Functional Trait Measurements of Macroalgal Communities in the Santa Barbara Channel

This dataset contains trait and elemental composition data for macroalgal samples collected across depth gradients at multiple sites in the Santa Barbara Channel, California. Each sample represents an individual specimen characterized by morphological measurements (e.g., blade thickness, stipe diameter, total height), biomass of anatomical parts (blade, stipe, holdfast, reproductive tissue), and anchoring strength. In addition, biochemical traits—including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) content—were measured from tissue samples analyzed in the analytical laboratory. These data support a trait-based modeling approach to macroalgal community structure and distribution, contributing to our understanding of functional diversity and ecosystem dynamics in temperate marine systems. Accompanying metadata include collection site, date, time, depth, location coordinates, and substrate type, providing context for environmental variation across samples.