Exploring the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Part of the marine biodiversity blog Series
Pioneering eDNA Research to Discover Marine Biodiversity in the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
In a landmark move that could pave the way for the first-ever Tribally Nominated sanctuary, the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) is inching closer to official designation. To inform decision-making surrounding this process, we have funded two researchers, Dr. Stephen Palumbi, of Stanford University and Dr. Stefano Mariani, of Liverpool John Moores University, to apply environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to assess and monitor the distribution of marine biodiversity within the proposed sanctuary. Through engagement and knowledge exchange with the Northern Chumash Tribe, this project aims to enhance existing efforts, provide resources to local stakeholders, and inform the decision-making process throughout the proposed CHNMS. Collaboration is at the heart of this work, with site sampling methods specifically tailored for ease of participation. This approach opens the door to a wide range of interested parties and allows for the potential expansion of monitored sites. Learn more about this work on our project page.
eDNA: Unlocking the Secrets of Marine Life
In April 2023, I had the privilege of joining Dr. Palumbi, his team, and representatives from the Northern Chumash Tribe on an expedition to collect eDNA from sites along the California coast, spanning from Morro Bay to Santa Barbara. Utilizing eDNA involves gathering samples of soil, water, rock, sand, air, and any other physical substrate and then sequencing DNA to understand the diverse communities of marine life inhabiting the region. Researchers will create detailed maps pinpointing species ‘hotspots’ and ‘coldspots,’ providing a crucial foundation for ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts. As the sanctuary moves towards designation, eDNA data has the potential to help the Northern Chumash Tribe and federal managers safeguard this unique ecosystem for future generations.
Evaluating Morro Bay’s eDNA From a Boat
As dawn broke, I walked alongside Marilla Lippert, the Field Operations Director at Palumbi Lab, and Brendan Cornwell, a post-doc at Palumbi Lab, my anticipation building as we approached our charter for the day. Joined by the captain, the four of us boarded the vessel and set off for a 9-hour journey through Morro Bay, facing intense wind, waves, and rain, to sample a multitude of sites.
For the project as a whole, sampling is done from the shore, a boat, and while diving. And soon, Chumash Tribal members will collect samples throughout the sanctuary using a traditional boat called a tomol. On this trip, Marilla and Brendan diligently gathered water samples at every location by deploying an aquatic tool known as a boat actualize meta probe eDNA retriever (BAMER). This innovative BAMER device, essentially a pickleball filled with gauze, was gently placed into the water to soak up the environmental DNA that will later be analyzed.
Even before the results are available, it is clear that this region is rich in biodiversity. Throughout the day we saw countless birds, seals, and sea otters and even a couple of whale tales off in the distance.
Shore Sampling in Pismo Beach
On my second day in California, I met up with Dr. Palumbi and Dan Griffin, of GG Films, a friend and filmmaker who has been documenting this work. Dan and I observed as Steve used a fishing rod to cast actualize meta probe eDNA retrievers, or FRAMERs, into the water. As those sat in the water soaking up DNA, he also collected water samples from nearby areas.
Shoreline sampling often requires walking through rugged terrains, traversing rocky landscapes and sandy dunes while carrying often heavy equipment, all in pursuit of reaching remote monitoring sites. Steve and Dan had already ventured to an additional site earlier that morning and had a packed schedule for the remainder of the day visiting numerous locations.
Community Collaboration: Connecting with the Northern Chumash Tribe
On the final day of my trip, I met up with the team at Refugio Beach, a site imbued with Northern Chumash Tribal heritage. We rendezvoused with members of the Northern Chumash Tribe, including Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, who has been at the forefront of the sanctuary designation initiative. Also present were members from National Ocean Protection Coalition (NOPC) and journalist Lauren Sommer from NPR who conducted interviews with Dr. Steve Palumbi and Violet Sage Walker, which were featured in a recent NPR article.
The day was spent discussing not only the region's rich cultural history, but also the known marine species and the implications of sanctuary designation for the coast and the Chumash people. The designation of this area as a national marine sanctuary would protect marine species, preserve the cultural heritage of the Chumash Tribe, and provide educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to the region. To showcase how easy collection was, Dr. Palumbi demonstrated his shore sample techniques and allowed for anyone interested to participate in sampling.
Joining members of the Northern Chumash Tribe this day was an incredible experience that left me feeling very excited about the work. Collaborating with them and the dedicated researchers working throughout the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary allowed for me to gain insight into the remarkable work our grantees are doing to evaluate environmental DNA. I hope the photos help pull back the curtain a bit for our audience. This endeavor exemplifies the power of community preservation, scientific exploration, and heritage conservation in safeguarding the natural world.
To learn more about this work, visit the project’s landing page and to stay up to date on this collaborative work by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
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