SBC LTER: Reef: Coefficients for estimating biomass from body size or percent cover for kelp forest species

These data provide coefficients to estimate the biomass of macroalgae, invertebrates and fish from field measurements of body size or percent cover. We developed quantitative relationships between mass and length or mass and percent cover, and conversion factors for transforming wet mass into dry mass, shell free and decalcified dry mass, and ash-free dry mass for taxa of benthic macroalgae and macroinvertebrates common to giant kelp forests in southern California. We also compiled literature-based relationships between mass and total length for reef fish common to giant kelp forests in southern California.