Marine benthic habitat mapping of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, with an evaluation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard III

Trusel, Luke D.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Etherington, Lisa L.; Powell, Ross D.; Mayer, Larry A.

Abstract:

Seafloor geology and potential benthic habitats were mapped in Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, using multibeam sonar, ground-truth information, and geological interpretations. Muir Inlet is a recently deglaciated fjord that is under the influence of glacial and paraglacial marine processes. High glacially derived sediment and meltwater fluxes, slope instabilities, and variable bathymetry result in a highly dynamic estuarine environment and benthic ecosystem. We characterize the fjord seafloor and potential benthic habitats using the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) recently developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NatureServe. Substrates within Muir Inlet are dominated by mud, derived from the high glacial debris flux. Water-column characteristics are derived from a combination of conductivity temperature depth (CTD) measurements and circulation-model results. We also present modern glaciomarine sediment accumulation data from quantitative differential bathymetry. These data show Muir Inlet is divided into two contrasting environments: a dynamic upper fjord and a relatively static lower fjord. The accompanying maps represent the first publicly available high-resolution bathymetric surveys of Muir Inlet. The results of these analyses serve as a test of the CMECS and as a baseline for continued mapping and correlations among seafloor substrate, benthic habitats, and glaciomarine processes.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

98768

Citation Author:

Trusel, Luke D.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Etherington, Lisa L.; Powell, Ross D.; Mayer, Larry A.

Citation Contributing Office:

Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

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Citation Language:

ENGLISH

Citation Larger Work Title:

Citation LatN:

0575000

Citation LatS:

0590000

Citation LonE:

-1354000

Citation LonW:

-1364000

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Citation Phsyical Description:

iii, 26 p.; 4 Map Sheets; Sheet 1: 42.18 inches x 31.72 inches, Sheet 2: 40.24 inches x 35.00 inches, Sheet 3: 40.63 inches x 36.00 inches, Sheet 4: 38.76 inches x 36.00 inches

Citation Projection:

Universal Transverse Mercator Zone

Citation Public Comments:

Prepared for the National Park Service

Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Scientific Investigations Map

Citation Series Code:

SIM

Citation Series Number:

3122

Citation Search Results Text:

Marine benthic habitat mapping of Muir Inlet, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska, with an evaluation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard III; 2010; SIM; 3122; Trusel, Luke D.; Cochrane, Guy R.; Etherington, Lisa L.; Powell, Ross D.; Mayer, Larry A.