Quantitative Studies 



At each qualitative collection station except Twotrce Island (owing to insufficient exposed bedrock), 

 five permanent transects were established perpendicular to the water-line, one-half meter wide and extending 

 from Mean High Water to Mean I^w Water levels. Bach transect, composed of 0.5 x 0.5 m quadrats, 

 was non-destructively sampled monthly from March 1979 to February 1981, seven times per year from 

 March 1981 to April 1983, and six times per year, in odd numbered months since May 198.1 (see Appendix 

 RS MI, Fnvironmental Tech. Spec. Change Request for Intertidal Rocky Shore Survey). The percentage 

 of substratum cover of all organisms and remaining free space in each quadrat was subjectively determined 

 and recorded. Understory organisms, or species that were partially or totally obscured by the canopy 

 layer, were assigned a percentage that reflected their true abundance. 



Recolonization Studies 



Transects 



Rates and patterns of recolonization following substratum denudation were determined in two series 

 of recolonization transect experiments that were conducted at four stations (Fox Island-F.xposed, Fox 

 Island-Sheltered, White Point, Giants Neck). Sample design included two pairs of stations with similar 

 degrees of exposure (Fig. 2): exposed at F'F, and WP, and sheltered at GN and FS. The Fox Island 

 stations, becau.se of their proximity to the MNPS discharge, were considered potentially impacted, while 

 White Point and Giants Neck were identified as reference stations. In April 1979, three vertical transects 

 were established at each station. Fach transect was scraped free of attached algae and invertebrates and 

 burned with a liquid petroleum gas torch. All recolonization transects were sampled monthly in the same 

 manner as described for undisturbed transects. The effect that seasonality of denuding had on recolonization 

 was determined in a second series of experiments that was established in September 1981, .10 months after 

 the initial denuding, when all recolonization strips were reburned. 



