Global Dataset on Brown Seaweed Abundance

This dataset brings together global records of brown seaweed abundance, including biomass, density, percentage cover, and individual traits such as weight and size. Data were compiled from 550 independent studies published between 1951 and 2024, following a systematic literature search and strict inclusion criteria focusing on wild, canopy-forming taxa (Laminariales, Fucales, Tilopteridales, Desmarestiales). The dataset encompasses 205 taxa across more than 1,100 sites and 90 ecoregions worldwide, spanning intertidal to subtidal habitats. All records were curated, validated, georeferenced, and standardized to common units to ensure comparability across sources. This harmonized resource provides a basis for regional and global comparative studies and for long-term monitoring of seaweed forest abundance.