Kelp metapopulations: Semi-annual time series of spore dispersal times among giant kelp patches in southern California, 1996 - 2006

These data describe the estimated dispersal duration of spores of giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, among patches in southern California, USA, from 1996 to 2006. Asymmetrical and dynamic estimates of giant kelp spore dispersal durations among patches were estimated for 6-month periods (January - June and July - Dececember, 1996 - 2006) using minimum mean transit times connecting source and destination connectivity cells in a high-resolution, three-dimensional, spatiotemporally-explicit ocean circulation model (Regional Oceanic Modeling System, ROMS). Minimum transport times between giant kelp patches were assumed to be proportional to minimum transport times between ROMS cells and the alongshore distance between giant kelp patches