Qualitative assessment of the subtidal benthic fauna and macroalgae near Seal Cove, Maine

Beal, Brian

From the methods: "The benthic and epibenthic macrofauna (> 2mm) and flora of a small area of Seal Cove, Tremont, Maine (approximate Latitude: 44 degrees 17.034'N; Longitude: 68 degrees 25.070'W) were surveyed qualitatively and semi-qualitatively during the afternoon low tide of 2 June 2005. The area henceforth referred to as the "Egbert Proposed Pier", and the land adjacent to the proposed pier site can be found using the Town of Tremont Tax Map #8, Lot #9. A certified SCUBA diver was instructed to dive within the footprint of the Egbert Proposed Pier (Fig. 1a, b) that is described in a Maine Department of Environmental Protection "Permit by Rule Notification Form" filed in 23 December 2004 and revised on 18 January 2005. The diver made visual observations of the benthos (mud, ledge, cobble, etc.), fauna, and flora from the shore to approximately 350 feet from the shore within the footprint. Also, the diver was instructed to collect flora and fauna that were representative of that subtidal location. In addition, three benthic cores were taken in areas within the footprint containing sandy mud using a circular coring device (15.2 cm diameter x 8 cm deep). Most of the collected macroalgae and invertebrates were identified to species and a representative sample of the larger-bodied organisms was measured (shell length for bivalves and gastropods; shell width for crustaceans; test diameter for sea urchins; body width of asteroids) to the nearest 0.1 mm using a Vernier caliper. Core samples were immediately brought to the surface and washed through a sieve with a 2mm aperature."