Fish and Decapod Abundance in Nova Scotia Eelgrass Beds

Surveys from 2013 and 2014 sampled nekton assemblages in Zostera marina eelgrass beds and adjacent bare sediments on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Data includes species-specific densities, calibrated for sampling gear and diel differences, derived from visual snorkel transects and benthic beam trawl samples. The dataset was published by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in April 2020.

Use Cases

• Model species-specific density relationships between eelgrass beds and bare sediment habitats using calibrated abundance data.
• Analyze nekton assemblage composition across multiple sampling sites on the south and eastern shores of Nova Scotia.
• Compare fish and decapod observations from visual snorkel transects with those from benthic beam trawl samples to assess gear bias.

Strengths

• Data is calibrated for sampling equipment and day/night differences, improving comparability.
• Surveys were conducted across multiple sampling sites in Nova Scotia during two summer seasons (2013, 2014).
• Includes data from two distinct sampling methods: visual snorkel transects and benthic beam trawls.

Limitations

• The specific number of rows, columns, and total observations is not provided in the input.
• Data is limited to summer months (mid-July to August) and may not represent seasonal dynamics.
• Geographic scope is restricted to the south and eastern shores of Nova Scotia, Canada.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal Ecosystems Science Division.

Collection Method

Sampling via visual snorkel transects and benthic beam trawl; abundances transformed into young-of-year equivalent density.

Time Range

Summer seasons of 2013 and 2014.

Freshness

The dataset metadata was last updated in March 2026, though the underlying surveys are from 2013-2014.

Geography

Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, specifically the south and eastern shore.