The range of the California Halibut, Paralichthys californicus, spans three biogeographic provinces along the coastline of Alto (United States) and Baja (Mexico) California. To assess population genetic structure of the California Halibut, we analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from 375 individuals across a large portion of its native range. Nucleotide diversity was consistently low among sampling sites (π  =  0.0026 ± 0.0017), while haplotype diversity was consistently high (h  =  0.77 ± 0.024). We found that California Halibut were genetically homogeneous across sampled sites with an overall Φ_st  =  0.0030 (p  =  0.22). We saw no evidence of genetic discontinuities at two previously recognized marine phylogeographic breaks in the Los Angeles region or across the California Transition Zone at Point Conception. We conclude that California Halibut are genetically homogeneous and experience substantial gene flow, at least over evolutionary time scales.

The abundance of the long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis) is estimated from data collected during a 2009 ship-based line-transect survey. The survey was designed to provide fine-scale coverage of the known range of D. capensis along the California and west Baja California coasts. Estimates of D. capensis abundance presented are the highest to date for California waters and may reflect a combination of improved survey design for this species and increasing numbers of D. capensis in state waters. Estimates of D. capensis abundance within California waters are 183,396 (CV = 0.41, 95% CI 78,149 − 379,325) animals. An additional 95,786 (CV = 0.47, 95% CI 36,881 − 209,507) D. capensis were estimated in Baja California waters from the U.S./Mexico border south to the tip of Baja California. Total estimated abundance of D. capensis in California and Baja California west coast waters is 279,182 (CV = 0.31, 95% CI 148,753 − 487,323) animals.

The California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) commercial fishing effort along the southern Orange County, California coastline was examined using fishery-independent counts of trap marker buoys and fishery-dependent information submitted to the California Department of Fish and Game in the required commercial logbooks. Buoy counts were conducted in spatially-discrete subsections of the coastline inshore of the 30-m isobath to determine the density of fishing effort at a scale finer than is afforded by the standard fishing blocks used by the Department of Fish and Game. Both the buoy densities and fisherman-reported trap pull counts recorded declining effort across the area as the season progressed. Effort was more diffuse at the beginning of the season, but increasingly focused on areas covered by giant kelp canopy, including the boundary of a previously existing, small no-take marine reserve located in the study area. General effort declined as the frequency of capturing a harvestable California spiny lobster declined. The catch per unit effort of harvestable and sublegal individuals was found to decline at highly correlated rates with no effect on the following season. Fishing regulations in portions of this study area will be increased through the implementation of a network of no-take marine reserves. Data presented herein provides a baseline to compare future fishing effort in the Laguna Beach area after two of the three most intensively fished sites are closed due to their inclusion in the Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve and adjoining State Marine Conservation Area.

A new species of Cypraeidae is described from the middle Campanian (Late Cretaceous) portion of the Schulz Ranch Member of the Williams Formation, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County, southern California. This is the first cypraeid described from the Williams Formation and only the second cypraeid species described from the Santa Ana Mountains. New paleogeographic and chronologic records of previously described and indeterminate Cretaceous cypraeid species are also listed.

The reproductive cycle of the Great Basin Collared lizard, Crotaphytus bicinctores was studied by a histological examination of museum specimens. Mean clutch size (n  =  13) was 3.46 ± 1.1 SD, range: 2–6. Histological evidence indicates that two clutches may be produced in the same year. The reproductive season includes spring and early summer. There was a significant positive correlation between female body size (SVL) and clutch size (P  =  0.03). The smallest reproductively active male and female C. bicinctores measured 81 mm and 78 mm SVL, respectively.