SBC LTER: Reef: Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Invertebrate and algal density

These data describe the density and size of a select group of
about 50 species of benthic invertebrates and understory algae in
fixed plots (either 1m x 1m or 20m x 1m) along permanent
transects. These data are part of SBCLTER’s kelp forest monitoring
program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and
diversity of reef-associated organisms in the Santa Barbara
Channel, California, USA. The sampling locations in this dataset
are at nine reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa
Barbara Channel and at two sites on the north side of Santa Cruz
Island. These sites reflect several oceanographic regimes in the
channel and vary in distance from sources of terrestrial runoff.
Sampling began in 2000, and these data are updated annually. The time period of data collection varied among the 11 kelp forest
sites. Sampling at BULL, CARP, and NAPL began in 2000, sampling at
the other 6 mainland sites (AHND, AQUE, IVEE, GOLB, ABUR, MOHK)
began in 2001 (transects 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 at IVEE were added in
2011). Data collection at the two Santa Cruz Island sites (SCTW
and SCDI) began in 2004. See Methods for more information.   See Methods for more information.