SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Invertebrate and algal density

These data describe the abundance of common reef associated
species of macro invertebrates and macroalgae within permanent
plots of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to
track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. 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 experiment was initiated in 2008 at
five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara
Channel.