SBC LTER: Reef: Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Invertebrate and algal density

These data describe the density and size of a select group of
about 50 species of benthic invertebrates and understory algae in
fixed plots (either 1m x 1m or 20m x 1m) along permanent
transects. These data are part of SBCLTER’s kelp forest monitoring
program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and
diversity of reef-associated organisms in the Santa Barbara
Channel, California, USA. The sampling locations in this dataset
are at nine reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa
Barbara Channel and at two sites on the north side of Santa Cruz
Island. These sites reflect several oceanographic regimes in the
channel and vary in distance from sources of terrestrial runoff.
Sampling began in 2000, and these data are updated annually. The time period of data collection varied among the 11 kelp forest
sites. Sampling at BULL, CARP, and NAPL began in 2000, sampling at
the other 6 mainland sites (AHND, AQUE, IVEE, GOLB, ABUR, MOHK)
began in 2001 (transects 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 at IVEE were added in
2011). Data collection at the two Santa Cruz Island sites (SCTW
and SCDI) began in 2004. See Methods for more information.   See Methods for more information.

本数据集记录了沿永久样带（transects）设置的固定样方（fixed plots，规格为1m×1m或20m×1m）内，选定的约50种底栖无脊椎动物（benthic invertebrates）与底层藻类（understory algae）的密度及个体大小。本数据集隶属于圣巴巴拉海岸长期生态研究站（SBCLTER）的海带森林（kelp forest）监测项目，旨在追踪美国加利福尼亚州圣巴巴拉海峡内礁栖生物的物种丰度与多样性的长期变化模式。本数据集的采样点位涵盖圣巴巴拉海峡大陆沿岸的9个珊瑚礁样点，以及圣克鲁斯岛北侧的2个样点。这些样点覆盖了海峡内的多种海洋学区域（oceanographic regimes），且与陆地径流（terrestrial runoff）源的空间距离各不相同。采样工作始于2000年，且数据集每年更新。11个海带森林样点的采样起始时间存在差异：其中BULL、CARP与NAPL样点的采样于2000年启动；其余6个大陆沿岸样点（AHND、AQUE、IVEE、GOLB、ABUR、MOHK）的采样于2001年启动，IVEE样点的第3、5、6、7、8号样带于2011年新增；圣克鲁斯岛的2个样点（SCTW与SCDI）的采样于2004年启动。详细信息请参见方法部分。