Benthic Health Programme (BHP) (formerly Regional Discharges Programme (RDP)). (Auckland Region)

Physical and biological monitoring of estuaries and harbours within the Auckland region for Auckland Council. The benthic health model was developed to provide a tool for classifying intertidal sites within the region according to categories of relative ecosystem health, based on its community composition and predicted responses to storm-water contamination. The model is a multivariate analysis (CAP) of macrobenthic community composition backed by information on sediment copper, lead and zinc concentrations. Recently the model has been further developed to incorporate community responses to a mud gradient.

Several of the marine ecology (harbours and estuaries) and sediment chemistry sites are used as BHP sites, with the information collected once and used for two reporting purposes. The additional sites monitorined as part of the BHP provide more spatially intense information on benthic ecology and sediment chemistry in urban areas affected by stormwater.

Sampling sites are located in the Central Waitemata Harbour (CWH), Manukau, Mahurangi, Kaipara, Upper Waitemata Harbour (UWH). Sampling frequency = annual (Oct/Nov) but sampled sites rotate (2-5yearly) depending on level of contaminents.

Sampling began in 2002 (not at all sites) and is ongoing.

Number of sites = 53 total, ecology is monitored at 32 sites along with sediment chemistry (contaminants) to give an overall picture of benthic ecosystem health.

Sediment chemistry along is monitored at a 21 further sites.

Extent of site = 9000m2

Number of replicates = 10 per site.

Measured variables = Infaunal communities using 500um mesh (species identifed to lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerated, key bivalves measured).

Sediment characteristics (grain size, TOC and chlorophyll a).

Sampling protocol & QA = Internal, NIWA laboratories.

 
Citation proposal
. Benthic Health Programme (BHP) (formerly Regional Discharges Programme (RDP)). (Auckland Region). https://dc.niwa.co.nz:/niwa_dc/srv/api/records/b8f17560-62e2-49fc-b76e-ffc501756583
 

INSPIRE

Identification

File identifier
b8f17560-62e2-49fc-b76e-ffc501756583   XML
Online resource
Protocol
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--metadata-URL
Protocol
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--downloaddata
Resource identifier
Metadata language
eng
Encoding
Projection
 

Classification of data and services

Topic category
  • Environment
 

Classification of data and services

Coupled resource
Coupled resource
 
 

Classification of data and services

Coupled resource
Coupled resource
 
 

Keywords

Other keywords
Keywords
  • intertidal sandflats mudflats infauna marine estuarine coastal benthic soft ecological chemistry physical visual observation core
 
 

Geographic coverage

N
S
E
W


 

Temporal reference

Temporal extent
Temporal extent
Date
 

Quality and validity

Lineage

Quality assurance was imposed on methods.

Temporal data were in NZST.

Data collection information: Infaunal core = 150mm tall x 130mm diameter. Seive mesh = 500um. Sediment core = 20mm tall x 20mm diameter.

The origin from which the maximum and minimum values are measured: mean sea level.

 

Conformity

Conformity
Conformity
 

Conformity

Conformity
Conformity
 

Restrictions on access and use

Use limitation
Permission required (Auckland Council) to access data/reports.
 

Restrictions on access and use

 

Responsible organization (s)

Contact for the resource
Organisation name
Auckland Council
Email
[email protected]
 

Responsible organization (s)

Contact for the resource
Organisation name
Auckland Council
Email
[email protected]
 

Metadata information

Contact for the metadata
Organisation name
NIWA National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research
Email
[email protected]
Date stamp
2012-08-08T12:54:19
Character set
UTF8
 
 

SDS

Conformance class 1: invocable

Access Point URL
Endpoint URL
Technical specification
 

Conformance class 2: interoperable

Coordinate reference system
 
Quality of Service
 
Access constraints
Limitation
 
Use constraints
Limitation
 
Responsible custodian
Contact for the resource
 
 

Conformance class 3: harmonized

 
 

  Overviews

  Provided by

  Share on social sites

         

  Views

Read here the full details and access to the data.

  Associated resources

Not available