Community Surveys: UPC Surveys

Invertebrate and algae surveys are comprised of two components, sampled along the same transects: (1) uniform point contact (UPC) estimates of benthic cover and substrate characteristics and (2) swath transects to estimate the density of kelps and macroinvertebrates. This metadata record documents the UPC surveys for the South Coast Baseline Program subtidal community surveys of kelp and shallow reef ecosystems. UPC sampling consists of recording the substrate type, physical relief and percent cover of non-mobile invertebrates and algae along 30m long transects. UPC surveys are conducted annually in the summer. To assure that the entire kelp forest is sampled representatively, benthic transects are stratified across the face of the reef (alongshore and cross-shore). Within each cross-shore ‘zone’, two to three randomly located transects are sampled along isobaths (constant depth) parallel to shore. The zones at each site are stratified in a manner similar to the fish survey transects, and designed to encompass the offshore edge of the reef, the middle of the reef, and as shallow inshore as practical. Data are included for the years 2011 and 2012. More information and additional data can be obtained at http://piscoweb.org (link is external).