Foundational kelp species reveal links between host traits, the environment, and the associated microbial community

Canopy kelp are foundational species in coastal ecosystems and host diverse bacterial communities. The dataset was used to test the association between bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) host traits, blade-associated bacterial taxa, and seawater environmental features across nine sites spanning more than 200 km in Washington state. Traits related to kelp fitness, such as carbon fixation and nitrogen content,t as well as environmental features, are included in the dataset.