UCSB SONGS Mitigation Monitoring: Reef Performance Standard - Benthic Algae and Macroinvertebrate Cover, Abundance, and Richness

These data describe annual estimates of the percent cover, abundance, and species richness (evaluated as species density) of benthic macroalgae and macroinvertebrates from replicate transects at three subtidal reefs. Data collection began in 2009 at an artificial reef (Wheeler North Reef in Orange County, CA) and two natural reference reefs (San Mateo Kelp in Orange County, CA and Barn Kelp in San Diego County, CA) to evaluate the ability of Wheeler North Reef to compensate for losses of kelp forest habitat and associated biota caused by the operation of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).本数据集涵盖了三处潮下带礁体（subtidal reefs）的重复样带（replicate transects）观测所得的年度估算数据，统计指标包括底栖大型藻类（benthic macroalgae）与大型底栖无脊椎动物（macroinvertebrates）的盖度百分比、丰度，以及以物种密度（species density）表征的物种丰富度（species richness）。 数据采集工作于2009年启动，采样点位涵盖一处人工礁体（artificial reef）——加利福尼亚州奥兰治县的惠勒北礁（Wheeler North Reef），以及两处天然参照礁体（natural reference reefs）：分别为加利福尼亚州奥兰治县的圣马特奥海藻床（San Mateo Kelp）与加利福尼亚州圣迭戈县的巴恩海藻床（Barn Kelp）。本次监测旨在评估惠勒北礁能否弥补圣奥诺弗雷核电站（San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, SONGS）运行所造成的海藻林生境及其伴生生物类群的损失。