Epifauna Diversity on Dockside Surface Perimeters in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta, British Columbia

Epifauna Diversity on Dockside Surface Perimeters in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta, British Columbia These data sets provide information pertaining to epifauna and substrate estimates collected at dockside perimeters of floating docks located in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta, British Columbia, between August and November, 2020. Data sets were compiled and formatted by Meagan Mak. Epifauna diversity was examined along surface perimeters of floating docks in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta in southwestern British Columbia. Diversity estimates were obtained from video surveys collected over three depth-intervals: 1) Splash zone (SZ): depth-interval directly 15-cm above air-water interface; 2) Subsurface zone (SSZ): depth-interval (0-21 cm) below air-water interface; and 3) Deep-water zone (DZ): depth-interval below the SSZ (21-41 cm). Dock substrate consisted of combinations of wood, concrete, tires, plastic-floats, and metal, while epifauna and epiflora included anemones, tunicates, sponge, tube-worms, sea stars, bivalves, crabs, nudibranchs, urchins, barnacles, limpets, chitons, isopods, macroalgae and seagrass. Mussels ranged between 46% and 95% coverage across docks (median: 93%), while frequency of occurrence ranged between 85% and 100% (median: 99%), providing a biological-based substrate for other epifauna. The splash-zone consisted of outcropped mussels, encroached macroalgae from the waterline, and invertebrates above the waterline (limpets, chiton). If present, Ulva spp. typically formed a consistent narrow band (2-3 cm) above the waterline across all docks. Benthic (pipefish, sculpin) and pelagic (perch) fish were associated with epifaunal coverage and pelagic (open-water medium) settings. The Coast Guard Sea Island dock may experience episodic low-salinity intrusions supporting marine organisms at this site (ochre star, sculpin, limpet). 2024-02-15 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Terri.Sutherland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Nature and EnvironmentScience and TechnologyBritish ColumbiaBurrard Inletfloating dockssurface perimetervideo surveysepifaunasubstrateOceanographyAquatic ecosystems Data DictionaryCSV https://api-proxy.edh.azure.cloud.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e7e0ff95-33fe-46bd-b049-645051d9b551/attachments/OPP_data_dictionary_2d_EN.csv REFERENCESPDF https://api-proxy.edh.azure.cloud.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e7e0ff95-33fe-46bd-b049-645051d9b551/attachments/REFERENCES_EN_FR_Epifauna_Diversity.pdf Epifauna diversity in Burrard InletCSV https://api-proxy.edh.azure.cloud.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e7e0ff95-33fe-46bd-b049-645051d9b551/attachments/Data_Epifauna.zip Data DictionaryCSV https://api-proxy.edh.azure.cloud.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e7e0ff95-33fe-46bd-b049-645051d9b551/attachments/OPP_data_dictionary_2d_FR.csv Epifauna diversity in Burrard InletESRI REST https://gisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/FGP/Epifauna_Diversity_Burrard_Inlet_Fraser_River_Delta_BC/MapServer Epifauna diversity in Burrard InletESRI REST https://gisp.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/FGP/Epifauna_Diversity_Burrard_Inlet_Fraser_River_Delta_BC/MapServer Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3508PDF https://api-proxy.edh.azure.cloud.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/catalogue/records/e7e0ff95-33fe-46bd-b049-645051d9b551/attachments/Sutherland%20et%20al.%202022%20Burrard%20Inlet%20Floating%20Docks%20Substrate%20&%20Epifauna.pdf

These data sets provide information pertaining to epifauna and substrate estimates collected at dockside perimeters of floating docks located in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta, British Columbia, between August and November, 2020. Data sets were compiled and formatted by Meagan Mak.

Epifauna diversity was examined along surface perimeters of floating docks in Burrard Inlet and Fraser River Delta in southwestern British Columbia. Diversity estimates were obtained from video surveys collected over three depth-intervals: 1) Splash zone (SZ): depth-interval directly 15-cm above air-water interface; 2) Subsurface zone (SSZ): depth-interval (0-21 cm) below air-water interface; and 3) Deep-water zone (DZ): depth-interval below the SSZ (21-41 cm). Dock substrate consisted of combinations of wood, concrete, tires, plastic-floats, and metal, while epifauna and epiflora included anemones, tunicates, sponge, tube-worms, sea stars, bivalves, crabs, nudibranchs, urchins, barnacles, limpets, chitons, isopods, macroalgae and seagrass. Mussels ranged between 46% and 95% coverage across docks (median: 93%), while frequency of occurrence ranged between 85% and 100% (median: 99%), providing a biological-based substrate for other epifauna. The splash-zone consisted of outcropped mussels, encroached macroalgae from the waterline, and invertebrates above the waterline (limpets, chiton). If present, Ulva spp. typically formed a consistent narrow band (2-3 cm) above the waterline across all docks. Benthic (pipefish, sculpin) and pelagic (perch) fish were associated with epifaunal coverage and pelagic (open-water medium) settings. The Coast Guard Sea Island dock may experience episodic low-salinity intrusions supporting marine organisms at this site (ochre star, sculpin, limpet).

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Contact Information

Delivery Point: DFO Pacific Science Enterprise Centre, 4160 Marine Dr.

City: West Vancouver

Administrative Area: British Columbia

Postal Code: V7V 1N6

Country: Canada

Electronic Mail Address: Terri.Sutherland@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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