Distribution patterns of subtidal macrobenthos in the Tsitsikamma National Park

Subtidal macrobenthos was sampled in the Tsitsikamma National Park between 2009 and 2012 to compare shallow (11–25 m) and deep (45–75 m) sites. The resultant records of sampling events, photographic images of the sea floor, and invertebrate and algal species occurrences constitute this dataset. See Heyns et al. (2016). The following classes of data are represented. DwC Event Core: A parent sampling event represents a sample station in which 30 child sampling events / photoquadrats were randomly selected. There are 6 sample stations / parent events (i.e. 180 child sampling events / photoquadrats) for the deep site and 6 parent events (180 child sampling events / photoquadrats) for the shallow site. A 0.2m^2 photoquadrat on each photo was sampled using Coral Point Count for Excel, using 54 random points. DwC Occurrence Extension: An occurrence record represents the percentage cover of a species calculated from the 54 random points falling in the 0.2m^2 photoquadrat (i.e. the individual species points from each photoquadrat have not been published). DwC Extended Measurement or Fact Extension: Each record represents the percentage cover, in the 0.2m^2 photoquadrat, of the following elements (either Tape/Wand/Shadow), abiotic features (e.g. shells, substrate) or biodiversity that could not be identified, even at a high level. DwC Audubon Media Description: Each record represents the digital photograph containing the 0.2m^2 photoquadrat.