These data are from EPA's national coastal monitoring programs and include data from the water column, sediments, and biota, 1990-2015. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Hale, S., H. Buffum, J. Kiddon, and M. Hughes. Subtidal Benthic Invertebrates Shifting Northward Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Estuaries and Coasts. Estuarine Research Federation, Port Republic, MD, USA, 40(6): 1744-1756, (2017).

Data from a set of studies that ran from 1977-1978, and 1980-1982, around the site of Gaillard Island, Mobile Bay, Alabama, before, during, and after its construction (1979-1981). Extant data from the MESC Data Management System include sediment particle size distribution (001), identification and enumeration of benthic fauna (002), discrete hydrography and turbidity (003) during and after island construction, and discrete hydrography and turbidity before island construction (004).

The dataset includes benthic infaunal abundance data derived from the EPA National Coastal Assessment and Southern California Coastal Water Research Program Bight ’03 studies west coast shelf assessment studies in 2003, that were combined to form a composite data matrix of 255 stations by 1470 taxa. NCA successfully sampled 146 stations from Cape Flattery, WA, to Pt. Conception, CA in the period June 1 - 26, 2003 (NOAA Cruise AR-03-01-NC), with data from one additional NCA station off Santa Catalina Island provided to the study by SCCWRP. Fifty stations each within Washington and Oregon and 47 stations from California were successfully sampled. An additional 110 stations, located within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (27) and throughout the Southern California Bight (83, Pt. Conception, CA to the Mexican border), were successfully sampled for some or all of the NCA parameters within the target depth range by participants in the Bight ’03 survey (Ranasinghe et al. 2007). Benthic macrofaunal samples were obtained from these 257 stations, but two stations (OR03-0010, CA03-4339) failed quality assurance checks, and the final total included benthic samples from 255 stations. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Henkel, S., and W. Nelson. Assessment of spatial patterns in benthic macrofauna of the U.S. west coast continental shelf. Journal of Biogeography. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, USA, 45(12): 2701-2717, (2018).

The dataset includes benthic infaunal abundance data derived from the EPA National Coastal Assessment and Southern California Coastal Water Research Program Bight ’03 studies west coast shelf assessment studies in 2003, that were combined to form a composite data matrix of 255 stations by 1470 taxa. NCA successfully sampled 146 stations from Cape Flattery, WA, to Pt. Conception, CA in the period June 1 - 26, 2003 (NOAA Cruise AR-03-01-NC), with data from one additional NCA station off Santa Catalina Island provided to the study by SCCWRP. Fifty stations each within Washington and Oregon and 47 stations from California were successfully sampled. An additional 110 stations, located within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (27) and throughout the Southern California Bight (83, Pt. Conception, CA to the Mexican border), were successfully sampled for some or all of the NCA parameters within the target depth range by participants in the Bight ’03 survey (Ranasinghe et al. 2007). Benthic macrofaunal samples were obtained from these 257 stations, but two stations (OR03-0010, CA03-4339) failed quality assurance checks, and the final total included benthic samples from 255 stations. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Henkel, S., and W. Nelson. Assessment of spatial patterns in benthic macrofauna of the U.S. west coast continental shelf. Journal of Biogeography. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, USA, 45(12): 2701-2717, (2018).

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for marine, estuarine and freshwater species in the Florida Panhandle. Vector polygons in this data set represent invertebrate distribution and concentration areas. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Florida. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for submerged aquatic vegetation, hard-bottom communities, and pelagic Sargassum in the Florida Panhandle. Vector polygons in this data set represent benthic habitat distribution. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Florida. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. See also the BENTHICPT data layer, part of the larger Florida Panhandle ESI database, for additional benthic information.

This data set represents the benthic community information gathered from grab sampling in 2003 (24 stations). In Fall/Winter 2002, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducted a project to map benthic habitats by Catlett and Goodwin Islands on the York River, Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Sediment grab samples were collected at 56 stations and sediment profile images were collected at 200 stations. Sampling areas were also surveyed using side scan sonar and multibeam bathymetry sensors. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences returned to sample a subset of the 2002 sediment grab data in 2003 and then again in 2004. A subset of SPI stations (79) were revisited in 2004. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Collection of benthic infauna and epifauna used a 0.04 m2 Ted Young Modified Van Veen grab. Three replicate benthic samples were collected at 23 sites to total 69 samples in Year 1. The samples were immediately sieved over a 0.5 mm mesh screen. The residue remaining on the screen was fixed in 3.7% formaldehyde solution in seawater, buffered with sodium borate and containing Rose Bengal to stain organisms. A fourth grab was collected for sediment analysis. Sediment for grain size analysis was wet-sieved through a 63μm-mesh sieve in distilled water with dispersant to disaggregate and separate the silt and clay fraction from the sand-sized fraction. Silt and clay mass was determined by drying a known volume of the water-particle mixture passing through the sieve. The sand fraction was dried and then sieved into the following size fractions: <63 µm (silt), 63-125 µm (very fine sand), 125-250 µm (fine sand), 250-500 µm (medium sand), 500-1000 µm (coarse sand), >1000 µm (very coarse sand). Each fraction was weighed. The mass of the <4φ fraction was further analyzed using a Spectrex model PC-2000 laser particle counter (Spectrex Corporation, Redwood City, CA) Counts of particles were obtained corresponding to these additional size categories: 5φ (4-8 µm very fine silt), and 6φ (16-31 µm, medium silt), 7φ (8-16 µm, fine silt), 8 φ ( 4-8 µm, very fine silt), and 9 φ (2-4 µm, clay). Particle counts were converted to mass by multiplying the fractional volume percent in each size category by the total mass of the <4φ fraction determined during wet sieving.