Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 4
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) have also been
observed in the Refuge’s tidal channels and restored tidal ponds. A complete list of the mammals
likely to be found on the Refuge is provided in Appendix F.
4.3.4.3 Reptiles and Amphibians
Reptiles and amphibians are generally not well represented within salt marshes; hence their
species richness on the Refuge is low, but ongoing upland habitat restoration continues to increase
habitat availability for these species. Four species of reptiles are known to occur within the
Refuge’s upland habitats: the western fence lizard (Scheloperus occidentalis), common sideblotched
lizard (Uta stansburiana), southern alligator lizard (Gerrhonotus multicarinatus) and
gopher snake (Pituophis melanoleucus). The San Diego horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum
blainvillii), a California Species of Concern, has been observed on NWSSB in the past, but its
presence has not been confirmed in recent years. A survey of reptiles and amphibians was
conducted on NWSSB in 2007 (Tierra Data Inc. 2008), but none of the sample sites were located
within the Refuge. A total of seven species of herps (i.e., reptiles and amphibians) were observed
on the NWS, and of these, three species were located near the Refuge boundary.
During a study of fish abundance in relation to seasonal water temperatures that was conducted on
the Refuge between July 2006 and October 2008, on ten different days, the primary researcher,
Katherine Jirik, and other colleagues observed eastern Pacific green sea turtles in the 7 th Street
Pond, as well as the channel leading to the 7 th Street Pond. On 50 percent of these days, groups of
two to four individuals were observed (Jirik and Lowe, in review).
Table 4-6 provides a list of the reptile and amphibian species that have been observed on or near
the Refuge; are expected to occur on or near the Refuge; or have historically occurred on or near
the Refuge.
4.3.4.4 Terrestrial Invertebrates
The insects present in the salt marsh and adjacent uplands of the Refuge provide prey for birds,
mammals, reptiles, and other invertebrates. They are also essential to the process of cycling
nutrients by turning soils, feeding on detritus and other organic material, and adding nitrogen in
the form of deposited organic fecal material (U.S. Navy 2011). Several studies have been
conducted over the years that provide some insight into the diversity and abundance of terrestrial
invertebrates present on the Refuge.
In the late 1970s, Assis de Moraes (1977) conducted a survey of the insects present within the
Refuge’s salt marsh habitat. Moraes identified 11 insect orders and 93 families, with an estimated
202 species represented within these taxa (USFWS and U.S. Navy 1990). The most abundant
insects identified by Moraes in the Refuge’s salt marsh habitat were in the taxonomic orders
Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (flies), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hymenoptera (ants,
wasps, and bees), and Homoptera (plant hoppers, aphids, scales, and allies) (USFWS and CDFG
1976). Among the Coleopteran families, the carnivorous beetle families Carabidae (predaceous
ground beetles) and Staphylinidae (rove beetles) had the largest number of species.
Dolichopodidae (long-legged flies) and Ephydridae (shore flies) were the families with the largest
number of species.
Tiger Beetles. In 1979, Nagano (1980) conducted field work along the southern California coast
from the San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara County line south to the Mexican border to determine
the population status of tiger beetles (Cicindela) along the coast. Of the seven species that were
documented in southern California during this study, three species were located within the mudflat
4-50 Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge