Select epibenthic megafauna of Southwest New Brunswick, Bay of Fundy, Canada, identified from in situ high-resolution digital still images
Description
A collection of 5081 near-seafloor digital still images were captured using a newly-developed drift-camera system’s downward-facing camera during benthic imagery surveys in southwest New Brunswick across 15 survey days in fall 2022 to 2024. Of these, 1699 images (spaced ~20 m apart) were analyzed using the image annotation software BIIGLE to record presence of 68 target taxa. These 68 taxa are identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and were selected based on confidence of identification from a strictly visual approach, building on experience from analyzing prior surveys employing a similar methodology. This catalogue contains representative images, brief descriptions of each taxa, and notes on the benthic habitat types in which they were observed (64 of the target 68 taxa were encountered in this study). These images and annotations contribute to the characterization of benthic habitats in southwest New Brunswick, and also support development of a regional conservation network plan. For each of the 64 taxa observed, we report their scientific name, World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) identification number, link to extended examples on iNaturalist, example images from the current study, habitat description (substrate associations), and potential lower classification where applicable.
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Steps to reproduce
Detailed methodology for the near-seafloor imagery survey is presented as a DFO technical report (Teed and Lawton 2026a). In brief, a full frame digital camera (D850, Nikon, Mississauga, ON, Canada), oriented downwards, captured individual digital still images (generally ~25 MB, but up to 45 MP; 8256 x 5504 pixels) at periodic intervals. Target image acquisition rate was typically every 30 s; though dependent on speed over ground (SOG), in order not to generate either multiple closely-spaced images (at very low SOG), or only a few widely-spaced images (very high SOG). Still image files were recorded and automatically named according to transect number (CON###), date and UTC time (e.g., CON002-20220921T124202). A VA500 altimeter (Teledyne Valeport Ltd, Totnes, UK) provided records of the height of the survey package off-bottom (once every second), and a pair of lasers (10-cm spacing) provided a means to evaluate the field of view (FOV) in both the downward video and still imagery (estimated using ImageJ2 – Rueden et al. 2017). The FOV was estimated using a subset of images for each year to account for minor system adjustments. Reported depths (in m Below Chart Datum, BCD) corresponding to the location of the camera track were extracted from the 1 to 10-m multibeam echosounder and LiDAR bathymetry data (OMG 2007). Images were selected for analysis using a ~20-m spacing to reduce the annotation workload. Still images were deemed unusable and removed from the dataset if there were insufficient light levels, too much turbidity, or if the altitude off-bottom exceeded 1.9 m. This yielded 1699 still images for analysis (of the 5081 collected). For morphotypes, labels were based on visual assessment of morphological traits, for example ‘encrusting sponges’. Taxa and morphotypes of interest were limited to sessile and mobile benthic taxa, with a few burrowing organisms. Taxonomic names were obtained from the World Register of Marine Species. Organism occurrences in selected still images were analyzed using the image annotation software BIIGLE 2.0. Annotations corresponded to a designated label of a taxa (species or higher level) or a morphotype. Identifications were limited by the bottom conditions (light penetration, water, turbidity) and the image resolution, focus, and blurriness. As such, only taxa and morphotypes of interest (often ≥2 cm in size) were annotated, mostly to the species or genus level. As of this report, some taxa remain unconfirmed and may be verified in the future by taxonomic experts, including through feedback on image examples posted on the iNaturalist.org community site (iNaturalist 2025). Unconfirmed taxa or taxa that may be later classified further are indicated by an asterisk (*). Feedback from community members resulted in some suggested changes to identifications (namely fishes), which were then applied in BIIGLE. Taxa are organized alphabetically by phylum and then by Class, Order, Family, Genus, and finally Species.
Institutions
- Fisheries and Oceans CanadaOntario, Ottawa