(full paper is archived in the Miller Library)
Title: Diversity and abundance of Polychaete and Sipunculid
worms in the holdfasts of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera
of Hopkins Marine Life Refuge and Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve.
Student Author(s): Fastenau, Jason
Faculty Advisor(s): Pearse, John
Pages: 13
Location: Senior Thesis UC Santa Cruz
Date: May 1996
Abstract: This study involves the examination of holdfasts of
the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, in the Hopkins Marine
Life Refuge (HMLR), and at the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve. The
holdfasts were examined for both Polychaete and Sipunculid species
diversity and abundance. The Polychaete diversity was considerably
lower than expected, with several species heavily dominating the
holdfasts. Polychaete abundance within the holdfasts was found to be
highly variable, with no apparent link to holdfast size. It is also
apparent that in order to obtain a accurate account of the species of
worms in a given kelp bed it would be necessary to collect many more
holdfasts.