Size frequency surveys of shallow rocky reefs and kelp forest habitats

This metadata record documents the size frequency surveys for subtidal community surveys. Size frequency sampling consists of recording the number and size of target invertebrate species (urchins of the genera Strongylocentrotus and Mesocentrotus and abalone of the genus Haliotis). Individuals are encountered and recorded as separate swath surveys in the vicinity of the main swath survey site. Subtidal community structure surveys are conducted annually at all sites during the summer or early fall, and quantify substrate type and relief, benthic cover, abundance of major groups of macroalgae and invertebrates, and abundance and size of fishes. Spatial allocation of sampling is designed to measure year-to-year site-wide variability in community structure and the spatial scales at which such variation occurs. A site is defined as a fixed area of coastline comprised of 3 cells, each occupying approximately 500m. Each cell is comprised of 4 benthic transects stratified across the two zones described below.