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

These data describe the abundance and size of fish species as part
of SBCLTER's kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term
patterns in species abundance and diversity. This study began in
2000 in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, USA. The abundance
and size of all taxa of resident kelp forest fish encountered
along permanent transects are recorded at nine reef sites located
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. In these surveys, fish were
counted in either a 40x2m benthic quadrat, or in the water parcel
0-2m off the bottom over the same area. The table in this data package documented the annual benthic fish
community survey which was conducted once a year around late July
or early August. The time period of data collection for the annual benthic fish
community survey 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. The monthly fish survey at ABUR (Transect 1, 2, and
3), AQUE (Transect1), and MOHK (Transect 1) in 2002. The Transect
2 and 3 at ABUR were discontinued in June 2006. See Methods for more information.