Raw and Normalized Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia- July 2014

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Raw and Normalized Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia- July 2014
Abstract:
Foraminiferal samples were collected from Chincoteague Bay, Newport Bay, and Tom’s Cove as well as the marshes on the back-barrier side of Assateague Island and the Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) mainland by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in March, April (14CTB01), and October (14CTB02) 2014. Samples were also collected by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) in July 2014 and shipped to the St. Petersburg office for processing. The dataset includes raw foraminiferal and normalized counts for the estuarine grab samples (G), terrestrial surface samples (S), and inner shelf grab samples (G). For further information regarding data collection and sample site coordinates, processing methods, or related datasets, please refer to USGS Data Series 1060 (https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1060), USGS Open-File Report 2015–1219 (https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151219), and USGS Open-File Report 2015-1169 (https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151169). Downloadable data are available as Excel spreadsheets, comma-separated values text files, and formal Federal Geographic Data Committee metadata.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Ellis, Alisha M., Shaw, Jaimie E., Osterman, Lisa E., and Smith, Christopher G., 20180530, Raw and Normalized Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia- July 2014: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/F7Z036CV, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Ellis, Alisha M., Shaw, Jaimie E., Osterman, Lisa E., and Smith, Christopher G., 20170401, Distribution of foraminifera in Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series doi:10.3133/ds1060, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.874776
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.223674
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.753898
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.011494
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 22-Jul-2014
    Ending_Date: 25-Jul-2014
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The detailed attribute descriptions for the foraminiferal counts workbooks are provided in the included data dictionary (Foraminiferal Data Dictionary.pdf). These metadata are not complete without this file. Supplemental information includes a taxonomic reference list which may be used for visual and descriptive purposes and species name changes (14CTB-Taxonomic Reference List.pdf).
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Data Dictionary and Taxonomic Reference List for Foraminiferal Data Tables, in: Ellis and others, 2018, Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7Z036CV.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Alisha M. Ellis
    • Jaimie E. Shaw
    • Lisa E. Osterman
    • Christopher G. Smith
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Sediment sample data were collected by the WHCMSC, during USGS field activity number (FAN) 2014-002-FA and sent to the SPCMSC for foraminiferal analyses, additional survey details are available at https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2014-322-FA. The file 14CTB_InnerShelf_Raw_and_Normalized_25mL_Foram_Counts.zip includes all raw and normalized count data for the foraminiferal samples collected in July 2014 during 2014-002-FA.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2014 (process 1 of 3)
    Sediment samples from the inner shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula on the inner continental shelf were collected using a Van Veen grab sampler. The top 1 cm of recovered, undisturbed sediment was scraped off from the Van Veen sample for further analysis. Samples were stored chilled, on ice, from the time of collection (July 22 to July 25, 2014) until their arrival at the SPCMSC on August 7, 2015. Upon arrival, the samples were preserved and stained using 90% ethanol mixed with Rose Bengal to distinguish between live (and recently live) and dead foraminifera (modified from Walton, 1952). Each centrifuge tube was shaken twice daily for at least two weeks prior to lab processing. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
    Date: 2014 (process 2 of 3)
    Following a two-week staining period, foraminiferal sample volumes were recorded from the centrifuge tube they were stored in. Once recorded, samples were washed over a 63- and 850-micron (µm) sieve in order to remove ethanol, clay material, and to separate out large organics (Schonfeld and others, 2012). In some cases, multiple washes were necessary to remove all clay aggregates. Once dry, some of the samples with a high sand content were processed using sodium polytungstate in order to concentrate foraminifera (Munsterman and Kerstholt, 1996). Prior to picking, samples were dry sieved over 125 and 250 µm sieves in order to create four splits; 63–125, 125–250, 250–850, and >850 µm and vialed separately. For picking, the 125–250 and 250–850 size fractions for each sample were split into equal parts using a microsplitter and spread evenly over a hole punched, gridded picking tray. Entire splits were picked until approximately 200 foraminiferal specimens were acquired to enable the calculation of foraminiferal densities. A select few samples collected from the offshore sites were picked for contrast with estuarine and surface samples while attempting to choose sites that vary geographically. Foraminiferal identifications were made by making comparisons with published literature. The foraminiferal data presented in this publication include raw count data and volumetrically normalized (25 mL) specimen counts. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • 14CTB_InnerShelf_Raw_and_Normalized_25mL_Foram_Counts.zip
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 3 of 3)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Munsterman, D., and Kerstholt, S., 1996, Sodium polytungstate, a new non-toxic alternative to bromoform in heavy liquid separation: Review of Paleobotany and Palynology Volume 91, Issues 1–4.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Pages 417-422
    Schönfeld, J., Alve, E., Geslin, E., Jorissen, F., Korsun, S., Spezzaferri, S., and Members of the FOBIMO group, 2012, The FOBIMO (FOraminiferal BIo-MOnitoring) initiative—Towards a standardised protocol for soft-bottom benthic foraminiferal monitoring studies: Marine Micropaleontology Volume 94–95.

    Other_Citation_Details: Pages 1-13
    Walton, W. R., 1952, Techniques for recognition of living foraminifera: Contributions from the Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Volume 3.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Pages 56-60

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The foraminiferal data presented are the raw and volumetrically normalized counts.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This is a complete foraminiferal dataset that includes counts for three surface sediment samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Virginia and Maryland.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The complete foraminiferal dataset includes all species counts, the percent of each sample picked and assessed, and total volume of the sample collected. Detailed information regarding species identifications is available upon request.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests that it be acknowledged as the originator of this dataset in any future products or research derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? 14CTB_InnerShelf_Raw_and_Normalized_25mL_Foram_Counts.xlsx
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Any use of trade, firm, or product name is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The workbook included in this .zip file was created for use with Microsoft Excel 2016. It may also be viewed with the Microsoft Excel viewer or by downloading a Microsoft Compatibility Pack to view with older versions of Microsoft Excel.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
USA

(727) 502-8056 (voice)
aellis@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/14CTB_InnerShelf_Raw_and_Normalized_Foram_Counts.faq.html>
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