The Channel Islands is off the shore of California and, consists of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and has over 249,000 acres of land including bodies of water. It is home to over two thousand different species of plants and animals.
The key habitats are mainly kelp forests, rocky intertidal and sandy beaches. The Key species are Snow Plovers, Red Abalone, Near shore rock fish, and Northern Elephant Seal. The depth ranges from 0-3200 feet and the waters have high nutrients levels.
A possible food chain is brown algae->kelp crab->sunflower star->California spiny lobster->sea bass->northern elephant seals->killer whales.
Scientists have been studying large extensive beds of sea grass called eel grass, this is extremely important for the habitat.
In 1978 during the warm water years wasting disease destroyed populations of shallow water echinoderms in southern California. It had the most effect on sea stars, sea cucumbers, and brittle stars.
This disease was highly contagious and was caused by a bacterium of the genus Vibrio.
