Benthic Biodiversity Surveys in Manicouagan Region (2006-2008)

Over a hundred stations were sampled across three years using grabs and a dredge to target epibenthic and endobenthic species. The data includes taxonomic identifications from collected samples and images, along with station metadata such as sampling date, depth, and geographic coordinates. A camera sled collected 3,008 x 2,000 pixel images every 10 seconds during 2006 and 2007 transects.

Use Cases

• Analyze taxonomic identifications across sampling stations to map species distribution in the Manicouagan region.
• Correlate species presence from collected samples with station metadata like depth and geographic coordinates.
• Use sampling date and station data to study temporal changes in benthic communities between 2006 and 2008.
• Investigate sampling tool effectiveness by comparing species data collected via SM grab, IKU grab, and hydraulic dredge.

Strengths

• Data collected from over a hundred sampling stations, providing broad spatial coverage.
• Includes high-resolution seabed images (3,008 x 2,000 pixels) captured every 10 seconds along transects.
• Sampling conducted over three consecutive years (2006-2008) for temporal analysis.
• Data follows the standardized Darwin Core format for biodiversity records.

Limitations

• Depth measurements are noted as for informational purposes only due to the region's very steep bathymetry.
• The dataset's taxonomic scope is limited to the specific benthic surveys conducted in the Manicouagan region.
• Image data is only available for the 2006 and 2007 sampling campaigns, not for 2008.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Collection Method

Surveys using SM grab, IKU grab, hydraulic dredge, and a camera sled along transects.

Time Range

2006 to 2008.

Freshness

Data last updated on 2026-03-24, but the underlying surveys were conducted from 2006 to 2008.

Geography

Manicouagan Peninsula area, Canada.