US Department of Commerce (USDOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR). 2001 database Charleston, South Carolina NOAA's Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) http://www.nbi.noaa.gov This data set reports information on benthic macroinfaunal assemblages produced as part of a study that was conducted to assess the condition of benthic macroinfauna and contaminant levels in sediments and biota of the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS). Sampling was initally conducted April 3-7, 2000 on the NOAA Ship FERREL (Cruise FE-00-06-GR). A second survey of soft-bottom benthic habitats was conducted in spring 2005 to characterize condition of macroinfaunal assemblages and levels of chemical contaminants in sediments and biota relative to the baseline survey carried out in spring 2000. . Objectives of the overall sampling were to: (1) assess baseline condition of macroinfauna (> 0.5 mm), concentrations of chemical contaminants in sediments, and contaminant body-burdens in target benthic species within the sanctuary boundaries; and (2) provide a quantitative basis for tracking potential changes in these properties with time due to either natural or human events. To address these objectives during each sampling period, 20 stations were established all within the sanctuary boundaries. A random sampling design was applied to support probability-based estimates of the percentage of area with degraded versus non-degraded condition relative to various measured environmental indicators. The resulting sampling framework is a 58-km2 grid of 20 individual cells, each of which is 2.9 km2, and which together are representative of the total area of the sanctuary. One station was randomly located within each cell. All benthic infauna samples were collected with a 0.04 m2 Young Grab. Benthic research in GRNMS by previous investigators has focused largely on live-bottom assemblages associated with rocky outcrops. In contrast, there has been limited work on the ecology of unconsolidated sandy substrates which surround the rocky-reef structures and characterize much of the inner-shelf area in the general vicinity of Gray’s Reef. The present data provide a quantitative baseline on levels of potential environmental contaminants and condition of the infaunal organisms living within these substrates and how they vary with time. The soft-bottom benthos is a key component of coastal ecosystems, playing vital roles in detrital decomposition, nutrient cycling, and energy flow to higher trophic levels. Moreover, because of their relatively stationary existence within the sediments, benthic infauna can serve as reliable indicators of potential environmental disturbances to the seafloor. Such information is of direct importance to the development of management plans for the Sanctuary, as a contribution to our understanding of the overall ecology of this system and as a baseline for monitoring any future changes due to either natural or anthropogenic influences. The present benthic survey is a component of a larger, ongoing coordinated site characterization of the sanctuary by the GRNMS Office and three NCCOS Centers (CCMA, CCFHR, and CCEHBR). NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 68. 2000 2005 observed Complete As needed Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary -80.92139 -80.82833 31.42083 31.3625 None coastal marine latitude longitude National Marine Sanctuary taxa infauna macroinfauna benthic species Coastal Monitoring oceans temperature salinity depth grain size toc abundance Taxonomic serial number chemical contaminants None Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary Atlantic Ocean Coastal Georgia None Marine invertebrate infauna macroinfauna benthic benthos benthic macroinfauna Unknown Unknown database After the original taxonomic classification was completed for these samples a Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN) was assigned to each taxa. This TSN was based upon the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS, www.itis.usda.gov) and usually represents a one to one correlation, where the taxa name in this database matches the taxa name associated with the assigned TSN in the ITIS database (e.g., Owenia fusiformis TSN-67647). However, a one to one correlation was not always possible. When a species was identified as part of this database, but there was no TSN available for that exact taxa then the next existing TSN in that species' taxonomic hierarchy was used (e.g., Original name = Amathimysis serrata; ITIS Name = Amathimysis TSN = 90335; Reason for Discrepancy = New species name, not updated in ITIS database). Barry A. Vittor & Associates mailing Mobile AL 36695 251-633-6100 Samples were live-sieved in the field on 0.5mm wire mesh sieves and all material retained on the screen was preserved with 10% buffered formalin with Rose Bengal dye. In the laboratory these previously fixed samples were re-sieved and transferred to a 70%-ethanol solution. All benthic macroinfauna retained on the 0.5mm screen were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, usually species.The level of taxonomy varied depending upon the salinity of the habitat from which the samples were collected. Oligochaetes and chironomids from tidal fresh and oligohaline salinity zones were identified to species (or lowest possible taxon) whereas individuals of these groups from higher salinities (> 5 ‰) were not identified to the species level. Additionally, certain faunal groups were not identified to the species level due to inherent taxonomic difficulties associated with the group and the limited value to be gained relative to the effort required for the additional level of detail. These groups and the corresponding level of expected taxonomic classification are as follows:Phylum Porifera (Sponges) - Phylum; Phylum Ectoprocta (Bryozoans) - Phylum; Class Hydrozoa - Order (e.g., Hydroida, Actinulida); Class Hirudinea - Class; Class Anthozoa - Order [e.g., Alcyonacea (soft corals), Gorgonacea (sea fans and whips), Pennnatulacea (sea pens), Actiniaria (sea anemones), Scleractinia, (stony corals), Ceriantharia]; Other Dipteran Families - Family (e.g., Ceratopogonidae, Chaoboridae). individuals USDOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR/Coastal Ecology physical Charleston SC 29412 843-762-8511 www.nbi.noaa.gov All benthic macroinfauna (> 0.5mm) were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, usually species.The taxonomic classification system described in this metadata covers the major taxonomic categories of the database from Kingdom down to the level of Order only. This does not represent the more detailed taxonomic information that is available in database (usually species). Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida Class Clitellata Order Haplotaxida Class Polychaeta Order Aciculata Order Canalipalpata Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Order Amphipoda Order Cumacea Order Decapoda Order Isopoda Order Mysida Order Tanaidacea Phylum Chordata Subphylum Tunicata Class Ascidiacea Class Cephalochordata Phylum Cnidaria Class Anthozoa Order Actiniaria Order Pennatulacea Phylum Echinodermata Subphylum Echinozoa Class Echinoidea Order Clypeasteroida Class Holothuroidea Order Dendrochirotida Class Stelleroidea Order Ophiurida Phylum Mollusca Class Bivalvia Order Arcoida Order Limoida Order Myoida Order Mytiloida Order Pholadomyoida Order Veneroida Class Gastropoda Order Archaeogastropoda Order Cephalaspidea Order Heterostropha Order Neogastropoda Order Neotaenioglossa Order Nudibranchia Class Polyplacophora Class Scaphopoda Order Gadilida Phylum Nemertea Class Anopla Order Heteronemertea Order Paleonemertea Phylum Platyhelminthes Class Turbellaria Phylum Porifera Phylum Sipuncula None The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) requests that all individuals who download these data acknowledge the source of these data in any reports, papers, or presentations. If you publish these data, please include a statement similar to: "Some or all of the data described in this article were produced by NOAA through its National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science - NOAA National Benthic Inventory." USDOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR/Coastal Ecology physical

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Charleston SC 29412 843-762-8511 http://www.nbi.noaa.gov A variety of QA/QC procedures were implemented during the processing of benthic infauna samples to ensure consistent production of high quality data. A minimum of 10% of all benthic infauna samples sorted by each technician were re-sorted by a different technician to monitor performance and provide feedback necessary to maintain acceptable standards. The minimum acceptable sorting efficiency was 90%. Approximately 10% of the samples were randomly selected and re-checked by an independent qualified taxonomist. The minimum acceptable taxonomic efficiency was 90%. All data are believed to be logically consistent. All taxa identified and enumerated within a benthic infauna sample are included in this database. Additional data including physical characteristics of the sediments and concentration of measured chemical contaminants are available by submitting a request to the individual study's contact that is provided on the Contacts web page at nnbi.noaa.gov. Not relevant to the dataset. A Young grab (0.04 m2) was used to collect benthic and sediment samples from all stations. Three replicate grabs were taken at each of the sampled stations. All sediments collected in each grab were prepared for benthic analyses by gently washing the material through a 0.5-mm mesh sieve and washing the material retained on the sieve into a labeled container and preserved with 10% buffered formaldehyde and seawater mixed with rose begal dye. In the laboratory at Barry A. Vittor & Associates, Inc., Mobile, AL, organisms were separated from the remaining debris, identified by experienced taxonomists, and enumerated. Identification and counts were entered into a spreadsheet file and community parameter estimates were calculated. 2001 Point .0001 .0001 Decimal degrees No correction 0.1 meters Attribute values Data File The data file reports information regarding this study including location, basic environmental paramters and benthic community data (taxa and abundance). USDOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR Study Name of the study NBI database Study is the name of the study and provides a unique identifier for a particular study. Study includes the year in the which the study was conducted. Location Geographic area in which study was conducted NBI database Location provides a very brief description of the general geographic area in which a study was conducted. Year Year in which the study was conducted NBI database 2000 2005 Year Strata This is a code representing groups of stations. NBI database No strata were used in this study. Station This is a code representing a group of replicate samples all from one specific location. NBI database 1 20 no unit of measure - a station identifier Rep. Replicate number NBI database 1 3 no units of measure - a replicate identifier Lat. Latitude of station. NBI database 31.36 31.42 decimel degrees Longitude Longitude of station. NBI database -80.92 -80.83 decimel degrees Depth(m) Depth at a station NBI database 14.5 21.1 meters 0.1 Salinity(ppt) Bottom salinity at a station NBI database 33.6 34.3 parts per thousand 0.1 TSN Taxonomic serial number ITIS database Information regarding TSNs can be found at http:/www.itis.usda.gov Taxon The scientific name of the organism found within the sample. NBI database Organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category, usually species. If an organism was left at a higher level then that name is given (e.g. family name). Ab. Abundance, the number of that taxa counted within that replicate. NBI database 1 2835 no units of measure- counts of individuals present in a sample USDOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR/Coastal Ecology physical

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Charleston SC 29412 843-762-8511 http://www.nbi.noaa.gov None ASCII http://www.nbi.noaa.gov none http://www.nbi.noaa.gov 20031009 20041108 USDOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCEHBR/Coastal Ecology physical

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Charleston South Carolina 29412 (843) 762 8511 nnbi.noaa.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999