ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the densities of five warm-temperate marine fishes associated with a kelp forest, a natural rock reef, and Pendleton Artificial Reef (PAR). It analyzes five species of warm-temperate fishes that are characteristically associated with giant kelp forest, and other shallow rocky and vegetated habitats in southern California. The comparisons were made to evaluate the ability of artificial reefs to attract fish and to identify the potential benefits and detriments associated with high fish densities on artificial habitats. The density of California sheephead was indistinguishable between PAR and the natural reef site, but in the kelp forest sheephead densities were significantly lower than at PAR and Las Pulgas Reef. The Pendleton Artificial Reef was designed and constructed with the ultimate aim of producing a biological community that would compare favorably with natural reefs and kelp forests in the area.
