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.