Santa Barbara Channel Marine BON: Nearshore kelp forest integrated quad and swath survey, 1980-ongoing

The Santa Barbara Channel Marine Biodiversity Observation Network
(SBCMBON) tracks long-term patterns in species abundance and
diversity. This dataset contains counts of algae and invertebrates
(both sessile and mobile) by integrating data from four contributing
projects working in the kelp forests of the Santa Barbara Channel,
USA. The four contributing projects are two research projects: The Santa
Barbara Coastal LTER (SBC LTER) and the Partnership for
Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), the kelp forest
monitoring program of the Santa Barbara Channel National Park, and
the San Nicolas Island monitoring program supported by USGS.
Together, these projects have recorded data for more than 200
species at approximately 100 sites on both the mainland coast and on
the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Sampling began in 1982 and is
ongoing. Data were collected by human observation (divers using
SCUBA) during regular surveys. The data table documents the number of organisms and the area over
which that number was counted for calculation of areal abundance.
Data were collected by human observation (divers using SCUBA) during
regular surveys. The algae and invertebrate counts record the number
of taxa found in each plot, including quad (small square plots such
as 1 or 2 m2) and swath (large linear plots such as 60 m2). See
Method and protocol for information on integration and data
processing. MBON is funded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For users who are interested in using all or part of this integrated
datasets, please contact data owners to discuss your research
interests, data-related issues or any other questions. A recommended
citation for the data package is available from the download page.
In addition, any manuscript generated using this dataset is expected
to be sent to the data owners before publication so we can be sure
the data is used in the proper context and methods are reported
accurately: Santa Barbara Coastal LTER (LTER): Dan Reed [e-mail] Robert Miller [e-mail] Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO): Jenn Caselle [e-mail] Kelp forest monitoring (KFM): David Kushner [e-mail] Joshua Sprague [e-mail] San Nicolas Island monitoring (SNI): Kevin Lafferty [e-mail] Mike Kenner [e-mail]