Robert W. Schmieder – författare

Rocas Alijos lies 180 nautical miles west of Baja California. It comprises several exposed rocks that surmount a large oceanic volcano rising from the ocean floor well off the continental shelf. It is located at the transition zone between two major biologic provinces, at a latitude where the Pacific Current turns westward to form the north Pacific trans-oceanic current. In spite of its obvious importance for biogeographical studies, the remoteness of Rocas Alijos and its small size thwarted any major scientific work until very recently, and the topography, biota, and oceanographic conditions of the site remained largely unknown. During 1990, and again in 1993, Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research organization based in Walnut Creek, California, undertook expeditions to describe the site. A scientific team of 30 was onsite 31 October-7 November 1990, and a scientific team of 12 was onsite 10-15 February 1993. Since most of the Rocas Alijos site is subtidal, much of the examination and specimen collection was done by scuba, although several remote sampling techniques were also used. The exposed rocks were sampled by climbers, and megafauna were observed from shipboard.

This is the first comprehensive description of the site, which is the top of a remnant oceanic volcano 180 nautical miles off Baja California. The book presents extensive details on the observations made during two major expeditions in 1990 and 1993, including the history, rocks, water, soil, and biota. The site is highly significant for biogeographical studies, lying at the boundary between major provinces. It also provides ready access to dating the vulcanism of the region. As a case study, this volume is extremely rich in detail, integrating the various observations into a single picture of the site. The book will be indispensable to researchers concerned with the Eastern Pacific, and to persons involved in the planning of expeditions, resource management, or long-term trends in environmental conditions.