Catalina & the Channel Islands

Posted on by Cathleen Tinder

So, where am I going? In a week, a small crew of Bay Area Science teachers and I will be joining scientists on Catalina Island, one of the Channel Islands off of the coast of southern California. The Channel Islands are a gorgeously unique chain of eight islands, five of which are designated as a national park, with crystal clear water, kelp forests, rocky reefs, and a rich diversity of wildlife that scientists are working hard to protect. Catalina Island, which is where we will be focusing our research efforts, resides about 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, but is a world away from urban life.

I first heard of the Channel Islands several years ago, when I learned about the Channel Island Fox—an adorable, tiny, endangered fox that only lives on six of the eight islands. Beginning in 1999, scientists worked together to create and implement a recovery plan based on the field work of many individuals, which kept the fox from going extinct when there were only 15 left!

On this expedition we will be focusing on protecting marine mammals, and intertidal organisms. We will also be doing water quality testing and surveying how humans are using the habitat, along with what impacts humans might be having on the environment. The island is surrounded by a whole system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which you can think of like national parks under the sea. MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural resources. One really important aspect of our field work on the island is to contribute to Pacific coast data sets that can potentially provide scientists with strong evidence to help preserve these MPAs, keeping them healthy and pristine for many different populations of organisms.

And an extra special bonus is that I might finally get to see a Channel Island Fox while I’m there!!marinelli-conserving-marine-life-catalinas-coast-h1_6665

Now, I want to hear from you! In the comments, answer at least 1 of the following questions, and feel free to also ask me a question you might have about the expedition:

1.) Have you ever been to a national park in California, or a national park somewhere else in the U.S.? If so, where did you go and what was your favorite thing about it? If not, which one would you most like to visit?

2.) What do you think are some of the long term benefits of National Parks and Marine Protected Areas?

3.) Click on the map and see if you can find the 8 islands that make up the Channel Islands. Zoom in on Catalina Island. Point out some interesting features that you notice about Catalina or its coastline.

69 thoughts on “Catalina & the Channel Islands”

  4. 1) I have been to the Pinnacles, my favorite thing about it was the trip to the bat cave.
    2) I think that one benefit is that the animals that might go extinct, might be there, protected, so that way not all of the species can die out.

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    1. 1: I have been to a few national parks in the U.S. I liked Pinnacles and my favorite thing about it was that animals could live in peace there away from big cities.
      2: I think that a benefit would be keeping species safe. Another one would be preventing humans from harming the environment.

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  5. 1. I’ve been to the Pinnacles. My favorite thing about it was at night in the tent and coon hunting.
    2. I think they are protected so it’s good for animals

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  6. Awesome Job!
    I really would like to hear more about the fox and the other marine mammals!
    Every summer, I go to a lot of national parks, and this Thanksgiving, me and my family are going to The Grand Canyon! When I went to Big Trees National Park, I learned that preserving national parks keeps everything beautiful for a long time, and can protect endangered species! I notice that all the islands have really unique shapes and look like a long time ago, they were part of America, because the ocean is less deep around the islands and the ocean between CA and the islands.

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    1. I love that you go to national parks in the summer, I like to do that also. And you will be amazed by the Grand Canyon! I promise that I will talk more about the marine mammals, and if I do see a fox, you will hear about it. 🙂
      Great observations about the islands shapes, and at one time in geologic history, the water was less deep around the islands, and that is actually how they think the foxes got there in the first place. One idea is that the foxes rafted over there when sea level was lower about 10,000 years ago. Which is to say, they swam & floated over in groups, not on a raft. 🙂

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  7. I have been to Joshua tree, Yosemite, and pinnacles. I think some benefits are that marine mammal will be protected. I can’t really tell since when I try to look closer in it won’t show me the names

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  8. I have been to Pinnacles and Yosemite.I would most like to visit The Grand Canyon. I would say the most important long term benefits of national parks is that lots of people get to see them, and they are some of the few parts of the world that will be preserved.

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    1. Great question! National Parks are areas that are protected mainly for conservation and preservation and have many limits on their use. Mostly only recreation is allowed, with the idea that national parks are to be taken care of and remain the same as they were when first protected.

      National forests are also protected areas, but people do responsibly manage and use the resources in national forests, so logging takes place there, as well as fishing and grazing, for instance.

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  10. 1- Pinnacles. My favorite thing about it was all the wildlife and the different trees.
    2- Some long-term benefits are that everything is preserved and animals are kept more alive.

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    1. Glad you asked, Elizabeth. We will be focusing on seals and sea lions, as well as whales, dolphins, and tide pool creatures like sea anemones. We’re going to be looking at microscopic organisms in the water, too. I will definitely share more about this soon!

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  12. 1) Sierra national forest: I like how relaxing it is
    2) I think it is important because if we have national forests, people can see real nature with their own eyes
    3)All the cities are in coves

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  13. A long term benefit from National Parks and Marine protected areas is that they protect animals and plants in that area. I have never been to a National Park and I don’t really know any.

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  17. I have been to Pinnacles in 6th grade and a Red Wood forest in Northern California.

    I think the benefit of preserving national parks is because they are free to all and anyone can come and escape urban life.

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  18. 1) I have been been to Yosemite and The Pinnacles. My favorite thing about going to Yosemite was the midnight hike and my favorite thing about the Pinnacles was the hike and our groups play (sassy raccoons)
    2) some long terms benefits are that lots of plants other nature is preserved

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  20. 1. I went to The Pinnacles National park and my faviorite part was doign all of the activites, hiking and looking for racoons.

    2. I think that it is good because it is protecting animals that might need pretecting, or are close to extinction.

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    1. Hi Aaron–great question! That is most likely going to depend on what marine mammals are in the area when we are there. For instance, we will be kayaking and surveying which animals we observe, so if grey whales are migrating in the water while we take our surveys, or dolphins, we might focus on them more. Or maybe if we see our pinniped friends, like seals and sea lions, that would be more of our focus. What marine mammals would you most like to see?

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  26. I went to Joshua Tree National park and I like climbing on the boulders. Long-term benefits will help the ecosystem. I found it interesting that one of the islands has an essential fish habitat.

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  27. I went to sequoia national park and pinnicles and my favorite part was sleeping in the tents and hiking. National parks and Marine protected areas perserve the wild life in and around them

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  31. I went to Redwood National Park and Joshua Tree National Park in California, as well as Pinnacles, along with the rest of now 7th grade. My favorite thing about Joshua Tree was the open space and the rock in the shape of a skull (I believed it was called Skull Rock). My favorite thing about Redwood National Park is the tall redwoods and the peaceful vibe. It is always nice to walk through it. My favorite thing about Pinnacles are caves. I think that the long term benefits of National Parks and Marine Protected Areas are the amount of animals and plants that end up saved when they would’ve died without that kind of protection. Also the amount of people who go to the areas and fall in love with the nature and wildlife, which makes them less inclined to hurt it and more inclined to do whatever they can do make sure it stays safe. Good job and congratulations for being accepted!

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    1. Madeleine, you make a very astute point about people going to national parks and falling in love with nature, and how that makes people want to protect nature and wildlife. So important! What an amazing observation.
      And thank you. 🙂 Looking forward to sharing the adventure with you guys.

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  32. I have visited the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Zion, and Everglades. All very different. All are important to show generations how much we need to protect our environment.
    Starting with the area we live in.

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    1. Totally! I’ve been thinking a lot about the red tide situation in Florida, and part of the research in Catalina is to measure harmful algae blooms. I really want to tie these lessons together, as it is so heartbreaking to hear what’s been happening there.

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  35. In sixth grade, our entire class went to pinnacles. I’ve also been to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia national park with my family. My favorite part was swimming and chilling by rivers.

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  36. 1) I’ve been to Pinnacles to hike, I’ve been to Henry Coe for a backpacking trip, and I’ve gone to Yosemite for a family trip.
    2)I think it’s important because it is a portion of nature outside the urban life.

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  37. I believe that the long-term events of National Parks and Marine Protected Areas are that they protect the animals and wildlife from the outside world. Creating a sanctuary in which these endangered animals can thrive is an easy way to boost the population up of a species.

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  38. I have been to several national parks in my lifetime, including Yosemite. I believe that the long-term benefits of national parks include, protecting the wildlife, and stopping humans from destroying forests and wiping out species.

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  39. I really loved the pinnacles and backpacking trips we have tooken the past 2 years, and I really think that those National Parks are the fact that they are very nice sanctuaries for animals and plants that are endangered.

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    1. Have you ever been to a national park in California, or a national park somewhere else in the U.S.? If so, where did you go and what was your favorite thing about it? If not, which one would you most like to visit?

      Every year, I go to sleep away camp in the El Dorado National Forest. I love all the nature that you can find there, and the feeling you get from breathing in the smell of pine trees. I can definitely see the benefit of National Parks and Forests, as they help conserve wildlife to keep the Earth’s ecosystem healthy.

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  42. In 7th grade, I went to Henry Co. Park with my class. We backpacked for 4 days, and it was amazing. My favorite thing about this park was that there was to technology, just beautiful undisturbed nature.I loved it!

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  43. 3) One of the features that I thought was cool is that most of the islands seem to be pretty mountainous. It’s cool that small islands can have landscapes like that.

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  44. 1) I went to Pinnacles and my favorite part about it was sleeping in tents and crawling through caves.
    2) I think that some of the long-term benefits of National Parks and Marine Protected Areas are that they not only protect animals, but they create an environment in which animals and thrive and enjoy their lives.

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  45. I have visited a few national parks, Pinnacles, Yosemite, and The Grand Canyon. All of the national parks consists of intriguing animals and long, eventful hikes. National parks allow you to learn alongside the beauty of nature. You become more aware of life and your impact on it. I definitely recommend going to state parks of national parks to expose yourself to the vast sky and earth.
    National Parks were created to protect not only the plant species but also the animals that reside within it. A natural phenomenon is kept protected not only to protect the wildlife but to save the beauty in the world. I have visited a Marine Protected area on the coast and have witnessed elephant seals during the season. These areas that protect wildlife and put them on view for all eyes to see has made me and many others care for the earth more and the other organism that resides along with us. The parks have made me realize that we must think of others, even animals and plants before we take action.

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  46. I have not been to a national park in California however, I have been to Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming and Montana. My favorite things about this national park were the waterfalls, landscapes, and the wildlife. When I was there I had the privilege to see geysers, bison, and even a brown bear mamma with her cubs!

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  48. I went to Big Basin over the summer. We backpacked 40 miles in 5 days, and got to cold Waddell beach at 6am on the last day of the trip. My favorite part of the trip was bonding with new people and getting into the freezing West side water at 6am, after 5 days and 40 miles of hiking uphill carrying half my body weight.

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  49. 1.) When I was in Malaysia visiting my family I went to a Malaysian national rainforest park (I forget the exact name). It was so beautiful. My favorite part was the lake. My family and went bamboo rafting on the lake. There was nothing around except for the trees on the banks and occasional boats. When we were in the middle of the lake it started pouring and rushing back to shore was a fun experience.

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Published by Cathleen Tinder