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• Macroinverbrate data
• Macroinvertebrate File File Format Information - Historical Summary

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Last updated on February 23, 1999

The detailed information in these sections provides the data users with information about file name signifance and a description of the data. The file naming convention explanation section describes the type of data, field station that collected the data, year of collection and data batch number, while the data descriptions include field column positions, historical summary, and field descriptions. Data from 1992 or earlier is sorted by date, sample grid, UTM Easting, and UTM Northing in that order. Data from 1993 or later is sorted by barecode only. The detailed data description section described below is available in downloadable ASCII form.

File Naming Convention Explanation

The first three characters denote the data component;

FSH = fish

INV = macroinvertebrate

VEG = vegetation transect

VGI = vegetation informal

WTR = water quality

 

The fourth character is the field station that collected the data;

1 = Lake City, MN (Mississippi River, Pool 4)

2 = Onalaska, WI (Mississippi River, Pool 8)

3 = Bellevue, IA (Mississippi River, Pool 13)

4 = Alton, MO (Mississippi River, Pool 26)

5 = Cape Girardeau, MO (Mississippi River, Open River)

6 = Havana, IL (Illinois River, LaGrange Pool)

The fifth and sixth characters denotes the year the data is from.

The seventh and eighth characters denotes that years sequential batch of data.

The FNL file name prefix denotes final data.

Data Descriptions

Field Column Position

The "Format" column contains the following format specifiers:

a = alpha character (always UPPER case)

b = a blank space

blank = a missing value

c = alpha character/symbol/digit

c(xx) = character string where xx represents the maximum number of characters allowed

9 = any digit, 0 - 9

MM/DD/YYYY = date format

HH:MI = time format

Historical Summary

Field Descriptions

BARCODE

Identifying barcode for macroinvertebrate data sheets.

SAMPLE GRID

Sample grid area for a collection site. Grid numbers are unique descriptors for each sample site location, and are derived from a pre-determined UTM grid system developed at EMTC.

DATE

The month, day, and year the site was sampled. Format is mm/dd/yyyy.

PROJECT CODE

Alphanumeric LTRMP project code. Format is A-nnn, where A is a letter describing project type and nnn is a special project number. Project types are as follows:

M = RTA standardized resource monitoring

B = HREP biological response monitoring

E = Ad hoc exploratory sampling

R = Special research project

FIELD STATION #

Numeric code identifying the field station number. Listed below are the valid codes and their corresponding field station.

1 = Lake City, MN

2 = Onalaska, WI

3 = Bellevue, IA

4 = Wood River, IL

5 = Cape Girardeau, MO

6 = Havana, IL

HABITAT CLASS

Alphabetic code LTRMP habitat class description. Valid codes are as follows:

BWC = Backwater contiguous

IMP = Impounded

MC = Main channel

MCB = Main channel border

SC = Side channel

TDL = Tributary delta lake (Lake Pepin only)

RIVER MILE

The location of the site to the nearest tenth of a river mile.

SUBSAMPLE TAKEN

Code if a subsample was taken (replaced by SUBSTRATE SAMPLE TAKEN in 1993). Valid codes are as follows:

Y = Yes.

N = No

UTM ZONE (ZONE 15)

Numeric field to record Global Positioning System (GPS) zone. LTRMP data resides in either zone 15 or 16. If the GPS zone = 16 the GPS zone is converted to zone 15.

UTM EASTING (ZONE 15)

East UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is computed at EMTC and is then used by the collection. This is the coordinate recorded in the field and converted to zone 15.

UTM NORTHING (ZONE 15)

North UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is computed at EMTC and is then used by the collection. This is the coordinate recorded in the field and converted to zone 15.

UTM ZONE (EMTC)

Numeric field to record Global Positioning System (GPS) zone. LTRMP data resides in either zone 15 or 16. This zone is derived at EMTC and is then used by the collection crews to locate where they are to do their sampling.

UTM EASTING (EMTC)

East UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is derived at EMTC and is then used by the collection crews to locate where they are to do their sampling.

UTM NORTHING (EMTC)

North UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is derived at EMTC and is then used by the collection crews to locate where they are to do their sampling.

UTM ZONE (FIELD)

Numeric field to record Global Positioning System (GPS) zone. LTRMP data resides in either zone 15 or 16. This zone is derived in the field when the collection crew can not sample the (EMTC derived) collection site. This is the actual location of the collection site used by the collection crews.

UTM EASTING (FIELD)

East UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is derived in the field when the collection crew can not sample the (EMTC derived) collection site. This is the actual location of the collection site used by the collection crews.

UTM NORTHING (FIELD)

North UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates of collection sites. This coordinate is derived in the field when the collection crew can not sample the (EMTC derived) collection site. This is the actual location of the collection site used by the collection crews.

ACCURACY

Numeric field to record a measure of positioning accuracy. Record Percent Dilution of Precision (PDOP) from GPS devices and the following codes for base map cross-reference and revisits to marked fixed sites:

00.1 = Almost certain accuracy within 100 m because of immediate proximity to uniquely identifiable features (undisturbed marker, wing dam, day mark, etc.).

00.2 = High confidence of accuracy within 100 m because of agreement between general site appearance and identifiable features on a base map.

00.3 = Other than above.

DEPTH

Water depth recorded in meters.

# CONTAINERS

The total number of sample containers collected at the site and taken back to the lab (replaced # containers per replicate A, B, C in 1993).

# CONTAINERS PER REPLICATE - A

The number of sample containers collected at the site and taken back to the lab for the first sample taken at a site (applies to 1992 only).

# CONTAINERS PER REPLICATE - B

The number of sample containers collected at the site and taken back to the lab for the second sample taken at a site (applies to 1992 only).

# CONTAINERS PER REPLICATE - C

The number of sample containers collected at the site and taken back to the lab for the third sample taken at a site (applies to 1992 only).

SUMMARY CODE

A numeric code representing whether or not the sample was kept and the circumstances surrounding the decision to accept or reject. Valid codes are as follows:

1 = Sample taken

2 = Sample taken but not kept due to hard substrate

3 = Sample taken but not kept due to detritus, shells, etc.

4 = Other

GEAR CODE

A code representing the gear type used to collect the sample. Currently, there is only one code for macroinvertebrates (P = Ponar).

LAB SAMPLE TAKEN

Code if the sample was chosen for lab analysis. Valid codes are as follows:

Y = Yes, sample chosen for lab analysis.

N = No, sample not chosen for lab analysis.

SUBSTRATE SAMPLE TAKEN

A code describing if a subsample is taken, and if so, what size of sampler was used (replaced SUBSAMPLE TAKEN in 1993). Valid codes are as follows:

N = No subsample taken.

A = Large subsample (268 square centimeters)

B = Small subsample (162 square centimeters)

% SUBMERSED AND FLOATING LEAF VEGETATION (Ponar)

This visual observation is a subjective measurement based on the column of water and sediment the Ponar falls through. A numeric code is recorded representing the percentage of submersed and floating-leaf vegetation. This field will provide data on whether or not macroinvertebrates associated with vegetation are in the sample and the relationship of sites with and without vegetation.

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

PREDOMINANT SUBSTRATE

A code to represent the qualitative observation of sediments based on visual and tactile observations at the site. Valid codes are as follows:

1 = Hard clay

2 = Silt/Clay

3 = Mostly silt/clay with sand

4 = Mostly sand

5 = Sand

6 = Gravel/rock

SHELLS

A code representing the percentage of dead shells in the sample wash frame. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

DETRITUS

A code representing the percentage of detritus (fibrous material on the surface and within the sediment) in the sample wash frame. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

FINE ORGANIC MATERIAL

A code indicating if fine organic material (characterized by black coloration and odor) is present in the sample. Valid codes are as follows:

Y = Yes, fine organic material present

N = No, fine organic material not present

SUBMERSED VEGETATION

A code representing the percentage of submersed vegetation within a 15-m radius from the boat. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

FLOATING LEAF

A code representing the percentage of floating leaf vegetation within a 15-m radius from the boat. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

EMERGENT VEGETATION

A code representing the percentage of emergent vegetation within a 15-m radius from the boat. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

OPEN WATER

A code representing the percentage of open water within a 15-m radius from the boat. Valid codes are as follows:

0 = 0%

1 = 1%-20%

2 = 21%-50%

3 = 51%-90%

4 = 91%-100%

MAYFLIES

The number of mayfly larvae found in the collection sample for the site.

FINGERNAIL CLAMS

The number of fingernail clams found in the collection sample for the site.

CORBICULA

The number of corbicula found in the collection sample for the site.

MIDGES

The number of midges found in the collection sample for the site.

ZEBRA MUSSELS

The number of zebra mussels found in the collection sample for the site (not started recording until 1995).

COMMENTS

Eighty-character field to record miscellaneous comments and observations.

RECORDER CODE

This number uniquely identifies the person who coded the data sheet.

ENTRY OPERATOR

Alphanumeric field to identify the operator responsible for entering (keying) the macroinvertebrate data into an electronic format.

VERIFY OPERATOR

Alphanumeric field to identify the operator responsible for verifying the electronic keyed macroinvertebrate data.

BATCH NUMBER

Administrative field used to track keyed data batches.

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