Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

INDEX MAP TO MAP AREAS WITHIN SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL REGION

Goleta

Oxnard

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Offshore Refugio Beach

Offshore Coal Oil Point

Offshore Santa Barbara

Offshore Carpinteria

Offshore Ventura

Hueneme Canyon

and Vicinity

DISCUSSION

Information presented on this sheet is based on ground-truth surveys (see sheet 6) conducted by the U.S. 

Geological Survey and NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service for the California Seafloor Mapping 

Program. Benthic community structure was determined from 35 video towed-camera transects within 

California’s State Waters limit in the Santa Barbara Channel. These transects produced a total of 923 10-second 

observations from Refugio Beach (34.5° N., 120.1° W.) to Hueneme Canyon (34.1° N., 119.2° W.). Presenceabsence data were collected for 29 benthic, structure-forming nonmobile taxa. Generalized linear models were 

developed to predict the probability of occurrence and to create predictive-distribution maps for the most 

frequently observed macro-invertebrates (tall sea pens, short sea pens, cup corals, hydroids, and brittle stars) 

(Krigsman and others, 2012). This sheet shows five predictive-distribution maps (Maps A–E) for the Hueneme 

Canyon and vicinity map area, which is depicted by a red outline in the Santa Barbara Channel regional maps 

(Map F). 

Covariates in the generalized linear models were geographic location, bathymetry, and seafloor character. 

Geographic location was derived from analysis of five of the six map areas along the mainland coast of the 

Santa Barbara Channel, excluding the offshore Carpinteria map area where data were insufficient. From the 

five areas, three statistically different locations were identified on the basis of a community-structure analysis 

of the invertebrate taxa and associated covariates (sometimes resulting in distinctly different predicted distributions across map boundaries): (1) the Hueneme Canyon and vicinity and offshore Ventura map areas; (2) the 

offshore Santa Barbara and offshore Coal Oil Point map areas; and (3) the offshore Refugio Beach map area. 

Data for the two other covariates were provided in sheet 2 (shaded-relief bathymetry) and sheet 5 (seafloorcharacter map).

Although probability of occurrence for each invertebrate taxon was predicted for the entire Santa Barbara 

Channel (Map F), this sheet highlights predictions for the Hueneme Canyon and vicinity map area (Maps 

A–E). Observations based on depth were limited by the capability of the towed camera sled; as a result, no 

predictions were made below depths of 150 m (in other words, on the continental slope or in Hueneme 

Canyon). Tall and short sea pens (Maps A and B, respectively) had a moderate predicted probability of occurrence along the edge of the canyon and in deep waters southeast of the canyon. The seafloor within the area 

surrounding Hueneme Canyon lacks hard substrate coverage (mixed sediment and (or) rugose rock); as a 

result, minimal to no areas within California’s State Waters were predicted to be where cup corals might occur 

(Map D). Similarly, the probability of observing hydroids within the same area was also minimal; however, the 

area along the edge of the canyon had moderate probabilities of occurrence (Map C). Brittle stars in the 

sediment, observed by arms protruding from the substrate, had the greatest probability of occurrence of all the 

invertebrates predicted to occur within this map area (Map E).

REFERENCES CITED

Gotshall, D.W., 2005, Guide to marine invertebrates—Alaska to Baja (2d ed.): Monterey, Calif., Sea 

Challengers, 117 p.

Krigsman, L.M., Yoklavich, M.M., Dick, E.J., and Cochrane, G.R., 2012, Models and maps—Predicting the 

distribution of corals and other benthic macro-invertebrates in shelf habitats: Ecosphere, v. 3(1), article 3, 

16 p., doi:10.1890/ES11-00295.1.

EXPLANATION

Probability of occurrence

High (99.0%)

Low (0.0%)

Area of “no data”—Areas from shoreline (defined as Mean Higher High Water) out to 10-m water 

depth not mapped owing to difficulties in ship-based surveying caused by sea state (for 

example, waves, wind, or currents); areas beyond 3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State 

Waters were not mapped as part of California Seafloor Mapping Program

3-nautical-mile limit of California’s State Waters

CALIF.

0 4 8 Nautical Miles

Kilometers 0 5 10

120° 119°40' 119°20' 119°

34°

34°20'

MAP LOCATION

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Anacapa

Island

Santa Cruz Island Santa Rosa Island

Area of

Map

Santa Barbara Channel

Limit of California’s

State Waters

1

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service;

2

U.S. Geological Survey

Predicted Distribution of Benthic Macro-Invertebrates, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity and Santa Barbara Channel Region, California

By

Lisa M. Krigsman,1 Mary M. Yoklavich,1 Guy R. Cochrane,2 and Nadine E. Golden2

2012

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government

This map was printed on an electronic plotter directly from digital files. Dimensional calibration may vary between electronic 

plotters and between X and Y directions on the same plotter, and paper may change size due to atmospheric conditions; therefore, 

scale and proportions may not be true on plots of this map.

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/

Suggested Citation: Krigsman, L.M., Yoklavich, M.M., Cochrane, G.R., and Golden, N.E., 2012, Predicted distribution of benthic 

macro-invertebrates, Hueneme Canyon and vicinity and Santa Barbara Channel region, California, sheet 12 in Johnson, S.Y., 

Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Greene, H.G., Krigsman, L.M., Endris, C.A., Clahan, 

K.B., Sliter, R.W., Wong, F.L., Yoklavich, M.M., and Normark, W.R. (S.Y. Johnson, ed.), California State Waters Map Series__Hueneme 

Canyon and vicinity, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3225, pamphlet 41 p., 12 sheets, available at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/.

SCALE 1:50 000

1 0.5 0 1 KILOMETER

7000 3500 0 7 000 FEET

2 1 0 2 MILES

SCALE 1:400 000

25 20 15 10 5 0 25 KILOMETERS

70 000 50 000 30 000 10 000 0 70 000 FEET

10 5 0 10 MILES

APPROXIMATE MEAN ONE MILE = 0.869 NAUTICAL MILES DECLINATION, 2012

13°

MAGNETIC NORTH

TRUE NORTH

Predicted distributions mapped in 2011

GIS database and digital cartography by Nadine E. 

Golden and Eleyne L. Phillips

Edited by Taryn A. Lindquist

Manuscript approved for publication July 25, 2012

Onshore elevation data from NOAA Coastal Services 

Center (data collected by EarthData International in 

2002-2003) and from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (data 

collected by Fugro Pelagos in 2009). California's State 

Waters limit from NOAA Office of Coast Survey

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11N

Map D – Predicted Distribution of Cup Corals, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity Map E – Predicted Distribution of Brittle Stars, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity Map F – Predicted-Distribution Maps for Santa Barbara Channel Region

Map A – Predicted Distribution of Tall Sea Pens, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity Map B – Predicted Distribution of Short Sea Pens, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity Map C – Predicted Distribution of Hydroids, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°10'

34°5'

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

Hueneme Canyon

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°10'

34°5'

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

Hueneme Canyon

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°10'

34°5'

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

Hueneme Canyon

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°10'

34°5'

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

Hueneme Canyon

119°20' 119°15' 119°10'

34°10'

34°5'

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

Hueneme Canyon

E) Predicted Distribution of Brittle Stars 

D) Predicted Distribution of Cup Corals 

C) Predicted Distribution of Hydroids 

B) Predicted Distribution of Short Sea Pens 

A) Predicted Distribution of Tall Sea Pens 

Photograph of brittle stars. Brittle stars are type of sea star in class 

Ophiuroidea; commonly found buried in mud or sand, exposed only by 

their long, slender arms. 

Photograph of cup corals. Cup corals are sessile Cnidarians; found 

solitary or in large colonies, from intertidal zone to 150 m deep 

(Gotshall, 2005), on mixed and rugose rock. 

Photograph of Hydroids. Hydroids are sessile Cnidarians (class 

Hydrozoa); found from intertidal zone to deep ocean depths, on soft, 

mixed, and hard sediment. 

Photograph of tall sea pen. Tall sea pens are sessile Cnidarians 

(order Pennatulacea) that are greater than 60 cm in height; found 

on soft and mixed sediment.

Photograph of short sea pen. Short sea pens are sessile 

Cnidarians (order Pennatulacea) that are less than 60 cm in 

height; found on soft and mixed sediment.

Scientific Investigations Map 3225

Sheet 12 of 12

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey