Benthic invertebrate surveys conducted between 2009-2011 as part of the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project.

Study Extent

2009-2011 Sydney harbour

Sampling

A baseline assessment of benthic invertebrate communities was conducted in July 2009 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Clean and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. (report1) Sediments at nine nearshore stations extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney were predominantly soft, silt-clay which were well oxygenated and had a surface layer mixed by animal activity, except in inner South Arm where anoxic, organically enriched, silt/clay sediment with little biological activity occurred. The second year of monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in Sydney Harbour was conducted in July 2010 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Eleven nearshore stations were sampled extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney and central Northwest Arm, repeating a baseline survey done in 2009. (report2) Sediments were predominantly soft, silt-clay, occasionally with a sand or gravel component. Content of organic carbon ranged from moderate outside and at the mouth of South Arm and increased towards inner South Arm, reflecting increasing inputs from Sydney River and local sewage, as well as residual coal tar residues off Muggah Creek. The third year of monitoring of benthic invertebrate communities in Sydney Harbour was conducted in July 2011 as part of the marine component of the environmental effects and surface water compliance monitoring program for the Sydney Tar Ponds Cleanup and Coke Ovens Remediation Project. Eleven stations were sampled extending from the head of South Arm to North Sydney and central Northwest Arm, repeating a baseline survey done in 2009 and a monitoring survey in 2010. (report3) Sediments were predominantly soft, silt-clay, occasionally with a sand or gravel component. Content of organic carbon ranged from moderate outside and at the mouth of South Arm and increased towards inner South Arm, reflecting increasing inputs from Sydney River and local urban and industrial contamination.

Quality Control

Scientific names associated with resource occurrence records have been mapped to recognized standards - marine taxa have been mapped to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). The WoRMS codes, the AphiaIDs have been included as LSIDs in the occurrence record DwC field scientificNameID.

Method steps

1. To prepare this dataset for OBIS Canada publication, data was structured into an OBIS-compatible format using R and laid out in four tables: an Event Core, Occurrence Core and two Extended Measurement of Fact extensions. Defined vocabularies listed on the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Vocabulary Server (NVS) were used whenever possible. Names contained in the resource dataset were mapped to WoRMS using their Taxon Match tool and spelling variations revised to that of the standard.

Benthic Invertebrates

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom

Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia