gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:75437 eng UTF8 dataset Office for Coastal Management resourceProvider Cothran, Jeremy jeremy.cothran@gmail.com pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:17 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Evaluating Oyster Reefs as Habitat: Comparing the Utility of Ecological Metrics to Assess Ecosystem Function - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative) 2024 creation 2026 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 75437 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75437 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Kimball23 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Kimball23 Online Resource download This multi-reserve catalyst project compared established and emerging methods for assessing intertidal oyster reef community structure and ecosystem function. With their partners, the project catalyzed a strong community of practice in the Southeastern U.S. to support management efforts related to oyster reef conservation and the advancement of monitoring protocol. The Project Intertidal oyster reefs provide key habitat for a diverse and productive community of estuarine fauna, yet have declined drastically due to overfishing and disease outbreaks. With increased conservation and restoration efforts for intertidal oyster reefs, there is a need for more efficient ways of assessing oyster reefs as well as more holistic understandings of how oyster reefs function as habitats for other estuarine animals. However, assessing the ecosystem benefits of intertidal oyster reefs is challenging because the reefs occupy a dynamic tidal environment characterized by highly turbid water. Established sampling techniques for assessing intertidal oyster reefs are labor intensive and therefore difficult to replicate at multiple sites, limiting the ecological information they can provide, especially at large scales. In contrast, emerging techniques prove promising for examining intertidal oyster reef community structure and ecosystem function. Collaborating with four reserves and five universities, this project compared established sampling techniques for assessing intertidal oyster reefs with four emerging methods that each provide unique ecological information: 1. High-Resolution Acoustic Imaging 2. Stable Isotope Analysis 3. eDNA Metabarcoding 4. Oyster Disease Assays The project team applied these methods alongside traditional methods for collection of free-swimming marine organisms via nets/traps at four reserves in the southeastern U.S. Afterwards, the team convened with their partners and intended users to examine the results and evaluate the potential utility and feasibility of incorporating the emerging methods into their research and monitoring programs. Users overwhelmingly expressed that expanded application of these emerging techniques could improve the assessment of the function of multiple different oyster reef types. The results of this Catalyst project, along with the collaborative network that project has built, bolsters technical capacity at reserves and state agencies to understand the function of critical habitats. The Impact Improved understanding of emerging methods of evaluating the value of oyster reefs for estuarine fauna. Catalyzed ideas for the standardization of oyster reef monitoring and integration of new metrics of assessment. Strengthened partnerships and built a robust collaborative network of reserves, agencies and users in the southeastern US. completed Office for Coastal Management 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Office for Coastal Management Website Website listed for Office for Coastal Management information custodian asNeeded EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > REEF > OYSTER REEF EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > ISOTOPES > STABLE ISOTOPES theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 acoustic imaging disease assays eDNA monitoring nekton stable isotopes analysis theme Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR, FL North Carolina NERR, NC North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR, SC Sapelo Island NERR, GA place DOC/NOAA/NOS/OCM > Office of Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian NERRS project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Office for Coastal Management, [Date of Access]: Evaluating Oyster Reefs as Habitat: Comparing the Utility of Ecological Metrics to Assess Ecosystem Function - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative) [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75437. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC). otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: The distributor does not assume liability. unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 75437 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nos/ocm/dmp/pdf/75437.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US oceans -81.39 -81.15 29.59 30.18 Guana Tolomato Matanzas, FL NERR -76.65 -76.61 34.68 34.72 North Carolina, NC NERR -79.285 -79.15 33.204 33.375 North Inlet-Winyah Bay, SC NERR -81.31 -81.25 31.375 31.5 Sapelo Island, GA NERR | Currentness: Ground Condition 2023-10-01 2024-09-01 Project Lead: Matthew Kimball, University of South Carolina, matt@baruch.sc.edu Collaborative Lead: Robert Dunn, North Inlet-Winyah Bay NERR, robert@baruch.sc.edu Technical Lead: Shelby Ziegler, Villanova University, shelby.ziegler@villanova.edu Partners: North Carolina State University; Georgia Southern University; University of Georgia; University of South Carolina Beaufort false eng false Other N/A 2025-04-01 publication Multiple formats Office for Coastal Management 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston SC 29405-2413 https://www.coast.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Office for Coastal Management Website Website listed for Office for Coastal Management information distributor https://nerrssciencecollaborative.org/project/Kimball23 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Kimball23 download dataset Representativeness N/A This information is detailed within the project links. N/A Office for Coastal Management processor N/A