Point Contact sampling consists of recording the diversity and abundance of invertebrates and algae along 11 transects of variable length extending from the upper intertidal to the low intertidal. Intertidal surveys are comprised of four components, all sampled along the same transects: (1) point contact estimates of intertidal cover and substrate characteristics, (2) swath transects to estimate the density of seastars and abalone, (3) quadrat sampling to estimate the density of mobile invertebrates, and (4) topography (elevation relative to mean low low water (mllw)). Intertidal coastal biodiversity surveys are conducted throughout the year at sites ranging from Southeast Alaska to Baja California, Mexico. Selected sites are resampled on a 3-5 year cycle. A site is defined as a contiguous rocky bench of at least 30m.The Point Contact summary data include the percent cover of 20 of the most abundant species (or substrate classifications) observed across all sites during the Point Contact Surveys. This percent cover was calculated based on the first point only. The top 10 species were selected based on the total percent cover across sites. Additional species were then added to the selected species, based on regional differences between sites. The percent cover for the resulting 20 species is listed for each site, along with the overall ranking across all sites for each species. If a specific species is not listed for a specific site, that species was not observed on the first point during the Point Contact Surveys conducted at that site.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.

This metadata record documents the recruitment monitoring study for PISCO intertidal. Settlement collectors are deployed and rock surfaces cleared at various sites along the pacific coast of California and Oregon. At each site there are two types of collectors. Collectors made of plastic mesh, ovoid, pot-scrubbers ("Tuffies") target mussel recruits. Plastic 10x10 cm PVC plates covered with 3M Safety-Walk target barnacle recruitment. 10x10 cm square plots were cleared on the rock near each barnacle recruitment plate to target natural barnacle recruitment. All collectors were deployed and plots cleared in the mid zone at all the sites throughout the year. Additional collectors and plots were added to the low and high shore levels in specific years and sites. Although mussels and barnacles were the main target taxa, other organisms were recorded as well.