Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Originator: US Army Corps of Engineers NY District
      Publication_Date: 20000531
      Title:
        Benthic grab data from June 1995 in the inland bays of New
        York/New Jersey Harbor

      Edition: One
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
        Publisher: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Online_Linkage:
      Larger_Work_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: NOAA Coastal Services Center
          Publication_Date: 20000531
          Title: Sediment Profile Imaging for New York/New Jersey Harbor for October 1994 to October 1995

          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Charleston, South Carolina, USA
            Publisher: NOAA Coastal Services Center
          Online_Linkage: <http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/crs/BouncePage.cgi?Bounce2=ftp://www.csc.noaa.gov/pub/lcr/nyharbor/jbj95ben.zip&product=215>
  Description:
    Abstract:
      Benthic grab samples were collected using a Shipek grab at
      pre-determined locations in the harbor. Taxonomic enumerations and biological community parameters were
      estimated from grab samples and used to assess habitat conditions in conjunction with sediment profile images
      taken at the same stations. All data were entered into a database, and habitat classes were defined for each
      station. The database was then used in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to characterize benthic habitat
      types for New York/New Jersey Harbor.

    Purpose:
      The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) had a need to develop benthic habitat maps in NY/NJ
      Harbor. This was critical for developing a plan for dredged
      material management that was both economically feasible and environmentally sound. The overall objective was to provide background
      information to plan cost-effective, spatially focused
      studies for siting dredge material disposal and habitat
      restoration within the Harbor. These benthic grab data were
      useful in supplementing sediment profile data taken
      concurrently, and they are useful for evaluating abundance
      and biomass for species of interest and comparing community
      parameters over time and among Harbor sub-basins.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 199506
        Ending_Date: 199506
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.13200
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.75150
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.77933
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.59033
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
      Theme_Keyword: Biota
      Theme_Keyword: 002
      Theme_Keyword: Boundaries
      Theme_Keyword: 003
      Theme_Keyword: Environment
      Theme_Keyword: 007
      Theme_Keyword: GeoscientificInformation
      Theme_Keyword: 008
      Theme_Keyword: Inland Waters
      Theme_Keyword: 012
      Theme_Keyword: Location
      Theme_Keyword: 013
      Theme_Keyword: Oceans
      Theme_Keyword: 014
      Theme_Keyword: PlanningCadastre
      Theme_Keyword: 015
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: benthic grab
      Theme_Keyword: benthic habitat
      Theme_Keyword: benthic mapping
      Theme_Keyword: geographic information system
      Theme_Keyword: GIS
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: New York
      Place_Keyword: Northeastern U. S.
      Place_Keyword: New York Harbor
      Place_Keyword: Jamaica Bay
      Place_Keyword: Newark Bay
      Place_Keyword: Upper Bay
      Place_Keyword: Bowery Bay
      Place_Keyword: Flushing Bay
  Access_Constraints: none
  Use_Constraints:
    It is the responsibility of the user to determine the
    appropriate use of the data product.

  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Contact_Position: Landscape Characterization  Restoration (LCR) Program Manager
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405-2413
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@csc.noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Native_Data_Set_Environment:
    Database Exchange Format (DBF)
    jbj95ben.dbf
Data_Quality_Information:
  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
      Quality assurance and control measures included randomly
      selecting 10% of the samples, reconstituting them with the
      original debris and repeating the entire separation,
      identification, and enumeration process. The quality assurance plan followed by Barry A. Vittor & Associates,
      Inc., called for all samples processed by a particular technician to be redone if more than 10% of that
      technician's work showed any samples to differ by more than
      5% from the original results. For this project, all
      discrepancies were within 5%. The taxonomists previously
      worked on several projects for the NY/NJ area and verified
      each other's identifications. When differences of opinion
      occurred or when significant doubt remained, outside
      specialists examined the specimens. Identifications were to
      the lowest practical identification level (LPIL) when not
      to the species level.
  Logical_Consistency_Report: All data are believed to be logically consistent.
  Completeness_Report:
    Approximately half of the grab samples collected were lost prior to analysis.
    Additionally, all grab data were not included in this data layer.
    Abundances for species of interest (usually the ten most
    abundant species plus commercially important species) were included in this data layer. Data on less frequently
    occurring species were not included, but these data can be
    found in the NY/NJ Harbor project database tables.

  Positional_Accuracy:
    Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
        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.
    Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
      Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Not relevant to the dataset.
  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Barry Vittor and Associates, Inc.
          Publication_Date: 20000531
          Title: NY/NJ Harbor shallow water survey, June 1995
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Charleston, South Carolina
            Publisher: NOAA Coastal Services Center
          Online_Linkage:
      Type_of_Source_Media: spreadsheet
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 199506
            Ending_Date: 199506
        Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: BVA grab data
      Source_Contribution:
        Taxonomic counts and community parameter estimates for
        benthic grabs collected for the NY/NJ Harbor project.
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        A Shipek grab (0.04 m2) was used to collect benthic and
        sediment samples from one-third of the stations, and the
        grab was operated concurrently with deployment of a
        sediment profile camera from a different area of the RV
        Onrust. Two grabs were taken at each of the grab-sampled stations.
        All sediments collected in the first grab were
        prepared for benthic analyses by gently washing the
        material through a 0.5-mm mesh sieve and washing the
        contents into a labeled cloth bag that was immersed and
        stored in 10% buffered formaldehyde and seawater. In the
        laboratory at Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc., Mobile,
        AL, organisms were separated from the remaining debris by
        flotation and handpicking, identified by experienced
        taxonomists, and enumerated. Identification and counts were
        entered into a spreadsheet file and community parameter
        estimates were calculated. These data were then entered as
        a table into a database including the associated sediment
        profile data, sediment data and navigation records.

      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: BVA grab data
      Process_Date: 20000307
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Person_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
            Contact_Person:
          Contact_Position: Landscape Characterization and Restoration (LCR) Program Manager

          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing and physical address
            Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
            City: Charleston
            State_or_Province: SC
            Postal_Code: 29405-2413
            Country: USA
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
          Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@csc.noaa.gov
          Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point
  Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
    SDTS_Terms_Description:
      SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Point
      Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 23
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Geographic:
      Latitude_Resolution:
      Longitude_Resolution:
      Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6,378,137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: jbj95ben.dbf
      Entity_Type_Definition: DBF Table
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Station
      Attribute_Definition: Unique number assigned to sample sites
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Numeric Field
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Location
      Attribute_Definition: Name of bay or region where station is located
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Bay Ridge Flat
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Bay Ridge Flats, Upper Bay, NY
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Flushing Bay
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Flushing Bay, NY
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Jamaica Bay
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Jamaica Bay, NY
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Newark Bay
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Newark Bay, NY
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Latitude
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude in decimal degrees
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 40.59033
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 40.77933
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Longitude
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude in decimal degrees
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: -74.13200
          Range_Domain_Maximum: -73.75150
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Latutm
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude in UTM Zone 18 coordinates
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 4493907
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 4514891
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Longutm
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude in UTM Zone 18 coordinates
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 573365
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 605585
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Taxa
      Attribute_Definition: Number of taxa (species richness)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 47
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Total
      Attribute_Definition: Number of individual organisms (total abundance)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 1
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 3334
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Density
      Attribute_Definition: Number of organisms per square meter
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 25
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 83350
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: A_abdita
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of Ampelisca abdita (amphipod)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 866
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: C_tubercul
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of Corophium tuberculatum (amphipod)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1491
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: S_benedict
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of Streblospio benedicti (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 652
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Cirratulid
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of Cirratulidae (LPIL; polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 498
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Mediomastu
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mediomastus spp. (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 136
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_gryllota
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Microdeutopus gryllotalpa (amphipod)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 225
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Oligochaet
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Oligochaeta (LPIL; oligochaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 83
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Leitoscolo
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Leitoscoloplos (LPIL; polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 47
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: H_filiform
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Heteromastus filiformis (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 86
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Caulleri_j
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Caulleriella sp. j (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 123
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_mercenar
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mercenaria mercenaria (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 18
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_arenaria
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mya arenaria (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_edulis
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mytilus edulis (mussel)
      Attribute_Definition_Source:
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1
Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Contact_Position: Clearinghouse Manager
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 843-740-1210
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 843-740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@csc.noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Resource_Description:
    Benthic grab data from inland bays in New York/New Jersey
    Harbor, June 1995

  Distribution_Liability:
    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.

  Custom_Order_Process: For information about obtaining these data, please visit the project home page at <http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/crs/BouncePage.cgi?Bounce2=ftp://www.csc.noaa.gov/pub/lcr/nyharbor/jbj95ben.zip&product=215>
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20000412
  Metadata_Review_Date: 20000522
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Contact_Position: Metadata Specialist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: Mailing and physical address
        Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 843-740-1200
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 843-740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@csc.noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC CSDGM
  Metadata_Standard_Version:
    FGDC-STD-001-1998
    Generated by mp version 2.2.4 on Mon May 22 14:35:02 2000