[Pre-experiment Urchin Barren Characterization] - (CAREER: Energy fluxes and community stability in a dynamic, high-latitude kelp ecosystem)

Before experimental manipulation with caged Pycnopodia helianthoides presence, we characterized ambient density, gonad index, and size distributions of urchin communities ( Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis and Mesocentrotus franciscanus) in three replicate urchin barrens in Sitka Sound, AK (57°2'1"N 135°15'51"W) from February 11-20, 2023. Via SCUBA we conducted swath surveys where grazers were identified, counted, measured (test diameter), and randomly collected for gonad dissections.

These surveys serve as a baseline to describe these sites as true barrens and to compare experimental results to.