Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Coastal Services Center (CSC)
      Originator: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
      Publication_Date: 20040930
      Title: Benthic Grab Data for September 2001 in Wells, Maine (benthos)
      Edition: One
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Charleston, SC
        Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center (CSC)
      Online_Linkage: ftp://ftp.csc.noaa.gov/pub/benthic/wellsamphipods.zip
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/data/northeast/wells.htm
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/
  Description:
    Abstract: In fall 2001, researchers from the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the NOAA Coastal Services Center conducted a project to map benthic habitats in the York and Webhannet rivers in southern Maine.  The team completed two weeks of fieldwork in September 2001, collecting sediment profile images at 382 stations and sediment grab samples at 93 stations.  This data set represents the benthic community information gathered from grab sampling.
    Purpose: The Wells Reserve is using the 2001 grab and SPI information to characterize benthic habitats within the York and Webhannet rivers, and to examine relationships between animal communities and sediment characteristics as well as the potential effects of dredging activities.  Identification and enumeration of infauna, biomass, and benthic community parameters were measured from the benthic grab samples.  These data were collected to examine community distributions throughout Webhannet and York Rivers.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 20010911
        Ending_Date: 20010918
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.682172
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.551110
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.329201
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.125142
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: Environmental Monitoring
      Theme_Keyword: benthos
      Theme_Keyword: benthic grab
      Theme_Keyword: geographic information systems
      Theme_Keyword: GIS
      Theme_Keyword: CSC Benthic Habitat Mapping
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
      Theme_Keyword: environment
      Theme_Keyword: biota
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: Maine
      Place_Keyword: Webhannet River
      Place_Keyword: York River
      Place_Keyword: Wells
      Place_Keyword: York
  Access_Constraints: None
  Use_Constraints: These data should be used for resource mapping and comparison purposes only.  While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within limits of the state of the art, NOAA and the Wells Reserve will not assume any liability for damages caused by any inaccuracies in these data, or failure in their use.  For use of these data in published analyses with the first two years of development, please contact Dr. Michele Dionne at the Wells Reserve for use permission.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
        Contact_Person: Dr. Michele Dionne
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical
        Address: 342 Laudholm Farm Road
        City: Wells
        State_or_Province: Maine
        Postal_Code: 04090
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (207) 646-1555
      Contact_Instructions: Please contact Dr. Michele Dionne directly for permission to use these data in a publication within two years of their development.
  Data_Set_Credit: NOAA Coastal Services Center
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800
Data_Quality_Information:
  Logical_Consistency_Report: All data are believed to be logically consistent.
  Completeness_Report: All grab data were not included in this data layer.  Abundances for taxonomic groups, community diversity, species richness, evenness, total abundance, cluster group analyses, and abundance of species groups (polychaetes, oligochaetes, gastropods, bivalves, amphipods, crustaceans, and all others) were included in this data layer.  Biomass data and abundance of individual species were not included, but these data can be found in the project database at the Wells Reserve.
  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 data set.
  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: C. Timothy Morris and Nancy K. Mountford of Cove Corporation (species identification)
          Originator: Lisa Scott of Versar, Inc. (biomass)
          Publication_Date: Unpublished material
          Title: Wells Reserve Benthic Survey, September 2001
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: None
      Type_of_Source_Media: database table
      Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
        Time_Period_Information:
          Range_of_Dates/Times:
            Beginning_Date: 20010911
            Beginning_Time: 0800
            Ending_Date: 20010918
            Ending_Time: 1800
        Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Wells benthic data
      Source_Contribution: Benthic identifications were made by Cove Corporation and biomass determined by Versar, Inc.
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Field Methods: Grabs for sediments and benthos were collected from 11 to 18 September at a total of 93 stations.  A Young grab, 0.044 m2 surface area, was deployed twice to collect a sample for substrate and a sample for benthic community data.  The Young grab is the same sampler used by EPA in its Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) and Mid-Atlantic Integrated Assessment (MAIA) programs.  The Young grab is similar to a van Veen grab that has been placed in a frame to hold it level with the sediment surface while a sample is collected.  Grabs without frames tend to twist and collect uneven samples.  Because of its frame, the Young grab functions well in both soft and hard sediment. Laboratory Methods: A grab for benthic fauna was washed in the field over a 0.5-mm mesh screen and preserved in 10% Formalin.  To facilitate the sorting process, Rose Bengal was added to the Formalin.  In the laboratory each sample was washed over a 0.5-mm mesh screen with water and sorted to major taxonomic categories such as polychaetes, amphipods, and bivalves.  After sorting, the organisms were identified and enumerated.  Identifications were made at the lowest practical taxonomic level, usually species by Tim Morris (Cove Corporation, Lusby, MD; polychaetes, crustaceans, miscellaneous taxa) and Nancy Mountford (Cove Corporation; mollusks).  After identification samples were placed in 2% Formalin and biomass determined by Lisa Scott (Versar Corporation, Columbia, MD).
      Process_Date: 200109
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Organization_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: Cove Corporation and Versar, Inc.
            Contact_Person: C. Timothy Morris and Nancy K. Mountford (Cove Corporation)/Lisa Scott (Versar, Inc.)
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing and physical
            Address: 10200 Breeden Road
            City: Lusby
            State_or_Province: Maryland
            Postal_Code: 20657
            Country: U.S.A.
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing and physical
            Address: 9200 Rumsey Road
            City: Columbia
            State_or_Province: Maryland
            Postal_Code: 21045
            Country: U.S.A.
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (410) 326-4577 (Cove Corporation)
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (410) 964-9200 (Versar, Inc.)
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (410) 326-4767 (Cove Corporation)
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (410) 964-5156 (Versar, Inc.)
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Data from field samples was entered into an Access database for the Wells, Maine benthic survey.  A query was developed to review benthic community data from all grab sampling stations.  See Entity and Attribute section for more information on data collected.  A shapefile was created using the field data in the Access database to show spatial trends in benthic community distribution in the two rivers.
      Process_Date: 200405
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Organization_Primary:
            Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
          Contact_Position: CRS Program Manager
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing and physical
            Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
            City: Charleston
            State_or_Province: South Carolina
            Postal_Code: 29405
            Country: U.S.A.
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
  Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
    SDTS_Terms_Description:
      SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point
      Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 92
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Grid_Coordinate_System:
        Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
        Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
          UTM_Zone_Number: 19
          Transverse_Mercator:
            Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
            Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -69.000000
            Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
            False_Easting: 500000.000000
            False_Northing: 0.000000
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000032
          Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000032
        Planar_Distance_Units: meters
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: benthos.dbf
      Entity_Type_Definition: Database file
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Unknown
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: FID
      Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Shape
      Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: STATION
      Attribute_Definition: Unique identifier for sample sites.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 101
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 888
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: RIVER
      Attribute_Definition: Designates Webhannet and York sample sites.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Webhannet
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Unknown
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: York
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Unknown
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: LATITUDE
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude in decimal degrees.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 43.12551
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 43.32913
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: LONGITUDE
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude in decimal degrees.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: -70.67694
          Range_Domain_Maximum: -70.55597
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: TOTAL_TAXA
      Attribute_Definition: Number of taxa present in sample.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 5
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 66
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ABUNDANCE
      Attribute_Definition: Total number of infaunal organisms in sample.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 29
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 26,044
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: RICHNESS
      Attribute_Definition: Margalef's index calculated to measure the number of species present for a given number of individuals.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.65475
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 6.83547
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: EVENNESS
      Attribute_Definition: Pielou's Index value calculated to describe how equally the individuals in a sample are distributed among the different species.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.06671
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 0.873
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: DIVERSITY
      Attribute_Definition: Shannon-Weiner diversity index score.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.22462
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2.53438
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: POLYCHAETA
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all polychaetes.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 11
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 5729
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: OLIGOCHAET
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all oligochaetes.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1136
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: GASTROPODA
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all gastropods.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2143
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: BIVALVIA
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all bivalves.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 22,940
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: AMPHIPODA
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all amphipods.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 570
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: CRUSTACEA
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all crustaceans (including Natantia and Reptantia).  This field does not include amphipods as they are listed as a separate field.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 7
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: OTHER
      Attribute_Definition: Total abundance of all other organisms.  Other organisms for Webhannet River include Mysidacea, Tanaidacea, Isopoda, Insecta, Urochordata, and additional miscellaneous.  Other organisms for York River include Mollusca, Mysidacea, Tanaidacea, Insecta, Isopoda, Phorondia, Echinodermata, Urochordata, and additional miscellaneous.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 369
          Attribute_Units_of_Measure: nominal
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: CLUSTER_GR
      Attribute_Definition: Groups of stations with similar communities based on cluster analysis of species abundance (beta value = -0.25, Bray-Curtis similarity).
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: W1
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Mud Community (Webhannet River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: W2
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Fine Sand Community (Webhannet River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: W3
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Sand Community (Webhannet River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: W4
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Coarse Sand Community (Webhannet River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y1
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Hardbottom Community (York River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y2
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Sand Community (York River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y3
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Mud Community (York River)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y4
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Enriched Mud Community
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: CLUSTER_NA
      Attribute_Definition: Name of groups assigned by cluster analysis based on sediment characteristics.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Unknown
      Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010911
      Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20010918
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: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: clearinghouse@noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: 9 am to 5 pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Resource_Description: Downloadable Data
  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.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile
      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/data/northeast/wells.htm
    Fees: None
  Custom_Order_Process: Alternately, the data can be obtained by contacting the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Address: 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells, Maine 04090 Phone: (207) 646-1555
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20100519
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Metadata Specialist
        Contact_Organization: NOAA Coastal Services Center
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical
        Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405
        Country: U.S.A.
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: clearinghouse@noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: 9 am to 5 pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/metadataresource/metadata-references/files/ncddcmdprofile_v2.pdf
    Profile_Name: Content Specification for Metadata in the National Coastal Data Development Center's Data Catalog Version 2.0
