SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: Kelp removal: Detritus biomass

These data describe the abundance of macroalgal detritus (grams wet mass m -2 ) at SBC LTER long-term kelp removal experiment sites. Detritus is collected in six permanent 1 m 2 quadrats positioned uniformly along 40 m transects in each sampling plot. Sample collections are brought back to the laboratory, identified to species and weighed wet. Detritus is not collected at continuous removal transects. The kelp removal experiment was initiated in 2008 at four reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. The following three giant kelp manipulations are maintained in sampling plots at each site: Control: Macrocystis pyrifera is left intact in a 2000 m 2 plot. Annual removal: Macrocystis pyrifera is removed from an adjacent 2000 m 2 plot once each winter and allowed to re-colonize over the course of the year. Continuous removal: Macrocystis pyrifera is removed from a 200 m 2 area within the 2000 m 2 plot on each sampling date.