Benthic Habitat and Species Observations from British Columbia Coast

Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides a database of benthic habitat mapping from surveys along the north and south coasts of British Columbia. The dataset contains three linked tables for species observations, quadrat observations, and header information, with separate lookup tables for algae, invertebrates, and substrates. Data is collected by divers along transects perpendicular to the shoreline.

Use Cases

• Link species observations to habitat types using the shared HKey field to analyze species-habitat associations.
• Analyze algae and invertebrate community composition across different substrate types using the provided lookup tables.
• Study spatial and temporal patterns in benthic habitats by examining quadrat observation data from transects rotated biannually between coastal regions.

Strengths

• Data is collected via standardized diver surveys along transects, providing in-situ ecological records.
• Includes three core relational tables linked by a common HKey field, facilitating integrated analysis.
• Separate lookup tables for algae, invertebrates, and substrates provide structured reference data.

Limitations

• Row counts and column details are unknown, limiting assessment of dataset scale and feature completeness.
• The specific temporal range of data collection is not stated, hindering time-series analysis.
• Geographic coverage is limited to rotating study areas on the British Columbia coast, not a continuous survey.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Data collected by teams of two divers swimming transects perpendicular to shore, recording habitat, algae, and marine invertebrate data on sheets later entered into an MS Access database.

Time Range

Surveys rotate between north and south coasts of British Columbia on a biannual basis; specific start year is unknown.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-24, suggesting active maintenance.

Geography

Coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada, with study areas rotating between north and south coasts.