June to September 1976 data collection focused on histopathology and benthic communities in the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. The dataset contains sea surface temperature, wave, turbidity, gear type, and counts and weights for megabenthic species. It was collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and submitted by Dr. Gerald L. Engel.
Use Cases
- Analyze benthic species counts and weights against sea surface temperature (SST) and turbidity to model species-environment relationships.
- Compare species composition and biomass data collected via different gear types (trawl vs. dredge) for sampling methodology studies.
- Use wave and turbidity data with species records to assess physical disturbance effects on benthic communities.
- Employ histopathology data alongside species counts for investigating disease or stress in marine organisms.
Strengths
- Data collected over a focused 3-month period from June to September 1976.
- Includes multiple measured variables: species counts, weights, SST, wave, turbidity, and gear type.
- Documentation describes instruments, units, and record format.
Limitations
- Sample size and row count are unknown.
- Data is from a single season in 1976, limiting temporal generalizability.
- Geographic scope is specified only as the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.
Provenance
- Source
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), submitted by Dr. Gerald L. Engel, accessed via NOAA NCEI.
- Collection Method
- Field sampling using trawls and dredges, with documented instruments and procedures.
- Time Range
- 1976-06-14 to 1976-09-02
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).