CATALOG DOCUMENTATION REGIONAL EMAP DATABASE 1993-1994 NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY HARBOR SYSTEM BENTHIC REPLICATE BIOMASS DATA BY SITE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. DATA SET IDENTIFICATION 2. INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION 3. DATA SET ABSTRACT 4. OBJECTIVES AND INTRODUCTION 5. DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING METHODS 6. DATA MANIPULATIONS 7. DATA DESCRIPTION 8. GEOGRAPHIC AND SPATIAL INFORMATION 9. QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE 10. DATA ACCESS 11. REFERENCES 12. TABLE OF ACRONYMS 13. PERSONNEL INFORMATION 1. DATA SET IDENTIFICATION 1.1 Title of Catalog document Regional EMAP Database 1993-1994 New York/New Jersey Harbor System Benthic Replicate Biomass Data by Site 1.2 Author of the Catalog entry Melissa M. Hughes, OAO Corporation 1.3 Catalog revision date 1 July 1997 1.4 Data set name BENTHIC REPLICATE BIOMASS DATA ------- 1.5 Task Group Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program 1.6 Data set identification code 227 1.7 Version 001 1.8 Requested Acknowledgment If you plan to publish these data in any way, EPA requires a standard statement for work it has supported: "Although the data described in this article have been funded wholly or in part by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency through its EMAP-Estuaries Program, it has not been subjected to Agency review, and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred." 2. INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION 2.1 Principal Investigator Ms. Darvene A. Adams U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region II 2.2. Investigation Participant Mr. Joel S. O'Connor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region II 3. DATA SET ABSTRACT 3.1 Abstract of the Data Set The BENTHIC REPLICATE BIOMASS data set presents data on the biomass of groups of benthic organisms identified in each acceptable grab collected at a station. Biomass is recorded in grams. Each group is identified by Latin name. 3.2 Keywords for the Data Set Benthic Species, Benthic Species Biomass 4. OBJECTIVES AND INTRODUCTION 4.1 Program Objective The project was designed to support resource management decisions related to pollution control and remediation throughout the New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) Harbor and Bight Apex and to assist the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program (HEP) in developing a contaminant monitoring strategy to be included in the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the NY/NJ Harbor system. ------- 4.2 Data Set Objective To provide an overview of the abundance of benthic organisms in the NY/NJ harbor region based on random sampling. 4.3 Data Set Background Discussion The New York/New Jersey Harbor System has been susceptible to toxic contamination due to surrounding land uses. Harbor sediments are contaminant reservoirs which can function as a secondary source of these land use contaminants. Contaminated sediments pose a substantial threat to Harbor resources and are a management challenge. Adverse changes in the biota of the system have been documented with increasing frequency, and many of these changes have been linked to toxic contamination. 4.4 Summary of Data Set Parameters The Benthic Biomass data set values were based on groups of organisms identified in the replicate samples. 5. DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING METHODS 5.1 Data Acqui si ti on 5.1.1 Sampling Objective Collect sediment grab samples suitable for the identification of benthic organisms. 5.1.2 Sample Collection Methods Summary The grab sampler was lowered through the water column; the grab penetrated the sediment by gravity releasing a trigger allowing the jaws to close. When the grab was pulled from the sediment using the winch, the jaws closed, encapsulating the sediment sample. Three macroinvertebrate grabs per sampling station were collected using the 0.04-m2 Young-modified van Veen grab. Benthic grabs were alternated with sediment chemistry/toxicity grabs. Benthic samples were gently washed through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. The material was preserved in a 10% buffered formaldehyde-rose bengal soluti on. 5.1.3 Sampling Start Date July 1993 July 1994 5.1.4 Sampling End Date September 1993 September 1994 ------- 5.1.5 Platform Sampling was conducted from two U.S.EPA research vessels, the R/V CLEAN WATERS and OSV PETER W. ANDERSON. 5.1.6 Sampli ng Gear A 0.04-m2 or 0.1-m2, stainless steel, Young-modified Van Veen Grab sampler was used to collect sediment grabs. This grab sampled an area of 440 cm2 and a maximum depth of penetration in the sediment of 10 cm. 5.1.7 Manufacturer of Sampling Equipment Young's Welding, Sandwich, MA 5.1.8 Key Variables No data were recorded at the time of sample collection. 5.1.9 Collection Method Calibration The sampling gear did not require any calibration. It required inspection for deformities incurred due to mishandling or impact on rocky substrates. 5.1.10 Sample Collection Quality Control A successful grab had relatively level, intact sediment over the entire area of the grab and a sediment depth at the center of at least 5 centimeters. Unacceptable grabs included those with grossly slumped surfaces and those completely filled to the top, where the sediment was in direct contact with the hinged top. The van Veen Grab was rinsed with ambient seawater between grabs at a station to remove remaining organisms. It was thoroughly cleaned with detergent and water between stations. 5.1.11 Sample Collection Method Reference Reifsteck, D.M., C.J. Strobel and D.J. Keith. 1993. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program - Near Coastal Component: 1993 Virginian Province Field Operations and Safety Manual. U.S. EPA NHEERL-AED. Narragansett, RI. 5.2 Data Preparation and Sample Processing 5.2.1 Sample Processing Objective Process benthic sediment samples to accurately identify and enumerate benthic infauna and group them for biomass determination. 5.2.2 Sample Processing Methods Summary Three replicate grabs for benthic macroinvertebrate community structure were obtained at each station. Invertebrates from two of these were ------- sorted and identified; the third replicate was archived. The macrobenthos were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic category. Procedures for measuring the biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates followed EMAP-E procedures. Organisms were grouped by taxa for biomass determination. Hard-bodied organisms (bivalves <2 cm and gastropods) were acidified in 10% HCL until all visible traces of shell material were removed. Bivalves larger than 2 cm were shucked before determination of biomass. Biomass was determined as dry wt. after drying for at least 48 hours at 60 degrees C. 5.2.3 Sample Processing Method Calibration NA. 5.2.4 Sample Processing Quality Control To standardize the biomass measurements, all samples were preserved in a 10% solution of buffered formaldehyde for at least two months before the biomass measurement. 5.2.5 Sample Processing Method Reference Frithsen, J.B., L.C. Scott and M. Young. 1994. Methods for Processing Estuarine Benthic Macroinvertebrate Samples from the EMAP Estuaries Virginian Province. Versar, Inc., Columbia, MD. 5.2.6 Sample Processing Method Deviations NA 6. DATA MANIPULATIONS NA 6.1 Name of new or modified values NA 6.2 Data Manipulation Description NA 6.3 Data Manipulation Examples NA 7. DATA DESCRIPTION 7.1 Description of Parameters Parameter Data Parameter # SAS Name Type Len Format Label 1 BIOMGRP Char 50 0 Biomass Group 2 STATION Char 8 50 Station Id 3 BIOMASS Num 8 58 Biomass (g) 4 REP Num 8 66 Sample Replicate Number 5 COD EMAP Char 8 74 EMAP Taxonomic Code ------- 7.1.6 Precision to which values are reported The biomass is reported to five decimal places. 7.1.7 Minimum value in data set Variable MINIMUM BIOMASS 0 7.1.8 Maximum value in Data Set Variable MAXIMUM BIOMASS 28.12570 7.2 Data Record Example 7.2.1 Column Names for Example Records STATION DATE GROUP REP # BIOMASS 7.2.2 Example Data Records STATION DATE GROUP REP # BIOMASS BA002 931003 Gammaridae 1 0.00040 BA002 931003 Mediomastus ambiseta 1 0.00020 BA002 931003 Mulinia lateralis 1 0.00070 BA002 931003 Nemertinea 1 0.00010 BA002 931003 Nephtys spp. 1 0.00930 GEOGRAPHIC AND SPATIAL INFORMATION 8.1 Minimum Longitude -74 Degrees 16 Minutes 17.76 Decimal Seconds 8.2 Maximum Longitude -73 Degrees 21 Minutes 0.72 Decimal Seconds 8.3 Minimum Latitude 40 Degrees 10 Minutes 35.00 Decimal Seconds 8.4 Maximum Latitude 41 Degrees 4 Minutes 53.22 Decimal Seconds 8.5 Name of area or region New York/New Jersey Harbor System Six sub-basins were sampled in the New York/New Jersey Harbor, including: Upper Harbor, Newark Bay, Lower Harbor (includes Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays), Jamaica Bay, western Long Island Sound and the New ------- York Bight Apex. For purposes of this study, the region includes the lower portions of the Hudson, Passaic, Harlem, Hackensack and Raritan Rivers, upstream to a near-bottom salinity of 15 ppt, the East River to Long Island Sound and Lower Harbor to the Atlantic Ocean. The New York Bight Apex is defined as the area of ocean bounded on the northwest by the transect from Sandy Hook, NJ to Rockaway Point, NY, the east by 73 deg 30' W longitude and the south by 40 deg. 10'N latitude. The eastern boundary of the western Long Island Sound sub-basin is 73 deg 24' W longitude (from Eaton's Neck Point, NY to Norwalk, CT). 9. QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 9.1 Data Quality Objectives Quality assurance goals were developed and followed for each sample type. 9.2 Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures NA 9.3 Quality Assessment Results NA 9.4 Unassessed Errors NA 10. DATA ACCESS 10.1 Data Access Procedures Data can be downloaded from the WWW server. 10.2 Data Access Restrictions Data can only be accessed from the WWW server. 10.3 Data Access Contact Persons Ms. Darvene A. Adams U.S. EPA Region II 10.4 Data Set Format NA 10.5 Information Concerning Anonymous FTP Data cannot be accessed via ftp. 10.6 Information Concerning Gopher and WWW Data can be downloaded from the WWW servers. ------- 10.7 EMAP CD-ROM Containing the Data Set Data are not available on CD-ROM 11. REFERENCES Adams, D.A. and M. Hunt. 1993. Quality Assurance Project Plan for Environmental Monitoring Projects, "Sediment Quality of the NY/NJ Harbor." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region 2. Edison, NJ. Adams, D.A., J.S. O'Connor and S.B. Weisberg. 1996. Sediment Quality of the NY/NJ Harbor System. Draft Final Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region 2. Edison, NJ. October 1996. Frithsen, J.B., L.C. Scott and M. Young. 1994. Methods for Processing Estuarine Benthic Macroinvertebrate Samples from the EMAP Estuaries Virginian Province. Versar, Inc., Columbia, MD. Overton, W.S., D.L. Stevens and D. White. 1990. Design Report for EMAP: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. EPA/600/3-91/053. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ORD, Washington, DC. Reifsteck, D.M., C.J. Strobel and D.J. Keith. 1993. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program - Near Coastal Component: 1993 Virginian Province Field Operations and Safety Manual. U.S. EPA NHEERL-AED. Narragansett, RI. U.S. EPA. 1993. EMAP Laboratory Methods Manual: Estuaries. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory, Ci nci nnati, OH. 12. TABLE OF ACRONYMS 13. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Principal Investigator Ms. Darvene A. Adams Monitoring and Assessment Branch Division of Environmental Science and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2890 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, NJ 08837 Joel S. O'Connor Placed-Based Protection Branch Division of Environmental Planning and Protection U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region II Assessment - Region II ------- Data Librarian, EMAP-IM Melissa M. Hughes OAO Corporation U.S. EPA NHEERL-AED 27 Tarzwell Drive Narragansett, RI 02882-1197 (401) 782-3184 (Tel.) (401) 782-3030 (FAX) hughes.meli ssa0epa.gov ------- |