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: US Army Corps of Engineers NY District
      Publication_Date: 20000531
      Title: Benthic grab data from June 1995 in the Lower Bay of New York/New Jersey Harbor
      Edition: One
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map
      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: Charleston, SC
        Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center (CSC)
      Online_Linkage: ftp://ftp.csc.noaa.gov/pub/benthic/lb_grab.zip
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/data/northeast/nynj.htm
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/
      Online_Linkage: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/
      Larger_Work_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator: Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Coastal Services Center (CSC)
          Publication_Date: 20000531
          Title: Sediment Profile Imaging for New York/New Jersey Harbor for October 1994 to October 1995
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Charleston, SC
            Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center (CSC)
  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.
  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: -74.25050
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.96850
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.60167
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.45117
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
      Theme_Keyword: biota
      Theme_Keyword: boundaries
      Theme_Keyword: environment
      Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation
      Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters
      Theme_Keyword: location
      Theme_Keyword: oceans
      Theme_Keyword: planningCadastre
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Theme_Keyword: Environmental Monitoring
      Theme_Keyword: benthic grab
      Theme_Keyword: benthic habitat
      Theme_Keyword: benthic mapping
      Theme_Keyword: geographic information system
      Theme_Keyword: GIS
      Theme_Keyword: CSC Benthic Habitat Mapping
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
      Place_Keyword: Northeastern U. S.
      Place_Keyword: New York
      Place_Keyword: New Jersey
      Place_Keyword: New York Harbor
      Place_Keyword: Lower Bay
      Place_Keyword: Raritan Bay
      Place_Keyword: Sandy Hook 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: CRS Program Manager
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical
        Address: 2234 South Hobson Avenue
        City: Charleston
        State_or_Province: South Carolina
        Postal_Code: 29405-2413
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: Database Exchange Format (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 and 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: 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 deep water survey, June 1995
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
          Publication_Information:
            Publication_Place: Charleston, SC
            Publisher: NOAA's Ocean Service, Coastal Services Center (CSC)
      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 and 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_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: SC
            Postal_Code: 29405-2413
            Country: USA
          Contact_Voice_Telephone: (843) 740-1200
          Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (843) 740-1224
          Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: 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: 184
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Geographic:
      Latitude_Resolution: 0.0000001
      Longitude_Resolution: 0.0000001
      Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: lbj95ben.dbf
      Entity_Type_Definition: DBF Table
      Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Unknown
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Skey
      Attribute_Definition: Unique identifier for each station
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 20
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 954
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Station
      Attribute_Definition: Unique number assigned to sample sites
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 20.0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 954.0
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Latitude
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude in decimal degrees
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 40.45117
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 40.60167
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Longitude
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude in decimal degrees
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: -74.25050
          Range_Domain_Maximum: -73.96850
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Latutm
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude in UTM Zone 18 coordinates
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 4478143
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 4494990
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Longutm
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude in UTM Zone 18 coordinates
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 563538
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 587332
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Dupe
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates visits to individual stations
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: single sampling visit to station
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: multiple sampling visits to station
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Datatype
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates the type of sampling that occurred at a station
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 11
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: SPI and benthic grab
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 110
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Sediment and benthic grab
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: 111
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: SPI, sediment and benthic grab
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Unknown
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Taxa
      Attribute_Definition: Number of taxa (species richness)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 2
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 47
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Total
      Attribute_Definition: Number of organisms (total abundance)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 3
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 3329
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: H_
      Attribute_Definition: Shannon-Weiner Diversity index
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.07
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2.88
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: J_
      Attribute_Definition: Pielou's Evenness index
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.03
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1.00
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: D
      Attribute_Definition: Simpson's Diversity index
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.79
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 7.07
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Mediomastu
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mediomastus spp. (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1791
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: S_benedict
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Streblospio benedicti (polychaete)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 762
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_edulis
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mytilus edulis (mussel)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 1461
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: T_agilis
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Tellina agilis (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 40
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_mercenar
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mercenaria mercenaria (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 8
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: G_gemma
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Gemma gemma (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2201
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_laterali
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mulinia lateralis (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 587
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: S_solidiss
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Spisula solidissima (clam)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 9
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: M_arenaria
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Mya arenaria (clam).
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 102
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: A_abdita
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of Ampelisca abdita (amphipod)
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2499
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Amphipods
      Attribute_Definition: Abundance of amphipod species
      Attribute_Definition_Source: Unknown
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Range_Domain:
          Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
          Range_Domain_Maximum: 2613
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: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 843-740-1210
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 843-740-1224
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: csc@noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, 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.
  Custom_Order_Process: Benthic grab data from Lower Bay in New York/New Jersey Harbor, June 1995.  For information about obtaining these data, please visit the project home page at http://www.csc.noaa.gov/benthic/data/northeast/nynj.htm
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20100519
  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: 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: clearinghouse@noaa.gov
      Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, 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
