Olympic National Park - Baseline Data for Biotic Elements of Intertidal Areas along the Outer Coastline

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Megan Dethier
Publication_Date: 199708
Title:
Olympic National Park - Baseline Data for Biotic Elements of Intertidal Areas along the Outer Coastline
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Friday Harbor, Washington
Publisher: Friday Harbor Labs
Description:
Abstract:
A long-term database was gathered on the marine intertidal flora and fauna in rocky, cobbly, and sandy areas of the Olympic Coast of Washington, from 1988 to 1997. Data on all macroscopic benthic flora and fauna were gathered from quadrats or cores throughout the intertidal zone in 10 rocky areas, 6 cobble areas, and 8 sandy areas spanning much of the Olympic Peninsula from Cape Flattery to Kalaloch. Sampling methods and therefore replication, etc. vary with habitat type. Data are counts or estimates of percent cover for all macroscopic benthic plants and animals, to the species level when possible. Most sites were sampled every other year, in the summer. Limited winter data exist. All sites and habitat types are characterized by high year-to-year variations in the abundance of most organisms, although the general character of the biota at each site was relatively stable. Most sites along this coastline are highly diverse and pristine, with the exception of a few sites where human impact (trampling, harvesting) is more severe.
Purpose:
To provide a quantitative baseline of all major intertidal community types in Olympic National Park against which to measure change caused by natural or anthropogenic events.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 198806
Ending_Date: 199707
Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As Needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Olympic National Park coastal region between Cape Flattery and Kalaloch
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.7333
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.3667
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.4
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.6
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Biota
Theme_Keyword: Marine
Theme_Keyword: Shoreline
Theme_Keyword: Intertidal
Theme_Keyword: Flora
Theme_Keyword: Fauna
Theme_Keyword: Variability
Theme_Keyword: Benthic
Theme_Keyword: Coastal
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Olympic National Park
Place_Keyword: Olympic Coastal Marine Sanctuary
Place_Keyword: Olympic Coast
Place_Keyword: Olympic Peninsula
Place_Keyword: Washington
Taxonomy:
Taxonomic_Keywords: Animals
Taxonomic_Keywords: Invertebrates
Taxonomic_Keywords: Multiple Species
Taxonomic_Keywords: Plants
Taxonomic_Keywords: Benthic
Taxonomic_Coverage:
Specific_Taxonomic_Information:
General_Taxonomic_Coverage:
All macroscopic benthic flora and fauna classified to the species level if determinable
Access_Constraints:
Permission of Megan Dethier, originator, is requested
Use_Constraints:
None, except if deemed necessary by Megan Dethier, originator.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Megan Dethier
Contact_Position: Professor and Researcher
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Friday Harbor Labs, 620 University Road
City: Friday Harbor
State_or_Province: WA
Postal_Code: 98250
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-1484
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 543-1273
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: megand@fhl.washington.edu
Hours_of_Service: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., M-F
Contact_Instructions: Use of e-mail strongly recommended
Native_Data_Set_Environment: Access Database
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report: unknown
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Collection of field data was performed over several years by a number of surveyors. Tests were performed to ensure that there was good consistency and reliability in the field data collected given the temporal and personnel variability.
Completeness_Report:
All benthic flora and fauna greater than 1mm in size were included in the survey. Because of the non-destructive sampling methods certain taxa were lumped together during the field surveys.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: unknown
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: unknown
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Sampling methods and therefore replication, etc. vary with habitat type. Data are counts or estimates of percent cover for all macroscopic benthic plants and animals, to the species level when possible. Methods have changed somewhat through time. At rocky sites, for many years we used permanent quadrats (5 quadrats at each of 4 intertidal levels), quantifying all macroscopic plants and animals using visual estimates and counts. In part to make it easier for NPS personnel to take over the sampling, we switched to using random-point-contact method along horizontal transects placed in the same area as the permanent quadrats. Sessile species quantified with random points, mobile species with small quadrats placed at random locations along the transect. At mixed-coarse sites, we started with 3-4 random quadrats per level at each of 7-8 levels along the (usually rather flat) intertidal bench; switched to random points and small quadrats along transects at each level, the same as for rocky sites. NPS personnel now doing just 4 levels per site. At sandy sites, consistently have taken 4 cores (clam gun) per level at each of 10-15 levels (or stations) evenly spaced from high to low water mark; cores sieved to 1 mm. NPS personnel now concentrating on high intertidal levels, where most sandy infaunal abundance and diversity is. Almost all sampling done in June or July; sites mostly sampled on an every-other-year basis. Photographs taken of permanent quadrats for years, not used for data-gathering.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Megan Dethier
Publication_Date: 199708
Title:
Olympic National Park - Baseline Data for Biotic Elements of Intertidal Areas along the Outer Coastline
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Database
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Friday Harbor, Washington
Publisher: Friday Harbor Labs
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Data entered into Access database at the end of each field season.
Process_Date: 1988 to 1997, August of each year
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Megan Dethier
Contact_Position: Professor and Researcher
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Friday Harbor Labs, 620 University Road
City: Friday Harbor
State_or_Province: WA
Postal_Code: 98250
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-1484
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 543-1273
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: megand@fhl.washington.edu
Hours_of_Service: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., M-F
Contact_Instructions: Use of e-mail strongly recommended
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Benthic flora and fauna
Entity_Type_Definition:
Density or percent cover of flora and fauna at intertidal sampling sites.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Megan Dethier
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Species - density or percent cover
Attribute_Definition:
For each sampling site on a given date the percent cover for sessile species or the density for mobile species is given for each observed taxa.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Megan Dethier
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: 0 to 100 for percent cover or number per quadrat
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
0 to 100 for percent cover for sessile species or number per quadrat for mobile species
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Megan Dethier
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Megan Dethier
Contact_Position: Professor and Researcher
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Friday Harbor Labs, 620 University Road
City: Friday Harbor
State_or_Province: WA
Postal_Code: 98250
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-1484
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (206) 543-1273
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: megand@fhl.washington.edu
Hours_of_Service: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., M-F
Contact_Instructions: Use of e-mail strongly recommended
Resource_Description: Olympic Coast Benthic Flora and Fauna
Distribution_Liability:
Megan Dethier and the Friday Harbor Labs cannot assure the reliability or suitability of this information for a particular purpose. Original data elements were compiled from various sources. This information may be updated, corrected, or otherwise modified without notification. For additional information about this data contact Megan Dethier at Friday Harbor Labs.
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 19981210
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Olympic Natural Resources Center
Contact_Position: GIS Specialist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing Address
Address: PO Box 1628
City: Forks
State_or_Province: WA
Postal_Code: 98331
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 360.374.3220 x258
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 3603743336
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: onrc@u.washington.edu
Hours_of_Service: M-F 8-5
Contact_Instructions: Email preferred
Metadata_Standard_Name:
Content Standards for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version:
NBII Draft of December 1995, Based FGDC of June 8, 1994
Generated by mp on Fri Dec 11 13:39:40 1998