Dataset: Aggregation in the field

This dataset is part of an integrated series of experiments to study how dispersal affects the density and relatedness of neighbors in relation to fitness in a marine bryozoan. Spatial aggregation at settlement in the field was empirically estimated in shallow seagrass habitats near the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory (FSUCML) in St. Teresa, Florida, USA (29° 54' N, 84° 30' W). Six backing panels were suspended 1 meter below the surface of the floating boat dock at the FSUCML. Panels were separated by approximately 1 meter. On each panel, a roughened acetate sheet was attached on the underside (facing downwards). Each acetate sheet had a 15 x 15 centimeter square marked in the center of it (referred to as the settlement plate) and the number and spatial location of settlers within the square were recorded. Six settlement plates were deployed on six occasions, and four settlement plates were deployed on one occasion, between 8th May to 25th May 2017 (a total of 40 settlement plates. On each deployment, plates were in the water for three days. Upon retrieval, settlement plates were photographed in the laboratory in planar view with a ruler for scale. On two deployments, settlers on four settlement plates were also marked by drawing a circle around the settler and then re-deployed back into the water for another three days. After the additional three days, these settlement plates were photographed again and the location of new settlers was recorded.