Veleroa complex, and Dodecaceria fewkesi. Macrophytic algae and 

 deeper dominants such as Corynactis, Astrangia, gorgonians, and 

 ectoprocts are scarce. An exception to this generalization is found 

 on the north side, where a dense band of gorgonians (Muricea 

 fruticosa and M. californica) exists (see Figs. 9 to 12). Dense 

 growths of ectoprocts (mostly Lagenipora punctulata, Scrapocellaria 

 diegensis , and Phidolopora pacifica) and Serpulorbis sguamigerus are 

 found at the bases of the gorgonians, apparently taking advantage of 

 sheltered habitat conditions. A quadrat from the northeast wing 

 Lithothamnium-Veleroa association (outside the dense Muricea band) 

 produced the highest niomber of species (37) of all 250 quadrats 

 analyzed. Bat stars (Patiria miniata) and urchins are abundant over 

 the Lithothamnium-Veleroa association on all sides. The giant key- 

 hole lim.pet (Megathura crenulata) is frequently encountered here, as 

 are sea cucumbers (Parastichopus californicus and P. parvimensis) . 

 This association accounts for more subtidal areal coverage than all 

 other associations combined and it is highly uniform in species 

 composition around the island. Despite relatively intensive sampling, 

 no statistically significant differences in biomass of the character- 

 istic dominants (Lithothamnium, Veleroa, and Dodecaceria) were found 

 between this association on the north side and similar associations 

 elsewhere on the island (associations 4, 9, and 12 in Figs. C-3 to C-6 

 were found not significantly different from the north-side 

 Lithothamnium-Veleroa association) . 



f. Veleroa- Lagenipora-Lophogorgia-Muricea Association . 



In deeper areas of the Lithothamnium zone around the island, 

 the upper parts of the rocks support species representative of that 

 association, while ectoprocts abound on the side and undersurfaces. 

 Deeper yet, the dominant taxa are distinctly different from those 

 characteristic of the Lithothamnium association. Taxa commonly oc- 

 curring in this area include Veleroa complex, solitary and colonial 

 corals Paracyathus stearnsii, Balanophyllia elegans , and Astrangia 

 lajollaensis) , gorgonians Muricea spp. Lophogorgia chilensis) , 

 colonial anemones (Corynactis californica) , ectoprocts 

 (Scrupocellaria diegensis , Lagenipora punctulata, and Phidolovora 

 pacifica) and the scaled worm shell gastropod, Serpulorbis 

 sguamigerus . During the phase of work involving charting of the major 

 species associations, five associations were provisionally discrimi- 

 nated (2, 3, 8, 10, and 13 in Figs. C-3 to C-6) in this deeper area. 

 Although this group of associations is distinctly different from the 

 Lithothamnium association, there was no statistical reason on the 

 basis of the data and observations to separate any of the five pre- 

 liminary associations from one another. Accordingly, these deep as- 

 sociations are combined under the letter designation F in Figs. 9 to 

 12. A large "transition zone" on the west side was not significantly 

 different 'from the Lithothamnium association; however, two smaller 

 transition areas, one on the northwest wing and one on the southeast 

 wing, were significantly different. 



54 



