Why I chose to research Elkhorn Slough

For my study area, I chose to look into Elkhorn Slough in Monterey Bay in California. There are several reasons that Elkhorn Slough is a great area for investigating, documenting, analyzing, and promoting biodiversity. First, Elkhorn Slough provides habitat for hundreds of species, including six species that are listed as threatened or endangered (NOAA Office for Coastal Management 2024). This makes this area an ideal location for biodiversity research and conservation efforts. Next, the Elkhorn Slough watershed is made up of a diverse set of habitats including salt marsh, maritime chaparral, coastal prairie, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, and grasslands (NOAA Office for Coastal Management 2024). This diversity in ecosystems makes a great nursery for various marine species (California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2024). Lastly, Elkhorn Slough is located in Central California where there is a lot of human interaction and impact on the estuary. Researching how humans have affected the biodiversity of this area and mitigation attempts will be beneficial for my studies.