Abstract
Geographic information systems (GIS) facilitate monitoring and analysis of population distributions at spatial and temporal scales differing from those employed in conventional field monitoring. This study utilizes a GIS‐based gap analysis of a network of marine reserves around Santa Catalina Island relative to the regional ecology, disturbance regime, and persistence of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a keystone species in the nearshore, marine environment. Catalina's orientation and greatly‐dissected coastline create diverse microhabitats with respect to storm exposure, temperature, light regime and topographic factors. GIS overlay methods applied to multi‐temporal kelp distribution maps generated a model representing the spatial “persistence” of kelp. Correlations between the kelp's geographic distribution and persistence, the disturbance regime and physical variables conferring resistance to or recovery from it were drawn. This analysis identified regions of persistent kelp under disturbance regimes markedly different from those in the existing reserves, suggesting the designation of additional reserves in unprotected areas is ecologically warranted.
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