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Abundance of Eelgrass (Zostera marina) at Key Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) Wintering Sites Along the Northern Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1998–2012

Open-File Report 2022-1078
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221078

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  • Document: Report (2.8 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
  • Related Work: OFR 2022-1004 — Spatial extent of seagrasses (Zostera marina and Ruppia maritima) along the central Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1999–2000
  • Data Releases:
    • USGS data release - Point sampling data for eelgrass (Zostera marina) and widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima) abundance in embayments of the north Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1998–2012
    • USGS data release - Mapping data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) distribution, Alaska and Baja California, Mexico
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Trends in the abundance and distribution of eelgrass (Zostera marina), the primary winter forage of black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans), was evaluated at three major wintering sites for black brant along the northern Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. This region of northwestern Mexico contains significant beds of eelgrass that were showing signs of decline, which may negatively affect the Pacific flyway population of black brant. Embayment-wide surveys of eelgrass were conducted at Bahia San Quintin (BSQ), Laguna Ojo de Liebre (LOL), and Laguna San Ignacio (LSI) between 1998 and 2012 to estimate baselines and trends in the distribution and abundance of this seagrass in Mexico. Eelgrass was the most abundant and frequently encountered seagrass in each site across survey years. Density and aboveground biomass of eelgrass was greater in BSQ than in LOL and LSI while abundance of widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima), a secondary source of food for brant, was greatest in LSI across survey years. Widgeongrass occurred higher in the intertidal zone than did eelgrass in all embayments, and both seagrasses generally shifted to lower water depths along a southward latitudinal gradient. A negative temporal trend in abundance of seagrasses was detected in BSQ that appeared linked to impacts of climate warming and an increase in macroalgae populations. Decreases in abundance of seagrasses were also detected in LOL and LSI, although long-term trends were less certain in LOL. Overall, declines in abundance of eelgrass in Baja California may be influencing the ongoing shift in the winter distribution of brant to areas north of the Mexican border.

Suggested Citation

Ward, D.H., 2022, Abundance of eelgrass (Zostera marina) at key Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) wintering sites along the northern Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1998–2012: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2022–1078, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20221078.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results and Discussion
  • Conclusion
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Abundance of eelgrass (Zostera marina) at key Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) wintering sites along the northern Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico, 1998–2012
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2022-1078
DOI 10.3133/ofr20221078
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Alaska Science Center Biology WTEB
Description Report: vi, 15 p.; 2 Data Releases
Country Mexico
Other Geospatial Baja California
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details