Data underlying publication: Green turtles shape the seascape through grazing patch formation around habitat features: experimental evidence

This dataset contains the data collected from field experiments studying the impact of habitat structure on green turtle density, behavior and grazing impact. In this study, we established large-scale (242m2) and small-scale arrays (9m2) with artificial structures in a a seagrass meadow in The Bahamas. Over time, within the large-scale array, we measured turtle density, turtle grazing behavior and grazing patch development using drone imagery. Additionally we measured Thalassia testudinum seagrass morphology (LAI, cover, shoot density and aboveground biomass) comparing seagrass in the grazing patch within cages and outside cages. To confirm that turtles select structure as foraging site, even at a small-scale, we measured grazing patch development around the structures in the small-scale arrays.

本数据集包含野外实验采集的数据，该实验旨在探究栖息地结构对绿海龟种群密度、行为及牧食影响的效应。本研究在巴哈马的一片海草床中搭建了带有人工结构的大型实验阵列（242平方米）与小型实验阵列（9平方米）。在大型实验阵列中，我们随时间推移利用无人机影像记录了海龟种群密度、海龟牧食行为以及牧食斑块的发育情况。此外，我们测量了海龟草（Thalassia testudinum）的形态特征（叶面积指数LAI、盖度、茎枝密度与地上生物量），并对比了围笼内外牧食斑块中的海草相关指标。为验证海龟会将人工结构作为觅食场所（即便在小尺度范围内亦是如此），我们对小型实验阵列中人工结构周边的牧食斑块发育情况进行了测定。