Deep Sea Coral National Observation Database, Northeast Region

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch, and Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS), Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, 20120619, Deep Sea Coral National Observation Database, Northeast Region: NOAA's Ocean Service (NOS), National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Silver Spring, MD.

   Online Links:

   • https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/deep-sea-coral-habitat
   • http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/projects/detail?key=80

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, Unpublished material, National Geodatabase of Deep Sea Coral Observations.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -76.077800

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -60.511400

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 44.433000

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.500000

3. What does it look like?
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 21-Jun-2012

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Entity point (1940)
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is WGS84.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
      

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

      Depth_System_Definition:

      Depth_Datum_Name: No correction

      Depth_Resolution: 0.1

      Depth_Distance_Units: meters

      Depth_Encoding_Method: Attribute values

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Deep Sea Coral Observation

   Deep Sea Coral Observation (Source: DSCRTP)

   RECORD_NO

   Arbitrary and unique record number of the sample or observation, assigned for this database by DSCRTP (Source: DSCRTP)

   Value	Definition
   Record Number	ID #

   SAMPLE_ID

   Original ID of the sample or observation, if known (e.g, catalog nember for museum specimen). The text "unknown" is entered if the sample ID isn't known. (Source: DSCRTP) Sample codes-undefined

   CITATION1

   Primary citation for the sample or observation. If unpublished, List name of Lead Scientist (Source: DSCRTP) Citation information

   CITATION2

   Secondary citation for the sample. If a secondary citation was not used the text "n/a" is entered. (Source: DSCRTP) citation information

   DEPTHMIN_M

   Minimum water depth in meters from which the sample was collected or observed, as reported in citation. The value -9999 is entered when depth is not reported. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-7000
   Maximum:	0
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	0.1

   DEPTHMAX_M

   Maximum water depth in meters from which the sample was collected or observed, as reported in citation. The value -9999 is entered when depth is not reported. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-7000
   Maximum:	0
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	0.1

   COLLECT_D

   Day of the month on which the sample or observation was collected. The number 0 is entered if the day is not known. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	31
   Units:	days of the month
   Resolution:	1.0

   COLLECT_M

   Month in which the sample or observation was collected. The number 0 is entered if the day is not known. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	12
   Units:	months of the year
   Resolution:	1.0

   COLLECT_Y

   Year in which the sample or observation was collected. The number 0 is entered if the day is not known. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Value	Definition
   year	year

   COLLECTION

   Method(s) of collection. The text "unknown" is entered if the method is not known. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   REPOSITORY

   Location where the sample or record is stored. The text "unknown" is entered if the location is not given in the citation. (Source: DSCRTP) Repository is an undefined string

   Longitude

   Longitude in decimal degrees in WGS1984 where the sample or observation was collected. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-180
   Maximum:	180
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.000001

   LATITUDE

   Latitude in decimal degrees in WGS1984 where the sample or observation was collected. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	90
   Units:	decimal degrees
   Resolution:	0.000001

   PHYLUM

   Taxonomic Phylum of the organism sampled or observed. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   CLASS

   Taxonomic Class of the organism sampled or observed. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SUBCLASS

   Taxonomic Subclass of the organism sampled or observed. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   ORDER_

   Taxonomic Order of the organism sampled or observed. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SUBORDER

   Taxonomic Suborder of the sample. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   FAMILY

   Taxonomic Family of the organism sampled or observed. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SUBFAMILY

   Taxonomic Subfamily of the sample. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   GENUS

   Taxonomic Genus of the sample. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not identified to genus. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SPECIES

   Taxonomic species of the sample. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not identified to species. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SUBSPECIES

   Taxonomic Subspecies of the sample. The text "n/a" is entered if this taxon is not relevant for the sample. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SPECIESCOM

   Comments and other info about the taxonomy of the species of the sampled or observed organism. The text "none" is entered if no comments are necessary. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   SYNONYMS

   Other scientific names used for this species. The text "n/a" is entered if there are no other names used. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   AUTHORITY

   Taxonomist who originally defined and named the species. The text "n/a" is entered if the sample has not been identified to species level. The entry is enclosed in parentheses if the species name has been changed since it was first described. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   COMN_NAMES

   Common names of the sample/observed species. The text "n/a" is entered if there are no common names known. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   ID_BY

   Person who identified the species of the sample or observation. The text "unknown" is entered if the person is not identified in the citation. (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   BEGIN_LONG

   Beginning longitude for trawl surveys (Source: DSCRTP)

   Value	Definition
   longitude	longitude

   END_LONG

   Ending longitude for trawl surveys (Source: DSCRTP)

   Value	Definition
   longitude	Longitude

   BEGIN_LAT

   Beginning latitude for trawl surveys (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	90
   Units:	decimal degrees

   END_LAT

   Ending latitude for trawl surveys (Source: DSCRTP)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	90
   Units:	decimal degrees

   AUTHORS

   AUTHORS (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   Year

   Year of publication for citation 1 (Source: DSCRTP)

   Value	Definition
   year	year

   Title

   Title of citation 1 (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   Jorurnal

   Journal in which citation 1 was published (Source: DSCRTP) undefined string

   RECORD_TYPE

   The type of record is entered (e.g., specimen, video, photo, observation, etc.) The text "unknown" is entered if the method is not known. (Source: DSCRTP)

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	record type
   Codeset Source:	DSCRTP

   BINOMEN

   BINOMEN (Source: science)

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	scientific names
   Codeset Source:	ITIS

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Observation records of deep sea corals and associated information.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: see Attachment G: Geodatabase Revised Fields.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch
   • Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS), Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP)

   1305 East West Highway, SSMC4

   Silver Spring, MD
   

   USA

   301-713-3028 (voice)

Why was the data set created?

The National Database of Deep Sea Coral Observations has been developed to serve the needs of natural resource managers, scientific researchers, and the public.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   USGS CoWCoG 2010 (source 1 of 8)

   USGS, 2010, USGS Cold-Water Coral Geodatabase v1.0.

   Other_Citation_Details: Scanlon, Waller, et al, 2010

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital database file

   Source_Contribution:

   Cold-Water Coral Geographic Database-deep sea coral observation records

   Watling et al (source 2 of 8)

   National Undersea Research Center, University of Connecticut, 2003, A Geographic Database of Deepwater Alcyonaceans of the Northeastern US Continental Shelf and Slope.

   Other_Citation_Details: Watling, Auster et al, 2003

   Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   NMNH (source 3 of 8)

   National Museum of Natural History, Unpublished material, Database of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum.

   Online Links:

   • http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   Yale Peabody (source 4 of 8)

   Museum, Yale Peabody, Unpublished material, Online records of deep sea coral observations.

   Online Links:

   • http://peabody.yale.edu/collections/search-collections

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   Theroux Wigley 1998 (source 5 of 8)

   NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 1998, Quantitative Composition and Distribution of the Macrobenthic Invertebrate Fauna of the Continental Shelf Ecosystems of the Northeastern United States: NOAA Technical Report NMFS NMFS 140.

   Online Links:

   • http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/classics/theroux1998/1-50.pdf

   Type_of_Source_Media: electronic mail system

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   NOAA NEFSC (source 6 of 8)

   NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Unpublished material, Benthic Ecology Database.

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   Hecker et al 1980 (source 7 of 8)

   Bureau of Land Management, 1980, Epifaunal Zonation and Community Structure in the Mid- and North Atlantic Canyons - Final Report for the Canyon Assessment Study in the Mid- and North Atlantic areas of the US Outer Continental Shelf.

   Other_Citation_Details: Hecker, Blechschmidt, Gibson, 1980

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

   NURC, UConn (source 8 of 8)

   National Undersea Research Center, University of Connecticut, Unknown, DSCRTP data mining exercise.

   Type_of_Source_Media: electronic mail system

   Source_Contribution: deep sea coral observation records

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 21-Jun-2012 (process 1 of 1)

   combined all databases into a single consistent format bases on USGS CoWCoG Person who carried out this activity:
   

   NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service- Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP)

   1305 East-West Highway, SSMC4 Rm 3216

   Silver Spring, MD
   

   301-713-3028 x112 (voice)

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   unconfirmed records of observations from historical sources
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   none
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   none
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Observations record only where surveys have been conducted. Absence of an observation should not be interpreted as absence of corals.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   These records were obtained from historical sources and are not confirmed or validated

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None. Data set not yet available online.

Use_Constraints: None

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP)

   1305 East West Highway, SSMC4

   Silver Spring, MD
   

   USA

   301-713-3028 (voice)
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   These data were prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	zip file
     Network links:	https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0128996

   • Cost to order the data: no charge

5. Is there some other way to get the data?

   Contact Distributor for instructions on how to acquire dataset.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 29-Mar-2020

Metadata author:

Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA), Biogeography Branch

1305 East West Highway, SSMC4

Silver Spring, MD

USA

301-713-3028 (voice)

Metadata standard:

FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)