SBC LTER: Reef: Abundance, size and fishing effort for California Spiny Lobster (Panulirus interruptus), ongoing since 2012

Data on abundance, size and fishing pressure of California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) are collected along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. Spiny lobsters are an important predator in giant kelp forests off southern California. Two SBC LTER study reefs are located in or near the California Fish and Game Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA), Naples and Isla Vista, both established as MPAs on 2012-01-01. MPAs provide a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of fishing on kelp forest community dynamics. Sampling began in 2012 and is ongoing. This dataset contains two tables. 1) Abundance and size data collected annually by divers in late summer before the start of the fishing season at five SBC LTER long term kelp forest study sites: two within MPAs (Naples and Isla Vista) and three outside (Arroyo Quemado, Mohawk and Carpinteria). 2) Fishing pressure, as determined by counting the number of commercial trap floats. Data are collected every two to four weeks during the lobster fishing season (October to March) at nine sites along the mainland, eight of which are also SBC LTER long-term kelp forest study reefs. See Methods for more information.

本数据集采集了圣巴巴拉海峡大陆沿岸的加州刺龙虾（Panulirus interruptus）的丰度、体型及捕捞压力相关数据。刺龙虾是南加州近海巨藻林的重要捕食者。两处SBC LTER研究礁位于加州鱼类与野生动物局海洋保护区（Marine Protected Area, MPA）网络范围内或其附近，即那不勒斯（Naples）和伊斯塔维斯塔（Isla Vista），二者均于2012年1月1日被划定为海洋保护区。海洋保护区为研究捕捞活动对巨藻林群落动态的影响提供了独特契机。采样工作始于2012年，目前仍在持续进行中。本数据集包含两张数据表：1）丰度与体型数据：每年夏季末、捕捞季开始前由潜水员在5处SBC LTER长期巨藻林研究站点采集，其中2处位于海洋保护区内（那不勒斯与伊斯塔维斯塔），剩余3处位于保护区外（阿罗约·肯梅多、莫霍克与卡平特里亚）。2）捕捞压力数据：通过计数商业捕虾笼浮标数量来量化。该数据于龙虾捕捞季（10月至次年3月）期间，每2至4周在沿岸9处站点采集，其中8处同时为SBC LTER长期巨藻林研究礁。详细信息请参阅方法部分。