by the Allan Hancock Foundation (AHF) in the late 1950' s. Much of 

 this work is summarized in Barnard, Hartman, and Jones (1959) and Jones 

 (1969). 



The AHF program was not specifically designed to test for effects 

 of important environmental variables on community composition nor were 

 replicate samples taken which would provide estimates of within- 

 station variability and permit statistical comparisons between sta- 

 tions. Furthermore, depths seaward and shoreward of 10 meters were 

 sampled with different devices now known to vary greatly in their 

 efficiencies (Word, 1975) . However, a valuable descriptive account of 

 the fauna is provided and certain loosely defined relationships are 

 evident. Species groupings were delimited by Jones (1969) and Baker 

 (1975) who applied cluster-analysis techniques to the AHF data. From 

 Jones' (1969) analysis it is evident that the fauna in shallow water 

 is of heterogeneous taxonomic composition and spatial distribution; 

 several species associations inhabit the bottom. Farther offshore the 

 fauna is less patchy and more consistent. 



A comprehensive study of the open-coast subtidal sand-bottom in- 

 faunal comniunity residing within the strong surge zone (to 7.6-meter 

 depth) has not been conducted in southern California. These fauna may 

 have distinctive features as reported elsewhere (Day, Field, and 

 Montgomery, 1971). Barnard (1963) and Jones (1969) provided valuable 

 descriptions of some of the resident infaunal elements. Pager's (1968) 

 comprehensive study off La Jolla, California, dealt primarily with a 

 few epifaunal species. Oliver and Slattery (1976) reported on a near- 

 shore (6.1 to 19.8 meters) infaunal community off central California 

 and responses of species to dredge disposal. Their report includes good 

 information on seasonality of abundance and reproductive conditions of 

 the species. Patterson (1974) published the only study which enumerates 

 and quantifies southern California beach biota; nine beaches were 

 sampled seasonally. Other sand beach studies from this region have 

 received little attention due to their minimal circulation as technical 

 reports or dissertations. Particularly relevant are studies by Dexter 

 (1977) at Imperial Beach and Clark (1969) from several beaches in the 

 San Diego area. Dexter' s study used different sampling methods than 

 the present study, thus comparisons in sampling effectiveness can be 

 made but comparisons of numerical data require caution. 



7. Sampling Design Considerations . 



In addition to problems posed by the inherent variability of 

 nearshore populations, these populations are also subject to a high 

 degree of sampling error (Longhurst, 1964). This is attested to by a 

 fairly regular input of literature comparing effectiveness and effi- 

 ciency of various sampling devices (e.g.. Holme, 1964; Gallardo, 1965; 

 Wigley, 1967; Word, 1975). In shallow water where scuba diving is 



