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


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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.


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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


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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


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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


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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


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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.


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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


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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


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