Algal species abundances

Species abundance data were collected in rocky intertidal habitat on a moderately exposed shore at Rush, Co. Dublin, Ireland between August 2012 and August 2013. Column headers are as follows: (A) Common headers: "Date" = Sampling date (yyyy-mm-dd); "Cage" = Cage present (C1 = caged, using 35 x 35 cm fence enclosed with lid; C0 = uncaged); "Variability" = Consumer (Littorina littorea) variability treatment (Const = constant, i.e. maintained at 30 individuals per cage; Var_1 = 'variable1', i.e. alternating between 15 and 45 individuals/cage every 2 months; Var_2 = 'variable2', i.e. alternating between 45 and 15 individuals/cage every 2 months; Amb = ambient, i.e. unmanipulated in uncaged plots); "Sediment" = Sedimentation treatment (S0 = ambient, i.e. no additional sediment added; S1 = elevated, i.e. 400 g sediment added to plot every month); "Plot_no" = Unique plot identifier. (B) 'Macroalgae' datasheet: "Lit_lit_m-2" = Adult (>5 mm) Littorina littorea density (per sq. m) within 35 x 35 cm caged and 25 x 25 cm uncaged plots; Macroalgal species percentage cover values, estimated using 25 x 25 cm quadrat with 64 intersections: "Lith_spp" = 'Lithothamnia spp.'; "Bry_sp1" = Bryopsis sp.; "Cer_shu" = Ceramium shuttleworthianum; "Cha_lin" = Chaetomorpha linum; "Cho_cri" = Chondrus crispus; "Cla_rup" = Cladophora rupestris; "Cor_off" = Corallina officinalis; "Dic_dic" = Dictyota dichotoma; "Dum_con" = Dumontia contorta; "Fuc_ves" = Fucus vesiculosus; "Gel_pus" = Gelidium pusillum; "Gra_sp1" = Gracilaria sp.; "Him_elo" = Himanthalia elongata; "Lea_dif" = Leathesia difformis; "Mas_ste" = Mastocarpus stellatus; "Osm_spp" = Osmundea spp.; "Pol_sp1" = Polysiphonia sp.; "Por_umb" = Porphyra umbilicalis; "Ral_ver" = Ralfsia verrucosa; "Ulo_sp1" = Ulothrix sp.; "Ulv_int" = Ulva intestinalis; "Ulv_lac" = Ulva lactuca. (C) 'Microalgae' datasheet: "Sample_no" = Replicate sample (representing one of three readings taken per settlement tile fixed within each plot); "Total_conc_ug.cm-2" = Total microalgal concentration, micrograms per sq. cm, measured using Benthotorch benthic fluorometer (bbe Moldaenke GmbH, Germany).