Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration: Larval Recruitment in Mobile Bay (2006-2007)

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Dr. Sean Powers
Publication_Date:
Unpublished material
Title:
Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration: Larval Recruitment in Mobile Bay (2006-2007)
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form:
spreadsheet
Description:
Abstract:
In addition to the multimillion dollar US fishery they support, oyster reefs are a critical component of healthy estuaries fulfilling several key ecological functions. Their unique role as both an exploitable fishery and an essential habitat provides a challenge to conservation and management. Oyster reefs provide habitat for finfish & shellfish. They also stabilize shorelines and remove suspended solids and phytoplankton from the water column. Many commercially important fisheries species are enhanced by the presence of oyster reefs. Their unique role as both an exploitable fishery and an essential habitat provides a challenge to conservation and management of oyster reefs. In 2002, the University of South Alabama initiated a multi-disciplinary, multi-year program to enhance and restore oyster habitat in Alabama coastal waters. The Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Program, funded by the National Marine Fisheries Service through congressional appropriation in 2002 and 2003, is designed to build upon previous and current oyster reef restoration/enhancement efforts within the State of Alabama. Although some areas of Mobile Bay (e.g., Cedar Point) still support oyster reefs of varying sizes, from a few square meters to tens of acres, overall coverage of oyster reefs in Mobile Bay has decreased over the last century. Numerous factors, many of which are of anthropogenic origin (e.g., destructive harvesting practices, poor water quality, and shrimp trawling), have contributed to this decline. As a result of these and other stressors, many historically productive areas for oysters (e.g., Bon Secour, Fish River) currently have few live oyster reefs present.
Purpose:
The three principle objectives of the Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Program are (1) to develop the scientific understanding necessary to direct current and future oyster restoration and enhancement in Alabama coastal waters, (2) to assist in the development of a long-term strategy for sustained productivity of Alabama�s oyster resources and the associated ecological benefits that accrue from healthy oyster-based habitat, and (3) to provide this information to state and federal management agencies, the fishing industry and the general public through outreach activities. To address these objectives, the Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Program has three major components: (1) large-scale reef creation activities performed in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Conservation, (2) targeted research projects performed by individual University of South Alabama researchers and (3) public outreach and communication.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date:
200605
Ending_Date:
200711
Currentness_Reference:
ground condition
Status:
Progress:
In work
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:
As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate:
-88.3258
East_Bounding_Coordinate:
-87.8290
North_Bounding_Coordinate:
30.4783
South_Bounding_Coordinate:
30.2378
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Theme_Keyword:
oyster reef
Theme_Keyword:
oyster
Theme_Keyword:
oyster spat
Theme_Keyword:
habitat
Theme_Keyword:
fishery
Theme_Keyword:
bryozoans
Theme_Keyword:
barnacles
Theme_Keyword:
mussel
Theme_Keyword:
crepidula
Theme_Keyword:
clam
Theme_Keyword:
recruitment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
ISO Topic Category Code
Theme_Keyword:
biota
Theme_Keyword:
002
Theme_Keyword:
environment
Theme_Keyword:
007
Theme_Keyword:
oceans
Theme_Keyword:
014
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Place_Keyword:
Mobile Bay
Place_Keyword:
Dauphin Island
Place_Keyword:
Alabama
Place_Keyword:
Bon Secour Bay
Place_Keyword:
Cedar Point
Place_Keyword:
Sand Reef
Place_Keyword:
Fish River
Place_Keyword:
Shell Bank Reef
Access_Constraints:
Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Sean Powers of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
Use_Constraints:
Acknowledgment of the DISL: Fisheries Lab, the University of South Alabama and the National Marine Fisheries Service would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person:
Sean Powers
Contact_Organization:
DISL: Fisheries Lab
Contact_Position:
Principal Investigator
Contact_Address:
Address_Type:
mailing and physical
Address:
101 Bienville Blvd.
City:
Dauphin Island
State_or_Province:
Al
Postal_Code:
36528
Country:
USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone:
251-861-2141 ext. 2384 or 2265
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
spowers@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email Dr. Sean Powers for further information.
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Excel
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Data_Quality_Information:
Logical_Consistency_Report:
not applicable
Completeness_Report:
Data was gathered from 200605 to 200711.
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
General Sampling Protocol Six 12 x12cm settlement tiles were placed upon each two tiered mooring at 18 different sites throughout Mobile Bay and Eastern Mississippi Sound. On occasion, 12 settlement tiles (six facing up and six facing down) were deployed to survey settlement on downward facing tiles. Tiles were collected and replaced every three weeks when possible from May through November in 2006 and 2007. A CTD was deployed at each site to collect environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and percent oxygen saturation. A YSI was used for collecting environmental parameters when it was not possible to use a CTD. YSI readings were taken at the surface, one meter, and two meters below surface. Processing of collected tiles included counting settled oyster spat, barnacles, bryozoans, mussels, slipper shells, and clams, as well as any other type of bivalve using a dissecting microscope. Oyster spat counts were made on both the front (facing the water column) and back (facing the mooring plate) of each tile. For all other organisms only the front of each tile was counted. The biomass of organisms was determined by scraping and weighing material from each side of the tile. Mooring Specifics The mooring base was constructed by U-bolting 1¼ inch pvc pipe in X fashion to the bottom of a five gallon bucket. A ¾ x 18 inch galvanized steel pipe with rebar (inserted through drilled holes in X fashion) was cemented into the bucket with approximately 60 lbs of Quickrete®. The two tiered mooring heads were constructed from two 14 x ½ inch polyvinyl discs secured 8 inches apart with ¾ inch galvanized steel piping (including galvanized malleable couplings and nipples). Two 3/32 inch coated galvanized cables were threaded through the topmost predrilled galvanized coupling and crimped in loops using stainless steel Nicopress™ cable sleeves. The mooring head was threaded onto the pipe cemented into the mooring base. Settlement tiles consisted of 12 x 12 cm squares cut from ¼ inch HardieBacker™ cement board. A hole was drilled through each of the four corners. Cable ties were used to secure six (sometimes 12) tiles to the mooring head. The total mooring weight was approximately 80 lbs. A float line consisting of two 6 inch floats, a Dauphin Island Sea Lab identification tag, and a length of ½ inch polydactyl rope was attached to the cable loops on the mooring head. Rope length was determined by the depth of each sampling site. Moorings were deployed and retrieved from a 21 foot skiff using a davit arm with a winch and an open pulley block.
Process_Date:
Not complete
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person:
Sean Powers
Contact_Organization:
DISL: Fisheries Lab
Contact_Position:
Principal Investigator
Contact_Address:
Address_Type:
mailing and physical
Address:
101 Bienville Blvd.
City:
Dauphin Island
State_or_Province:
Al
Postal_Code:
36528
Country:
USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone:
251-861-2141 ext. 2384 or 2265
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
spowers@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email Dr. Sean Powers for further information.
Cloud_Cover:
Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Microsoft Excel table cataloging oyster, barnacle, mussel, bryozoan, and crepidula settlement on experimental sites. Another Excel table was used to catalog CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) data.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Data sets contain the following information: Maximum temperature (C), Minimum temperature (C), Average temperature (C), Maximum salinity (PSU), Minimum salinity (PSU), Average salinity (PSU), Maximum dissolved oxygen(mg/L), Minimum dissolved oxygen(mg/L), Average dissolved oxygen(mg/L), Maximum dissolved oxygen(% saturation), Minimum dissolved oxygen(% saturation), Average dissolved oxygen(% saturation), Cruise #, Year of Collection, Month/Year of Collection, Month of Collection, Date of Collection, Days Deployed, Region, Station #, Plate Position, Replicate, Tier Side, Biomass (g) (Front), Biomass (g) (Back), Oysters Counted (Front), Oyster Subdivision (Front), Oysters Counted (Back), Oyster Subdivision (Back), Bryozoans Counted, Bryozoans Subdivision, Barnacles Counted, Barnacle Subdivision, Mussels Counted, Mussel Subdivision, Crepidula Counted, Crepidula Subdivision, Clam Counted, Clam Subdivision, Oysters/m2/Day (Front), Oysters/m2/Day (Back), Oysters/m2/Day (Total), Bryozoans/m2/Day, Barnacles/m2/Day, Mussels/m2/Day, Crepidula/m2/Day, Clams/m2/Day, Comments
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person:
Sean Powers
Contact_Organization:
DISL: Fisheries Lab
Contact_Position:
Principal Investigator
Contact_Address:
Address_Type:
mailing and physical
Address:
101 Bienville Blvd.
City:
Dauphin Island
State_or_Province:
Al
Postal_Code:
36528
Country:
USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone:
251-861-2141 ext. 2384 or 2265
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
spowers@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email Dr. Sean Powers for further information.
Distribution_Liability:
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Fisheries Lab makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. The DISL: Fisheries Lab cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date:
20090209
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Contact_Person:
Data Management Specialist
Contact_Position:
Data Management Specialist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type:
mailing and physical
Address:
101 Bienville Blvd.
City:
Dauphin Island
State_or_Province:
Al
Postal_Code:
36528
Country:
USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone:
251-861-2141
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
metadata@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email the metadata specialist for further information.
Metadata_Standard_Name:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version:
FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Access_Constraints:
none
Metadata_Use_Constraints:
none
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