SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: Kelp removal: Cover of sessile organisms, Uniform Point Contact

These data describe the percent cover of sessile invertebrates,
understory macroalgae, and bottom substrate at SBC LTER long-term kelp
removal experiment sites. Percent cover is determined using a uniform
point contact method that consists of noting the identity and relative
vertical position of all organisms under 80 uniformly placed points
located within a 1 m wide band centered on permanent 40 m transects in
each sampling plot. Each species may only be recorded once per point.
Using this method, the percent cover of all species combined may
exceed 100%, however, the maximum percent cover possible for any
single species cannot exceed 100%. The kelp removal experiment was initiated in 2008 at selected 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.