Exploring intraspecific and interspecific variation of coral reef algae using a novel trait-based framework

The development of trait-based approaches has accelerated our understanding of how communities assemble, respond to environmental change, and may best be managed in the Anthropocene. Understanding the magnitude and pattern of interspecific variability forms a critical underpinning of trait-based approaches while exploring intraspecific variability can identify the potential of species to adapt to changing environmental drivers. Our work is motivated by the critical need for a novel conceptual framework for understanding the functional ecology of macroalgae, as the current paradigm is still mired in functional group models developed in the 1980s.
Our objective was to quantify interspecific and intraspecific functional trait variability in three common and morphologically diverse species of tropical marine macroalgae by exploring traits relating to the ecological functions of resource acquisition, resistance to herbivory, and resistance to physical disturbance and the tradeoffs between th..., We chose three macroalgal species from Class Phaeophyceae, Padina boryana, Sargassum pacificum, and Turbinaria ornata (hereafter referred to by genus name) due to their abundance on fringing reefs of Mo’orea. We chose five fringing reefs along the north shore of Mo’orea, French Polynesia that differ in their structure and orientation to wind and current. Three reefs (Public Beach Ta’ahiamanu East and West and the Gump Station) are patch reefs within bays that are more sheltered from wave action. Two other reefs (Hilton Resort (patch reef) and Maharepa (continuous reef)) are along the more exposed north shore. Surface flows in the lagoon are driven by waves generated by the prevailing northeasterly trade winds and the diurnal sea breeze.  
All macroalgal individuals were collected between 20 January and 5 February at each of the five fringing reef sites at depths ranging from approximately 0.25 to 3m. Twenty samples of each species were collected from each site (N=300). To capture the fu..., , # Exploring intraspecific and interspecific variation of coral reef algae using a novel trait-based framework

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h70rxwdtc](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h70rxwdtc)

## Description of the data and file structure

Data contains trait values of three common tropical macroalgae from five sampling sites in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. These data were used to approximate the variation in trait values between different species and the variation in trait values between different sites.

Data is structured in a spreadsheet with six tabs.

* **Metadata** lists the variable names used throughout the spreadsheet, provides a brief description of each, and indicates the units of measurement.
* **OriginalData** contains the raw data which was collected and recorded.
* It is organised into three sections, one for each of the species sampled (sargassum_mangarevense, padina_boryana, and turbinaria_ornata).
* Each species is further split into the five sites (1 - Sailing Sc...