SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Fish abundance

These data describe the abundance and size of reef-associated fish within permanent plots of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. The number, size and species identity of reef fish were recorded within a 2 m wide swath centered along a 40 m long transect extending up to 2 m off the bottom. Fish size was measured as total length estimated to the nearest cm. The experiment was initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel.