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

Description of the submarine morphology and characteristics of the sediments (lithology, grain size, mineralogy, and chemistry) of the Saguenay fjord, the lower Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.The layer contains a synthesis of geological and geochemical data collected and interpreted over 10 years and is accompanied by detailed bathymetric and surface sediment maps. Most of this study deals with the geomorphology, surface sediments (lithology, mineralogy, and chemistry), and present depositional conditions, but several studies have also been made of the bedrock geology and the stratigraphy of the unconsolidated sediments.PurposeThese studies are regional and of a reconnaissance nature in the sense that they have been designed to obtain acoustical and sampling data on the morphology and basic properties of the sediments from the whole Gulf. This approach was used to provide a broad appraisal of the sedimentary environment of the Gulf and its late-glacial and postglacial history.Additional InformationUnknown date of numeric version.Acoustical and sampling data were obtained in the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence on board of different boats over the years. Sounding lines and sample stations were selected initially on the basis of submarine morphology and later in combination with a preliminary sedimentological map as the sea floor data accumulated.More specifically, acoustical data on the topography and nature of the sea floor was obtained from echosounding and continuous seismic profiling. Sounding records were studied, interpreted, and reduced manually in most cases to a scale suitable for plotting and presentation. The information on the continuous seismic records was first interpreted visually and the reduced to constant scale with the aid of a pantograph with independently vertical and horizontal scales.Also, about 1500 sediments samples have been collected from various parts of the Gulf to obtain a regional coverage of the sedimentary environment in the area. The sediment sample were sorted and split after their water content had been determined. Mineralogical analyses were carried out after separation into a heavy and light fraction. The light minerals were identified by a combined method of staining and the use of immersion liquids. For more details on consulted documents and their limit, see the following report:Loring, D. H., and D. J. G. Nota. 1973. Morphology and sediments of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. 182. 147 p. + 7 charts.

Radiocarbon dates are derived from organic samples collected through marine and coastal expeditions of the Geological Survey of Canada Atlantic and Pacific. These efforts were conducted primarily to better understand the spatial and temporal coverage of sediments and seabed-fast marine ice during the last deglaciation. The quality of these data varies - ranging from imprecise bulk samples and more accurate AMS estimates derived from single shell fragments. These data are ordered in the menu in 1000 year divisions. By default, only conventional radiocarbon ages are displayed, and reservoir-corrected and measured ages are hidden.

The data layer (.shp) presented is the result of an unsupervised classification method for classifying seafloor habitat in the Bay of Fundy (Northwest Atlantic, Canada). This method involves separating environmental variables derived from multibeam bathymetry (slope, bathymetric position index), backscatter, and oceanographic information (wave-shear current velocity) into spatial units (i.e. image objects) and classifying the acoustically and oceanographically separated units into 7 habitat classes (Bedrock and Boulders, Mixed Sediments, Gravelly Sand, Sand, Silty Gravel with Anemones, Silt, and Tidal Scoured Mixed Sediments) using in-situ data (imagery). Benthoscape classes (synonymous to landscape classifications in terrestrial ecology) describe the geomorphology and biology of the seafloor and are derived from elements of the seafloor that were acoustically and oceanographically distinguishable. Reference:Wilson, B.R., Brown, C.J., Sameoto, J.A., Lacharite, M., Redden, A. (2021). Mapping seafloor habitats in the Bay of Fundy to assess macrofaunal assemblages associated with Modiolus modiolus beds. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107294Cite this data as: Wilson, B.R., Brown, C.J., Sameoto, J.A., Lacharite, M., Redden, A. Bay of Fundy Benthoscape. Published May 2023. Population Ecology Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/dbabd17a-a2c7-4b3f-9bd8-a77a9c7f9c1c

The bedrock geologic units designate units of the same types of rock which composed the solid rock exposed at ground surface (as outcrop) or which underlies unconsolidated surficial sediments. This dataset represents a general description of the stratigraphy and geology, including geologic unit thickness, morphology, age and rank. It features a list of the geologic unit names and types of rock (lithology) in the hydrogeological unit, from a controlled vocabulary. While the preferred format to deliver this data is by using a shapefile and its linked attributes, this dataset can be delivered also by providing link to external data which should have at least the same properties or also by joining a georeferenced image of the map.

This data set is a geographic information systems (GIS) version of part of the results of Canada-Alberta Mineral Development Agreement project 'Geological mapping, prospecting and sampling of the Southern Alberta Rift.' The data represent elemental analyses of 415 stream sediment samples collected from the study area in 1992. Analytes include: Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn by atomic absorption. Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, Ir, La, Lu, Mo, Na, Ni, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, U, W, Yb, Zn, and Zr by neutron activation. and Hg by cold vapour extraction/atomic absorption. Results show that some of the stream sediments contain higher concentrations of mineral elements than normal.

Nearshore marine construction activities often involve projects conducted directly in or adjacent to eelgrass beds and can have detrimental effects on eelgrass health, through physical destruction of beds, smothering of plants by sediment, and light reduction from turbidity. A liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine terminal is proposed to be constructed near Goldboro in Isaacs Harbour on the Eastern shore of Nova Scotia in an area where sediments are contaminated with heavy metals from historical goldmining tailings. We conducted a pre-impact assessment of the eelgrass beds in Isaacs Harbour and in adjacent contaminated and non-contaminated harbours. We used underwater video to precisely map the eelgrass bed in the direct construction footprint in Isaacs Harbour. We surveyed 169 stations along ~40 km of coastline from Wine Harbour to New Harbour to identify eelgrass presence or absence in the nearby region and provide data on the distribution and abundance of other sensitive fish habitat such as kelp and other macrophytes. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed for grain size, organic matter content and heavy metal contamination. We also collected eelgrass plants to assess plant condition using morphological and physiological metrics, and heavy metal contamination in plant tissues. The overall condition of eelgrass plants in the surveyed area fell within the range of healthy plant characteristics (morphometrics and carbohydrates reserves) seen elsewhere along the Atlantic coast. However, a few stations displayed high arsenic and mercury contamination in sediments, which translated in some cases to high contamination in eelgrass rhizomes and leaves. There would be significant risk of impact on benthic habitat and contamination of marine biota from resuspension of sediments during a construction and operation of a ship terminal in Isaacs Harbour. This pre-impact assessment will allow DFO to assess the LNG terminal construction proposal and develop appropriate mitigation and monitoring procedures. Collected data will also be used for habitat-forming species distribution modeling to inform marine spatial and conservation planning.Vercaemer, B., O’Brien, J. M., Guijarro-Sabaniel, J. and Wong, M. C. 2022. Distribution and condition of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the historical goldmining region of Goldboro, Nova Scotia. Can. Tech. Rep. Aquat. Sci. 3513: v + 67 p.Cite this data as: Vercaemer, B., O’Brien, J. M., Guijarro-Sabaniel, J., Wong, M. Data of: Eelgrass (Zostera marina) study in the historical goldmining region of Goldboro, Nova Scotia (2020). Published: February 2023. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, N.S. https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ee88aa17-fd30-4d4a-8924-897fd47cf560

In 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiated the Multidisciplinary Arctic Program (MAP) – Last Ice, the first ecosystem study of the poorly characterized region of the Lincoln Sea in the Marine Protected Area of Tuvaijuittuq, where multiyear ice still resides in the Arctic Ocean. MAP-Last Ice takes a coordinated approach to integrate the physical, biochemical, and ecological components of the sea ice-ocean connected ecosystem and its response to climate and ocean forcings. The cross-disciplinary program establishes baseline ecological knowledge for Tuvaijuittuq and, in particular, for its unique multiyear ice ecosystem. The database provides baseline data on the abundance of bacteria and viruses in multi- and first-year ice and in surface waters of the Lincoln Sea in Tuvaijuittuq, and their relation to bio-physical conditions. The data were collected during the 2018 spring field campaign of the MAP-Last Ice Program, at an ice camp offshore of Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert.

GeoAI are buildings, hydrography, forests, and roads automatically extracted using Deep Learning models applied to a source dataset, typically aerial or satellite images. The primary aim of GeoAI is to increase Canada's availability of high-resolution foundational geospatial data for both spatial and temporal coverage.‌The infrastructure and expertise put in place by NRCan enables a rapid, efficient, and scalable data creation process through the use of leading-edge technology and Artificial Intelligence models. Published datasets for a given source can be revisited at a later date as more accurate models are developed and put into production. For now, only static files are available, but as the series develops, new products and services will be added.

In 2018, Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiated the Multidisciplinary Arctic Program (MAP) – Last Ice, the first ecosystem study of the poorly characterized region of Tuvaijuittuq, where multiyear ice still resides in the Arctic Ocean. The program MAP-Last Ice takes a coordinated approach to integrate the physical, biochemical, and ecological components of the sea ice-ocean connected ecosystem and its response to climate and ocean forcings. This program provides baseline ecological knowledge for Tuvaijuittuq and, in particular, for its unique multiyear ice ecosystem. The database provides baseline data on fatty acid composition and stable isotopes signatures of sea ice communities in multi- and first-year ice in Tuvaijuittuq. The data were collected during the 2018 spring field campaign of the MAP-Last Ice Program, offshore of Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert, in the Lincoln Sea.