Assessment of Long-Term Changes in Biological Communities of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel - Phase 1. Volume 1. Executive Summary

摘要

The anticipated development and production of significant oil reserves in the area generated the need to develop baseline information on the biological, chemical, and geological characteristics of the area. A survey of soft-bottom habitats was conducted at 107 stations along 16 transects, with bottom depths ranging from 165 to 3000 feet. A total of 142 sediment (box) cores were collected for analysis of benthic infauna, total organic carbon, petroleum hydrocarbons, chromium, barium and various sediment parameters. Selected hard-bottom areas were surveyed using a manned submersible along 23 transects over bottom depths of 180 to 790 feet. Hard-bottom assemblages are expected to be more sensitive than soft bottom assemblages to impacts from oil and gas operations.