Bight'98 Infaunal Abundance Data

Metadata:

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:: Southern California Coastal Water Reseach Project (SCCWRP)
Publication_Date: 20021221
Title: Bight'98 Infaunal Abundance Data
Edition: Version 1
Publication_Information:: Publication_Place: Costa Mesa, CA
Publisher: SCCWRP
Online_Linkage:: View a Map of this Data [html]; Download this Data as an Excel Friendly File [csv]; Download this Data with Associated Data Files [zip]

Description:

Abstract:: Benthic macrofauna are often used as indicators of the condition of marine and estuarine environments. They are well suited for use as indicators because they respond to many different types of environmental stress since they include a diverse mixture of organisms with a wide range of physiological tolerances. Their responses also integrate environmental conditions over time because they have limited mobility and cannot avoid adverse conditions. Most benthic macrofaunal monitoring in the Southern California Bight (SCB) is conducted to evaluate the effect of discharges from individual sources, such as municipal wastewater outfalls, thermal and industrial outfalls, disposal of dredged material and drilling mud, and storm water runoff. The University of Southern California conducted regional studies between 1956 and 1959 but didn't use these data for environmental assessment. The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) also conducted regional surveys in 1977, 1985 and 1990 but their objective was describing reference conditions rather than assessing the condition of the benthic environment. The spatial limitations of existing programs and the differences in methodology among them are impediments to regional assessments of benthic condition throughout the SCB; they also impede comparisons of local patterns and local trends to regional patterns and trends. Regional assessments provide an opportunity to evaluate cumulative effects, particularly effects of episodic and non-point sources that cannot be assessed using local data alone. Regional assessments also provide information that enables managers to make decisions with a broader perspective by comparing the relative importance of different types of pollutant sources and chemicals for the SCB as a whole. Recognizing the value of regional assessment, twelve agencies joined in a cooperative sampling effort to assess the ecological health of southern California's mainland shelf in the summer of 1994. The study, known as the Southern California Bight Pilot Project (SCBPP), yielded several benefits. It enabled scientists and managers to map the extent and assess relative degrees of perturbation at different locations. It also led to standardization of sampling methods when regional monitoring methods were adopted for facility-specific monitoring. Standardization extended beyond data collection to include data management as regional monitoring data were shared among participants. The SCBPP also provided an opportunity for regulators and dischargers to work together to develop assessment tools for the interpretation of benthic data on regional and local scales. Based on the success of the 1994 survey, a second cooperative regional survey known as Bight'98 was conducted by 62 organizations in 1998. Bight'98 expanded the spatial scope of the SCBPP in three ways; sampling extended inshore to assess the condition of bays, harbors, and ports, and coastal sampling extended southward to include Mexican waters as far south as Ensenada and westward to include Channel Islands.
Purpose:: The objectives were to estimate the extent and magnitude of altered benthic macrofaunal communities in the SCB and compare biointegrity and biotic responses among selected geographic regions.
Supplemental_Information:: Missing numerical values have been coded as -99 Missing text values have been coded as NR Missing date values have been coded as 01/Jan/1998 Missing time values have been coded as 23:00

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19980713
Ending_Date: 19980928

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Southern California Bight

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -120.49462
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.6375
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.459
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 31.7511

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Infauna
Theme_Keyword: Echinoderm
Theme_Keyword: Nematode
Theme_Keyword: Mollusc
Theme_Keyword: Arthropod
Theme_Keyword: Annelid
Theme_Keyword: benthos
Theme_Keyword: benthic sampling
Theme_Keyword: benthic invertebrates
Theme_Keyword: benthic macrofauna
Theme_Keyword: Southern California Bight
Theme_Keyword: southern California

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints: Dataset credit required

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Information Systems Manager
Contact_Organization:: Southern California Coastal Water Research
Project(SCCWRP)

Contact_Position: Information Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110
City: Costa Mesa
State_or_Province: California
Postal_Code: 92626
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 714.755.3200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 714.438.1016

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: im_contact@sccwrp.org

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Contact_Instructions: E-mail preferred

Data_Set_Credit: SCCWRP

Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Access Version 97

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP)

Publication_Date: 20021221

Title: Bight'98 Survey

Edition: Version 1

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Costa Mesa, California
Publisher: SCCWRP

Online_Linkage: http://www.sccwrp.org/data/1998_bight_survey.html

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report: Coordinates accurate to within 100 ft

Logical_Consistency_Report:

The tables may be related by the StationID field or the SampleID field where applicable

Completeness_Report:

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Design
Methodology_Description:: Benthic samples were collected at 415 sites in the Southern California Bight between Point Conception and Ensenada, Mexico. The sites were selected using three complementary designs: 323 sites in United States waters from 5-100m deep were allocated using a random tessellation stratified (RTS) design; 14 strata were defined based on habitat and potential sources, 20 sites in United States waters were selected to collocate samples with previous or existing programs, and 72 sites in Mexican waters from 10-200m deep were also allocated using an RTS design; three strata were defined based on latitude. Sites allocated at random using the RTS designs were used to estimate the condition of the Southern California Bight or its components. RTS designs are similar to stratified random designs but samples are distributed more evenly across strata by sub-dividing them into hexagons and collecting a sample at a random location in each hexagon. Imposition of the hexagonal pattern minimizes clustering of the random samples. Non-random sites were sampled primarily for historical comparisons. Most of these sites were sampled for SCCWRP reference surveys during the 1970's and 1980's. Sampling was repeated to measure temporal change.
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:: In July and August of 1998, sediment samples for benthic macrofauna analysis were collected with a 0.1 m2 Van Veen grab and sieved through a 1 mm mesh screen. Only samples with penetration depth of at least 5 cm and no evidence of disturbance (e.g., washout) or slumping were processed. Material retained on the screen was placed in a relaxant solution of 1 kg MgSO4 or 30 ml propylene phenoxytol per 20 L of seawater for at least 30 minutes and preserved in 10% sodium borate buffered formalin. Sediment samples were also collected for sediment chemistry and sediment toxicity analysis; the results of these analyses are provided and discussed elsewhere.
Methodology_Type: Lab
Methodology_Description:: Samples collected for macrofaunal analysis were distributed to five laboratories for sorting, biomass determination, identification and enumeration. Samples were rinsed and transferred from formalin to 70% ethanol 3-14 days after sample collection. Organisms in the samples were sorted into six taxonomic categories (annelids, arthropods, molluscs, ophiuroids, other echinoderms and other phyla) and the wet weight of each group was measured to provide an estimate of biomass. One of two methods was used to remove excess preservative prior to weighing the sample; the organisms were either drained on a fine sieve and air dried for five minutes on absorbent paper, or poured onto a fenestrated plate in a funnel and gentle vacuum applied until no liquid was visible in the stem of the funnel. Balances capable of reading to 0.01-gram were used to weigh the samples and weights were reported to the nearest 0.1-gram. Specimens were then identified to the lowest practicable taxon, most often species, and enumerated.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Each field crew or laboratory that generated data entered it into their own data management system and subjected it to their internal QA/QC procedures. Recommended QA procedures included double entry of data and range checks. Data was then reformatted following the Standard Data Transfer Protocol (SDTP) and submitted to the Information Management Officer (IMO) in comma- delimited, ASCII format. Standardized data files were submitted to the IMO by diskette, e-mail, or FTP. The IMO then initiated a series of error checks to ensure the data: 1) were within specified ranges appropriate to each parameter measured, 2) contained all required fields, 3) had encoded valid values from constrained look-up lists where specified, and 4) were in the correct format (text in text fields, values in numeric fields, etc.). After all data were submitted, error checked, and corrected, the IMO certified that the file was consistent with the SDTP format requirements and complete. The IMO then notified the chairperson of the Technical Committee responsible for the data that it was ready for technical review. The IMO distributed the data to the chairperson as a comma-delimited ASCII file in the SDTP format. The Technical Committee Chair (TCC) and the Technical Committee reviewed the data with respect to scientific content. This review involved plotting of data and examining interrelationships among individual parameter responses and addressed more extensive data quality issues than can be accomplished by range checking alone. All corrections to the data were made by the IMO. Prior to making any changes, the IMO documented the changes and received (written or electronic) concurrence from the organization that originated the data. The IMO only make changes in the centralized data base; originating organizations were responsible for making corresponding changes in their own internal data storage systems. All changes to the data were documented in a computerized file available to all data users.
Process_Date: 20000403

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: .00001
Longitude_Resolution: .00001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodedic Reference System 80
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Comments

Attribute_Definition: Any additional comments

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Additional Comments

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: LabCode

Attribute_Definition: A four letter code for the processing laboratory

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: A list of agency codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AB

Attribute_Definition: Aquatic Bioassay and Consulting (ABCL)*

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: DC

Attribute_Definition: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB)*

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: HY

Attribute_Definition: Division (CLAEMD)*

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: JL

Attribute_Definition: John Ljubankov

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: LA

Attribute_Definition: Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD)*

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ME

Attribute_Definition: MEC Analytical Systems Inc.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SD

Attribute_Definition: City of San Diego Metropolitan Waste Water

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: UA

Attribute_Definition: University Autonomous de Baja California*

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Agency Code
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:: look up list 1 Agency Codes
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Management Plan

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Exclude

Attribute_Definition: A flag to exclude this specimen from the analysis

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: Yes
Range_Domain_Maximum: No

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Abundance

Attribute_Definition:

The number of animals in the sample of a particular species

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
Range_Domain_Maximum: 3718

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: the numerical abundance

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Species

Attribute_Definition: The genus and species

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Codeset_Domain:

Codeset_Name: SCAMIT Species list
Codeset_Source:: Southern California Association of Marine Invertebrate Taxonomists

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: BenthicInfaunalAbundance
Entity_Type_Definition: Table
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: StationID

Attribute_Definition: A geographic station label

Attribute_Definition_Source: Bight'98 Information Mangement Plan

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: The list of stations

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Information Systems Manager
Contact_Organization: SCCWRP

Contact_Position: Information manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110
City: Costa Mesa
State_or_Province: California
Postal_Code: 92626
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 714.755.3200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 714.438.1016

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: im_contact@sccwrp.org

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Contact_Instructions: E-mail preferred

Resource_Description: Bight'98 Infauna Abundance Data

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at SCCWRP, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a SCCWRP server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. SCCWRP shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20021221

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Information Systems Manager
Contact_Organization:: Southern California Coastal Water Research
Project(SCCWRP)

Contact_Position: Information Manager

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 3535 Harbor Blvd., Suite 110
City: Costa Mesa
State_or_Province: California
Postal_Code: 92626
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 714.755.3200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 714.438.1016

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: im_contact@sccwrp.org

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Contact_Instructions: E-mail preferred

Metadata_Standard_Name:

NBII Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: December 1995

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Metadata_Access_Constraints: None

Metadata_Use_Constraints: None

Metadata_Security_Information:

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None
Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified
Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None

Generated by mp on Mon Feb 3 09:45:21 2003