DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.25174760.v1
title: Data from: Optimizing release strategies for red king crab stock enhancement: effects of release timing

description: This dataset is a supplement to the paper: Long, W.C., Daly, B.J., Cummiskey, P.A., 2024. Optimizing release strategies for red king crab stock enhancement: Effects of release timing. Fisheries Research 274, 106975. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2024.106975. The published paper contains a full description of the experimental design and sampling protocols and this data set can only be interpreted in light of the information presented there. Following is a list of the spreadsheets and metadata for individual columns:<br><b>Common to many sheets: These columns are used in multiple sheets.</b>Date- date of observation in mm/dd/yyyy formatPlot- Alphabetical character designating a single experimental plotTreatment- Release month of crabs for the particular plot. Control plots did not have any crab released in them.I/O- Designates whether the observation was made inside a plot (I) or outside along the edge of a plot (O)Depth- Depth in feet at the time of observation (yes, I know it’s not SI but it’s what our US made dive gauges read in so you get the raw data!)<br><b>Crab_CW.csv: This sheet contains measurements of crabs for each release and experiment</b>Event- We released crabs at 3 time periods (Release 1-3) and did 3 tethering experiments (Tethering 1-3).CW- The carapace width of each crab (including spines) in millimeters<br><b>Quadrate_Counts.csv: This sheet contains data on red king crab counts in quadrats</b>Cover- the estimated percent cover of structure forming biota (primarily macroalgae) in the quadratRKC- the number of year-0 red king crab juveniles found in the quadrat<br><b>Quadrate_Preds.csv:</b> <b>This sheet contains the counts of potential predators in quadrat counts.</b><b> </b><b>This is the data as analyzed; each row represents the sum of individuals counted in 3 replicate quadrates inside or outside a plot on a single day.</b><b> </b><b>Species encountered are indicated to the lowest taxonomic level possible as column headers.</b><b> </b><b>Hermit crabs were the only composite species group; see paper for details.</b><br><b>Substrate.csv: This sheet contains data on substrate in each plot recorded once per plot during the season.</b><b> </b><b>Substrate types are indicated as column labels and numbers are the estimated percent cover of each.</b><b> </b><b>Rock, gravel, shell, sand, and mud sum to 100%.</b><br><b>Tethering.csv: This sheet contains observations on tethered crabs in plots.</b>Date deployed- the date (dd/mm/yyyy) the crabs were initially deployedTime deployed- the time (local, Alaska Daylight Time, 24h format) the crabs were initial deployedNumber out- the number of crabs tethered in each plotFirst check time- the time (local, Alaska Daylight Time, 24h format) crabs were checked- this is on the same day as deploymentFirst check number- the number of crabs still alive and on their tethered (not eaten or molted) at the first check2nd check time- the time (local, Alaska Daylight Time, 24h format) crabs were checked- this is on the day after deployment2nd check number- the number of crabs still alive and on their tethered (not eaten or molted) at the second checkNotes- Important notes on molting and tether failures<br><b>Quadrate_Preds.csv:</b> <b>This sheet contains the counts of potential predators in transects.</b><b> </b><b>Species encountered are indicated to the lowest taxonomic level possible as column headers.</b><b> </b><b>Sculpins (</b><b><i>Cottoidea spp.</i></b><b>) were separated into adults and juveniles.</b><br><br><br>