Alisha M. Ellis
Jaimie E. Shaw
Lisa E. Osterman
Christopher G. Smith
20180530
Raw Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia- Fall 2014
2.0
Tabular digital data
U.S. Geological Survey Data Release
doi:10.5066/F7Z036CV
St. Petersburg, FL
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.5066/F7Z036CV
Alisha M. Ellis
Jaimie E. Shaw
Lisa E. Osterman
Christopher G. Smith
20170401
Distribution of foraminifera in Chincoteague Bay and the Marshes of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
1.0
Multimedia presentation
U.S. Geological Survey Data Series
doi:10.3133/ds1060
St. Petersburg, FL
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1060
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.
Sediment sample data were collected during USGS field activity number (FAN) 2014-322-FA, additional survey details are available at https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2014-322-FA. The file 14CTB02_G_S_Raw_Foram_Counts.zip includes all raw count data for the foraminiferal samples collected and analyzed in October 2014 during 2014-322-FA.
20141021
20141030
Ground condition
None planned
-75.874776
-75.223674
37.753898
37.011494
USGS Metadata Identifier
USGS:750963be-fa1b-4344-9e38-8116a52332cd
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
oceans
geoscientificInformation
USGS Thesaurus
unconsolidated deposits
geology
geomorphology
micropaleontology
protists
None
sediment
surface
foraminifera
species data
forams
U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
Assateague Island
Chincoteague Bay
Maryland
Virginia
Toms Cove
Newport Bay
Common Geographic Areas
Maryland
Virginia
None
sediment
surface
None
October 2014
None
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.
U.S. Geological Survey
Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
Mailing and physical
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA
(727) 502-8056
aellis@usgs.gov
U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Apple OS X El Capitan Version 10.11.6; Microsoft Excel for Mac 2016 Version 15.22
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
Pages 417-422
https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-6667(95)00093-3
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
Pages 1-13
Walton, W. R.
1952
Techniques for recognition of living foraminifera
Contributions from the Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
Volume 3
Pages 56-60
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2012.06.001
The foraminiferal data presented are the raw counts and are not volumetrically normalized.
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.
This is a complete foraminiferal dataset that includes counts for 72 surface sediment samples collected on Assateague Island and in Chincoteague Bay and associated water bodies, Virginia and Maryland.
Estuarine grab samples (denoted with a “G”) were collected in the field using a petite Ponar sediment sampler in the spring (March 26–April 4) and fall (October 21–30) of 2014. During the same time periods, surface samples (denoted with an “S”) were collected on land from marsh and sandy over-wash environments . At each sample location, the top one centimeter (cm) of undisturbed surface material was subsampled for two (replicate) foraminiferal samples of approximately 25 milliliters (mL) using either a spatula or scoopula and placed in two graduated centrifuge tubes (denoted with “a” and “b”). All surface samples were preserved in the field using 90% ethanol mixed with Rose Bengal stain within hours of collection in order 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.
2014
U.S. Geological Survey
Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
Mailing and physical
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA
(727) 502-8056
aellis@usgs.gov
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. At least one sample was picked from each spring site whereas only a select few samples collected in the fall and from the offshore sites were picked for contrast 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.
2014
14CTB02_G_S_Raw_Foram_Counts.zip
U.S. Geological Survey
Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
Mailing and physical
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA
(727) 502-8056
aellis@usgs.gov
Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword.
20201013
U.S. Geological Survey
VeeAnn A. Cross
Marine Geologist
Mailing and Physical
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543-1598
508-548-8700 x2251
508-457-2310
vatnipp@usgs.gov
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).
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.
U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
Mailing and physical
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA
(727) 502-8056
aellis@usgs.gov
14CTB02_G_S_Raw_Foram_Counts.xlsx
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.
Microsoft Excel, comma-separated values
2016
.xlsx, .csv
Unzip
0.130
https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-F7Z036CV/data/14CTB02_G_S_Raw_Foram_Counts.zip
None, if obtained online
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.
20201013
U.S. Geological Survey
Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
Mailing and physical
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg
FL
33701
USA
(727) 502-8056
aellis@usgs.gov
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
None
None
Unclassified
None