SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: biomass of kelp forest species

These data represent values of biomass density for more than 200
species of macroalgae, invertebrates and fish measured in fixed
plots at five reefs as part of a long-term experiment designed to
evaluate the effects of disturbance to giant kelp on the structure
and productivity of the benthic community. Taxon-specific
relationships between size and mass were applied to field
measurements of species abundance to estimate biomass density of
each species. The five reefs (Arroyo Quemado 34°28.048’N,
120°07.031’W; Carpinteria 34°23.474’N, 119°32.510’W; Isla Vista
34°23.275’N, 119°32.792’W; Mohawk 34°23.649’N, 119°43.762’W; and
Naples 34° 25.342’N, 119° 57.102’W) ranged in depth from 5.8 m to
8.9 m (MLLW) and were chosen to represent a range of physical and
biological characteristics known to influence subtidal macroalgal
assemblages in the region. A common (but not always persistent)
feature on these reefs was the presence of the giant kelp, which
forms a dense canopy at the sea surface that suppresses
recruitment and growth of understory algae below it.

See Methods for more information.