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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Southeast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163992)

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This is the original (1991) Southeast regional component of NOAA's Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Project, a national database of ecologically and economically important fishes and invertebrates in the Nation's estuaries. The distribution and relative abundance are depicted in a consistent format for 40 species of fishes and invertebrates, in 20 estuaries in coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and the east coast of Florida. Species were selected according to a set of criteria, which consider their commercial, recreational, and ecological value. For each species, five life stages are considered - adults, juveniles, larvae, spawning, and eggs - with some exceptions based on individual species life history. Each estuary is subdivided into one to three salinity zones (Tidal Fresh, Mixing, and Seawater). Relative abundance was ranked on a five-tier scale by month for each life stage of each species, in each salinity zone of each estuary. Details of the methods for the original Southeast ELMR component can be found in Nelson et al. (1991) and Nelson and Monaco (2000).
  • Cite as: Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Southeast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163992). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992. Accessed [date].
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
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NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1987-10-01 to 1991-09-30
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -81.9
East: -75.4
South: 25.1
North: 36.8
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • National Estuarine Inventory - Data Atlas, Vol. I: Physical and Hydrologic Characteristics
  • National overview and evolution of NOAA's Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Program
  • Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in southeast estuaries
  • Nelson, David Moe; NOAA National Ocean Service (2015). Estuarine Salinity Zones in US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and US West Coast from 1999-01-01 to 1999-12-31 (NCEI Accession 0127396). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0127396.
  • Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Stone, Steve; Jury, Steve; Field, John; Lowery, Tony; Williams, Chris; Andreasen, Linda (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Mid-Atlantic Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0162403). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5445jkv.
  • Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Emmett, Robert; Hinton, Susan (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: West Coast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0161540). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5pg1ptj.
  • Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Jury, Steve; Field, John; Stone, Steve (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: North Atlantic Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0162402). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v57w698t.
  • Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Williams, Christopher D.; Czapla, Thomas E.; Pattillo, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Gulf of Mexico Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163993). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163993.
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  • Estuarine Species Database for the NOAA Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program
  • Estuarine Living Marine Resources Database (ELMR)
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2017-07-21
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
A data sheet was developed for each species in each estuary to facilitate the review and presentation of the information. Data compiled for each species/life stage included: (1) the salinity zone(s) it occupies (Tidal Fresh, Mixing, Seawater), (2) its temporal distribution in those zones by month (Jan-Dec), and (3) its relative abundance in those zones. Relative abundance values are ranked as 0 = not present, n = no information available, 2 = rare, 3 = common, 4 = abundant, and 5 = highly abundant. The abundance of a species life stage was considered relative to that of the same life stage of other "similar" species within a "guild", i.e. with similar life modes and sampling susceptibilities. These guilds are: Sessile Invertebrates, Shrimps and Squids, Large Crustaceans, Shallow Water Fishes, Pelagic Fishes, and Demersal Fishes. The draft relative abundance ranking were then verified through an extensive review process utilizing expert knowledge and field experiences of fisheries scientists, managers, and field biologists. The Southeast ELMR project was launched in 1987, and results published in 1991. For a complete description of the methods and results see Nelson et al. (1991) and Nelson and Monaco (2000).



The quality and quantity of available data vary by species, life stage, and estuary. In general, data quality is best for well-studied, commercially- and recreationally-harvested species. Data quality regarding salinity zone boundaries may be affected by factors such as variations in freshwater inflow, wind, and tides. The qualitative nature of distributional data precludes statistical comparisons of species abundances. Data reliability was ranked using the following categories and criteria: (1) Highly certain: Substantial sampling data are available, and distribution, behavior, and preferred habitats are well documented within an estuary. (2) Moderately certain: Some sampling data are available for an estuary, and distribution, preferred habitat, and behavior are well documented in similar estuaries. 3) Reasonable inference: Little or no site sampling data are available, but information on distributions, ecology, and preferred habitats are documented in similar estuaries. These rankings of data reliability for each species and estuary are reported in the DATA_RELIABILITY column, and in Table 4 of the ELMR Southeast Report (Nelson et al. 1991).



Submission Package ID: C19ML2
Purpose Estuaries are among the most productive natural systems and are important nursery areas that provide food, refuge from predation, and valuable habitat for many species. In spite of the well documented importance of estuaries to fishes and invertebrates, few consistent and comprehensive data bases exist that allow examinations of relationships between estuarine species found in or among groups of estuaries. In 1985, NOAA launched the Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Project to develop a consistent database on the distribution, relative abundance, and life history characteristics of ecologically and economically important fishes and invertebrates in the Nation's estuaries. The project applied consistent data development methods to enable comparisons among species, specific life stages, and times of year within estuarine systems. The database is divided into five study regions: West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and North Atlantic. The Nationwide ELMR database now includes information for 153 species found in 122 estuaries and coastal bays. A series of reports have been published which summarize the methods and results of the ELMR Program. These include a National report (2000), regional data summary reports for the North Atlantic (1994), Mid-Atlantic (1994), Southeast (1991), Gulf of Mexico (1992), and West Coast (1990), and regional life history summary reports for the West Coast (1991) and Gulf of Mexico (1997). Copies of these reports are available free upon request, and some are available as pdf.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Southeast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163992). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
  • Elizabeth Irlandi
  • Lawrence Settle
  • Linda Coston-Clements
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords NCCOS Research Keywords
  • NCCOS Research Data Type > Derived Data Product
  • NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology (MSE)
  • NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological/Biological Characterization
Provider Keywords
  • Models/Analysis > Data Analysis > Environmental Modeling
  • Relative Abundance
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords NCCOS Research Location
  • NCCOS Research Location > Geographic Area > Estuaries
  • NCCOS Research Location > Marine Protected Area > National Estuarine Research Reserves
  • NCCOS Research Location > Marine Protected Area > National Parks
  • NCCOS Research Location > Region > East Coast
  • NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Florida
  • NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Georgia
  • NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > North Carolina
  • NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > South Carolina
Provider Location Keywords
  • ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Biscayne National Park
  • Canaveral National Seashore
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore
  • Cape Lookout National Seashore
  • Fort Frederica National Monument
  • Fort Pulaski National Monument
  • Fort Sumter National Monument
  • North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • North Inlet Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
  • U.S. Southeast Estuaries
Project keywords Provider Project Keywords
  • NCCOS Project No. 107: Estuarine Species Database for the NOAA Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Southeast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163992). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2017-07-21T23:11:05Z - NCEI Accession 0163992 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Data Type: Relative Abundance (calculated); Units: Relative abundance ranking on a scale of 0 to 5; Observation Type: model output; Sampling Instrument: documentation only - no instrument type; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A data sheet was developed for each species in each estuary to facilitate the review and presentation of the information. Data compiled for each species/life stage included: (1) the salinity zone(s) it occupies (Tidal Fresh, Mixing, Seawater), (2) its temporal distribution in those zones by month (Jan-Dec), and (3) its relative abundance in those zones. Relative abundance values are ranked as 0 = not present, n = no information available, 2 = rare, 3 = common, 4 = abundant, and 5 = highly abundant. The abundance of a species life stage was considered relative to that of the same life stage of other "similar" species within a "guild", i.e. with similar life modes and sampling susceptibilities. These guilds are: Sessile Invertebrates, Shrimps and Squids, Large Crustaceans, Shallow Water Fishes, Pelagic Fishes, and Demersal Fishes. The draft relative abundance ranking were then verified through an extensive review process utilizing expert knowledge and field experiences of fisheries scientists, managers, and field biologists. The Southeast ELMR project was launched in 1987, and results published in 1991. For a complete description of the methods and results see Nelson et al. (1991) and Nelson and Monaco (2000).; Data Quality Information: The quality and quantity of available data vary by species, life stage, and estuary. In general, data quality is best for well-studied, commercially- and recreationally-harvested species. Data quality regarding salinity zone boundaries may be affected by factors such as variations in freshwater inflow, wind, and tides. The qualitative nature of distributional data precludes statistical comparisons of species abundances. Data reliability was ranked using the following categories and criteria: (1) Highly certain: Substantial sampling data are available, and distribution, behavior, and preferred habitats are well documented within an estuary. (2) Moderately certain: Some sampling data are available for an estuary, and distribution, preferred habitat, and behavior are well documented in similar estuaries. 3) Reasonable inference: Little or no site sampling data are available, but information on distributions, ecology, and preferred habitats are documented in similar estuaries. These rankings of data reliability for each species and estuary are reported in the DATA_RELIABILITY column, and in Table 4 of the ELMR Southeast Report (Nelson et al. 1991).
  • Data Type: NCCOS Keywords (calculated); Units: n/a; Observation Type: other; Sampling Instrument: n/a; Data Quality Information: NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology (MSE) NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological/Biological Characterization NCCOS Research Location > Region > East Coast NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > North Carolina NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > South Carolina NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Georgia NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Florida NCCOS Research Location > Geographic Area > Estuaries NCCOS Research Location > Marine Protected Area > National Estuarine Research Reserves NCCOS Research Location > Marine Protected Area > National Parks NCCOS Research Data Type > Derived Data Product.
Last Modified: 2023-03-15T01:16:44Z
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