Eelgrass Size, Cover, and Biomass Measurements from Nova Scotia

Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides field measurements of eelgrass (Zostera marina) from sites along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. Data includes percent cover, shoot density, and plant metrics like leaf length, width, and weight collected in July-August 2022. These measurements support allometric and cover-biomass relationship modeling for non-destructive biomass estimation.

Use Cases

• Model allometric relationships between leaf length, width, and weight to estimate shoot biomass.
• Analyze correlations between percent cover and shoot density across different environmental gradients.
• Develop non-destructive biomass estimation models using percent cover and shoot density as predictors.
• Assess spatial variability in eelgrass plant size metrics like leaf length and width within and between beds.

Strengths

• Data collection followed a standardized protocol with 10 sampling stations per eelgrass bed, stations spaced ~10m apart.
• Field sampling was conducted during a defined period (July to August 2022) across a gradient of environmental conditions.
• Measurements include both field observations (cover, density) and precise laboratory measurements (leaf length, width, weight).

Limitations

• The dataset's sample size (number of rows, shoots, or sites) is not specified, limiting assessment of statistical power.
• Spatial coverage is limited to the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, which may not represent other regions.
• Data is from a single sampling season (2022), preventing analysis of temporal trends or interannual variability.

Provenance

Source

Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Collection Method

Field sampling at 10 stations per eelgrass bed using quadrats for photography (percent cover), shoot counting, and shoot collection for laboratory measurement of leaf length, width, and weight.

Time Range

July to August 2022.

Freshness

Data was last updated on the platform in March 2026, though field collection occurred in 2022.

Geography

Field sites along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.