This dataset includes metrics of eelgrass size, cover, and biomass from field sites along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Field sites were located across a gradient of environmental conditions, and field sampling was conducted in July to August 2022. Eelgrass percent cover, shoot density, and plants were sampled at 10 haphazardly distributed sampling stations within each eelgrass bed at approximately the same depth. Stations were ~10m apart and at least 2m from any eelgrass-bare interface. At each sampling station eelgrass leaves in a 0.5 x 0.5m quadrat were photographed for later computer image analysis to determine percent cover. The number of shoots were then counted in a 0.25 x 0.25m quadrat, and 3 vegetative shoots were collected. Shoots were measured for leaf length, width, and weight in the laboratory. These data were used to determine allometric and cover-biomass relationships for use in non-destructive estimation of bed biomass. Cite this data as: Wong, M.C., & Thomson, J. A. Data of eelgrass (Zostera marina) plant size (length, width), cover, and biomass from the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia. Published: February 2025. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Maritimes Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth NS.For additional information please see:Thomson, J. A., Vercaemer, B., & Wong, M. C. (2025). Non-destructive biomass estimation for eelgrass (Zostera marina): Allometric and percent cover-biomass relationships vary with environmental conditions. Aquatic Botany, 198, 103853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103853

Invest Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’s business development agency that works to promote economic growth and community economic development in the province by enabling business, innovation, and entrepreneurship. From starting up and raising capital, to incubation and acceleration, export development and investment attraction, Invest Nova Scotia helps businesses seize opportunities.

The Nova Scotia Hydrographic Network is an enhanced version of the Nova Scotia Topographic Database's Water Features theme. This dataset includes network spines for connectivity of water flow and various attribution for flow direction, priority of water flow and toponymic objects where applicable.

[ARCHIVED] The “Nova Scotia Counties with Senior Safety Programs” dataset is no longer being updated. Please refer to https://ns.211.ca/ to learn more about seniors’ safety programs. List of counties across Nova Scotia with Senior Safety Programs

Nekton assemblages in Zostera marina beds and adjacent bare soft-sediments were sampled on the south and eastern shore of Nova Scotia. Sampling gear used were visual snorkel transects and a benthic beam trawl. Fish were identified and size either measured (trawl) or estimated in situ (snorkel transects). Surveys were conducted in mid-July to August in summer of 2013 and 2014 across multiple sampling sites. Multiple replicate transects were conducted at each site. Raw abundances from observations were transformed into young of year (YOY) equivalent abundance, and then into density of each species calibrated to account for the sampling equipment and day/night differences.Cite this data as: Wong, M. C. Data of: Fish and large decapods in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Published: April 2020. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/dbc56f11-4a97-45e7-99f4-71966b51630c

This dataset contains the abundance (per m²) and the biomass (mg dry per m²) of macrofauna (≥ 500µm) in eelgrass and adjacent bare soft sediments, collected at sites in the Atlantic of Nova Scotia from 2009 to 2013.Cite this data as: Wong M.C. Data of Benthic invertebrates in seagrass and bare soft sediments in Atlantic Nova Scotia Published May 2020. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/05d5f46a-7f19-11ea-8a4e-1860247f53e3Publications: Wong, M. C., & Dowd, M. (2021). Functional trait complementarity and dominance both determine benthic secondary production in temperate seagrass beds. Ecosphere. 12(11), e03794. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3794Wong, M. C. (2018). Secondary Production of Macrobenthic Communities in Seagrass (Zostera marina, Eelgrass) Beds and Bare Soft Sediments Across Differing Environmental Conditions in Atlantic Canada. Estuaries and Coasts, 41, 536–548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-017-0286-2

A shapefile of freshwater water bodies hat have been sampled as part of the Nova Scotia Lake Survey. The Nova Scotia Lake Survey program is a partnership initiative between Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) to inventory lakes throughout the province determining baseline water quality, in support of both sport fisheries and water resource management areas. The following weblink connects to a Nova Scotia Environment web map that includes the locations of the monitored lakes within the province and an alternative method for downloading the same lake chemistry dataset: http://nse.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=7ded7a30bef44f848e8a4fc8672c89bd

The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is the lead regulatory of rockweed leasing and licensing. This file illustrates all the issued rockweed leases along the coast of Nova Scotia. Fisheries and Aquaculture also provides a Nova Scotia Aquaculture and Rockweed Map viewer at: https://fishaqua.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/media/index.html?appid=a7c3520e73894539afadf8602ee57ef1

The NSCAF Community Boundaries dataset includes the boundary for each Nova Scotia civic community. These boundaries were defined in consultation with Nova Scotia municipalities with input from municipal councilors, Emergency Health Services (Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness), local fire and police departments, among others.

The Nova Scotia GeoNAMES dataset contains all current approved and offical geographic names for the Province of Nova Scotia. The named features in the dataset include Populated Places, Administrative Areas, Water and Terrain Features, Vegetation Areas, some Manmade Features, and Undersea Features. Geographic names in the Province of Nova Scotia are approved by the province's representative on the Geographical Names Board of Canada.