A seagull flies over the California Coastal National Monument which stretches along the entire coast of California and extends 12 miles into the Pacific Ocean. The Monument includes 20,000 rocks, islands, pinnacles and reefs.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Coastal Monument Kayaker enjoying the California Coastal National Monument Coastal Monument Sunset over one of the Islands in the California Coastal National Monument Coastal Monument
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California Coastal National Monument

Site Characterization

Introduction

An Ecological Approach

Where much is known about the natural history and ecology of the coastal mainland of California and its related marine resources, only limited attention has been paid to the offshore rocks and small islands. Therefore, one of the on-going priorities related to the implementation of the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) is the collection of data specific to the resources and resource values associated with the monument. In order to provide a complete ecological perspective of the CCNM, all three of the basic dimensions of an ecosystem- -physical, biological, and socio-cultural or the “ABCs” of an ecosystem (i.e., abiotic, biotic, and cultural)- -need to be taken into account. Working to understand the interconnectedness of all three of these dimensions as they apply to the CCNM is an on going effort.
 

Abiotic (physical)
The physical dimension is made up of all of the non-organic, abiotic elements of an ecosystem. This consists of the non-living material components of the environment, such as rocks, water, and air, and can include the topography, geology, climate, nutrients, and hydrology.
 Biotic (biological)
The biological dimension is made up of all of the living or biotic elements of an ecosystem. This includes all plants and animals, as well as involving food webs, microbes, and diseases.
Cultural (socio-cultural)
The socio-cultural dimension consists of those elements of an ecosystem dealing with the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human societies and cultures. This includes all human-made modifications of the environment, current and past, and involves land uses, economics, beliefs, lifestyle, and social groups.
The “ABCs”
 
Anything within the landscape can be placed within one of these three ecosystem dimensions. Each of these ecosystem dimensions- -the “ABCs” of an ecosystem- -is briefly discussed in the sidebar to the right, based on Manley et al. (1995).
 

Site Characterization Outline

General Setting 

Abiotic (Physical)

 
 
 
 

Biotic (Biological)

Terrestrial Vegetation

Intertidal Vegetation

Special-Status Vegetation Species

Non-Native Vegetation Species & Noxious Weeds

Birds

Marine Mammals

Invertebrates

Sensitive Species Lists

Other Species

Cultural (Socio-Cultural)

Cultural Resources (Prehistoric & Historic)

Traditional Cultural Properties

Visual & Scenic Values

Recreation & Visitor Access

Research

 References

Bibliography

 

 

California Coastal National Monument:
A Partnership in Protecting Unique California Coastal Resources

   
Last updated: 08-05-2008