Table and accompanying photographs for biogeomorphic classification of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast from May to August, 2014

Atlantic coast piping plover (Charadrius melodus) nest sites are typically found on low-lying beach and dune systems, which respond rapidly to coastal processes like sediment overwash, inlet formation, and island migration that are sensitive to climate-related changes in storminess and the rate of sea-level rise. Data were obtained to understand piping plover habitat distribution and use along their Atlantic Coast breeding range. A smartphone application called iPlover was developed to collect standardized data on habitat characteristics at piping plover nest locations. The application capitalized on a network of trained monitors that observe piping plovers throughout their U.S. Atlantic coast breeding range as part of the species’ recovery plan. Monitors used iPlover to document nest locations as well as randomly distributed points at beaches and barrier islands over ~1500 km of coast between Maine and North Carolina, USA. This work is one component of a larger research and management program that seeks to understand and sustain ecological value, ecosystem services, and habitat suitability of beaches in the face of storm impacts, climate change, and sea-level rise. Tabular digital data generated by field data collection with iPlover with accompanying site photographs in JPEG format are presented in this data release.

大西洋海岸笛鸻（Charadrius melodus）的巢址通常分布于低洼的海滩与沙丘系统中，这类系统对海岸过程响应迅速，包括沉积物冲溢、潮汐通道形成与岛屿迁移等，而这些过程对风暴活动、海平面上升速率相关的气候变化极为敏感。本数据集旨在探究大西洋海岸繁殖范围内笛鸻的栖息地分布与利用情况。研究团队开发了一款名为iPlover的智能手机应用程序，用于采集笛鸻巢址处栖息地特征的标准化数据。该应用依托经过培训的监测员网络展开工作——作为该物种恢复计划的一部分，这些监测员在美国大西洋海岸笛鸻全境繁殖范围内开展观测活动。监测员使用iPlover记录巢址位置，同时在美国缅因州至北卡罗来纳州约1500公里的海岸线上的海滩与障壁岛处采集随机分布的点位数据。本研究是一项大型研究与管理计划的组成部分，该计划旨在应对风暴影响、气候变化与海平面上升，探究并维持海滩的生态价值、生态系统服务功能与栖息地适宜性。本次发布的数据包含通过iPlover开展野外数据采集所生成的表格型数字数据，以及配套的JPEG格式栖息地点位照片。