Great Lakes Nearshore Benthic Invertebrate Community Samples

Benthic invertebrate community data from nearshore index monitoring stations in Great Lakes basins. Samples of insects, worms, mussels, snails, and crayfish are collected annually, typically with five replicates per station using a 600 μm mesh, 9-inch ponar. This data serves as a biological indicator for trophic status and environmental conditions.

Use Cases

• Analyze benthic invertebrate composition as a biological indicator of trophic status and environmental conditions.
• Link invertebrate community structure with sediment and water chemistry datasets from the same nearshore areas.
• Study ecosystem function and change using annual surveys from one Great Lake basin each year.

Strengths

• Data is collected annually from nearshore index monitoring stations, providing a time series.
• Standardized sampling method using five replicate samples with a 600 μm mesh, 9-inch ponar.
• Designed to link with companion datasets on sediment and water chemistry for integrated analysis.

Limitations

• Specific data volume (rows, columns) and file size are unknown.
• Sample data and column structure are unavailable, limiting preview of data granularity.
• Available file formats (HTML, PDF, ZIP) may not be immediately machine-readable for analysis.

Provenance

Source

Government of Ontario

Collection Method

Surveys conducted in one of the Great Lakes basins each year, with five replicate samples typically collected per station.

Time Range

Annual surveys.

Freshness

Last updated March 18, 2026.

Geography

Nearshore index monitoring stations within Great Lakes basins.