Benthic invertebrate surveys conducted between 2009-2011 as part of the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project.
Citation
Stewart P L, Levy H A, Walker T R (2022). Benthic invertebrate surveys conducted between 2009-2011 as part of the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project.. Version 1.2. Canadian node of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS Canada). Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/mzmzvn accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
Monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in Sydney Harbour and the surrounding area was conducted between 2009-2011 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. The soft bottom in the sampling region combined with the presence of benthic communities with significant abundances and number of species made it suitable to conduct repeatable sampling surveys to assess impacts if any from the Remediation Project. Samples were collected from sediments at a series of nearshore stations in various parts of Sydney Harbour. These stations were assessed for sediment type, content of organic carbon and environmental conditions were noted. Seabed invertebrate communities were examined in terms of species composition and distribution. This resource contains a subset of the data collected as part of these surveys – records contain species occurrence information (scientific name, geographic location, date of sampling, depth of sampling, quantitative abundance) plus a number of associated measurements (sediment composition, grain diameter, TOC). For information on the complete study including data analysis and discussion please consult the original reports. (Dillon 2010, 2011a, 2011b).Sampling Description
Study Extent
2009-2011 Sydney harbourSampling
A baseline assessment of benthic invertebrate communities was conducted in July 2009 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Clean and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. (report1) Sediments at nine nearshore stations extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney were predominantly soft, silt-clay which were well oxygenated and had a surface layer mixed by animal activity, except in inner South Arm where anoxic, organically enriched, silt/clay sediment with little biological activity occurred. The second year of monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in Sydney Harbour was conducted in July 2010 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Eleven nearshore stations were sampled extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney and central Northwest Arm, repeating a baseline survey done in 2009. (report2) Sediments were predominantly soft, silt-clay, occasionally with a sand or gravel component. Content of organic carbon ranged from moderate outside and at the mouth of South Arm and increased towards inner South Arm, reflecting increasing inputs from Sydney River and local sewage, as well as residual coal tar residues off Muggah Creek. The third year of monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in Sydney Harbour was conducted in July 2011 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Eleven stations were sampled extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney and central Northwest Arm, repeating a baseline survey done in 2009 and a monitoring survey in 2010. (report3) Sediments were predominantly soft, silt-clay, occasionally with a sand or gravel component. Content of organic carbon ranged from moderate outside and at the mouth of South Arm and increased towards inner South Arm, reflecting increasing inputs from Sydney River and local urban and industrial contamination.Quality Control
Scientific names associated with resource occurrence records have been mapped to recognized standards - marine taxa have been mapped to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). The WoRMS codes, the AphiaIDs have been included as LSIDs in the occurrence record DwC field scientificNameID.Method steps
- To prepare this dataset for OBIS Canada publication, data was structured into an OBIS-compatible format using R and laid out in four tables: an Event Core, Occurrence Core and two Extended Measurement of Fact extensions. Defined vocabularies listed on the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Vocabulary Server (NVS) were used whenever possible. Names contained in the resource dataset were mapped to WoRMS using their Taxon Match tool and spelling variations revised to that of the standard.
Taxonomic Coverages
Benthic Invertebrates
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Animaliarank: kingdom
Geographic Coverages
Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia
Bibliographic Citations
- Envirosphere Consultants 2010. Marine Benthic Invertebrate Community Baseline Survey, 2009. Environmental Effects andSurface Water Compliance Monitoring, Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Project report - Dillon Consulting Ltd, Hfx, NS -
- Envirosphere Consultants 2011. Marine Benthic Invertebrate Community Year-1 Monitoring Survey, 2010. Environmental Effects andSurface Water Compliance Monitoring, Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Proj rep - Dillon Consulting -
- Envirosphere Consultants 2011. Marine Benthic Invertebrate Community Year-2 Monitoring Survey, 2011. Environmental Effects andSurface Water Compliance Monitoring, Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Proj rep - Dillon Consulting -
Contacts
Patrick L. Stewartoriginator
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
CA
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Heather A. Levy
originator
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
CA
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Tony R. Walker
originator
position: Senior Environmental Scientist
Dillon Consulting Limited
137 Chain Lake Drive, Suite 100
Halifax
B3S 1B3
Nova Scotia
CA
email: trwalker@dal.ca
homepage: http://www.dillon.ca
Patrick L. Stewart
metadata author
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
CA
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Heather A. Levy
metadata author
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
CA
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Tony R. Walker
metadata author
position: Senior Environmental Scientist
Dillon Consulting Limited
137 Chain Lake Drive, Suite 100
Halifax
B3S 1B3
Nova Scotia
CA
email: trwalker@dal.ca
homepage: http://www.dillon.ca
Patrick L. Stewart
administrative point of contact
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
CA
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Heather A. Levy
administrative point of contact
position: environmental consultant
Envirosphere Consultants Limited
Unit 5-120 Morison Drive, P.O. Box 2906
Windsor
B0N 2T0
Nova Scotia
email: enviroco@ns.sympatico.ca
homepage: http://www.envirosphere.ca
Tony R. Walker
administrative point of contact
position: assistant professor
School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University
6100 University Avenue
Halifax
B3H 4R2
Nova Scotia
CA
email: trwalker@dal.ca
homepage: http://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/sres/faculty-staff/our-faculty/tony-walker.html