Data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) plant size (length, width), cover, and biomass from the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia

Data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) plant size (length, width), cover, and biomass from the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia 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 2025-03-11 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Melisa.Wong@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentScience and TechnologyEelgrassZostera marinaBiomassMorphometricsCompetitive Science Research Fund (CSRF)Aquatic plantsOceansEnvironment Eelgrass sampling locationsCSV https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_sampling_locations.csv Eelgrass leaf allometry dataCSV 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 dataCSV https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_PercentageCover_biomass_data.csv Eelgrass sampling locationsFGDB/GDB https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Eelgrass_cover_biomass_Atlantic_Coast_NS.zip Data dictionaryCSV https://api-proxy.edh-cde.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e5fa953b-aa18-4dd8-a03a-6a87d53d707f/attachments/Data_dictionary.csv Eelgrass sampling locations from the Atlantic coast of Nova ScotiaESRI 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 ScotiaESRI REST https://egisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/open_data_donnees_ouvertes/eelgrass_plant_size_cover_biomass_atlantic_coast_ns/MapServer

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

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Contact Information

Delivery Point: Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, PO Box 1006

City: Dartmouth

Administrative Area: Nova Scotia

Postal Code: B2Y 4A2

Country: Canada

Electronic Mail Address: Melisa.Wong@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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