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1,548 results for “Virginia”
Oyster and associated fauna counts and lengths from restored and reference reefs in the coastal bays of Virginia, 2005-2019
This dataset has been superceded by Lusk, B., R. Smith, and M.C.N. Castorani. 2024. Oyster fauna lengths, counts, and biomass from restored and reference reefs in Virginia coastal bays, 2005-2023 ver 1. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/d68de69f29cee5f737313a07f813f245 (Accessed 2024-02-22). which includes additional years and parameters. Oyster and associated reef fauna counts and lengths were sampled at 16 natural reference reefs and 61 restored shell plant reefs located at 18 sites in the Virginia Coast Reserve. Overfishing and disease decimated oyster reefs in the Virginia Coast Reserve in the 1900s. Reference reefs were defined as remnant reefs that naturally recovered in the early 2000s to develop the pronounced vertical structure and multiple oyster size classes that represent the desired endpoint of restoration efforts. Nearly every year since 2003, The Nature Conservancy and Virginia Marine Resource Commission have constructed oyster reefs in intertidal areas in the VCR. To construct the restored reefs, practitioners applied dredged, fossilized oyster shell to intertidal locations chosen for their bottom stability and accessibility (locations lacked oysters prior to construction). Whelk shell supplemented the oyster shell at 9 of the restored reefs.
Forest Transition Experiment - Soil Pore Water Salinity in a Coastal Virginia Forest
A pore water sipper was be used to collect a pore water sample from the top 15 cm of the soil, and was read using a portable refractometer in the field.
Forest Transition Experiment - Vegetation Monitoring on a Coastal Virginia Forest, 2019-2023
This dataset contains data on vegetation (shrubs, trees, non-woody vegetation, seedlings and Phragmites occurrence in permanent plots at the Brownsville Forest near Nassawadox, VA.
Camera detections of small mammals on the coast of Virginia, 2020-2023
Specially-designed "mousecam" cameras were used to detect and identify small mammals at locations on the coast of Virginia. This dataset contains information on the images, the species observed and the date, time and location of observation. A second table contains information on the identity of the specific camera used and its location. This dataset includes a limited number of miscellaneous images from locations on the mainland as well.
Abundance and Size of Seagrass-Associated Fishes in the Virginia Coastal Lagoons, 2019-2024
These data comprise annual summer estimates of the abundance (counts) and size (length) of fishes across restored seagrass meadows of the Virginia coastal lagoons. Fish were collected using a 25-ft (7.62-m) wide beach seine hauled by hand over a 25 m linear swath of the seafloor. Seine hauls were collected in June at 31 sites (1 haul per site). All fish caught in the seine were identified to lowest practical taxonomic level, counted, measured (total length), and released. Data collection began in June 2019 and continues annually (sampling was not carried out in 2020 due to logistical interruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic). Data on water temperature, salinity, and conductivity were collected while sampling occurred using a YSI 30 probe. Dissolved oxygen measurements were collected using a YSI ProODO probe. In 2019, these data were collected on at the top and bottom of the water column, but in 2021 and subsequent sampling only one observation (mid-water column) was made. To reconcile this difference for the combined data set, top and bottom environmental measurements from 2019 were averaged. Each fish collection site is co-located with a nearby synoptic site where long-term measurements of seagrass, sediments, and fauna are made. The relationship between site names and coordinates are given in Synoptic_fish_sites.csv. The sites where fish sampling occurred are different and are given by the "fish_sites" column, with coordinates for these sites under the "fish_longitude" and "fish_latitude" columns. Importantly, the coordinates of where sampling occurred will differ slightly between years without a change to the name of the site. Site geographic coordinates for individual years are in the PhysicalSamples.csv file. Sites are separated by at least 300 meters. In 2023, three new sites were added to represent unvegetated areas outside of but near the seagrass meadows. These sites are HI29, SPDR-bare, and SS-bare, and are designed to serve as references for se
Abundance, biomass, and length of seagrass-associated invertebrates in the Virginia coastal lagoons, 2019-2023
These data comprise annual summer estimates of the abundance (counts), biomass (dry mass), and individual lengths of infaunal and epifaunal invertebrates across restored seagrass meadows (eelgrass Zostera marina) of the coastal lagoons of Virginia, USA. Infauna were collected during low tide by hand using cylindrical benthic cores. Epifauna were collected during low tide using cubic weighted throw traps that were sampled with dip nets. Incidentally captured fishes are included in these data. In 2019-2022, 50 sites were sampled, using 3 replicates per sampling method per site. Beginning with 2023 sampling, two additional sites were added that are consistently bare of seagrass (unvegetated seafloor). At sites with patchy areas of seagrass and bare substrate, cores were collected within seagrass only and thus represent seagrass-associated fauna at those sites, rather than a spatially haphazard sample. At the few sites that lack seagrass, cores were collected in bare substrate. All cores were separated by 25 m. Regardless of substrate and seagrass conditions, throw traps were deployed haphazardly and separated by at least 10 m. In the laboratory, invertebrates were first sorted to broad taxonomic groups and later identified to lowest practical taxonomic level and enumerated. Most taxonomic groups were either dried and weighed by taxon or measured as individual length by specimen. Existing data include one table with counts and weights for broad taxonomic groups (2019-2023) and three tables related to lowest practical taxonomic identification (2019-2020), including one for counts and biomass, one for individual lengths, and one for taxonomic information. Data collection began in July 2019 and continues annually in June-July.
Comparison of high-marsh and ghost-forest invertebrates in Virginia, 2020
This dataset includes data on two invertebrates (Orchestia grillus and Pardosa littoralis) found in a coastal marsh in Virginia, and in the associated "ghost forest." It includes information on the locations (Table 1); information on the composition of the habitat where they were found (Table 2); plant biomass, including detritus (Table 3); size of invertebrates (Table 4); Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur stable isotope levels in invertebrate tissues and food plants (Table 5); and macroinfauna (Table 6).
Barrier Island Plant and Soil Properties on Hog and Metompkin Islands, Virginia, 2021-2022
Dune building has the potential to impact the entire barrier island ecosystem, and these grasses therefore serve as ecosystem engineers. Protection offered by dune ridges directly impacts the adjacent swale habitat, modifying both biotic and abiotic factors. In order to better understand how dune building impacts the island ecosystem as a whole, we quantified sediment accretion, plant percent cover, stem numbers, and soil characteristics (chlorides, bulk density, %OM, %C, %N). These characteristics were assessed on two islands with varied disturbance intensities. Hog island is infrequently disturbed, and resists change driven by storms and overwash. Metompkin island is frequently disturbed and undergoes high rates of overwash and island migration.
Migratory shorebird habitat use, diet, and prey selection on mudflats in the Virginia barrier island and lagoon system, 2023-2024
Migratory shorebirds require access to heterogenous resources during migration. Understanding how shorebirds utilize different foraging substrates and food resources across the coastal landscape is important for informing conservation. We compared shorebird habitat use and invertebrate prey communities between barrier island and mudflat foraging substrates. We counted shorebirds and collected prey samples at random points on sand, peat, and mudflat substrates during spring migration (May 14 - June 2), 2023 - 2024. We opportunistically collected fecal samples on mudflats in our study area and used fecal DNA metabarcoding with 18S (invertebrates) and 23S (biofilm) primers to describe the diets of dunlin (Calidris alpina), red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) and semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla). We then used network null modeling to determine if our focal species were selectively consuming invertebrates on mudflats. Peat banks were the most heavily used intertidal substrate and mudflats supported similar shorebird abundances and species richness to sand. Dunlin and semipalmated sandpipers were more abundant on peat and mudflats, while red knots were more abundant on sand and peat. Invertebrate density was highest on peat banks and similar between mudflat and sand substrate, though mudflats supported a more diverse prey community. Amphipod crustaceans, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), and polychaete worms were main prey consumed by all species on mudflats. Dunlin and semipalmated sandpipers fed primarily on crustaceans whereas red knots mainly fed on bivalves. All species consumed biofilm and a high proportion of diatoms were observed in fecal samples collected from semipalmated sandpipers. Red knots and dunlin selectively consumed bivalves on mudflats while semipalmated sandpipers showed no dietary preferences. Managing staging sites to preserve a diversity of intertidal habitats is critical for meeting the variable foraging requirements of migratory shorebirds.
Red knot occurrence, prey density, island morphology, and climate change in the Virginia Barrier Islands (2009-2023)
Global climate change is reshaping dynamic coastal ecosystems, with uncertain consequences for migratory shorebirds such as the federally threatened red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) that rely on coastal staging sites during migration. Understanding how sea-level rise and changing climate drivers affect red knot foraging ecology is critical for informing conservation and management at coastal staging sites. We integrated long-term biological, geomorphological, and climatological data to examine the direct and indirect pathways influencing red knots and their prey at intertidal foraging sites on the Virginia Barrier Islands during spring migration (May 21 - 28, 2009-2023). Using piecewise structural equation modeling, we tested hypothesized two causal networks linking 1) red knot occurrence and 2) densities of their main invertebrate prey to habitat characteristics, island morphology, geomorphic change, and climate drivers of ecosystem change. Red knots were indirectly affected by geomorphic change and climate drivers through bottom-up effects on invertebrate communities mediated by island morphology. Accelerated shoreline change narrowed islands, reducing invertebrate density and richness and indirectly decreasing red knot occurrence. Storms interacted with global climate oscillations to drive erosion or accretion of beaches, with variable effects on invertebrate density and red knot occurrence. Invertebrate responses were taxon-specific: shoreline change directly increased blue mussel density but indirectly reduced coquina clam and crustacean densities by narrowing island width, while storms impacts on crustacean density were mediated by beach width. Our findings suggest that accelerated ecosystem change under future climate scenarios may alter foraging conditions for red knots and other migratory shorebirds in the Virginia Barrier Islands, with broader implications for long-term population resilience.
Testing of a benthic incubation chamber design in a Virginia coastal bay, 2023, 2024, and 2025
Benthic incubation chambers enclose a known volume of water overlying a known area to measure water chemistry changes and are typically used to quantify the metabolic activity of benthic organisms or communities. Here, we report data from a series of tests validating a new benthic incubation chamber design. This data includes dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and temperatures recorded during three test deployments in South Bay, Virginia during August 2023 (T1_chamber_do_test_data), as well as data from light transmission tests. Light transmission tests included per wavelength transmission of PAR and ultraviolet radiation through the chamber wall (T2_wall_transmission_test) and lid (T3_lid_transmission_test), an in-situ PAR transmission comparison for two different sensor arrangements (side-mounted versus top-mounted) during July 2025 (T4_sensor_shading_test), and an in-situ comparison of natural ambient PAR versus PAR translated through a deployed chamber during March 2024 (T5_in_situ_light_test).
Brownsville and Hog Island Surficial Well Data at the Virginia Coast Reserve 1990-2015
Data consist of conductivity, salinity, depth of measurement, depth of water table, temperature for each of 15 sites.
Annual precipitation for the Virginia Coast Reserve 1837-2021
The long-term record of annual precipitation begins in 1837, the first year of systematic recording of precipitation amounts at Fort Monroe, Hampton Roads, VA. This remarkable record continued until 1985. Subsequent to 1985, precipitation records come from the NOAA meteorological station at the Norfolk International Airport.
Crustacean and rotifer density and biomass for Beaverdam Reservoir, Falling Creek Reservoir, Carvins Cove Reservoir, Gatewood Reservoir, and Spring Hollow Reservoir in southwestern Virginia, USA 2014-2025
Crustacean and rotifer density and biomass were measured from 2014 to 2025 in five drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Virginia, USA. These reservoirs are: Beaverdam Reservoir (Vinton, Virginia), Falling Creek Reservoir (Vinton, Virginia), Carvins Cove Reservoir (Roanoke, Virginia), Gatewood Reservoir (Pulaski, Virginia), and Spring Hollow Reservoir (Salem, Virginia). Beaverdam, Falling Creek, Carvins Cove, and Spring Hollow Reservoirs are owned and operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority as primary or secondary drinking water sources for Roanoke, Virginia, and Gatewood Reservoir is a drinking water source for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia. The dataset consists of integrated vertical tow samples from the whole water column, just the epilimnion, and just the hypolimnion (as the difference between the full water column and epilimnion tows), as well as discrete depth measurements collected with a Schindler trap. Most samples were collected at the deepest site of each reservoir adjacent to the dam. Sampling frequency and duration varied among reservoirs and years and included weekly to monthly routine monitoring as well as intensive 24-hour sampling campaigns. In 2014-2016, zooplankton samples were collected approximately fortnightly in the spring, summer, and autumn months at Beaverdam Reservoir, Carvins Cove Reservoir, and Gatewood Reservoirs. Falling Creek Reservoir samples were collected weekly to monthly in spring and summer 2014, and Spring Hollow Reservoir samples were collected approximately fortnightly in the spring, summer, and autumn months of 2015 and 2016. In 2019, zooplankton samples were collected approximately weekly to monthly from April to November at Beaverdam Reservoir and April to September at Falling Creek Reservoir. In 2020, zooplankton samples were collected approximately weekly to monthly from May to December at Beaverdam Reservoir and June to September at Falling Creek Reservoir. In 2021, zooplankton were collected monthly from M
Water chemistry time series for Beaverdam Reservoir, Carvins Cove Reservoir, Falling Creek Reservoir, Gatewood Reservoir, and Spring Hollow Reservoir in southwestern Virginia, USA 2013-2024
Depth profiles of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon and total and dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus were sampled from 2013-2024 in five drinking water reservoirs in southwestern Virginia, USA. The five drinking water reservoirs are: Beaverdam Reservoir (Vinton, Virginia), Carvins Cove Reservoir (Roanoke, Virginia), Falling Creek Reservoir (Vinton, Virginia), Gatewood Reservoir (Pulaski, Virginia), and Spring Hollow Reservoir (Salem, Virginia). Beaverdam, Carvins Cove, Falling Creek, and Spring Hollow Reservoirs are owned and operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority as primary or secondary drinking water sources for Roanoke, Virginia, and Gatewood Reservoir is a drinking water source for the town of Pulaski, Virginia. The dataset consists of depth profiles of water chemistry samples measured at the deepest site of each reservoir adjacent to the dam. Additional water chemistry samples were collected at a gauged weir on Falling Creek Reservoir's primary inflow tributary, as well as multiple upstream, inflow, and outflow sites at Falling Creek Reservoir 2014-2024 and Beaverdam Reservoir in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Inflow sites at Carvins Cove Reservoir were sampled from 2020-2024, and additional within-reservoir sites were sampled in 2021-2024. The water column samples at Falling Creek Reservoir and Beaverdam Reservoir were collected approximately fortnightly from March-April, weekly from May-October, and monthly from November-February. Water column samples at Carvins Cove Reservoir were collected approximately fortnightly from May-August in most years, and approximately fortnightly from 2014-2016 in Gatewood and Spring Hollow Reservoirs, though sampling frequency and duration varied among reservoirs and years. A few additional samples collected in 2025 from Falling Creek Reservoir and Carvins Cove Reservoir are included in this dataset as they were analyzed with 2024 samples.
Time series of total metal and nutrient loads into Falling Creek Reservoir in southwestern Virginia, USA from 2019-2024
Metal and nutrient loads were calculated from 2019-2024 from the inflow stream to Falling Creek Reservoir (FCR), a drinking water reservoir located in Vinton, Virginia, USA. The reservoir is owned and operated by the Western Virginia Water Authority and is managed as a secondary drinking-water source for the city of Roanoke, VA. Only Fe, Mn, and nutrients (TN and TP) were analyzed and calculated in 2019. The full suite of metals (Li, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Sr, Ba) and nutrients were analyzed from 2020-2024. The loads that were collected using an ISCO automated sampler located at the main inflow tributary to FCR. Sampling frequency was approximately fortnightly from spring to fall (March - November). Load calculations were performed using the calculated cumulative flow over the sampling period from the ISCO and the analyzed total metal and nutrient concentrations. Please note we are publishing this data package before the nutrient samples have been analyzed, but will be included in later versions.
Dune Biomass on Hog Island, Virginia Coastal Barrier Islands, 1993-2012 (Reformatted to the ecocomDP Design Pattern)
This data package is formatted as an ecocomDP (Ecological Community Data Pattern). For more information on ecocomDP see https://github.com/EDIorg/ecocomDP. This Level 1 data package was derived from the Level 0 data package found here: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/metadata/eml/knb-lter-vcr/70/25. The abstract below was extracted from the Level 0 data package and is included for context:
Variation in Landsat 8-estimated land surface temperature with elevation from Spartina alterniflora marsh cross sections in the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research (GCE-LTER) site and Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) LTER sites for winter and summer observations spanning 2013-2018
We estimated land surface temperature from top of atmosphere brightness temperature provided by Landsat 8's band 10 (a thermal band). We collected these measurements first for Spartina alterniflora dominated marsh near the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research (GCE-LTER) eddy covariance flux tower. Measurements were collected from pixels along three east-west cross sections that spanned a marsh edge to interior gradient. We extracted Landsat 8 data for all available cloud-free low tide dates during August, September, January and February during the years 2013 to 2018 and associated these with marsh elevation information from a 1 m^2 Digital Elevation Model (DEM), created by Haldik et al 2013, also available from the GCE data catalog (http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/4c5187ef603f70cd0a77ece24ef0fed9). We rescaled the DEM to the coarser spatial resolution of Landsat 8 (30 x 30 m) where the rescaled elevation was the mean of the constituent DEM values. Ultimately, we used generalized additive models to relate land surface temperature to elevation, while accounting for variation from spatial proximity, transect and sample date. These models revealed that land surface temperature was negatively related to marsh elevation on the marsh platform. We then confirmed the generality of this pattern by rederiving these same relationships for three cross sections of Spartina alterniflora marsh at Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) LTER for winter sampling dates only (data also included here). DEM data for VCR LTER are available at https://www.vcrlter.virginia.edu/gisdata/LIDAR/USGS2015/. We used custom R functions that can convert Landsat 8 top of atmosphere brightness temperature or top of atmosphere radiance from band 10 data to land surface temperature, which are available at https://github.com/jloconnell/convert_top_of_atmosphere_thermal_to_land_surface_temperature. Currently, a provisional land surface temperature product is available on earthexplorer.usgs.gov, w
Stream Water Level and Temperature for Mainland Creeks on the Atlantic Coast of Virginia 2002-2009
This dataset includes stage (water level) and temperature for selected creeks along the Atlantic Coast of the Delmarva Peninsula, in Virginia. Pressure sensors were placed in the creeks (typically along the edge of Route 600 (Seaside Road), and corrected for barometric pressure changes in post-processing.
Wave data for Hog Island Bay, Fowling Point and Upsur Neck, Virginia, 2009
An RBR wave gauge was deployed at 3 locations on the coast of Virginia during 2009.
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Allen Brain Atlas
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DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
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OpenNeuro
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