We examined the distribution of nekton across the marsh landscape using a 1-m2 drop sampler to compare nekton densities across three different salinity zones (intermediate, brackish, saline), three pond sizes (diameter 40 msmall, 250300 mmedium, 750 mlarge), and two habitat types (pond, adjacent marsh) in the Barataria Bay Estuary, Louisiana. Nekton assemblages of ponds and the adjacent marsh appeared to be structured by the responses of individual species to the estuarine salinity gradient at the landscape scale and to pond habitat attributes locally. Our results indicate that ponds in the brackish and saline zones are more important nursery areas for most fishery species than ponds in the intermediate zone. Medium and large ponds supported higher densities of most species than small ponds. Most species of nekton were associated with vegetation structure, and individuals of these species were either concentrated among plant stems at the marsh edge or within submerged aquatic vegetation in ponds.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, seabirds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns in Maryland. Vector polygons in this data set represent bird nesting, feeding, migratory staging, and wintering sites. 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 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Maryland. 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 NESTS (Nest Points) data layer, part of the larger Maryland ESI database, for additional bird information.

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for marine, estuarine, anadromous, and freshwater fish species in Maryland. Vector polygons in this data set represent fish distribution, concentration areas, and spawning 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 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Maryland. 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 represents the sediment grain size gathered from grab sampling in 2002 (56 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

This data set represents the benthic community information gathered from grab sampling in 2004 (12 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

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, pelagic birds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns in Virginia. Vector polygons in this data set represent bird nesting, wintering, migratory staging, and other spatial/temporal 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 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Virginia. 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 NESTS (Nest Points) data layer, part of the larger Virginia ESI database, for additional bird information.

This data set represents the sediment profile imaging data from 2004 (79 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 interferometric swath 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

The Ecological Research, Assessment and Prediction's Tidal Creeks: Sentinel Habitat Database was developed to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations' (NOAA) Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI). The goal of the program is to provide the scientific information and framework for forecasting environmental and human health risks across estuarine habitats, watersheds, and regions which includes the testing of new technologies developed by other HML OHH groups. This includes a wide range of data from tidal creek systems which are being used as the sentinel habitat for assessing and predicting the impact of coastal development on estuarine systems. Sampling has occurred in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Historical data from 1994, 1995, 2000 as well as recent data from 2005, 2006, and 2008 are included in the database. A wide range of parameters have been sampled in the estuarine tidal creek systems and their watersheds to obtain data on water quality (e.g., nutrients, pathogens, dissolved oxygen, salinity), sediment quality (e.g., characteristics, chemical contaminants), biological condition (e.g., macrobenthos, fish, organism health) , human exposure (e.g., pathogens), and watershed attributes (e.g., land cover, impervious cover, demographics). Each creek was sampled from its headwaters to its junction with a large open estuary. The creeks represented the range of land use types and human uses that occur in the Southeastern and Gulf regions, including forested, suburban, and urban watersheds. Results of these studies indicate that the amount and type of watershed development are linked to changes in creek environmental quality including increased fecal coliform levels, decreased sediment quality, changes in the kinds and abundances of biota, changes in the abundance of juvenile fish, and decreases in the abundance of shrimp that use these habitats as nurseries. These findings suggest that the shallow estuarine habitats that form the primary link with the land provide early warning of impairment and may be sentinels of ensuing harm from land-based activities. The levels of microbial and chemical contamination in these headwater environments are frequently an order of magnitude greater than that reported for deeper open water environments. Shallow or headwater tidal creeks are, in effect, the "first responders" to impacts of non-point source pollution runoff.

These data were automated to provide an accurate high-resolution historical shoreline of Bush to Petapsco Rivers and Baltimore, Maryland suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. These data are derived from shoreline maps that were produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service including its predecessor agencies which were based on an office interpretation of imagery and/or field survey. The NGS attribution scheme 'Coastal Cartographic Object Attribute Source Table (C-COAST)' was developed to conform the attribution of various sources of shoreline data into one attribution catalog. C-COAST is not a recognized standard, but was influenced by the International Hydrographic Organization's S-57 Object-Attribute standard so the data would be more accurately translated into S-57. This resource is a member of https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/39808

This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for sensitive/rare coastal plants and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) for Long Island, New York. Vector polygons in this data set represent sensitive/rare coastal plants recognized by the Natural Heritage Program (NHP) and eelgrass 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 Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) data for Long Island. 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.