Data Set Citation:
When using this data, please cite the data package:
, , Orth R , and Dennison W.
Global Seagrass Trajectories Database Compiled October 2006
olyarnik.3.6 (http://knb.ecoinformatics.org/knb/metacat/olyarnik.3.6/nceas)
General Information:
Title:Global Seagrass Trajectories Database Compiled October 2006
Identifier:olyarnik.3
Abstract:
Our goal was to establish a global database of seagrass trajectories, i.e. reported, quantitative changes in extent showing decline, increase, or stability over time. We compiled existing quantitative data on seagrass areal extent, density, percent cover, and/or biomass from published studies, reports, websites, online databases, and unpublished sources. These sources were identified by: 1) conducting a Web of Science searh using the following search words: (seagrass* or SAV) and (loss* or change* or recovery or stability or dynamic* orimpact* or map* or decline* or increase* or gain*); this search returned 2346 references, and 2) requesting relevant data on the Seagrass Forum listserve. Studies were included in the analysis if they covered a period greater than two years and included two or more estimates of areal extent for the same site across time. Before analyzing the data, we performed several verification steps to assess accuracy, including a complete, independent check of 16% of the entries (80 sites).
Keywords:
  • seagrass
  • decline
  • monitoring

Involved Parties

Data Set Creators:
Organization:National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
Organization:NCEAS 10002: Orth: Establishing a quantitative basis for seagrass conservation and restoration
Individual:Dr. Robert J. Orth
Organization:Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary
Position:professor
Address:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
College of William and Mary,
Gloucester Point, VA 23062 USA
Email Address:
jjorth@vims.edu
Individual:Dr. William C. Dennison
Organization:Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Position:vice president for science applications and professor
Address:
Integration and Application Network,
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,
Cambridge, MD 21613 USA
Data Set Contacts:
Individual:Dr. Robert J. Orth
Organization:Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary
Position:professor
Address:
Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
College of William and Mary,
Gloucester Point, VA 23062 USA
Email Address:
jjorth@vims.edu
Individual:Dr. William C. Dennison
Organization:Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Position:vice president for science applications and professor
Address:
Integration and Application Network,
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,
Cambridge, MD 21613 USA
Associated Parties:
Individual:Dr. Carlos M. Duarte
Organization:Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad de las Islas Baleares
Position:research professor
Address:
Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, Universidad de las Islas Baleares,
Calles Miquel Marques 21,
07190 Esporles, Islas Baleares Spain
Individual:Dr. James W. Fourqurean
Organization:Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University
Position:department chair of biological sciences
Address:
Southeast Environmental Research Center,
Florida International University,
Miami, FL 33199 USA
Individual:Dr. Kenneth L. Heck, Jr.
Organization:Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Position:professor and chair of university programs
Address:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab,
Dauphin Island, AL 36528 USA
Individual:Dr. A. Randall Hughes
Organization:University of California Davis
Position:postdoctoral researcher
Address:
Bodega Marine Laboratory,
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 USA
Individual:Dr. Susan L. Williams
Organization:Bodega Marine Lab, University of California
Position:professor and director of Bodega Marine Lab
Address:
Bodega Marine Lab,
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 USA
Individual:Dr. Gary A. Kendrick
Organization:School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia
Position:associate professor
Address:
School of Plant Biology,
University of Western Australia,
Crawley, 6009 Western Australia
Individual:Dr. W. Judson Kenworthy
Organization:Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, National Ocean Service, NOAA
Position:research biologist
Address:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Beaufort, NC 28516 USA
Individual:Dr. Frederick T. Short
Organization:Department of Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire
Position:research professor
Address:
University of New Hampshire,
Jackson Estuarine Laboratory,
Durham, NH 03824 USA
Individual:Dr. Michelle Waycott
Organization:School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University
Position:senior lecturer
Address:
School of Marine and Tropical Biology,
James Cook University,
Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia
Individual: Suzanne V. Olyarnik
Organization:Bodega Marine Lab, University of California Davis
Position:graduate student
Address:
Bodega Marine Lab,
Bodega Bay, CA 94923 USA
Individual:Dr. Tim J. B. Carruthers
Organization:Integration and Application Network
Position:science integrator
Address:
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science,
Cambridge, MD 21613 USA

Data Set Characteristics

Geographic Region:
Geographic Description:The data set represents a comprehensive synthesis of seagrass trajectories across the globe, but does not represent a random sample of seagrass globally. The three continents with considerable seagrass data (North America, Europe and Australia) are well represented, but significant gaps exist in Africa, South America and throughout the Indo-West Pacific. The geographical and temporal imbalances in available seagrass trajectories reflect the history of the perceived importance and status of seagrass and associated research efforts.
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  -180.0  degrees
East:  180.0  degrees
North:  86.75  degrees
South:  -87.625  degrees

Sampling, Processing and Quality Control Methods

Data Set Usage Rights

Access Control:
Auth System:knb
Order:denyFirst
Metadata download: Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File