Benthic communities in the New London sidescan mosaic study area

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Benthic communities in the New London sidescan mosaic study area
Abstract:
This data layer depicts benthic communities found in the New London sidescan sonar mosaic study area.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Zajac, Roman N., 2000, Benthic communities in the New London sidescan mosaic study area: Open-File Report 2000-304, U. S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Roman N. Zajac was the compiler of this individual dataset. The accompanying chapter in the OFR includes the authors Ralph S. Lewis, Lawrence J. Poppe, David C. Twichell, Joseph Vozarik, Mary L. DiGiacomo-Cohen, and Matt Robinson.
    This is part of the following larger work.

    Paskevich, Valerie, and Poppe, Larry, 2000, Georeferenced sea-floor mapping and bottom photography in Long Island Sound: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File report 00-304, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Valerie F. Paskevich and Lawrenc J. Poppe are the editors of the publication which contains 12 individual chapters with various authors.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.1253
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.0423
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.3065
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.2587
  3. What does it look like?
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-304/htmldocs/images/browse/nlbenths.gif (GIF)
    image showing the extent of the GIS layer and depicts benthic communities found in the New London sidescan sonar mosaic study area
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1992
    Ending_Date: 2000
    Currentness_Reference:
    data collection years
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (59)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 18
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -075.000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: +00.000000
      False_Easting: 500000
      False_Northing: 0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 8000
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 10000
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.00.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    nlbenths.dbf
    Shapefile attribute file (Source: ESRI)
    X_coord
    North-south component of state plane navigation. (Source: from Pellegrino and Hubbard (1983))
    Range of values
    Minimum:771838.400000
    Maximum:794307.900000
    Y_coord
    East-west component of state plane navigatiion. (Source: from Pellegrino and Hubbard (1983))
    Range of values
    Minimum:156305.600000
    Maximum:172504.300000
    Station
    The original station ID assigned in the field. (Source: Zajac, 1996)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:60
    Rich
    Number generated during the multivariant cluster analysis that now has no applicable relevance to the use of the data. (Source: Zajac and others (2000))
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:8
    Dist1
    Cluster member identification based on multivariant cluster analyisi of the species richness data. (Source: Zajac and others, 2000)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:13
    Sprich
    Number of species per sample. (Source: Zajac and others, 2000)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:36.00
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The original studies were conducted to describe the benthic communities in LIS; the corresponding data layer is presented to show the available species richness data in eastern Long Island Sound.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Zajac, 1996

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Roman N. Zajac
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Roman Zajac
    University of New Haven
    Professor
    Biological and Environmental Sciences
    University of New Haven
    300 Orange Avenue
    West Haven, CT
    USA

    (203) 932-7114 (voice)
    zajacrn@charger.newhaven.edu

Why was the data set created?

This data layer, which focuses on benthic communities, was developed as part of a cooperative project between the University of New Haven, the Connecticut DEP, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Benthic communities are an integral component of the ecology of LIS.
Understanding the role that spatial heterogeneity plays in the dynamic of benthic landscapes may be a key to developing a better understanding of the estuarine ecology and the impacts of huuman activity. The purpose of providing this data layer is to help establish a regional framework for developing a more extensive GIS for benthic communities in LIS that can be used for education, research, and environmental management.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Zajac, 1996 (source 1 of 1)
    Zajac(comp.), R.N., 1996, Ecologic mapping and management-based analyses of benthic habitats and communities in Long Island Sound: Connecticut DEP, Hartford, CT.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution:
    Describes mapping and identification of benthic communities in eastern Long Island Sound
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 3)
    Mapping was performed on a sidescan sonar survey conducted by URI. Sediment samples were collected by grab sampler and were wet sieved to remove the mud fraction. Coarse fractions were stored in formalin until individual species specimens could be identified and counted with a binocular microscope under reflected light. Person who carried out this activity:
    Roman Zajac
    University of New Haven
    Professor
    Biological and Environmental Sciences University of New Haven
    300 Orange Avenue
    West Haven, CT
    USA

    (203) 932-7114 (voice)
    zajacrn@charger.newhaven.edu
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Poppe and others, 1992
    Date: Unknown (process 2 of 3)
    Text files of the navigation and biologic data were imported into ArcInfo and shape files were generated Person who carried out this activity:
    R.N. Zajac
    University of New Haven
    Professor
    Biology and Environmental Sciences
    Univesity of New Haven
    300 Orange Avenue
    West Haven, CT
    USA

    (203) 932-7114 (voice)
    zajacrn@charger.newhaven.edu
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • nlbenths.dbf
    • nlbenths.shp
    • nlbenths.shx
    Date: 26-Jun-2023 (process 3 of 3)
    Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.50 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. Additional small edits including (but not limited to) such as adding the edition element were perfomed on the metadata. Author names were edited to remove "ed." and "comp". Added links to access the data including the DOI link. Added USGS Thesaurus keywords. Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword (PID). Fixed the ellipsoid name to agree with the datum. Fixed the denominator of flattening ratio. Updated the distribution liability. The distribution format name was modified in an attempt to be more consistent with other metadata files of the same data format. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. A generic email in the metadata contact was used, along with adding contact instructions. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. (20230626) Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Zajac(comp.), R.N., 1996, Mapping and management-based analyses of benthic habitats and communities in Long Island Sound: Connecticut DEP, Hartford, CT.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Ship navigation was by differential GPS; accuracy of 10 m; typical absolute accuracy for DGPS
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Ship navigation was by differential GPS; accuracy of 10 m; typical accuracy for DGPS
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    No tidal corrections performed; tidal range is less than 2m
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    None
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No additional checks for topological consistancy were performed on this data set.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints The University of New Haven and the U.S. Geological Survey must be referenced as the originator of the data set in any future products or as research derived from these data.
Although this derived data set and its lineage dataset have been used by the University of New Haven and the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the University of New Haven or the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the University of New Haven or the USGS in the use of the data or related materials.
Use_Constraints None
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Roman Zajac
    University of New Haven
    Professor
    Biological and Environmental Sciences
    University of New Haven
    300 Orange Avenue
    West Haven, CT
    USA

    (203) 932-7114 (voice)
    zajacrn@charger.newhaven.edu
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Long Island Sound: nlbenths.shp
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. Is there some other way to get the data?
    None
  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    This layer is available in ArcView 3.2 format. Users must have ArcView 3.0 or later, or another GIS application capable of importing the data.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-Jun-2023
Metadata author:
Larry Poppe
U. S. Geological Survey
geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with the USGS.
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/open_file_report/ofr2000-304/nlgenths.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Mon Jun 26 11:24:41 2023