasons. First, you can learn much more about local wildlife communities and habitats. Second, you meet a variety of interesting people with a broad diversity of experiences. Third, volunteering and the services that you perform are a great way to help the environment and to assist other scientists with their research. According to Andrea, "Volunteering can be one of the most satisfying and fun types of 'work' that can be done!"
| California Mussel | California Mussels firmly attach to the rocks of the upper intertidal zone. The shells are thick and teardrop-shaped. |  click to enlarge |
| Common Rockweed | The Common Rockweed is the most abundant of the brown algae in the upper rocky intertidal zone. |  click to enlarge |
| Owl Limpet | Owl Limpets attain a shell length of up to 4 inches. It is believed that it takes at least 10 to 15 years for these limpets to reach full growth. |  click to enlarge |
| Acorn Barnacle | Acorn Barnacles are common in the middle and high intertidal zones of southern California's rocky shores. |  click to enlarge |
| Goose Barnacle | Goose Barnacles grow in clusters that have a fleshy, muscular stalk that resembles the long neck of a goose. |  click to enlarge |
| Thatched Barnacle | Thatched Barnacles are very common on rocks in the low and middle tide zones of the exposed outer coast. |  click to enlarge |
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