and 



f~ co logical Niches 

 in the Gulf of the Farallones 



Year round, thousands of people are attracted to the cold waters of the Gulf of the 

 Farallones for its whale and bird watching, beautiful coastal tide pools, and com- 

 mercial and sport fishing. Few realize that the organisms that they see and catch are 

 only a small pan of a rich and complex marine ecosystem. 



Scientists have found that the distribution and abundance of marine flora and fauna 

 in the gulf are directly related to the physical and chemical conditions of its waters. 

 Upwelling of deep nutrient-rich waters along the coast during the spring and summer 

 months of most years feeds microscopic plankton that support a complex but fragile 

 web of organisms, from Dungeness crabs, chinook salmon, and brown pelicans to 

 elephant seals, great white sharks, and giant blue whales. The Cordell Bank, Gulf of 

 the Farallones, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries help to protect and 

 preserve this marine abundance. 



