Fish Counts [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] Full Details

Full Details

Title:

Fish Counts [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]

Description:

Juvenile and adult fish surveys are a component of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (LGLFWCO) Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) New York State Canal System (Erie Canal) surveillance program. Juvenile and adult fish surveys of the Erie Canal began in 1998 with the goal of detecting novel AIS fish species that could possibly be using the canal system to move between the Great Lakes and Hudson River drainages. Surveys occurred annually from 1998 - present, excluding 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions which prevented sampling for that year. Sampling focuses on sections of the NYS Canal System from Tonawanda, NY to Waterford, NY.Juvenile and adult fish are collected using boat-based electrofishing transects. These transects have a standardized duration of 500 seconds. For the most part, each general sampling location along the Erie Canal has a few legacy transects which electrofishing occurs. These surveys occur biannually, typically targeting early and late summer conditions. Electrofishing parameters are analyzed and designed to capture the maximum species richness at locations with the assumption that capturing an abundance of species, including singletons and doubletons, could lead to detecting rare novel AIS species if present. All fish collected are counted and identified to species in the field using taxonomic keys. If an identification cannot be made in the field, the specimen or some of its tissue is preserved using 95% ethanol (EtOH) and identifications are made in the laboratory either taxonomically or genetically (recent survey years; Northeast Fishery Center). A subset of individuals from each species are measured (total length; mm) in the field. Any significant AIS detections are reported to partners following an internal communications protocol. The information within this dataset is geospatial in nature and documents juvenile and adult fish sampling events. Both abiotic and biotic data is collected for each individual sampling event. It is possible that over time, the tools and instruments used to collect information have changed or been modified. Also, although infrequent, some fish identifications within this data set may be inaccurate and without photographs or preservation of the individual to confirm identification, those records will remain within this data set unless otherwise detected and removed.

Creator:

Department of the Interior

Provider:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data

Resource Class:

Web services

Temporal Coverage:

Last modified 2022-08-17

Date Issued:

2021-04-15

Place:

United States

Rights:

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. While the Service makes every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data provided for distribution, it may not have the necessary accuracy or completeness required for every possible intended use. The Service recommends that data users consult the associated metadata record to understand the quality and possible limitations of the data. The Service creates metadata records in accordance with the standards endorsed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee.As a result of the above considerations, the Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the data. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data in a manner consistent with the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Service, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. These data are preliminary or provisional and are subject to revision. They are being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The data have not received final approval by the Service and are provided on the condition that neither the Service nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the data. This applies to the use of the data both alone and in aggregate with other data and information.

Access Rights:

Public

Format:

File

Language:

English

Date Added:

2024-11-21