Locations of bottom photographs with biological interpretations collected by the U.S. Geological Survey offshore of Massachusetts in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound in September 2010 on the RV Connecticut (BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.shp)

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What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, Locations of bottom photographs with biological interpretations collected by the U.S. Geological Survey offshore of Massachusetts in Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound in September 2010 on the RV Connecticut (BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.shp): Open-File Report 2014-1221, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141221
   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/GIS/shapefile/BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.zip
   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/html/appendix1.html

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Ackerman, Seth D., Pappal, Adrienne L., Huntley, Emily C., Blackwood, Dann S., and Schwab, William C., 2015, Geological Sampling Data and Benthic Biota Classification: Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2014-1221, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141221
   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Suggested citation: Ackerman, S.D., Pappal, A.L., Huntley, E.C., Blackwood, D.S., and Schwab, W.C., 2015, Geological sampling data and benthic biota classification—Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1221, 30 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141221.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.096428
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.457338
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.649575
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.267625
   

3. What does it look like?

   https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/GIS/browse_jpg/big/BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.jpg (JPEG)

   Thumbnail image of bottom photo locations

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 09-Sep-2010

   Ending_Date: 14-Sep-2010

   Currentness_Reference:

   ground condition

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
   

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Entity point (2426)
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
      

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

      Depth_System_Definition:

      Depth_Datum_Name: mean lower low water
      Depth_Resolution: 0.1
      Depth_Distance_Units: meters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Implicit coordinate
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio

   point location of seafloor photographs with biological classification (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: Esri) Coordinates defining the features.

   TIME_UNCOR

   Time of photograph in UTC (hh:mm:ss). This is the UNCORRECTED camera time. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 8

   GPSTIME

   Corrected time of photograph in UTC (hh:mm:ss). This is the CORRECTED time after verification with the SEABOSS video. This is the time that was ultimately used to geolocate the seafloor photographs. This time was updated in the EXIF header of the JPEG images, in the 'GPS Time Stamp' EXIF tag (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 16

   DIFFTIME

   This is the variable time offset field that was used to perform the time adjustment during the process by which the photographs were geolocated. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	4
   Maximum:	41
   Units:	seconds

   JD

   Julian day photograph was acquired based on UTC time. Julian day is the integer number representing the interval of time in days since January 1 of the year of collection. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	252
   Maximum:	257

   PHOTO_DATE

   The date the photograph was acquired in the format MM/DD/YYYY. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 10

   LAT

   Latitude coordinate of photograph (in decimal degrees, WGS84) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	41.267625
   Maximum:	41.649575
   Units:	Decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.000001

   LONG

   Longitude coordinate of photograph (in decimal degrees, WGS84) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-71.096428
   Maximum:	-70.457338
   Units:	Decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.000001

   PICNAME

   Name of the JPEG photograph (format is downloadnumber_seqphotonumber.jpg) where the download number portion of the name reflects during which download session (d1-d4) the images were copied from the camera's CompactFlash card. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 254

   HOTLINK

   This indicates the location of the actual JPEG photograph relative to this shapefile (NEW_10005_PhotoLocs_FINAL_wBio.shp) so that the "hotlink" feature can be easily used within an Esri ArcMap project (see Appendix 1 of this report USGS OFR 2014-1221 for information about setting the "hotlink" feature to work in ArcMap). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 254

   DEPTH_M

   Depth in meters extracted from the recent USGS bathymetry data released on USGS Open File Reports 2012-1002 (Ackerman and others, 2013) and 2012-1006 (Andrews and others, 2013); hydrographic data from NOAA NOS survey H11076 (for photos at sample sites 216, 217, 218 and 219); and the NOAA NGDC's 3 arc-second U.S. Coastal Relief Model data (for sample sites 174 and 175). Depths have a vertical datum of mean lower low water. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	7.5
   Maximum:	41.6
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	0.1

   LINENAME

   This indicates the SEABOSS sampling site (station) number or SEABOSS trackline along which digital still photos and continuous bottom video were acquired. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 10

   NEAR_SMP

   Field Number or Field ID of the nearest sediment sample or SEABOSS sampling site from USGS sampling survey 2010-005-FA. This field was calculated using the Spatial Join tool in ArcMap version 10.1, joining this dataset with the surficial sediment sample from the dataset BBVS_SedimentSamples.shp. Note: for sample sites where a physical sample was not collected, the "sample site" was typically the location where the last photograph was taken during that SEABOSS deployment. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 10

   NEAR_CLASS

   Sediment classification (Shepard, 1954) of the nearest sediment sample from USGS sampling survey 2010-005-FA. This field was calculated using the Spatial Join tool in ArcMap version 10.1, joining this dataset with the surficial sediment sample from the dataset BBVS_SedimentSamples.shp. (see the metadata from BBVS_SedimentSample.shp for more detailed attribute information). Note: for sample sites where a physical sample was not collected, the "sample site" was typically the location where the last photograph was taken during that SEABOSS deployment. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254

   DST_TO_SMP

   Distance to the nearest sediment sample from USGS sampling survey 2010-005-FA. This field was calculated using the Spatial Join tool in ArcMap version 10.1, joining this dataset with the surficial sediment sample from the dataset BBVS_SedimentSamples.shp.Note: for sample sites where a physical sample was not collected, the "sample site" was typically the location where the last photograph was taken during that SEABOSS deployment. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	578.2
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	0.1

   NR_SMP_CMT

   Comment field for any additional information that may be important relating to the photograph and/or the nearest sample (e.g. for a deployment that crosses a transition zone as illustrated by the backscatter data. Photographs from this transect may begin in gravelly sediment, cobble and boulders, then moves to finer sediment where the sediment sample was collected. Therefore photographs with boulders may have a nearest classification of sand, so users need to be mindful of the nearest sample distance and that the photograph may not illustrate the same character of the nearest sample classification. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 254

   BIO_SET

   CMECS Biotic Setting classification of bottom photo. The biotic setting separates organisms that live in or are closely associated with the bottom (Benthic Biota) from those organisms that are suspended in the water column or floating on the surface (Planktonic Biota). Benthic Biota units are defined by species that are fixed to the benthos and those that are slow moving (such that they cannot move beyond the unit boundary within one day). (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Benthic/Attached Biota	This biotic setting describes areas where biota lives on, in, or in close association with the seafloor or other substrates (e.g., pilings, buoys), extending down into the sediment to include the sub-surface layers of substrate that contain multi-cellular life. As a rule, Benthic/Attached Biota units are characterized by the various life histories and taxonomic characteristics of the dominant life forms.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.

   BIO_CLASS

   CMECS Biotic Class classification of bottom photo. Biotic classes are determined by the dominant percent cover based on the taxonomy and life forms of the living components of the sampled area. Biotic class definitions are based on the biologically defined classes of the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats in the United States, FGDC-STD-004. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Aquatic Vegetation Bed	This class includes subtidal or intertidal bottoms and any other areas characterized by a dominant cover of rooted vascular plants, attached macroalgae, or mosses, which are usually submersed in the water column or floating on the surface. They may be exposed during low tides.
   Faunal Bed	Seabeds dominated or characterized by a cover of animals that are closely associated with the bottom, including attached, clinging, sessile, infaunal, burrowing, laying, interstitial, and slow-moving animals, but not animals that have created substrate (Reef Biota).
   Reef Biota	Areas dominated by reef-building fauna, including living corals, mollusks, polychaetes or glass sponges. In order to be classified as Reef Biota, colonizing organisms must be judged to be sufficiently abundant to construct identifiable biogenic substrates. The Reef Biota Class refers to only the living component of reef structures.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.

   BIO_SUBCL

   CMECS Biotic Subclass classification of bottom photo. Biotic subclasses are based on finer distinctions of dominant life forms, taxa, and growth forms. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Attached Fauna	Areas characterized by rock substrates, gravel substrates, other hard substrates, or mixed substrates that are dominated by fauna which maintain contact with the substrate surface, including firmly attached, crawling, resting, interstitial, or clinging fauna.
   Benthic Macroalgae	Aquatic beds dominated by macroalgae attached to the substrate, such as kelp, intertidal fucoids, and calcareous algae.
   Inferred Fauna	Areas dominated by evidence (real or inferred) of faunal activity, but where the fauna themselves are not currently present or evident, given the sampling methodology.
   Mollusk Reef Biota	Areas dominated by consolidated aggregations of living and dead mollusks, usually bivalves (e.g., oysters or mussels or giant clams) or gastropods (e.g., vermetids) attached to their conspecifics and sufficiently abundant to create substrate.
   Soft Sediment Fauna	Areas that are characterized by fine unconsolidated substrates (sand, mud) and that are dominated in percent cover or in estimated biomass by infauna, sessile epifauna, mobile epifauna, mobile fauna that create semi-permanent burrows as homes, or by structures or evidence associated with these fauna.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.

   BIO_GROUP

   CMECS Biotic Group classification of bottom photo. Biotic groups are observational, descriptive, or functional groupings of the characteristic biological types that occur as generalized patterns across their range. Biotic groups are designed as simple observational units, to be based upon regularly recurring biological features that are evident in the environment under observation. The classification area is the field of view of the photograph (see process steps for more information about the image area). (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Attached Anemones	Hard substrate areas dominated by attached anemones (coelenterates which secure themselves to a hard substrate with a pedal disc).
   Attached Bryozoans	Areas dominated by abundant or structurally complex, attached bryozoan communities that are may be habitat-forming.
   Attached Hydroids	Areas dominated by mounds or mats of hydroids that are attached to a hard substrate.
   Attached Sponges	Hard or mixed substrate areas that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, e.g., where non-reef building sponge species grow attached to hard substrate or are nestled among hard substrate, or where reef-building sponges grow on hard substrates in densities that are not judged sufficient to constitute a reef.
   Attached Tunicates	Areas dominated by attached members of the subphylum Tunicata, known as tunicates, ascidians, or sea squirts.
   Barnacles	Areas dominated by barnacles and associated fauna.
   Burrowing Fauna	Assemblages dominated by the presence—or evidence—of larger, deep-burrowing, soft-bodied, generally worm-like infauna and/or areas dominated by small, burrowing, often worm-like fauna with a body width usually < 2 millimeters; animals are typically found within 5 centimeters of the sediment-water interface. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna and Larger Deep-Burrowing Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Clam Bed	Areas where either: (a) living clams, siphons, or siphon holes are the dominant surface feature, or; (b) clams dominate the faunal biomass.
   Coralline/Crustose Algal Bed	Areas dominated by coralline or crustose algae that incorporate calcium carbonate into their tissues and form crusts on the substrate in many marine environments.
   Filamentous Algal Bed	Areas dominated by filamentous algae that have a growth form consisting of fine filaments or strands with no blades or stipes.
   Gastropod Reef	Areas dominated by consolidated aggregations of living and dead gastropod mollusks, typically those of the Family Vermetidae or the Genus Crepidula. Shells in a "reef" must have consolidated or conglomerated into a reef structure with some relief and permanence; a reef is more that an accumulation of loose shells.
   Inferred Fauna	Areas dominated by evidence (real or inferred) of faunal activity, but where the fauna themselves are not currently present or evident, given the sampling methodology. This Biotic Group was added as a modification in the CMECS classification where no faunal activity is apparent visually, but the absence of faunal cannot be assumed due to a lack of a physical sample.
   Leathery/Leafy Algal Bed	Areas dominated by leathery/leafy algae have a variety of specialized tissues (including thalli) that resemble stems and leaf-like blades.
   Mobile Crustaceans on Hard or Mixed Substrates	Areas where the epifaunal community is dominated by slow-moving crustaceans on hard or mixed substrates, often living on, between, or under rocks. This group is limited to the epifaunal crustacean taxa that are relatively non-motile (e.g., hermit crabs, xanthid crabs, grapsid crabs, mysids, palaemonids and other small shrimps, amphipods, isopods) and cannot move outside the boundaries of the classification unit within one day. The classifcation unit is the field of view of the photograph.
   Mobile Crustaceans on Soft Sediments	Areas where the epifaunal or surface community is dominated by slow-moving crustaceans. This group is limited to the relatively non-motile, epifaunal, crustacean taxa (e.g., hermit crabs, mole crabs, amphipods, mysids, isopods) and does not include the more mobile arthropod forms (e.g., swimming crabs, horseshoe crabs, penaied shrimps) which can leave the classified area in less than one day and are defined as Associated Taxa. The classifcation area is the field of view of the photograph.
   Mobile Mollusks on Hard or Mixed Substrates	Areas dominated by slow-moving mollusks, most commonly gastropods.
   Mobile Mollusks on Soft Sediments	Areas dominated by epifaunal, slow-moving, generally detritivorous, herbivorous, or omnivorous gastropods, scaphopods, or other mollusks foraging at the surface of unconsolidated sediments.
   Sand Dollar Bed	Assemblages dominated by surface-dwelling, "irregular" echinoids of the Phylum Echinodermata and Order Clypeasteroida (e.g., sand dollars, sea biscuits).
   Sessile Gastropods	Hard substrate areas dominated by sessile (or mostly sessile) gastropods, often suspension feeders.
   Soft Sediment Bryozoans	Areas dominated by bryozoans. Bryozoans may be either embedded in fine substrates or resting, unattached, on the sediment surface.
   Sponge Bed	Sandy or muddy areas of the seafloor that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, but do not create substrate such that they would be considered Reef Biota.
   Tracks and Trails	Areas where sediment surface patterns are dominated by tracks and trails left by locomotion of mobile epifauna and other fauna that are no longer present.
   Tube-Building Fauna	Soft sediment areas dominated by larger tube builders (tube width > 2 millimeters, or tube length > 30 millimeters), most commonly polychaetes, but including many other worm-like phyla (phoronids, sipunculids), crustaceans, and others and/or soft sediment areas dominated by tube-building annelids (e.g., spionids, sabellids), amphipods, small phoronids, or other small, surface-dwelling, tube-building fauna. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Tube-Building Fauna and Larger Tube-Building Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Tunneling Megafauna	Intertidal or Subtidal areas dominated by burrowing or construction activities of larger (megafaunal) organisms that create a water-filled tunnel with a diameter of > 1 centimeter.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.

   BIO_COMM

   CMECS Biotic Community classification of bottom photo. A biotic community is a repeatable grouping of species that is relatively uniform in structure, species composition, and habitat conditions. Biotic community is added to characterize elements in the Biotic Group. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Codium sp.	Photographs with the green algae Codium sp. present. Community added to characterize the Leathery/Leafy Algal Bed Biotic Group.
   Crepidula sp.	Photographs with the slipper shell gastropod Crepidula sp. present. Community added to characterize the Gastropod Reef and Sessile Gastropods Biotic Groups.
   Crepidula sp., Codium sp.	Photographs with the slipper shell gastropod Crepidula sp. and the green algae Codium sp. present. Community added to characterize the Leathery/Leafy Algal Bed, Gastropod Reef, and Sessile Gastropods Biotic Groups.
   Didemnum sp.	Photographs with the colonial tunicate Didemnum sp. present. Community added to characterize the Attached Tunicates and Tunicate Bed Biotic Groups.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.
   [blank]	Photo was only analyzed to the biotic group level. No Biotic Community could be determined or resolved in the photograph.

   CO_OCCUR_1

   CMECS Co-occurring Element Modifier of bottom photo. This is a co-occurring Biotic Group used as a modifier to the CMECS classification system. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Attached Anemones	Hard substrate areas dominated by attached anemones (coelenterates which secure themselves to a hard substrate with a pedal disc).
   Attached Bryozoans	Areas dominated by abundant or structurally complex, attached bryozoan communities that are may be habitat-forming.
   Attached Sponges	Hard or mixed substrate areas that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, e.g., where non-reef building sponge species grow attached to hard substrate or are nestled among hard substrate, or where reef-building sponges grow on hard substrates in densities that are not judged sufficient to constitute a reef.
   Attached Tube-Building Fauna	Hard substrate areas with a percent cover dominated by tube builders, including annelids, phoronids, sipunculids, crustaceans, gastropods, pogonophorans, echiurans, priapulids, and other phyla.
   Attached Tunicates	Areas dominated by attached members of the subphylum Tunicata, known as tunicates, ascidians, or sea squirts.
   Barnacles	Areas dominated by barnacles and associated fauna.
   Burrowing Anemones	Areas dominated by anemones (solitary coelenterates) that use their pedal disc to burrow in soft substrates.
   Burrowing Fauna	Assemblages dominated by the presence—or evidence—of larger, deep-burrowing, soft-bodied, generally worm-like infauna and/or areas dominated by small, burrowing, often worm-like fauna with a body width usually < 2 millimeters; animals are typically found within 5 centimeters of the sediment-water interface. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna and Larger Deep-Burrowing Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Clam Bed	Areas where either: (a) living clams, siphons, or siphon holes are the dominant surface feature, or; (b) clams dominate the faunal biomass.
   Coralline/Crustose Algal Bed	Areas dominated by coralline or crustose algae that incorporate calcium carbonate into their tissues and form crusts on the substrate in many marine environments.
   Filamentous Algal Bed	Areas dominated by filamentous algae that have a growth form consisting of fine filaments or strands with no blades or stipes.
   Holothurian Bed	Soft sediment assemblages dominated by holothurians or "sea cucumbers."
   Leathery/Leafy Algal Bed	Areas dominated by leathery/leafy algae have a variety of specialized tissues (including thalli) that resemble stems and leaf-like blades.
   Mobile Crustaceans on Soft Sediments	Areas where the epifaunal or surface community is dominated by slow-moving crustaceans. This group is limited to the relatively non-motile, epifaunal, crustacean taxa (e.g., hermit crabs, mole crabs, amphipods, mysids, isopods) and does not include the more mobile arthropod forms (e.g., swimming crabs, horseshoe crabs, penaied shrimps) which can leave the classified area in less than one day and are defined as Associated Taxa.
   Mobile Mollusks on Hard or Mixed Substrates	Areas dominated by slow-moving mollusks, most commonly gastropods.
   Mobile Mollusks on Soft Sediments	Areas dominated by epifaunal, slow-moving, generally detritivorous, herbivorous, or omnivorous gastropods, scaphopods, or other mollusks foraging at the surface of unconsolidated sediments.
   Sessile Gastropods	Hard substrate areas dominated by sessile (or mostly sessile) gastropods, often suspension feeders.
   Sponge Bed	Sandy or muddy areas of the seafloor that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, but do not create substrate such that they would be considered Reef Biota.
   Tracks and Trails	Areas where sediment surface patterns are dominated by tracks and trails left by locomotion of mobile epifauna and other fauna that are no longer present.
   Tube-Building Fauna	Soft sediment areas dominated by larger tube builders (tube width > 2 millimeters, or tube length > 30 millimeters), most commonly polychaetes, but including many other worm-like phyla (phoronids, sipunculids), crustaceans, and others and/or soft sediment areas dominated by tube-building annelids (e.g., spionids, sabellids), amphipods, small phoronids, or other small, surface-dwelling, tube-building fauna. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Tube-Building Fauna and Larger Tube-Building Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Tunicate Bed	Sandy or muddy areas dominated by members of the subphylum Urochordata, including ascidians, sea squirts, and other tunicates.
   Tunneling Megafauna	Intertidal or Subtidal areas dominated by burrowing or construction activities of larger (megafaunal) organisms that create a water-filled tunnel with a diameter of > 1 centimeter.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.
   [blank]	No other Co-occurring Element Modifier could be classified or resolved in the photograph.

   CO_OCCUR_2

   CMECS Co-occurring Element Modifier of bottom photo. This is a co-occurring Biotic Group used as a modifier to the CMECS classification system. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012))

   Value	Definition
   Attached Bryozoans	Areas dominated by abundant or structurally complex, attached bryozoan communities that are may be habitat-forming.
   Attached Sponges	Hard or mixed substrate areas that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, e.g., where non-reef building sponge species grow attached to hard substrate or are nestled among hard substrate, or where reef-building sponges grow on hard substrates in densities that are not judged sufficient to constitute a reef.
   Attached Tube-Building Fauna	Hard substrate areas with a percent cover dominated by tube builders, including annelids, phoronids, sipunculids, crustaceans, gastropods, pogonophorans, echiurans, priapulids, and other phyla.
   Attached Tunicates	Areas dominated by attached members of the subphylum Tunicata, known as tunicates, ascidians, or sea squirts.
   Barnacles	Areas dominated by barnacles and associated fauna.
   Burrowing Anemones	Areas dominated by anemones (solitary coelenterates) that use their pedal disc to burrow in soft substrates.
   Burrowing Fauna	Assemblages dominated by the presence—or evidence—of larger, deep-burrowing, soft-bodied, generally worm-like infauna and/or areas dominated by small, burrowing, often worm-like fauna with a body width usually < 2 millimeters; animals are typically found within 5 centimeters of the sediment-water interface. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna and Larger Deep-Burrowing Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Clam Bed	Areas where either: (a) living clams, siphons, or siphon holes are the dominant surface feature, or; (b) clams dominate the faunal biomass.
   Coralline/Crustose Algal Bed	Areas dominated by coralline or crustose algae that incorporate calcium carbonate into their tissues and form crusts on the substrate in many marine environments.
   Filamentous Algal Bed	Areas dominated by filamentous algae that have a growth form consisting of fine filaments or strands with no blades or stipes.
   Holothurian Bed	Soft sediment assemblages dominated by holothurians or "sea cucumbers."
   Leathery/Leafy Algal Bed	Areas dominated by leathery/leafy algae have a variety of specialized tissues (including thalli) that resemble stems and leaf-like blades.
   Mobile Crustaceans on Soft Sediments	Areas where the epifaunal or surface community is dominated by slow-moving crustaceans. This group is limited to the relatively non-motile, epifaunal, crustacean taxa (e.g., hermit crabs, mole crabs, amphipods, mysids, isopods) and does not include the more mobile arthropod forms (e.g., swimming crabs, horseshoe crabs, penaied shrimps) which can leave the classified area in less than one day and are defined as Associated Taxa.
   Mobile Mollusks on Hard or Mixed Substrates	Areas dominated by slow-moving mollusks, most commonly gastropods.
   Mobile Mollusks on Soft Sediments	Areas dominated by epifaunal, slow-moving, generally detritivorous, herbivorous, or omnivorous gastropods, scaphopods, or other mollusks foraging at the surface of unconsolidated sediments.
   Sessile Gastropods	Hard substrate areas dominated by sessile (or mostly sessile) gastropods, often suspension feeders.
   Sponge Bed	Sandy or muddy areas of the seafloor that are dominated by sponges and their associated communities, but do not create substrate such that they would be considered Reef Biota.
   Tracks and Trails	Areas where sediment surface patterns are dominated by tracks and trails left by locomotion of mobile epifauna and other fauna that are no longer present.
   Tube-Building Fauna	Soft sediment areas dominated by larger tube builders (tube width > 2 millimeters, or tube length > 30 millimeters), most commonly polychaetes, but including many other worm-like phyla (phoronids, sipunculids), crustaceans, and others and/or soft sediment areas dominated by tube-building annelids (e.g., spionids, sabellids), amphipods, small phoronids, or other small, surface-dwelling, tube-building fauna. For the purposes of this classification the biotic groups Small Tube-Building Fauna and Larger Tube-Building Fauna were combined as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two.
   Tunneling Megafauna	Intertidal or Subtidal areas dominated by burrowing or construction activities of larger (megafaunal) organisms that create a water-filled tunnel with a diameter of > 1 centimeter.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.
   [blank]	No other Co-occurring Element Modifier could be classified or resolved in the photograph.

   ASSOC_1

   CMECS Associated Taxa Modifier of bottom photo. This is used in addition to, but does not overlap, the Biotic Group and Co-occurring Element classifications. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012), Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management)

   Value	Definition
   Anomia sp.	Photographs with the jingle shell Anomia sp. present.
   Arbacia punctulata	Photographs with the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata present.
   Asterias sp.	Photographs with the sea star Asterias sp. present.
   Astrangia sp.	Photographs with the hard coral Astrangia sp. present.
   Bivalvia	Photographs with bivalve mollusks Bivalvia present.
   Bugula sp.	Photographs with the bryozoan Bugula sp. present.
   Carcinus maenas	Photographs with the green crab Carcinus maenas present.
   Centropristis striata	Photographs with the black sea bass Centropristis striata present.
   Cerianthidae	Photographs with the burrowing anemone Cerianthidae present.
   Crepidula sp.	Photographs with the slipper shell Crepidula sp. present.
   Decapoda	Photographs with Decopoda crustaceans present.
   Henricia sanguinolenta	Photographs with the blood star Henricia sanguinolenta present.
   Homarus americanus	Photographs with the American lobster Homarus americanus present.
   Menidia sp.	Photographs with the silverside Menidia sp. present.
   Ovalipes ocellatus	Photographs with the lady crab Ovalipes ocellatus present.
   Pagurus sp.	Photographs with the hermit crab Pagurus sp. present.
   Pisces	Photographs with fish Pisces present.
   Pisidae	Photographs with spider crab Pisidae present.
   Pleuronectiformes	Photographs with flatfish Pleuronectiformes present.
   Porifera	Photographs with sponge Porifera present.
   Raja sp.	Photographs with skate Raja sp. present.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.
   [blank]	No other Associated Taxa Modifier could be classified or resolved in the photograph.

   ASSOC_2

   CMECS Associated Taxa Modifier of bottom photo. This is used in addition to, but does not overlap, the Biotic Group and Co-occurring Element classifications. (Source: Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 (June 2012), Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management)

   Value	Definition
   Anomia sp.	Photographs with the jingle shell Anomia sp. present.
   Arbacia punctulata	Photographs with the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata present.
   Asterias sp.	Photographs with the sea star Asterias sp. present.
   Astrangia sp.	Photographs with the hard coral Astrangia sp. present.
   Bivalvia	Photographs with bivalve mollusks Bivalvia present.
   Bugula sp.	Photographs with the bryozoan Bugula sp. present.
   Henricia sanguinolenta	Photographs with the blood star Henricia sanguinolenta present.
   Holothuroidea	Photographs with sea cucumber Holothuroidea present.
   Pagurus sp.	Photographs with the hermit crab Pagurus sp. present.
   Pisces	Photographs with fish Pisces present.
   Porifera	Photographs with sponge Porifera present.
   -9999	No data. Photo not analyzed.
   [blank]	No other Associated Taxa Modifier could be classified or resolved in the photograph.

   SURVEYID

   Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activity number in the format YYYY-XXXX-FA where YYYY is the year of the survey and XXXX is the survey number assigned to field activities with participation by scientists and staff from the USGS Wood Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. (Source: USGS) Character string of width 12

   DEVICEID

   Sampling device used to collect bottom video (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 18

   VEHCILEID

   Survey vessel name (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string of width 25

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Definations from from the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard documentation. The classification area/unit is the field of view (the footprint) of the photograph which is approximately 0.5 to 1.25 meters from left to right, depending on the altitude of the camera when the photograph was taken.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
   

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • U.S. Geological Survey
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

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: Sep-2010 (process 1 of 9)

   Three hundred and one target stations were occupied aboard the R/V Connecticut (USGS survey 2010-005-FA) with the large SEABOSS (Blackwood and Parolski, 2001) that was equipped with a Van Veen grab sampler, a digital still camera, and a video camera. The digital photographs were downloaded from the camera and backed-up to a laptop and hard-drive four times during the sampling survey (d1 at 04:28 on 10 Sept; d2 at 18:45 on 10 Sept; d3 at 18:19 on 12 Sept; d4 at 00:15 on 14 Sept). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologists

   384 Woods Hole Road

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   (508) 548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • JPEG photographs

   Date: Jan-2013 (process 2 of 9)

   DGPS navigation was logged through a Microsoft HyperTerminal (version 5.1) session on a HP laptop computer running Windows XP, SP2. Log files were saved for each sampling watch then reformatted into log files by Julian Day (e.g. JD252.txt) during post-processing. The AWK script awkseth.gpgga10005.sda was run on the group of Julian Day files creating a comma separated value (CSV) ASCII text file that parsed for the GPGGA navigation string (> awk -f awkseth.gpgga10005.sda JD*.txt > all_nav_10005.csv). The output file was then reformatted for the Python ground-truth toolset using the AWK script nav_time_reformat.awk (> awk -f nav_time_reformat.awk all_nav_10005.csv > 10005_UConn_ALLnav_final.csv), creating a final processed navigation file for the entire sampling survey (10005_UConn_ALLnav_final.csv). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • HyperTerminal generated navigation files (JD25[2-7].txt)

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • GPGGA parsed navigation file (10005_UConn_ALLnav_final.csv)

   Date: Jan-2013 (process 3 of 9)

   Extracted time from the "Date Picture Taken" in the Exchangeable Image File (EXIF) format header of the quality JPEG bottom photographs using ArcGIS 9.3 ArcToolbox tool "GeoTools JPG Header Tool - SDA Feb05" (which uses the Python (v2.5) script "sda_vexiftool_mod12.py (v.Jan18.2007)). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • JPEG photographs

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • NEW_Photo_headers_out.csv

   Date: Jan-2013 (process 4 of 9)

   Manual adjustment was done to account for time offsets between the time recorded in the JPEG EXIF time "Date Picture Taken" and the GPS time as verified by comparing approximately fifty photos against the SEABOSS video, including several calibration photos that were taken on the deck of the ship between sampling stations. Camera time was 4 seconds behind GPS time at the start of the survey and 41 seconds behind GPS time at the end of the survey. The time drift was fairly linear throughout the survey, with the exception of a 7 second time jump that occurred when the camera was rebooted after downloading the third set of photos at 18:19 on 12 Sept 2010. To account for the time difference, an additional field was added to the photo header file (NEW_Photo_headers_out_FINAL.csv). The new field of time difference was populated using Microsoft Excel (version 2010) by filling a linear series between the control photos that were compared with the SEABOSS video. This time difference will be accounted for when geolocating the photos in a subsequent process step. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • NEW_Photo_headers_out.csv

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • NEW_Photo_headers_out_FINAL.csv

   Date: 18-Apr-2013 (process 5 of 9)

   Create Esri shapefile joining the bottom photo name with the navigation based on matching date and time fields using ArcGIS 9.3 ArcToolbox tool "GeoTools Hotlink Tool - SDA Feb05" (which uses the Python (v2.5) script "sda_hotlink_5.py (v.Oct10.2007)). VACExtras (vesrion 2.1) was used to extract depth values in meters from the bathymetry grids (see attribute defination for bathymetry data source information). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 10005_UConn_ALLnav_final.csv
   • NEW_Photo_headers_out_FINAL.csv

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • NEW_10005_PhotoLocs_FINAL.shp

   Date: May-2013 (process 6 of 9)

   Biological Classification of Photographs: The biological information in the imagery was classified according to a modified version of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), FGDC-STD-018-2012, Benthic Biotic Component (Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012). CMECS, a Federal Geographic Data Committee standard, is a hierarchal system that provides a means for classifying ecological units using a standard format.
   In the CMECS Benthic Biotic Component, biotic classifications are defined by the dominance of stable, sessile, or slow moving species visible in the photo. Each photo was reviewed and classified with a primary and two co-occurring biotic groups as applicable in accordance with CMECS guidance. Two associated taxa were included where applicable; if more than two occurred, the two most dominant taxa were selected. Note that the imaged area of a photo is the mapping unit and that area is most often within 0.5 to 1.25 meters from left to right, depending on the height of the camera off the seafloor when the photograph was taken. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Adrienne Pappal

   Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

   Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator

   251 Causeway Street, Suite 800

   Boston, MA
   

   USA

   617-626-1241 (voice)

   617-626-1240 (FAX)

   adrienne.pappal@state.ma.us

   Data sources used in this process:

   • Seafloor photographs

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • 10005 Biota Analysis of Seafloor Photos Spreadsheet

   Date: 15-May-2013 (process 7 of 9)

   Several of the attributes were calculated in Esri ArcGIS (version 10.1) using the Spatial Join tool. This tool was first run to calculate the closest SEABOSS video survey trackline to each bottom photo (field LINENAME) using a one-to-one join operation and the closest match option.
   The Spatial Join tool was run a second time with the sediment samples as the join features to calculate the field name of the closest sediment sample (field NEAR_SMP) and the sediment classification of the nearest sample (field NEAR_CLASS) for each bottom photo. A one-to-one join operation with the closest match option was used and the distance between the target feature and closest join feature was calculated (field DST_TO_SMP). The field calculator was then used to round the distance in meters from each bottom photo to the nearest sample (field DST_TO_SMP) to the nearest tenth.
   Finally, a spreadsheet of the biological classification of the photos was joined to the bottom photographs shapefile based on the photo name (field PICNAME). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Emily Chambliss Huntley

   Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management

   Marine GIS/Mapping Specialist

   251 Causeway Street, Suite 800

   Boston, MA
   

   USA

   617-626-1241 (voice)

   617-626-1240 (FAX)

   emily.huntley@state.ma.us

   Data sources used in this process:

   • 10005 Biota Analysis of Seafloor Photos Spreadsheet
   • NEW_10005_PhotoLocs_FINAL.shp
   • BBVS_SedimentSamples.shp

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • NEW_10005_PhotoLocs_FINAL_wBio.shp
   • BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.csv

   Date: Sep-2013 (process 8 of 9)

   XTools Pro (version 9.2) for ArcGIS desktop (version 10.1) was used to reorganize, delete unnecessary fields and add new fields to the point shapefile's attribute table (Table Operations - Table Restructure). Table attributes for the survey ID ("SURVEYID'), device used to collect the data ('DEVICEID'), survey vessel name ('VEHICLEID'), date the photo was taken ('PHOTODATE'), and year ('YEAR') were added and/or populated using the table editor in ArcMap. Other attributes were already populated. Uncorrected photo time field ('TIME') was changed to ('TIME_UNCOR'). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • NEW_10005_PhotoLocs_FINAL_wBio.shp

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.shp

   Date: 25-Jul-2025 (process 9 of 9)

   The following edits were performed on this file: Modified the title to move filename to end of title; added the DOI link as the first link in the metadata file; added the suggested citation to the other citation details; added the DOI link as the first link in the larger work citation; fixed the publication date for both the datasets and larger work citation; removed Esri tags; rename “General” to “None” thesaurus name; added USGS Thesaurus terms; removed invalid ISO 19115 Topic Category terms; changed the NOAA Coastal Relief pub date from 2001-2003 to 2003; fixed all errors; replaced the distribution liability with an approved FSP statement; added a generic email with contact instructions for the metadata contact; added the metadata unique identifier (PID) in the thesaurus section; updated the metadata date. (20250725) 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?
   Blackwood, D., and Parolski, K., 2001, Seabed observation and sampling system: Sea Technology v. 42, no. 2, p. 39-43.

   Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/

   Shepard, F.P., 1954, Nomenclature based on sand-silt-clay ratios: Journal Sedimentary Petrology 24 (3), Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Tulsa, OK.

   Online Links:

   • http://jsedres.sepmonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/3/151

   Ackerman, Seth D., Andrews, Brian D., Foster, David S., Baldwin, Wayne E., and Schwab, William C., 2013, High-resolution geophysical data from the inner continental shelf - Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2012-1002, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1002/

   Andrews, Brian D., Ackerman, Seth D., Baldwin, Wayne E., Foster, David S., and Schwab, William C., 2013, High-Resolution geophysical data from the inner continental shelf at Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2012-1006, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1006/

   Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012.

   Online Links:

   • http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/_/pdf/CMECS_Version%20_4_Final_for_FGDC.pdf

   Poppe, Larry J., Ackerman, Seth D., Foster, David S., Blackwood, Dann S., Butman, Bradford, Moser, Marc S., and Stewart, Helen F., 2007, Sea-floor character and sedimentary processes of Quicks Hole, Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2006-1357, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1357/

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), 2003, U.S. Coastal Relief Model, Volume 1: NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, CO.

   Online Links:

   • http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/coastal/crm.html

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   Attribute Accuracy Report for Biological Classification of Photographs: Ten percent of the classified photographs were selected through a random number generator and re-classified based on the modified CMECS scheme. A comparison of the original classification and new classification obtained an accuracy of an exact match 70% of the time, partial or exact matches 90% of the time, and mismatches 9% of the time. Reasons for a partial match in classification included matching classification but in a different order of biotic groups, and/or missing an additional biotic group or associated taxa. Mismatches included differences in classification, primarily due to visibility (inferred fauna).
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Navigation for survey 2010-005-FA used Differential Global Positioning System (GPS). The recorded position of each bottom photograph is actually the position of the GPS antenna on the survey vessel, not the SEABOSS sampler. The SEABOSS was deployed approximately 5 meters astern of the GPS antenna off the ship's A-frame on the stern of the ship. No layback or offset was applied to the recorded position. In addition to the +/-5 meter offset the SEABOSS may additionally drift away from the survey vessel when deployed to the seafloor. Based on the various sources for horizontal offsets, a conservative estimate of the horizontal accuracy of the bottom photograph locations is 20-30 meters.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   The depths recorded for each photograph were derived from the final bathymetry grids from the Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound survey areas (depths for photos at stations 174, 175, 216, 217, 218, and 219, which were located outside the bathymetry coverage from Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, were determined from other sources including the Quicks Hole bathymetry dataset and the NOAA Coastal Relief Model). See the original datasets of those bathymetry data (links in the cross-references section) to determine the vertical accuracy of these depth values.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Completeness report for photograph locations: This dataset includes the bottom photograph locations and biotic classifications for SEABOSS stations occupied during USGS survey 2010-005-FA aboard the R/V Connecticut within the Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound survey areas. Three-hundred and one stations were occupied within the study area during survey 2010-005-FA (sediment samples were obtained at 246 of these sites). Bottom photographs taken in water column or were otherwise not usable were deleted.
   Completeness report for biological classification: Photographs were only classified where there was enough visibility for accuracy. Two co-occurring biotic groups and two associated taxa were included as modifiers to the CMECS classification system. The Associated Taxa Modifier is used in addition to, but does not overlap, the Biotic Group and Co-occurring Element classifications. The biotic groups Small Surface-Burrowing Fauna and Larger Deep-Burrowing Fauna were combined into Burrowing Fauna as the resolution of the photographs does not allow a higher level of distinction between the two. Similarly the biotic groups Small Tube-Building Fauna and Larger Tube-Building Fauna were combined. Inferred Fauna was added as a Biotic Group to modify the CMECS classification where no faunal activity is apparent visually, but the absence of fauna cannot be assumed due to a lack of a physical sample. Biotic Community was added to characterize species in the primary Biotic Group as applicable.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   Gaps in sequential photo numbers may exist. If camera was triggered accidentally on deck or picture did not come out, it was deleted.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 2)
   
   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	A zip file containing the geospatial data in shapefile format and as a comma-delimited text file, and metadata describing the data set of seafloor photograph locations (including biogical classifications) collected with the SEABOSS. in format Shapefile (version ArcGIS 10.1) Zip file of Esri point shapefile Size: 0.3
     Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/GIS/shapefile/BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.zip
     Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)

   • Cost to order the data: none

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
   These data are available as a shapefile in Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) format. To utilize these data, the user must have software capable of viewing Esri shapefiles. The shapefile is also distributed in compressed format as one zip file. To utilize these data, the user must be able to uncompress the zip file.

---

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 2)
   
   Seth Ackerman

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Rd.

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   sackerman@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	A comma-delimited text file containing navigation and grain-size analysis data. The first record contains field headings. in format ASCII (version CSV file) CSV file Size: 0.662
     Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/GIS/shapefile/BBVS_BottomPhotos_wBio.csv https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221/html/appendix1.html
     Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)

   • Cost to order the data: None

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
   These data are available as a generic ASCII formatted data file. The user must have a software program capable of reading the comma-delimited data file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 25-Jul-2025

Metadata author:

Seth Ackerman

U.S. Geological Survey

Geologist

384 Woods Hole Rd.

Woods Hole, MA

USA

508-548-8700 x2315 (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 U.S. Geological Survey.

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)