These files contain ground-truth data collected in support of Submerged Marine Habitat Mapping at Cape Cod National Seashore. Files include data concerning CTD profiles, sampling locations, sediment grain size, invertebrate samples, indexes of still phots and videos, and field notes.

This dataset shows the sampling locations for the ground-truth survey conducted along Assateague Island National Seashore in October 2014 and October 2015. The ground-truth survey consisted of grab samples taken with a modified Young grab sampler. Grab samples were taken at each site. The attribute table of this dataset contains information about the grab samples, including the name and coordinates for each sample site, date of collection, and the volume of each sample.

GIS point data of stations in which biological and sediment grab samples were collected. 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.

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.

Still images taken in conjunction with biological and sediment grab samples in order to describe the benthic invertebrate community and sediment characteristics of the Pleasant Bay, Nauset Marsh, Wellfleet harbor and Herring Cove Coastal Systems. These data are a part of the Submerged Marine Habitat Mapping Studies project. One cast to the seafloor was conducted at each station to collect conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) data after the boat had been anchored at the station, but before collecting the grab samples.

This dataset contains ground-truth sampling locations and data collected in support of Submerged Marine Habitat Mapping at Fire Island National Seashore. This ESRI file geodatabase contains six feature classes: benthic macrofaunal data, field notes, CMECS classification based on sediment, raw sediment data, SPI analysis, and CMECS classification based on SPI data.

This dataset shows contours created from acoustic surveys completed within and adjacent to the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore (CaCo) from Race Point to Long Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, June 19 to August 7, 2015. Full coverage sidescan and partial coverage bathymetry data were collected using an Edgetech 6205 Phase-Measuring Sidescan Sonar. In total, 568 hectares were mapped at primarily 20 – 40 meter line spacing and 50 meter swath range to allow overlap of lines.

This dataset contains acoustic sonar data completed within and adjacent to the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore (CaCo) from Race Point to Long Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, June 19 to August 7, 2015 using an Edgetech 6205 Phase-Measuring Sidescan Sonar collected with Edgetech Discover Baythymetric version 1.01 and Hypack 2015. In total, 446 .jsf and 457 .hsx were created covering 577 hectares were mapped at primarily 20 – 40 meter line spacing and 50 meter swath range to allow overlap of lines.

This dataset shows the bathymetry data collected during acoustic surveys completed within and adjacent to the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) from 2014-2015. Full coverage sidescan and partial coverage bathymetry data were collected using an Edgetech 6205 Phase-Measuring Sidescan Sonar. In total, 668 hectares were mapped at primarily 20 – 40 meter line spacing and 50 meter swath range to allow overlap of lines.

This dataset shows the extent of bathymetry data collected during acoustic surveys completed within and adjacent to the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) from 2014-2015. Full coverage sidescan and partial coverage bathymetry data were collected using an Edgetech 6205 Phase-Measuring Sidescan Sonar. In total, 668 hectares were mapped at primarily 20 – 40 meter line spacing and 50 meter swath range to allow overlap of lines.