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Percent cover, species richness, and canopy height data of seagrass communities in Shark Bay, Western Australia, with accompanying abiotic data, from October 2012 to July 2013


At a Glance


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Authors: Michael Heithaus, Robert Nowicki
Time period: 2012-10-20 to 2013-07-14
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1187.4
Dataset id: LT_PP_Heithaus_001

How to cite:
Heithaus, M., R. Nowicki. 2019. Percent cover, species richness, and canopy height data of seagrass communities in Shark Bay, Western Australia, with accompanying abiotic data, from October 2012 to July 2013. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/29ed91e46b4a898129f8b03c3500abbd. Dataset accessed 2024-04-19.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Creator(s)
    • Name: Dr Michael Heithaus 
    • Position: coPI
    • Organization: Florida International University, BBC, MSB 250A
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-5234
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: heithaus@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://www.fiu.edu/~heithaus/

    • Name: Mr Robert Nowicki 
    • Position: Graduate Student
    • Organization: Florida Internatiional University, BBC, MSB 250J
    • Address: 3000 NE 151 St
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-4153
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: rnowi001@fiu.edu

  • Dataset Abstract
    This dataset provides cover, canopy height, and species richness estimates for seagrass communities throughout Shark Bay, as well as ancilliary physical data. These data will be used to determine spatial patterns of seagrass loss and recovery, as well as recovery rates and succisional changes in community composition, if present.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Study Extent Description
    Shark Bay, Western Australia, from Oct 2012 to July 2013

    Bounding Coordinates
    Shark Bay, Western Australia
    N: -24.886, S: -26.663, E: 114.193, W: 113.021

    FCE LTER Sites
    Shark Bay Marine Park

    All Sites
    Geographic Description
    Bounding Coordinates
    Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
    Shallow seagrass banks and channels immediately north of Monkey Mia, Shark Bay
    N: -25.721, S: -25.808, E: 113.796, W: 113.662
  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Percent cover, species richness, and canopy height data of seagrass communities in Shark Bay, Western Australia (FCE), with accompanying abiotic data, from October 2012 to July 2013
      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      date
      Attribute Definition:
      Collection date
      Storage Type:
      datetime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      DOY
      Attribute Label:
      Day of Year
      Attribute Definition:
      Day of Year
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      Day of Year
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      DOY_Radians
      Attribute Label:
      Day of Year in Radians
      Attribute Definition:
      Day of Year in Radians
      Storage Type:
      ordinal
      Measurement Scale:
      Day of Year in Radians
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Season
      Attribute Label:
      Season (Warm, Cool)
      Attribute Definition:
      Season (Warm, Cool)
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Season (Warm, Cool)
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Site
      Attribute Label:
      Site number
      Attribute Definition:
      Site number
      Storage Type:
      code
      Measurement Scale:
      Site number
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Latitude_DD
      Attribute Label:
      Latitude_DD
      Attribute Definition:
      Latitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Latitude
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Longitude_DD
      Attribute Label:
      Longitude_DD
      Attribute Definition:
      Longitude
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Longitude
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      UTMy
      Attribute Label:
      Universal Transvere Mercator (y axis)
      Attribute Definition:
      Universal Transvere Mercator (x axis)
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: UTM
      Precision: 0.00001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      UTMx
      Attribute Label:
      Universal Transvere Mercator (x axis)
      Attribute Definition:
      Universal Transvere Mercator (y axis)
      Storage Type:
      coordinate
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: UTM
      Precision: 0.00001
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Distance_to_Mouth
      Attribute Label:
      Distance to mouth of Shark Bay
      Attribute Definition:
      Distance to mouth of Shark Bay
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: kilometer
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Depth_Corr
      Attribute Label:
      Depth (in feet)
      Attribute Definition:
      Depth (in feet)
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: foot
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      WaterTemp
      Attribute Label:
      WaterTemp
      Attribute Definition:
      water temperature in degrees Celsius
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: celsius
      Precision: 0.1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Salinity
      Attribute Label:
      Salinity
      Attribute Definition:
      water salinity in parts per thousand
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: partsPerThousand
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Substrate
      Attribute Label:
      Kind of sediment substrate
      Attribute Definition:
      Kind of sediment substrate
      Storage Type:
      text
      Measurement Scale:
      Kind of sediment substrate
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Canopy_Ambient
      Attribute Label:
      Height of seagrass canopy, untouched
      Attribute Definition:
      Height of seagrass canopy as it lies, measured at first encounter of canopy
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Canopy_Stretched
      Attribute Label:
      Max length of a stretched seagrass shoot
      Attribute Definition:
      Max length of a stretched seagrass shoot, randomly chosen
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: centimeter
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Amp
      Attribute Label:
      Average of % cover measurements of Amphibolis antarctica
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Amphibolis antarctica
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Cymo
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Cymodocea angustata
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Cymodocea angustata
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Syr
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Syringodium isotefolium
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Syringodium isotefolium
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Oval
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halophila ovalis
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halophila ovalis
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Pos
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Posidonia spp.
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Posidonia spp.
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Hal
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halodule uninervis
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halodule uninervis
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Spin
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halophila spinulosa
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of Halophila spinulosa
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Avg_Algae
      Attribute Label:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of all combined macroalgae
      Attribute Definition:
      Average of 3 % cover measurements of all combined macroalgae
      Storage Type:
      data
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Precision: 1
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999 (Value will never be recorded )


  • Methods
    Sampling Description
    Percent cover data, estimated using a mean of three 60cm x 60 cm quadrats. Once the first quadrat is placed and measured, the quadrat is flipped end over end 3 times and a second reading is taken. This is repeated a third time. The quadrats are flipped towards the bow of the vessel.

    Method Step

    Description
    Percent cover data

    Instrumentation
    Estimation by diver

    Method Step

    Description
    Water temperature at collection site

    Instrumentation
    Ship-based transducer

    Method Step

    Description
    Seagrass canopy height

    Instrumentation
    Measured to the nearest cm with a ruler. Both ambient canopy height and stretched maximum stem length are measured

    Method Step

    Description
    Salinity at collection site

    Instrumentation
    Refractometer

    Method Step

    Description
    Substrate type

    Instrumentation
    Observation and qualitative estimation by diver

    Quality Control
    Data are checked against field notes and datasheets after entry. Data are visually inspected by graduate students and the PI to determine if any values are obviously in error.
  • Distribution and Intellectual Rights
    Online distribution
    https://fcelter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_PP_Heithaus_001.txt
    Data Submission Date:  2014-02-25

    Intellectual Rights
    This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

  • Keywords
    populations, seagrass, species richness, Shark Bay , World Heritage Site, ecological research, long-term monitoring
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Dr Michael 
    • Position: Co- PI
    • Organization: Heithaus
    • Address: FIU, BBC, MSB 250J, 3000 NE 151st Street
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-5234
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: heithaus@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://www2.fiu.edu/~heithaus/

    • Name:  Robert 
    • Position: Graduate Student
    • Organization: Nowicki
    • Address: FIU, BBC, MSB 250J, 3000 NE 151st Street
      North Miami, FL 33181 USA
    • Phone: 305-919-5234
    • Fax: 305-919-4030
    • Email: rnowi001@fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Percent cover, species richness, and canopy height data of seagrass communities in Shark Bay, Western Australia (FCE), with accompanying abiotic data, from October 2012 to July 2013

    Entity Name:
    LT_PP_Heithaus_001.txt
    Entity Description:
    Percent cover, species richness, and canopy height data of seagrass communities in Shark Bay, Western Australia (FCE), with accompanying abiotic data, from October 2012 to July 2013
    Object Name:
    LT_PP_Heithaus_001.txt
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    183