Data for Hydrodynamic exposure and intraspecific functional trait variation in the brown seaweed Fucus serratus

This repository contains the raw data and R scripts supporting the analyses presented in the research note “Hydrodynamic exposure and intraspecific functional trait variation in the brown seaweed Fucus serratus” (Rustas et al., Aquatic Botany). The dataset comprises individual-level measurements of morphological, mechanical, and biochemical functional traits of Fucus serratus collected across a gradient of hydrodynamic exposure on rocky shores on the Swedish west coast. Traits include thallus morphology, dry matter content, blade toughness, attachment investment, epiphyte load, and photosynthetic pigment concentrations, along with associated metadata on site, exposure category, and depth. The accompanying R scripts reproduce all data processing, statistical analyses, and figures reported in the manuscript. Together, these materials enable full reproducibility of the results and facilitate reuse of the data for comparative or trait-based studies of macroalgae.