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Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858 - 1956

This dataset is a contribution to the development of a kelp distribution vector dataset.

Bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana) and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) are important canopy-forming kelp species found in marine nearshore habitats on the West coast of Canada. Often referred to as a foundation species, beds of kelp form structural underwater forests that offer habitat for fishes and invertebrates. Despite its far-ranging importance, kelp has experienced a decline in the west coast of North America. The losses have been in response to direct harvest, increase in herbivores through the removal of predators by fisheries or diseases, increase in water turbidity from shoreline development as well as sea temperature change, ocean acidification, and increased storm activates. Understanding these impacts and the level of resilience of different kelp populations requires spatiotemporal baselines of kelp distribution.

The area covered by this dataset includes the BC coast and extends to portions of the Washington and Alaska coasts. This dataset was created using 137 British Admiralty (BA) charts, including insets, with scales ranging from 1:6,080 to 1:500,000, created between 1858 and 1956. All surveys were based on triangulation, in which a sextant or theodolite was used to determine latitude and angles, while a chronometer was used to help determine longitude.

First, each BA chart was scanned by the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) using the CHS Colortrac large format scanner, and saved as a Tagged Image Format at 200 DPI, which was deemed sufficient resolution to properly visualize all the features of interest. Subsequently, the scanned charts were imported into ESRI ArcMap and georeferenced directly to WGS84 using CHS georeferencing standards and principles (charts.gc.ca). In order to minimize error, a hierarchy of control points was used, ranging from high survey order control points to comparing conspicuous stable rock features apparent in satellite imagery.

The georeferencing result was further validated against satellite imagery, CHS charts and fieldsheets, the CHS-Pacific High Water Line (charts.gc.ca), and adjacent and overlapping BA charts. Finally, the kelp features were digitized, and corresponding chart information (scale, chart number, title, survey start year, survey end year, and comments) was added as attributes to each feature.

Given the observed differences in kelp feature representation at different scales, when digitizing kelp features, polygons were used to represent the discrete observations, and as such, they represent presence of kelp and not kelp area. Polygons were created by tracing around the kelp feature, aiming to keep the outline close to the stipe and blades.

The accuracy of the location of the digitized kelp features was defined using a reliability criterion, which considers the location of the digitized kelp feature (polygon) in relation to the local depth in which the feature occurs. For this, we defined a depth threshold of 40 m to represent a low likelihood of kelp habitat in areas deeper than the threshold.

An accuracy assessment of the digitized kelp features concluded that 99% of the kelp features occurred in expected areas within a depth of less than 40 m, and only about 1% of the features occurred completely outside of this depth.

Simple

Date ( RI_366 )
2020-06-01
Date ( RI_367 )
2020-06-01
RI_409
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Canadian Hydrographic Service - Peter Wills ( Supervisor Hydrographic Data Centre- Pacific Region )
PO Box 6000 9860 W Saanich Rd , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L4B2 , Canada
(250) 363-6669
(250) 363-6323
Presentation form
modelDigital; modèleNumérique RI_393
Other citation details
Costa, M.; Le Baron, N.; Tenhunen, K.; Nephin, J.; Willis, P.; Mortimor, J.P.; Dudas, S.; Rubidge, E. (2019). Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858 1956. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622819312160).
Purpose

This dataset is a contribution to the development of a kelp distribution vector dataset.

Bull kelp (Nereocystis leutkeana) and giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) are important canopy-forming kelp species found in marine nearshore habitats on the West coast of Canada. Often referred to as a foundation species, beds of kelp form structural underwater forests that offer habitat for fishes and invertebrates. Despite its far-ranging importance, kelp has experienced a decline in the west coast of North America. The losses have been in response to direct harvest, increase in herbivores through the removal of predators by fisheries or diseases, increase in water turbidity from shoreline development as well as sea temperature change, ocean acidification, and increased storm activates. Understanding these impacts and the level of resilience of different kelp populations requires spatiotemporal baselines of kelp distribution.

Credit
Costa, M., Le Baron, N., Tenhunen, K., Nephin, J., Wills, P., Moritmor, J., Dudas, S., & Rubidge, E. (2019). Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858-1956. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0143622819312160
Credit
Martin, Caden (contributed to the georeferencing)
Credit
Barlow, Tia (Contributed to project planning)
Status
completed; complété RI_593
RI_419
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Canadian Hydrographic Service - Peter Wills ( Supervisor Hydrographic Data Centre - Pacific Region )
PO Box 6000 9860 W Saanich Rd , Sidney , British Columbia , V84B2 , Canada
(250) 363-6669
(250) 363-6323
RI_419
  University of Victoria Spectral Lab - Maycira, Costa ( Lead Researcher, Associate Professor )
David Turpin Bldg Rm B126 3800 Finnerty Road , Victoria , British Columbia , V8P5C2 , Canada
(250) 721 7334
RI_419
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Ecosystems - Jessica Nephin ( Aquatic Scientist )
9860 West Saanich Road , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L4B2 , Canada
(250) 363-6564
(250) 362-6690
RI_419
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Science - James Mortimor ( Aquatic Science Biologist )
3190 Hammond Bay Road , Nanaimo , British Columbia , V9T6N7 , Canada
(250) 756-7354
RI_419
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Ecosystems and Oceans Science - Sarah Dudas ( Aquatic Science Biologist III )
3190 Hammond Bay Road , Nanaimo , British Columbia , V9T6N7 , Canada
(250) 756-3365
RI_419
  University of Victoria Spectral Lab - Nicole Le Baron ( Researcher )
David Turpin Bldg Rm B126 3800 Finnerty Road , Victoria , British Columbia , V8P5C2 , Canada
(250) 472-5223
RI_419
  Department Fisheries and Oceans - Canadian Hydrographic Service - Kim Tenhunen ( GIS spatial analyst and technician )
P.O. Box 6000 9860 West Saanich Road , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L4B2 , Canada
250-363-6354
RI_419
  Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Ocean Sciences Division - Emily Rubidge ( Aquatic Biologist )
9860 West Saanich Road , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L4B2 , Canada
(250) 363-6621
Maintenance and update frequency
notPlanned; nonPlanifié RI_542
DFO Areas MPO zones ( RI_525 )
  • North Pacific Ocean > #fraser River and BC Interior
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Coast Management Area
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Inner Coast (Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance, inlets and passages)
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Outer Coast(West Coast Queen Charlotte Islands)
  • North Pacific Ocean > South Inner Coast(Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca, inlets and passages)
  • North Pacific Ocean > South Outer Coast(West Coast Vancouver Island)
  • North Pacific Ocean > #fraser River and BC Interior
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Coast Management Area
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Inner Coast (Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance, inlets and passages)
  • North Pacific Ocean > North Outer Coast(West Coast Queen Charlotte Islands)
  • North Pacific Ocean > South Inner Coast(Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca, inlets and passages)
  • North Pacific Ocean > South Outer Coast(West Coast Vancouver Island)
Government of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus Thésaurus des sujets de base du gouvernement du Canada ( RI_528 )
  • Distribution
  • Distribution
  • Aquatic ecosystems
  • Aquatic ecosystems
  • Aquatic plants
  • Aquatic plants
  • Geographic information systems
  • Geographic information systems
  • Geographic data
  • Geographic data
  • Habitats
  • Habitats
Classification
unclassified; nonClassifié RI_484
Use limitation
Not to be used for navigation
Use limitation
Open Government Licence - Canada (http://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada)
Access constraints
license; licence RI_606
Use constraints
license; licence RI_606
Spatial representation type
vector; vecteur RI_635
Metadata language
eng; CAN
Metadata language
fra; CAN
Character set
utf8; utf8 RI_458
Topic category
  • Biota
  • Oceans
  • Geoscientific information
  • Location
N
S
E
W
thumbnail


Begin date
1858
End date
1956
Reference system identifier
https://epsg.io / EPSG:4326

Date ( RI_368 )
2007-08-27
RI_408
  Government of Canada

Distribution format
  • SHP ( 1 )

    File decompression technique
    .zip

Distributor

RI_409
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Canadian Hydrographic Service - Peter Wills ( Hydrographic Data Centre Supervisor )
P.O. Box 6000 9860 West Saanich Road , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L 4B2 , Canada
Fees
no
Ordering instructions
Digital Download
OnLine resource
Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858 - 1956 ( HTTPS )

Dataset;SHP;eng,fra

OnLine resource
Data Dictionary ( HTTPS )

Supporting Document;DOCX;eng,fra

OnLine resource
Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858 - 1956 ( ESRI REST: Map Server )

Web Service;ESRI REST;eng

OnLine resource
Historical distribution of kelp forests on the coast of British Columbia: 1858 - 1956 ( ESRI REST: Map Server )

Web Service;ESRI REST;fra

File identifier
bac83470-bc8f-4065-8ef3-bf76463c4ef2 XML
Metadata language
eng; CAN
Character set
utf8; utf8 RI_458
Hierarchy level
dataset; jeuDonnées RI_622
Date stamp
2025-02-11T01:21:56.672Z
Metadata standard name
North American Profile of ISO 19115:2003 - Geographic information - Metadata
Metadata standard version
CAN/CGSB-171.100-2009
RI_409
  Government of Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Canadian Hydrographic Service - Peter Wills ( Supervisor Hydrographic Data Centre Pacific Region )
O Box 6000 9860 W Saanich Rd, Sidney, BC, V8L4B2 , Sidney , British Columbia , V8L4B2 , Canada
(250) 363-6669
(250) 363-6323
 
 

Overviews

overview
kelp_ba_thumbnail.png

Spatial extent

N
S
E
W
thumbnail


Keywords


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Associated resources

Not available


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