SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: Kelp removal: Invertebrate and algal density

These data describe the abundance of common reef associated species of macro invertebrates and macroalgae within permanent plots of a long-term experiment designed to examine trajectories of change in the structure and productivity of kelp forest communities in response to changes in the frequency and severity of disturbance to giant kelp. The number of individuals of approximately 50 taxa were recorded by divers along 40 m transects within each plot. Small species of macroalgae and macinvertebrates were counted within six permanent 1 m2 quadrats positioned uniformly along the 40 m transect, while larger species were counted within four contiguous 20 m2 sub-sections of each 40 m x 2 m transect. Also included at the quadrat scale are estimates of an average size-related measurement of each species, which was developed specifically for each species for the purpose of estimating its biomass. The kelp disturbance experiment was initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel and included an annual kelp removal treatment designed to simulate increases in the frequency and severity of winter wave disturbance and a continual kelp removal treatment that allowed the effects of giant kelp on the community to be evaluated.