This file explains all of the variables in each of the datasets required to conduct the analyses used in the manuscript, “Variation in purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) morphological traits in relation to resource availability.” These data were generated from benthic subtidal surveys led by Joshua G. Smith.

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******Information about data file “Urchin_data.csv”******

This data file contains information on habitat attributes and sea urchin morphometrics collected from benthic surveys along the Monterey Peninsula, CA, USA in the year 2017. All data reported are summarized at the size level, reported as mean values recorded from 1x1m quadrats. 

COLUMN HEADINGS
Year = survey year
Site Number = site name
Density = mean density of purple sea urchins summarized across 16 1x1m quadrats
Brown = proportion cover brown algae summarized across 13 1x1m quadrats and 16 UPC points per quadrat
Encrusting = proportion cover encrusting algae summarized across 13 1x1m quadrats and 16 UPC points per quadrat
Red = proportion cover red algae summarized across 13 1x1m quadrats and 16 UPC points per quadrat
TH = mean urchin test height (mm)
TD = mean urchin test diameter (mm)
LL = mean urchin lantern length (mm)
LW = mean urchin lantern width (mm)
LI = mean urchin lantern index (LL / TD)
GI = mean urchin gonad index ((gonad mass (g) / animal mass (g))*100)
ZONE = categorical assignment for forest (FOR) or barren (BAR)
GWM = mean gonad wet mass (g)
Log_GWM = log-transformed GWM
Log_TD = log-transformed TD

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******Information about the data file “zone_data.csv”******

This data file contains data summarized by test Log_TD for plotting the relationship between lantern length and gonad weight. See description above for column headings. 

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******Information about the data file “Smith_raw_data_file.csv”******

This data file contains unsummarized, raw data. Each row is a single individual purple sea urchin. 

COLUMN HEADINGS
Collection Date = date the urchin was collected from the field
Date Processed = date the urchin was dissected
Year = survey year
Site Number = site name
TH = test height (mm) 
TD = test diameter (mm)
Log_TD = log-transformed TD
UWM = urchin wet mass (g)
GWM = gonad wet mass (g)
Log_GWM = log-transformed GWM
GI = gonad index calculated as (GWM/UWM)*100
LL = lantern length (mm)
Log_LL = log-transformed LL
LW = lantern width (mm). Missing values were not recorded
ZONE = categorical assignment for forest (FOR) or barren (BAR)

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******Information about the code file “Smith & Garcia_code.Rmd”******

This file contains the code used to analyze the data in , “Variation in purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) morphological traits in relation to resource availability.”