Benthic communities in the New London sidescan mosaic study area, USGS OFR 00-304

This data layer, which focuses on benthic communities, was developed as part of a cooperative project between the University of New Haven, the Connecticut DEP, and the U.S. Geological Survey. Benthic communities are an integral component of the ecology of Long Island Sound. Understanding the role that spatial heterogeneity plays in the dynamic of benthic landscapes may be a key to developing a better understanding of the estuarine ecology and the impacts of human activity. The purpose of providing this data layer is to help establish a regional framework for developing a more extensive GIS for benthic communities in Long Island Sound that can be used for education, research, and environmental management. The original studies were conducted to describe the benthic communities in Long Island Sound; the corresponding data layer is presented to show the available species richness data in eastern Long Island Sound. This data layer depicts benthic communities found in the New London sidescan sonar mosaic study area.