Data from: Sediments ratchet-down coral reef algal turf productivity

This dataset contains the data associated with the following publication:

Tebbett SB, Bellwood DR (2020) Sediments ratchet-down coral reef algal turf productivity. Science of the Total Environment 713: 136709 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136709

This study assessed the nature of algal turfs in terms of length, biomass, relative detritus content, and productivity (linear growth rate) across a sediment load gradient, from short productive algal turfs to long sediment-laden algal turfs, at Lizard Island and Orpheus Island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The growth of algal turfs was based on measuring the length of algal turfs before and after caging. While the examination of relationships between algal turf length, biomass and relative detritus content were based on sampling adjacent, uncaged, algal turf communities using vacuum sampling methods. This data publication also includes raw data on herbivorous fish abundance and biomass at the study locations.

For full methodological details, please see the published manuscript (referenced above).

Details of the datasets including units of measure can be found in the 'read me' file.