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Database Title

6.3 Cawthron Marine database
Keywords
Type1.
Type 11.		 New Zealand EEZ; marine ;benthic biota; taxonomy; distribution;
abundance
Abstract Adapts the NIWA marine benthic database template. It is used for benthic and epibenthic biota from intertidal and subtidal environments. The data is stored in 4 main tables:
  • Station
  • Project
  • Data
  • Taxonomic

A centralised master species list is used to streamline data storage.
Geographical Coverage New Zealand EEZ.
Dataset start date. 1991. Over time may include more historical data.
Dataset end date. Current
Status/currency. In progress
Update frequency. Unknown
Maintenance. Cawthron

 

Technical Evaluation

  
Parameters- what is measured
  • Site parameters; habitat type
  • Species taxonomy
  • Infaunal counts; % cover; intercepts; point counts; presence/absence.
Parameters- what is calculated
  • Phylogenetic order of species
  • Ranking/relative abundance distribution
Methods used to measure parameters Variety of methods are used to collect the data including trawls, grabs, manual cores, observations.
Scale of use. N/A
Number of records There are 1,176 marine species included.
GIS compatibility. Unknown
Available formats for users. Information supplied as spreadsheet database itself = MS Access.
Access constraints. Some data is confidential.
Measurement Accuracy To be completed by database manager.
Completeness of dataset To be completed by database manager.
Positional accuracy To be completed by database manager.
Database steward Cawthron Institute
Database custodian Cawthron Institute
Database custodian contact person Paul Barter
Database custodian Contact
Address
Phone
Fax
Email		 98 Halifax Street East
Private Bag 2
Nelson
+64 3 548 2319
+64 3 546 9464
paulb@cawthron.org.nz
References -
Date metadata record prepared. June 2000
Author of metadata record. Victoria Froude

 

Management Evaluation

  
Original purpose.
  • To standardise the format of data storage. (The SMF national estuary project provided the impetus for this).
  • To improve in-house data storage.
  • To provide a centrallised species list.
Relationships with classification systems. Taxonomic classification.
Relationships with other databases Not at present.
Known relationships with proposed EPIP indicators. Not known.
Database uses? Database used by Cawthron staff, primarily for standardising reports and to improve data analysis.
Public awareness of the database N/A
Database strengths.
  • Flexible database to cope with a range of situations.
  • Able to be expanded by adding new parameters.
  • Standard procedures for storing data.
Database limitations.
  • This is a specialised database for Cawthron needs, rather than a broad multipurpose database.

 

What are the Current and Emerging Uses of the Database for:

  
Assisting with determining historic state/baseline. Where there are long term datasets.
Assisting with determining current state/baseline. This is strong feature.
Assisting with modeling possible future outcomes. It is the intention to be able to do this, but there is not enough data yet.
Risk assessment. As above.
Monitoring site selection and sample design. -
Aggregating and reporting data locally, regionally or nationally. Data is tied to the taxonomic tables to allow reporting at taxonomic level.