CATALOG DOCUMENTATION EMAP-GREAT LAKES PROGRAM LEVEL DATABASE 1994 LAKE ONTARIO NEARSHORE AND OFFSHORE BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE DATA 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 EMAP-Great Lakes Program Level Database 1994 Lake Ontario Nearshore and Offshore Benthic Invertebrate Data 1.2 Authors of the Catalog entry Greg Elonen, ILS 1.3 Catalog revision date 9 April 1997 1.4 Data set name L0BEN94 ------- 1.5 Task Group Great Lakes 1.6 Data set identification code 514 1.7 Version 001 1.8 Requested Acknowledgment These data were produced as part of the U.S. EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). 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 has been funded wholly or in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its EMAP-Great Lakes 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 Stephen Lozano U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 2.2 Investigation Participant - Sample Collection Floyd Boetcher U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 2.3 Investigation Participant - Sample Collection Gary Phipps U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 2.4 Investigation Participant - Sample Collection James Gangl SAIC (Currently, University of Minnesota) 2.5 Investigation Participant - Sample Processing Jill Scharold U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED ------- 3. DATA SET ABSTRACT 3.1 Abstract of the Data Set The benthic invertebrate data set presents species composition data on each benthic taxon identified from all acceptable grab samples collected at a station. Total species abundance for each taxon identified from all grabs (generally 3) is reported. Mean abundance and standard deviation of mean abundance, number of grabs, sampling date and station identification are also reported. 3.2 Keywords for the Data Set Lake Ontario, benthic invertebrates, total species abundance, mean species abundance, species composition, nearshore. 4. OBJECTIVES AND INTRODUCTION 4.1 Program Objective The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) was designed to periodically estimate the status and trends of the Nation's ecological resources on a regional basis. EMAP provides a strategy to identify and bound the extent, magnitude and location of environmental degradation and improvement on a regional scale based on station sites randomly located in the Great Lakes. Base grid and three-fold enhanced sampling sites from nearshore and offshore regions of Lake Ontario are included in this data set. 4.2 Data Set Objective The objective of the benthic invertebrate species data set is to provide summary data for each taxon or species of benthic invertebrate identified from each station sampled in 1994 from the nearshore and offshore regions of Lake Ontario. 4.3 Background Discussion Benthic invertebrate community structure is used extensively as a biomonitoring tool. These communities generally form stable associations that integrate and reflect environmental conditions. Owing to their diverse taxonomy, wide range of physiological response to stress and feeding modes, they tend to be sensitive to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances and stresses. For these reasons benthic invertebrate community structure is used as a tool for assessing the biological condition of the Great Lakes. 4.4 Summary of Data Set Parameters Total species abundance, mean species abundance, the standard deviation of mean total abundance, and species composition at each station sampled. ------- 5. DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING METHODS 5.1 Data Acqui si ti on 5.1.1 Sampling Objective The primary objective was to collect sediment grab samples suitable for analysis of benthic invertebrates. Three replicate sediment samples were expected to be taken at each station. 5.1.2 Sample Collection Methods Summary At sediment stations, sediment samples were collected for benthic macroinvertebrates using a Ponar grab. Each sediment sample was washed with an elutriation device equipped with a 500u m mesh Nitex screen. The residue was rinsed into a pint plastic jar. An equal volume of 10% formalin solution containing rose bengal stain was added to achieve a final concentration of 5% formalin. The EMAP sampling strategy uses a global grid to identify sampling sites. This grid is divided into sub-grids in accordance with the needs of the ecosystem type. The baseline grid used in EMAP is an hexagonal plate containing a triangular grid approximately 12,600 grid points distributed randomly over the conterminous United States. These grid points are about 27 km equidistant and large, contiguous hexagons can be scribed around each grid point, each with an area of 635 sq. km. Initial randomization of the grid on the United States establishes the systematic sample (i.e., uniform and regular grid point and small hexagons) as a probability sample. The grid structure reflects the importance of achieving geographic coverage of ecological resources. The uniformity of spatial coverage provided by a grid ensures that each ecological resource can be sampled in proportion to its geographic presence in the United States and that all ecological resources can be included in the monitoring program. 5.1.3 Beginning Sampling Date 3 September 1994 5.1.4 Ending Sampling Date 19 September 1994 5.1.5 Platform Sampling was conducted from the R/V Guardian. 5.1.6 Sampling Equipment Standard size Ponar. 5.1.7 Manufacturer of Instrument Wildco Manufacturing Company ------- 5.1.8 Key Variables The number of grab samples at each station was recorded at the time of collection. 5.1.9 Collection Method Calibration The sampling gear did not require any calibration beyond inspection for damage due to rough handling or rock damage. 5.1.10 Collection Quality Control Criteria for rejection of Ponar samples: Soft bottom- sampler must be at least 3/4 full and show minimal signs of disturbance. Hard bottom- presence of rocks, signs of disturbance, or sampler less than 1/4 full. 5.1.11 Sample Collection Method Reference Strobel, C.J. and S.C. Schimmel, 1991. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Near Coastal. 1991 Virginian Province, Field Operations and Safety Manual. U.S. EPA, NHEERL-AED, Narragansett, RI. June 1991. 5.2 Data Processing and Sample Processing 5.2.1 Sample Processing Objective The primary sample processing objective was to accurately identify and enumerate all benthic macroinvertebrate organisms found to the lowest possible taxonomic category. 5.2.2 Sample Processing Methods Summary Field samples returned to the lab were rinsed and preserved with 80% ethanol. 5.2.3 Sample Processing Method Calibration Not applicable. 5.2.4 Sample Processing Quality Control None reported. 5.2.5 Sample Processing Method Reference Nalepa, T.F. 1987. Long Term changes in the Macrobenthos of Southern Lake Michigan. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44:515- 524. 5.2.6 Sample Processing Method Deviations None reported. ------- 6. DATA ANALYSIS AND MANIPULATIONS 6.1 Name of New or Modified Values T_ABN, M_ABN, SDABN 6.2 Data Manipulation Description Species enumeration of samples on a "per grab" basis were received from a taxonomy laboratory. The values reported in this data set were calculated by 1) Summing replicate abundance over "n" samples, 2) calculating the mean abundance across "n" replicates, 3) generating a standard deviation based on the replicate abundance of each taxon. 6.3 Data Manipulation Examples 6.3.1 Total abundance for a taxon. Abundance counts for a taxon were summed for all replicates collected at stati on. 6.3.2 Mean abundance and Standard Deviation (SD) values of abundance. The mean for each taxon identified at a station was calculated by summing the replicate abundance and dividing by the number of grabs collected. The SD was then calculated. 7. DATA DESCRIPTION 7.1 Description of Parameters # Name Type Length Format Parameter Label 1 STA NAME Char 10 10. Station Name 2 DATE Num 6 6. Sampling Date (YYMMDD) 3 LATIN NAME Char 30 30. Latin Name of the Taxon 4 # G Num 1. 1. Number of Replicate Samples Taken 5 T_ABN Num 3 4. Total Number of Organisms of a Taxon at a Station 6 M ABN Num 5 3.2 Mean Number of Organisms/Grab 7 SDABN Num 5 3.2 Standard Deviation of Mean Abundance of Organisms/Grab 7.1.1 Precision to which values are reported Total abundance is reported as a whole number. Mean abundance and standard deviation are reported to 2 decimal places. 7.1.2 Minimum Value in Data Set T ABN M_ABN SD ABN 1 0.33 0.00 ------- 7.1.3 Maximum Value in Data Set T ABN 1832 M_ABN 610.67 SD_ABN 147.00 7.2 Data Record Example 7.2.1 Column Names for Example Records STA_NAME, DATE, LATIN NAME, #, T_ABN, M_ABN, SD_ABN 7.2.2 Example Data Records L094-81 940906 Pisidium sp. 3 220 77.33 22.19 L094-82 940907 Diaporeia sp. 2 318 159.00 32.53 8. GEOGRAPHIC AND SPATIAL INFORMATION 8.1 Minimum Longitude -79 deg 29' 59" 8.2 Maximum Longitude -76 deg 19' 22" 8.3. Minimum Latitude 42 deg 27' 29" 8.4 Maximum Latitude 43 deg 52' 57" 8.5 Name of Area or Region Nearshore and Offshore Lake Ontario; Stations were located within the Nearshore and Offshore resource class of Lake Ontario. The nearshore sites were within the non-depositional zone (13 sites) and the offshore sites were within the depositional zone (45 si tes) . 9. QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE 9.1 Measurement Quality Objectives 90% correct identification. 9.2. Data Quality Assurance Procedures For worms and midges: Michael Winnell, Freshwater Benthic, Inc., Krause Rd., Petosky, MI.; for all others: Tom Nalepa, GLERL, N0AA, Ann Arbor, MI. ------- 9.3 Actual Measurement Quality Not reported. 10. DATA ACCESS 10.1 Data Access Procedures Data can be downloaded from the EMAP Website. 10.2 Data Access Restrictions Not applicable. 10.3 Data Access Contact Persons Stephen J. Lozano U.S. E.P.A. NHEERL-MED (218)720-5594 (218)720-5539 (FAX) lozano.Stephen0epa.gov 10.4 Data Set Format Data from the Website are in ASCii fixed format. 10.5 Information Concerning Anonymous FTP Not accessible. 10.6 Information Concerning WWW Data can be downloaded from the EMAP Website. 10.7 EMAP CD-ROM Containing the Data Set Data are not available on CD-ROM. 11. REFERENCES Hedtke, S., A. Pilli, D. Dolan, G. McRae, B. Goodno, R. Kreis, G. Warren, D. Swackhamer, and M. Henry. 1992. Great Lakes Monitoring and Research Strategy: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. USEPA, Office of Research and Development, ERL-Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota. EPA/602/R-92/001. 204 p. 12. TABLE OF ACRONYMS ------- PERSONNEL INFORMATION Stephen J. Lozano U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 6201 Congdon Blvd Duluth, MN 55804 (218)529-5205 (218)529-5003 (FAX) lozano.Stephen0epa.gov Gary L. Phipps U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 6201 Congdon Blvd Duluth, MN 55804 (218)529-5205 (218)529-5003 (FAX) phi pps.gary0epa.gov Jill V. Scharold U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 6201 Congdon Blvd Duluth, MN 55804 (218)529-5205 (218)529-5003 (FAX) scharold.jill0epa.gov Floyd L. Boettcher U.S. Environmental Protection Agency NHEERL-MED 6201 Congdon Blvd Duluth, MN 55804 (218)529-5205 (218)529-5003 (FAX) boetcher.floyd0epa.gov ------- |