Violet Tunicate Biofouling Monitoring in Newfoundland and Labrador
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Description
Fisheries and Oceans Canada's National Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program provides data on the violet tunicate (Botrylloides violaceus), an aquatic invasive species. The dataset tracks detections in Newfoundland and Labrador harbours, marinas, and coastal areas from 2006 onward, with sampling conducted annually from May to October. It includes information on species presence, location, and survey methodology.
Use Cases
Analyze the spread of violet tunicate detections across harbours like Placentia Bay and Fortune Bay to model invasion pathways.
Correlate detection data with annual survey timing (May to October) and collector deployment methods to assess monitoring effectiveness.
Map the geographic distribution of violet tunicate colonies using location data from public docks, marinas, and nautical clubs.
Strengths
Long-term monitoring program with data collection spanning from 2006 to the present.
Standardized sampling protocols using biofouling collector plates deployed at georeferenced intertidal and shallow subtidal sites.
Enhanced sampling efforts from 2018-2022 supported by the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program in Placentia Bay.
Limitations
The dataset focuses on a single invasive species (violet tunicate) out of seven detected, limiting broader ecological analysis.
Sample data and specific column structure (e.g., abundance metrics, exact coordinates) are unavailable for review.
Geographic scope is limited to the Newfoundland and Labrador region of Canada.
Provenance
Source
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Coastal and Freshwater Ecology, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre.
Collection Method
Annual field surveys using standardized biofouling collector plates deployed from May to October at intertidal and shallow subtidal sites.
Time Range
2006 to present, with specific detections noted from 2007.
Freshness
Data was last updated in March 2024, with program support noted through 2022.
Geography
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, including harbours, marinas, and coastal areas in Placentia Bay, Fortune Bay, Conception Bay, and the west coast.
Data should be cited as: DFO Newfoundland and Labrador Region Aquatic Invasive Species Marine Biofouling Monitoring Program. Published March 2024. Available formats are ESRI REST and CSV.