Sediment Profile Image Data from September 2001 in Wells, Maine (wellsspi)

In fall 2001, researchers from the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management conducted a project to map benthic habitats in the York and Webhannet rivers in southern Maine. The team completed two weeks of fieldwork in September 2001, collecting sediment profile images at 382 stations and sediment grab samples at 93 stations. This data set represents the information gathered from sediment profile imagery sampling.

Original contact information:

Contact Name: Dr. Michele Dionne

Contact Org: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

Phone: (207) 646-1555

The Wells Reserve is using the 2001 grab and SPI information to characterize benthic habitats within the York and Webhannet rivers, and to examine relationships between animal communities and sediment characteristics as well as the potential effects of dredging activities. Sediment profile images (SPI) of the sediment-water interface were collected using a sediment profile camera at pre-determined locations in both rivers. Physical, chemical, geological, and biological conditions observed in the photos were used to create a database for all stations, and habitat classes were defined by sediment type and/or faunal community for each location. The database was then used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to characterize fine scale benthic habitat distributions in the rivers.

10065

Values of 99.0 for PEN_MIN, PEN_MAX, PEN_AVE, SFC_RELIEF, RPD_MAX, RPD_AVE, INFAUNA, BURROWS, OXIC_VOID, ANOX_VOID, GAS_VOID, and BHQ fields represents unknown values.

Unknown

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within limits of the state of the art, NOAA will not assume any liability for damages caused by any inaccuracies in these data, or failure in their use.

Alternately, the data can be obtained by contacting the Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveAddress: 342 Laudholm Farm RoadWells, Maine 04090 Phone: (207) 646-1555;

None

These data should be used for resource mapping and comparison purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within limits of the state of the art, NOAA and the Wells Reserve will not assume any liability for damages caused by any inaccuracies in these data, or failure in their use. For use of these data in published analyses within the first two years of development, please contact Dr. Michele Dionne at the Wells Reserve for use permission.

Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800

The attribute accuracy was verified by checking the compiled SPI database against the actual photos for each station. Since two photos were taken at each station, attributes from both images were noted in the database, and one image was digitized and analyzed using image analysis software. The results of this automated analysis were also used to check the accuracy of the dataset. When large disagreement occurred between images from a single station, all attributes were recorded and the image with the largest visible area was digitized. Results of grab sampling were also used, when available, to check the accuracy of the SPI data set. Additionally, a subset of the images were evaluated by two other professional benthic ecologists with experience working with SPI. Differences between the original analysis and the QA/QC analysis were addressed in the final data set.

Stations were located in the field using a differential Global Positioning System (GPS), and station coordinates, date and time of day were recorded upon arrival at each station.

Not relevant to the data set.

All SPI data were not included in this data layer. All stations are represented, however, some parameters, which were harder or more subjective to interpret, were not included in the data set. These data can be found in the project database at the Wells Reserve.

All data are believed to be logically consistent.