Description

This dataset includes metrics of eelgrass size, cover, and biomass from field sites along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Field sites were located across a gradient of environmental conditions, and field sampling was conducted in July to August 2022. Eelgrass percent cover, shoot density, and plants were sampled at 10 haphazardly distributed sampling stations within each eelgrass bed at approximately the same depth. Stations were ~10m apart and at least 2m from any eelgrass-bare interface. At each sampling station eelgrass leaves in a 0.5 x 0.5m quadrat were photographed for later computer image analysis to determine percent cover. The number of shoots were then counted in a 0.25 x 0.25m quadrat, and 3 vegetative shoots were collected. Shoots were measured for leaf length, width, and weight in the laboratory. These data were used to determine allometric and cover-biomass relationships for use in non-destructive estimation of bed biomass. Cite this data as: Wong, M.C., & Thomson, J. A. Data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) plant size (length, width), cover, and biomass from the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia. Published: February 2025. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS. For additional information please see: Thomson, J. A., Vercaemer, B., & Wong, M. C. (2025). Non-destructive biomass estimation for eelgrass (Zostera marina): Allometric and percent cover-biomass relationships vary with environmental conditions. Aquatic Botany, 198, 103853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103853

Resources

Name	Format	Description	Link
Data dictionary	CSV		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Data_dictionary.csv
Eelgrass sampling locations	Unknown		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_cover_biomass_Atlantic_Coast_NS.zip
Eelgrass leaf allometry data	CSV		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_Leaf_Allometry_data.csv
Eelgrass percentage cover and biomass data	CSV		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_PercentageCover_biomass_data.csv
Eelgrass sampling locations	CSV		https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_sampling_locations.csv
Eelgrass sampling locations from the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia	Ersi REST		https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/eelgrass_plant_size_cover_biomass_atlantic_coast_ns/MapServer
Eelgrass sampling locations from the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia	Ersi REST		https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/eelgrass_plant_size_cover_biomass_atlantic_coast_ns/MapServer

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