Abstract:
Benthic Grab Information, Benthic Replicate Abundance data, Benthic Summary Data by station characterize the benthic grab data from samples collected in National Coastal Assessment (NCA) Estuaries. These data were collected from 2000-2004 for the marine coastal states of the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. For Benthic Grab Information, one record is presented for each grab collected at a station. The size of the grab sampler used to collect the sediment is reported, as well as the size of the area sampled. The Benthic Replicate Abundance data report the abundance of each benthic taxon found in grab, including the taxonomic name. The Benthic Summary Data reports summary data for each station, including total number of taxa and infauna taxa identified, total abundance of all organisms and total abundance of infaunal organisms.
The National Coastal Assessment (NCA) is a national monitoring and assessment program with the primary goal of providing a consistent evaluation of the estuarine condition in U.S. estuaries. It is an initiative of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), and is a partnership of several federal and state environmental agencies, including: EPA's Regions, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Water; state environmental protection agencies in the 24 marine coastal states and Puerto Rico; and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). The five-year NCA program was initiated in 2000, and is also known as the Coastal 2000 Program.
Stations were randomly selected using EMAP's probabilistic sampling framework and were generally sampled once during a summer index period (June to October). A consistent suite of indicators was used to measure conditions in the water, sediment, and in benthic and fish communities. The measured data may be used by the states to meet their reporting requirements under the Clean Water Act, Section 305(b). The data will also be used to generate a series of national reports characterizing the condition of the Nation's estuaries.
A general overview of sampling procedures follows. One 'grab' sample was collected from each station using a Young-modified Van Veen or other comparable grab sampler. The grabs were nominally 440 cm2 in area and 10 cm deep. A sub-sample 2.5 cm in diameter and the depth of the grab was taken from each grab for grain-size analysis. The remaining sediments were live-sieved in the field with a 0.5 mm mesh screen. Organisms retained on the screen were placed in plastic containers and fixed in 10% buffered formalin with rose bengal stain for preservation. All taxa in a grab sample were sorted by a technician and then identified and counted by a skilled taxonomist. Only organisms larger than 0.5 mm were processed.
This data set description is a member of a collection. The collection is described in
EPA0158
Geographic Coverage
N: 48.98
S: 19.72
E: -66.95
W: -160.14
Data Set Citation
Dataset Originator/Creator:
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Dataset Title:
EMAP-Benthic Grab Information, the Benthic Replicate Abundance data
Dataset Series Name:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP)
Dataset Publisher:
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Online Resource:
http://www.epa.gov/emap/nca/html/data/
Sample Collection: Care was taken to minimize disturbance to the sediment grabs. Grabs that were incomplete, slumped, less than 7 cm in depth, or comprised chiefly of shelly substrates were discarded. The chance of sampling the same location was minimized by repositioning the boat (five meters downstream) after three sampling attempts.
Measurement Quality Objectives: The measurement quality objectives of the EMAP-Estuaries program specifies that sorting, counting and identification procedures be accurate to within 10% (see U.S. EPA 2001).
Data Quality Assurance Procedures: A minimum of 10% of all samples sorted by each technician were resorted to monitor performance and provide feedback to maintain acceptable standards. Only skilled taxonomists conducted the organism identification. A minimum of 10% of samples were re-checked by other qualified taxonomists for accuracy in identification and enumeration. Species lists from different labs were cross-checked. Inconsistencies in nomenclature were corrected as necessary.
Access Constraints
EMAP requests that all individuals who download EMAP data acknowledge the source of these data in any reports, papers, or presentations. If you publish these data, please include a statement similar to: "Some or all of the data described in this article were produced by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP)".
Use Constraints
Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing EMAP databases in the form appearing in the 'access constraints' field there of; and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility.
For information purposes, email to obissupport@marine.rutgers.edu the full citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any constituent part.
Name:
EDWARD
VANDEN BERGHE Phone:
(732) 932-6555 x 565
Fax:
(732) 932-8578
Email:
evberghe at marine.rutgers.edu, evberghe at iobis.org
Contact Address:
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
Rutgers University
71 Dudley Road City:
New Brunswick
Province or State:
NJ
Postal Code:
08901-8521
Country:
USA
Name:
KEVIN
SUMMERS Phone:
(850) 934-9244
Email:
summers.kevin at epa.gov
Contact Address:
1 Sabine Island Drive City:
Gulf Breeze
Province or State:
FL
Postal Code:
32561
Country:
USA
DONALD
COBB Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Contact Address:
27 Tarzwell Drive City:
Narragansett
Province or State:
Rhode Island
Postal Code:
02882-1197
Country:
USA
WALT
GALLOWAY Role:
INVESTIGATOR
Phone:
401-782-3007
Email:
galloway.walt at epa.gov
Contact Address:
27 Tarzwell Drive City:
Narragnsett
Province or State:
Rhode Island
Postal Code:
02882
Country:
USA
STEPHEN
HALE Role:
TECHNICAL CONTACT
Phone:
401-782-3007
Email:
hale.stephen at epa.gov
Contact Address:
27 Tarzwell Drive City:
Narragansett
Province or State:
Rhode Island
Postal Code:
02882
Country:
USA
HARRY
BUFFUM Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
401-782-3183
Email:
buffum.harry at epa.gov
Contact Address:
27 Tarzwell Drive City:
Narragansett
Province or State:
Rhode Island
Postal Code:
02882-1197
Country:
USA
Publications/References
Strobel, C.J. 2000. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program: Coastal 2000 - Northeast component: field operations manual. Narragansett (RI): U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division. EPA/620/R-00/002. 68 p.
U.S. EPA. 2001. National Coastal Assessment: Field Operations Manual. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL. EPA/620/R-01/003. 72 p.
U.S. EPA. 2001. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP): National Coastal Assessment Quality Assurance Project Plan 2001-2004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL. EPA/620/R-01/002. 189 p.
Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2005-11-25
Last DIF Revision Date:
2009-03-27
