Wrack deposition on sandy beaches varies spatially and is affected by morphological features on the beach-face such as cusps. This study tested a series of hypotheses regarding the differences in wrack deposits, sediments and macrofaunal communities between cusp bays and horns. Bays had greater cover and larger pieces of wrack than horns. Sediment organic-matter content was greater on horns tha...

Designation as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can protect coastal ecosystems, but apparently has not effectively protected the rocky intertidal zone in urban Southern California. Here, illegal collecting and habitat disturbance harm coastal marine life. We surveyed day visitors to sandy beaches or adjacent rocky habitats in Orange County. Using the close-ended, double-bounded contingent valuatio...