Eelgrass Condition and Heavy Metal Contamination in Goldboro, Nova Scotia

A 2020 pre-impact assessment surveyed 169 stations along approximately 40 km of coastline in Nova Scotia. The study mapped eelgrass beds, collected sediment and plant tissue samples, and analyzed them for heavy metal contamination and plant health metrics. It was conducted by researchers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to inform the assessment of a proposed LNG terminal construction.

Use Cases

• Model eelgrass distribution using presence/absence data from 169 surveyed stations to inform marine spatial planning.
• Analyze correlations between heavy metal contamination levels in sediment samples and contamination found in eelgrass rhizomes and leaves.
• Assess eelgrass plant condition by examining morphological and physiological metrics like carbohydrate reserves.
• Identify stations with high arsenic and mercury contamination in sediments to evaluate risks to benthic habitat.

Strengths

• Data collection covers 169 distinct sampling stations, providing a detailed spatial snapshot.
• Surveys span approximately 40 kilometers of coastline, offering regional context.
• Analysis includes multiple data types: sediment grain size, organic matter, heavy metals, and plant morphometrics.

Limitations

• The dataset represents a single pre-impact snapshot from 2020, lacking temporal comparisons or post-construction data.
• Sample size for specific analyses, such as plant tissue contamination, is not specified and may be limited per station.
• Geographic focus is restricted to the Goldboro region, limiting generalizability to other coastal areas.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystems Science Division.

Collection Method

Field surveys using underwater video mapping, sediment sampling, and eelplant collection with laboratory analysis.

Time Range

2020.

Freshness

Data was collected in 2020 and published in 2023; the record was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Coastal region from Wine Harbour to New Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, focusing on Isaacs Harbour near Goldboro.