Soft-shell Clam and Siphon Hole Measurements from the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers tested a non-destructive method for assessing clam populations by correlating siphon hole observations with actual clam presence, number, and size. Data includes clam abundance, biomass, size, and corresponding siphon hole metrics alongside environmental parameters like sediment grain size and seawater temperature. The dataset was collected at four sites in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and was validated by multiple researchers prior to publication.

Use Cases

• Predicting clam presence and abundance based on siphon hole characteristics mentioned in the description
• Modeling the relationship between clam size/biomass and siphon hole measurements
• Analyzing how sediment properties like grain size and organic content influence clam populations
• Developing efficient, non-destructive population assessment tools for fisheries management

Strengths

• Data validated by three named researchers prior to publication, indicating a quality control process
• Includes 10 distinct parameters such as clam size, biomass, and sediment organic content
• Collected at four specific field sites in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, providing geographic context

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• The method was effective in most, but not all, sites, indicating potential habitat-specific limitations

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Pêches et Océans Canada

Collection Method

Field sampling involving visual identification, counting, weighing, and measuring of clams and siphon holes, alongside sediment core and seawater temperature analysis.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-24 20:30:55.540375; freshness should be verified

Geography

Four sites in the Gulf of St. Lawrence: Maisonnette and Kouchibouguac in New Brunswick; Shemogue in New Brunswick; Powell's Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada.