Table and accompanying photographs for biogeomorphic classification of shorebird nesting sites on the U.S. Atlantic coast from March to September, 2016

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 on over 930 miles 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矮海滩与沙丘系统，这类生境可对海岸过程做出快速响应，包括沉积物冲溢、潮汐通道形成与岛屿迁移——上述过程对风暴活动变化及海平面上升速率相关的气候变化极为敏感。本数据集的采集旨在探究大西洋海岸繁殖分布区内笛鸻的栖息地分布与利用特征。研究团队开发了一款名为iPlover的智能手机应用程序，用于标准化采集笛鸻巢址的生境属性数据。该程序依托经过专业培训的监测员网络，这些监测员在美国大西洋海岸笛鸻的整个繁殖分布区内开展监测工作，作为该物种恢复计划的组成部分。监测员使用iPlover记录巢址位置，并在美国缅因州至北卡罗来纳州之间超过930英里的海岸带的海滩与障壁岛布设随机采样点。本研究是一项更大规模研究与管理项目的子任务，该项目旨在厘清并维持风暴影响、气候变化与海平面上升背景下海滩的生态价值、生态系统服务与栖息地适宜性。本次数据发布包含通过iPlover开展野外数据采集所生成的表格化数字数据集，以及配套的JPEG格式场地照片。