TY - DATA T1 - Data underlying publication: Green turtles shape the seascape through grazing patch formation around habitat features: experimental evidence PY - 2022/09/15 AU - Fee O.H. Smulders AU - Elisabeth S. Bakker AU - Owen R. O’Shea AU - Justin E. Cambell AU - Marjolijn J.A. Christianen UR - https://data.4tu.nl/articles/dataset/Data_underlying_publication_Green_turtles_shape_the_seascape_through_grazing_patch_formation_around_habitat_features_experimental_evidence/20438607/2 DO - 10.4121/20438607.v2 KW - Chelonia mydas KW - habitat structure KW - herbivory KW - landscape of fear KW - plant-herbivore interactions KW - seagrass KW - Thalassia testudinum beds N2 -

This dataset contains the data collected from field experiments studying the impact of habitat structure on green turtle density, behavior and grazing impact. In this study, we established large-scale (242m2) and small-scale arrays (9m2) with artificial structures in a a seagrass meadow in The Bahamas. Over time, within the large-scale array, we measured turtle density, turtle grazing behavior and grazing patch development using drone imagery. Additionally we measured Thalassia testudinum seagrass morphology (LAI, cover, shoot density and aboveground biomass) comparing seagrass in the grazing patch within cages and outside cages. To confirm that turtles select structure as foraging site, even at a small-scale, we measured grazing patch development around the structures in the small-scale arrays. 

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