UCSB SONGS Mitigation Monitoring: Reef Survey - Benthic Algae, Invertebrate, and Substrate Cover

These data describe annual estimates of the percent cover of benthic macroalgae, sessile macroinvertebrates, and hard and soft substrates at three subtidal reefs collected as part of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Mitigation Monitoring Program. Data collection began in 2009 at an artificial reef (Wheeler North Reef in Orange County, CA) and two natural reference reefs (San Mateo Kelp in Orange County, CA and Barn Kelp in San Diego County, CA). In the summer of each year, divers identified and recorded species of sessile algae and macroinvertebrates, and substrate types under twenty uniformly placed points within 1 m2 quadrats that were uniformly distributed along fixed transects at each reef.