tbl Sorting [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] Full Details

Full Details

Title:

tbl Sorting [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]

Description:

Benthic invertebrate 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) Early Detection and Monitoring (EDM) program. Benthic invertebrate surveys were included in the EDM program starting in 2012 with the goal of detecting novel AIS invertebrate species by sampling a diversity of habitats with a wide array of gear types. Surveys occurred annually from 2012 - present. Sampling focuses on harbors, rivers, and streams of the lower Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario) as determined by arisk-based prioritization framework for AIS in the Great Lakes.Benthic invertebratesare collected using a variety of sampling gears with the most utilized including: colonizers (rock bags and Hester-Dendy samplers), sweep nets, petite ponars and benthic sleds.The survey design targets the following three general taxon:Amphipoda, Bivalvia, and Gastropoda. These taxon are targeted due to the potential invasiveness and level of concern of species within those taxa as determined byEcological Risk Screening Summaries (ERSS).The sampling season is typically between July and October - not all locations are sampled on a similar temporal scale, particularly those locations on the fringes of the programs surveillance range.Sampling strategies 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.Samples are preserved using 95% ethanol (EtOH) which allows for tissue preservation. The samples are then picked and sorted in-house (LGLFWCO) by the three aforementioned general taxon. Currently, taxonomic identifications have also been conducted in-house using available keys for benthic invertebrates. The information within this dataset is geospatial in nature and documents benthic invertebrate sampling events. Both abiotic and biotic data is collected for each individual sampling event. It is possible that over time, the tools, gears, and instruments used to collect information have changed or been modified. The EDM program is adaptive in nature and standardization, although important for comparisons, is not the primary intention of this AIS sampling strategy. Therefore, in some instances, the general statements made above regarding sample procedures may not apply. Also, identifying aquatic invertebrates such as amphipods, bivalves, and gastropods are difficult - especially when tasked with discovering novel AIS with limited support from reference materials (keys, voucher specimens, etc.). Because of this, some specimens collected cannot be assigned to the species level. Furthermore, due to these difficulties, identifications within this data set may be inaccurate and those records will remain within this data set unless otherwise detected and removed.

Creator:

{'name': 'Department of the Interior'}

Provider:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data

Resource Class:

Datasets and Web services

Temporal Coverage:

Last modified 2024-11-18

Date Issued:

2022-01-12

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:

Shapefile

Language:

English

Date Added:

2024-11-21