Urchin density from removal experiments in rocky intertidal Marine Protected Areas, San Juan Islands from 2008-2011 (Subtidal Preserves project)

<p>In this study, we tested the hypothesis that red urchins (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) and lined chitons (Tonicella spp.) are redundant in the maintenance of available space, defined here as encrusting algae and bare rock. In a factorial field experiment replicated at three sites, we reduced the densities of urchins and chitons for nine months. The effects of grazers were interpreted in the context of natural temporal variation by monitoring the benthic community one year before, during, and after grazer removal.</p>

<p>Physical data - temperature, salinity, conductivity - can also be viewed online at&nbsp;<a href=\"http://nvs.nanoos.org/Explorer\">http://nvs.nanoos.org/Explorer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/wx.html\">http://depts.washington.edu/fhl/wx.html</a></p>

<p><strong>Reference for this dataset:</strong></p>

<p><a href=\"http://www.plosone.org/article/authors/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0078969;jsessionid=3865D9F9ECBBD3174EF10F65C01F3CA8\" target=\"_blank\">Elahi R, Sebens KP (2013) Experimental Removal and Recovery of Subtidal Grazers Highlights the Importance of Functional Redundancy and Temporal Context. PLoS ONE 8(11): e78969. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078969</a></p>

<p><strong>Associated physical underwater and&nbsp;weather data:</strong></p>

<p>See&nbsp;<a href=\"http://140.142.199.7/vdv/VV_Frame.php\">http://140.142.199.7/vdv/VV_Frame.php</a></p>