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1. SBC LTER: Reef: Long-term experiment: Kelp removal: Invertebrate and algal density

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/0c6c40d38f5143c7d56f61c455f7fe9b  

   Reed, Daniel C; Miller, Robert J (January 2024, Environmental Data Initiative)

   These data describe the abundance of common reef associated species of macro invertebrates and macroalgae within permanent plots of a long-term experiment designed to examine trajectories of change in the structure and productivity of kelp forest communities in response to changes in the frequency and severity of disturbance to giant kelp. 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 and included an annual kelp removal treatment designed to simulate increases in the frequency and severity of winter wave disturbance and a continual kelp removal treatment that allowed the effects of giant kelp on the community to be evaluated. The last experimental removals of giant kelp occurred in winter 2016 or winter 2017, depending on the site. Data collection continued in all plots until spring 2023 to document the recovery trajectory of the reef fish community following the cessation of experimental kelp removal. 

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2. SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Abundance and size of Giant Kelp

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/387497d5319cf8d539226e5b3f9b16ae  

   Reed, Daniel C; Miller, Robert J (January 2025, Environmental Data Initiative)

   These data describe the abundance and size of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) within permanent plots of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. The number of giant kelp > 1 m tall were recorded within four contiguous 20 m x 1m permanent plots located within a 40 m x 2 m area. The number of fronds > 1 m tall were counted for each individual and used as an estimate of its size. The experiment was initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. 

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3. SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Fish abundance

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/89dd9fa4a9cdf61116260d680da4fdb3  

   Reed, Daniel C; Miller, Robert J (January 2025, Environmental Data Initiative)

   These data describe the abundance and size of reef-associated fish within permanent plots of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. The number, size and species identity of reef fish were recorded within a 2 m wide swath centered along a 40 m long transect extending up to 2 m off the bottom. Fish size was measured as total length estimated to the nearest cm. The experiment was initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. 

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4. SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Detritus biomass

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/b8c5ab026bf7008ac09fe7fd1e8b3308  

   Reed, Daniel C; Miller, Robert J (January 2025, Environmental Data Initiative)

   These data describe the abundance of macroalgal detritus (grams wet mass m-2) as part of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. Detritus was collected in six permanent 1 m2 quadrats positioned uniformly along 40 m transects in each sampling plot. Sample collections were brought back to the laboratory, identified to species and weighed wet. The seasonal surveys were initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel, California, US. 

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5. SBC LTER: Reef: Seasonal Kelp Forest Community Dynamics: Cover of sessile organisms, Uniform Point Contact

   https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/607186942ca229d7ba86437c60e5d264  

   Reed, Daniel C; Miller, Robert J (January 2025, Environmental Data Initiative)

   These data describe the percent cover of sessile invertebrates and understory macroalgae within permanent plots of SBCLTER's seasonal kelp forest monitoring program to track long-term patterns in species abundance and diversity. Percent cover was determined using a uniform point contact method that consists of noting the identity and relative vertical position of all organisms under 80 uniformly placed points located within a 1 m wide band centered on permanent 40 m transects in each sampling plot. Each species may only be recorded once per point. Using this method, the percent cover of all species combined may exceed 100%, however, the maximum percent cover possible for any single species cannot exceed 100%. The experiment was initiated in 2008 at five reef sites along the mainland coast of the Santa Barbara Channel. 

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