Dataset: Trait data captured from literature sources, field observations and measurements of sessile marine invertebrates from coastal sites across a geographic gradient spanning the sub-arctic to the tropics (Competition and Predation across Latitude)

Methodology:

Traits were collected from field measurements, observations, or literature sources. For field measurements, an average of five individuals per taxa were photographed for color, structural defense, and growth form determination.  All other traits except water content and organic content were collected from the literature. A brief description of the sampling procedure for determining water content and organic content is in the following section below. 

 

Sampling and analytical procedures:

For field measurements of organic and water content, an average of five individuals per taxa were collected and used for dry weights (DW) and ash free dry weights (AFDW) to calculate water content as [(1−(DW/WW)) x 100] and organic content as [(1−(AFDW/DW)) x 100]. We then calculated a single mean trait value per taxa to be included in the trait table.