These data represent density per square meter of individuals of a suite of kelp and macroinvertebrate species on fixed 10-meter by 2-meter benthic transects on permanent subtidal monitoring sites around San Nicolas Island between 1980 and 2019. There are a total of nine sites, each of which has five 20 square meter band transects. Six of the sites were first sampled in 1980, one additional was added in 1987, and the other two were added in 2014. The sites have usually been monitored twice per year, most often in October and April. The target species list is as follows: Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (also known as Mesocentrotus franciscanus) Strongylocentrotus purpuratus Apostichopus parvimensis Pycnopodia helianthoides Patiria miniata Pisaster giganteus Astrometis sertulifera Dermasterias imbricata Haliotis corrugata Haliotis rufescens Megathura crenulata Megastraea undosa Cystoseira osmundacea (also known as Stephanocystis osmundacea) Eisenia arborea Laminaria spp. Macrocystis pyrifera <1 m tall Macrocystis pyrifera >1 m tall Pterygophora californica Young Laminariales (species uncertain) In fall 2014, the following additional organisms were added to the target list: Lytechinus anamesus Kelletia kelletii Crassadoma gigantea Aplysia californica Tealia lofotensis (also known as Urticina eques) Tethya aurantia (also known as Tethya aurantium) Sargassum horneri

These data represent counts of individuals of a suite of species counted in fixed 1-meter benthic quadrats on permanent subtidal monitoring sites around San Nicolas Island between 2014 and 2019. There are a total of nine sites, each of which has ten 1-meter square quadrats. These are the same quadrats used to asses benthic cover by point contact (see "San Nicolas Island benthic quadrat cover 1980-2019"). These counts began in 2014 and are supplemental to the counts made on 10 m x 2 m transects presented as densities in "San Nicolas Island benthic transect densities 1980-2019". The sites have usually been monitored twice per year, most often in October and April. The target species list is as follows: Styela montereyensis Tethya aurantia (also known as Tethya auantium and Tethya californiana) Tealia lofotensis (also known as Urticina eques) Cypraea spadicea (also known as Neobernaya spadicea) Lithopoma gibberosa (also known as Pomaulax gibberosus) Kelletia kelletii Tegula regina Norrisia norrisi Sargassum horneri

These data represent holdfast diameters of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) that were greater than one meter tall and were on fixed 10-meter by 2-meter benthic transects on permanent subtidal monitoring sites around San Nicolas Island between 1980 and 2019. The number of stipes counted on the plants is also listed if recorded. Holdfast diameters give an indication of the M. pyrifera age structure because the holdfast continues to grow throughout the life of the alga. Stipe counts are more variable with age but give an indication of algal biomass. Stipe counts were made on some transects beginning in 1997 and on all plants beginning in 2014. Between 1980 and 2006, 3694 of the plants were tagged and followed over time. Tagged plants have been assigned unique identifier numbers so they can be tracked over multiple sampling periods. There are a total of nine sites, each of which has five 20 square meter band transects. Six of the sites were first sampled in 1980, one additional was added in 1987, and the other two were added in 2014. The sites have usually been monitored twice per year, most often in October and April.

These data represent benthic habitats in a coastal area near Green Bay, Wisconsin. The area extends approximately 91 kilometers between Suamico, Wisconsin, and Menominee, Michigan, and covers approximately 64 square kilometers. Benthic biota and substrates were classified using the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). The classification process involved object-based image segmentation of lidar bathymetry, cross-referencing geospatial data with the CMECS hierarchy, and expert interpretation. Biotic and substrate components were classified to the CMECS group or community level, with additional detail provided by co-occurring elements and modifiers. Mapping confidence was higher in areas with Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), as geomorphometric details from digital elevation models could often be directly linked to substrate types through professional geologic judgment. In areas lacking DEM coverage, object-based segmentation was not possible, leading to lower confidence and requiring manual interpretation of substrate and biotic data from available source and ancillary data. In some instances, with support from geologic judgment or imagery, CMECS Substrate Component classifications at DEM boundaries were linearly extrapolated across gaps in DEM coverage. The layers available within the data download include biotic, confidence, and substrate. Partners: Coastal States Organization

These data provide a baseline inventory of submerged aquatic vegetation within Long Island's South Shore bays. The data were derived from conventional-color metric film diapositives obtained in June 2002 from the New York Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources. Benthic classifications follow the System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). The study area spans approximately 443 square kilometers, extending from the west end of Long Beach Island in Nassau County eastward to Heady Creek at the east end of Shinnecock Bay in Suffolk County. The creation of this baseline inventory was a critical need identified in the Comprehensive Management Plan for the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve. Established following the state legislature's passage of the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Act in 1993, the management plan aimed to protect and improve the estuary's ecosystem, enhance public access, and support sustainable economic activities. Ultimately, the goal was to sustain existing high-quality habitats and restore degraded areas to support the productivity of commercially and ecologically important estuarine species. The management plan also mandated a long-term monitoring program to evaluate progress toward estuarine resource improvement goals, building upon this foundational benthic habitat data. The layers available within the data download include biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: New York Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources

This part of DS 781 presents benthic biological observations of the California coast in support of the California Seafloor Mapping Project. A shapefile and corresponding comma-delimited text file are included in "Benthic_Biological_Interpretation.zip," which is accessible from https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/video_observations/data_catalog_video_observations.html.

The monitoring program at San Nicolas Island (SNI) was conceived in anticipation of the potential reintroduction of southern sea otters to the island. Subtidal monitoring was initiated in autumn of 1980 at six sampling sites positioned around the island to sample communities exposed to a range of wave exposures and other oceanographic conditions. Three additional sites were subsequently added. Following their reintroduction in 1987, the sea otter population at the island remained low for several years but 154 were counted there in 2019. There are nine permanent sites that are monitored on rocky reefs around San Nicolas Island. Six of these (Nav Fac, West End Urchin, West End Kelp, West Dutch Harbor, East Dutch Harbor, and Daytona) were installed and first sampled in 1980. The two West End sites are physically joined, with the end bolt of the main 50 m transect of the Urchin site being also the beginning of the Kelp site’s main transect. The Dutch Harbor sites are not contiguous but are on adjacent rock reefs separated by approximately 140 m of sand. A seventh site, Sandy Cove, was added in 1986. Data collected from the project’s inception in October 1980 to October 2011 were published in Kenner et al. (2013). In fall 2014, two additional sites were added that are contiguous with two of the original sites. North Nav Fac was installed with the end of its main transect line sharing the beginning of the Nav Fac site and South Daytona was added in a similar relation to the Daytona Site. This yielded eight paired sites or four “supersites” in addition to Sandy Cove. Most of the data is collected separately on the individual sites but can be pooled at the larger supersite level. The original sites consisted of a 50-m main transect with five 10-m x 2-m benthic band transects (swaths), ten 1-m2 random point contact (RPC) quadrats and five 50-m fish transects. The two new sites do not have fish transects associated with them but are otherwise identical. Temperature data and sea urchin and other invertebrate size data are collected at the supersite level. Sites have usually been sampled twice a year, in spring and fall since their installation but have been missed several times due to weather, budgetary constraints, or mechanical issues with boats. References: Kenner, M.C., Estes, J.A., Tinker, M.T., Bodkin, J.L., Cowen, R.K., Harrold, C., Hatfield, B.B., Novak, M., Rassweiler, A. and Reed, D.C., 2013. A multi-decade time series of kelp forest community structure at San Nicolas Island, California. Ecological Archives E, 94(11), p.244. https://doi.org/10.1890/13-0561R.1