We made extensive observations in the shallows off sandy beaches along the southern California coastline from 2013-2018 using SCUBA. The common diurnal behavior of young-of-the-year (YOY) of giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas, were documented, in detail, and categorized while they occupied their unique nursery areas. We identified and described the frequently observed behaviors referred to as 1) “kelping”, 2) “resting”, 3) “traveling”, and 4) “burying”. Finally, through direct observation, mysid shrimp were confirmed as the primary diet of young-of-the-year of the giant sea bass off southern California. This is the first study to provide a behavioral overview of the YOY of this internationally listed, endangered species, and it bridges important gaps in our understanding of their early life history.

Many batoid species will form aggregations while resting on the seafloor; however, the environmental variables that drive resting habitat selection behavior, and how it varies among species are not well understood. Bat rays (Myliobatis californica), shovelnose guitarfish (Pseudobatos productus), and round stingrays (Urobatis halleri) have been observed forming heterospecific aggregations. We investigated the effects of substrata type and seafloor water temperature as two likely variables that would influence resting habitat selection for these species. Spatial distribution patterns of individuals were determined via diver-based surveys over two survey seasons (Fall 2013 and Summer 2014) and related to detailed georeferenced habitat maps. While these batoids were found resting on both soft sediment types available, fine-sand was selected by all three species, whereas bat rays were the only one of the three species to select for vegetated-sand. The varying thermal sensitivities of the batoids likely influenced their responses to daily and seasonal temperatures within the study area. During Fall 2013, the three species were most abundant across a narrow temperature range (18.00 – 18.25°C); during Summer 2014, there were higher densities of bat rays in areas where daily maximum seafloor temperature reached 20°C. Each species demonstrated habitat selection decisions that were indicative of balancing tradeoffs between environmental variables. As K-selected, meso-level predators, aggregating in predictable ways can ultimately make batoids more susceptible to fishing and anthropogenic pressures. Therefore, knowledge of how batoids select their resting habitat and how environmental conditions shape distributions may provide managers with opportunities to implement better protection for resting species.

La Graciosa thistle Cirsium scariosum var. loncholepis (Asteraceae) is a biennial or short-lived perennial plant (usually 10 to 100 cm tall) that is endemic to southwestern San Luis Obispo County and western Santa Barbara County in coastal southern California, and little has been published regarding it. The taxon was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 1990 and endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 2000. At Federal listing in 2000, La Graciosa thistle was known from 17 occurrences, 8 of which were likely extirpated. As of 2019, it is known from 21 occurrences of which five are extant, 15 are likely extirpated and 1 has unknown status. La Graciosa thistle exists as groups of individuals in wetland habitats in an arid and semi-arid landscape, and the five extant occurrences are associated with the Callender Dunes and Guadalupe Dunes in San Luis Obispo County. The plants flower once and then die, with a probable life span of 2 to 6 yr. Seed dispersal is by wind and also likely by water, and the taxon appears to have only a minimally persistent soil seed bank. The primary threat to La Graciosa thistle in 2019 is reduced water/lack of water, with groundwater decline as the likely major cause, along with hydrological alteration, drought and climate change. The groundwater decline appears to result primarily from extraction for urban, agricultural and industrial uses, and it is exacerbated by drought and climate change. In 2019, La Graciosa thistle meets the IUCN criteria for endangered.