observed in the bottom zone. These 

 species include the painted greenling 

 ( Oxylebius pictus ), kelp greenling 

 ( Hexagrammos decagrammus ) , and the lingcod 

 ( Ophiodon elongatus ). Hexagrammidae eggs 

 are attached to rocks and are often 

 guarded by the male. The painted green- 

 ling feeds on small epibenthic crustace- 

 ans. Adult males are brightly colored and 

 aggressive during the breeding season 

 (DeMartini and Anderson 1980). They 

 defend both a spawning site and a shelter 

 hole, while females defend shelter holes 

 only. The kelp greenling is also sexually 

 dimorphic. This species feeds primarily 

 on polychaetes, crustaceans, and small 

 fishes (Feder et al. 1974). The kelp 

 greenling is rare in southern California, 

 and occurs in waters deeper than 20 m. 

 The lingcod (Figure 22), a prized sport 

 fish, is a seasonal migrant to kelp 

 forests. Lingcod enter shallow waters to 

 lay and guard eggs. Males guard nests for 

 about seven weeks, and often guard two to 

 four nests simultaneously. Their diet 

 consists of crabs, cephalopods, and fishes 

 (Miller and Geibel 1973). Some lingcod 

 remain as residents of kelp forests, while 

 others migrate to deeper waters. 



Sculpins in the Family Cottidae are 

 cryptic bottom fishes that can be very 

 abundant, and difficult to see. A large 

 member of this family, the cabezon, 

 ( Scorpaenichthys marmoratus ) is often seen 

 resting on the bottom and is easily 

 approached. Cabezon are often caught by 

 fishermen. The eggs are poisonous to 

 humans and should not be eaten. This 

 species feeds on crustaceans and molluscs, 

 including abalone (O'Connell 1953, Feder 

 et al. 1974). Other common subtidal 

 sculpins include the lavender ( Leiocottus 

 hirundo ) and the snubnose ( Orthonopias 

 triacis ) . They feed primarily on 

 epibenthic crustaceans. 



Gobies in the Family Gobiidae are 

 small demersal fishes, often observed 

 while scuba diving. The blackeyed goby 

 ( Coryphopterus nicholsi i , Figure 22) is 

 usually observed in sandy areas near 

 rocks. Nesting occurs from April to 

 October, with the male first cleaning a 

 spawning site under a rock. The female 

 lays eggs, and the male guards the nest 

 (Wiley 1973, Feder et al. 1974). The 

 blue-banded goby ( Lythrypnus da 1 1 i ) is a 



strikingly colorful fish common only in 

 southern California. This species is 

 brilliant crimson or orange-red with about 

 six iridescent, blue, vertical stripes on 

 the anterior two thirds of the body. 

 Blue-banded gobies are omnivorous, but 

 feed primarily on demersal zooplankton, 

 especially amphipods (Feder et al. 1974). 

 The zebra goby ( Lythrypnus zebra ) is a 

 more cryptic species with similar 

 coloration. 



Within habitats, fish species may 

 segregate by food supply. Hixon (1980) 

 and Larson (1980a) provided the first 

 experimental evidence that closely related 

 species that occur in the bottom zone may 

 partition space along a depth gradient in 

 food availability. In each of two pairs 

 of congeners, a competitively dominant 

 microhabitat specialist excluded a 

 subordinate general 1st from the shallow 

 zone where prey was more abundant. 

 Predictably, the general ist expanded its 

 distribution into shallow water when the 

 specialist fish was removed by spearing. 

 The specialist fish remained in shallow 

 water in the absence of the general ist. 

 Thus, bathymetric partitioning was 

 maintained by interference competition. 



4.5.4 Other Species 



An important predatory fish, the 

 torpedo ray, ( Torpedo cal ifornica ; Figure 

 22), is most commonly observed in southern 

 California. This species generally enters 

 the kelp forest at night to feed on 

 fishes, usually by initially shocking its 

 prey, and then eating it whole (Bray and 

 Hixon 1978). The torpedo ray hovers 

 motionless above the bottom, apparently 

 waiting for fishes to approach within its 

 shocking range. 



Sharks and rays, which are 

 occasionally observed in kelp forests, 

 include the bat ray ( Myl iobatis 

 cal ifornica ) , the horn shark ( Heterodontus 

 franc isci ) , the leopard shaTk ( Triakis 

 semifasciata ) , the angel shark ( Squatina 

 cal ifornica ) and the swell shark 

 ( Cephaloscyll ium ventriosum ) . Bat rays 

 are usually found buried in sand or 

 resting on rocks. They feed on shellfish 

 such as abalone and turban and top snails 

 (Feder et al. 1974), and may be seen 

 grubbing for other prey in sand channels 



75 



