Nearshore Benthic Habitat Surveys of Bras d'Or Lake 2007-2008

Bay scale assessment data from nearshore benthic surveys in Bras d'Or Lake, conducted from 2007 to 2008. The dataset includes video-sidescan and echosounder surveys from depths of less than 1 meter to 10 meters, documenting substrate types and macrophyte canopy. It was compiled into a Geographic Information System by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to support habitat management.

Use Cases

• Analyze the distribution of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds relative to water depth and substrate type data from the surveys.
• Map macrophyte canopy coverage, particularly within the first 3 meters of depth, to identify zones of ecological significance.
• Use geospatial survey data to assess the impact of water column turbidity and siltation on nearshore benthic habitats.
• Ground truth echosounder data with video-sidescan imagery to classify different shoreline types based on substrate proportions.

Strengths

• Surveys cover a specific temporal range from 2007 to 2008, providing a snapshot of nearshore conditions.
• Data collection employed multiple methods including drop camera, fixed mount sidescan, and a developed towfish platform.
• Surveys spanned a defined depth gradient from less than 1 meter to 10 meters in the northern half of Bras d'Or Lake.
• Dataset is part of a documented technical report (Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3183) providing methodological context.

Limitations

• Spatial coverage is limited to the northern half of Bras d'Or Lake, not the entire lake system.
• The dataset's age (2007-2008) may not reflect current nearshore habitat conditions.
• Specific sample sizes, row counts, and column definitions for the tabular components are not provided in the input.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystems Science Division.

Collection Method

Nearshore benthic surveys using drop camera, fixed mount sidescan, and a developed towfish platform with transponder-based positioning.

Time Range

2007 to 2008.

Freshness

Data was last updated in the system on 2026-03-24, though the underlying surveys are from 2007-2008.

Geography

Nearshore areas of Bras d'Or Lake, primarily the northern half, Nova Scotia, Canada.