U.S. Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center National Park Service - Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network 20220927 tabular digital data Rocky Intertidal Data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park ver 4.0, December 2025 Anchorage, Alaska U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Suggested Citation: U.S. Geological Survey - Alaska Science Center, National Park Service - Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network, 2022. Rocky intertidal data from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park (ver 4.0, December 2025): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7513WCB https://doi.org/10.5066/F7513WCB This is a child item of the USGS Data Release: https://doi.org/10.5066/F7513WCB. These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) long-term monitoring program, nearshore monitoring component. The dataset has three comma separated values (.csv) file exported from a Microsoft Access relational database. The data consist of: 1) size and disease state of sea stars, 2) counts of sea stars, and 3) taxonomic classification. These data provide sizes, counts, density, and disease state of sea stars at sites in sheltered rocky habitats. These data are used to estimate density of healthy and diseased sea stars and sea star size frequency on sheltered rocky shorelines to assess change in intertidal invertebrate communities on rocky shorelines. Sampling was conducted within regions of Alaska including: Kenai Peninsula (KEP; Kenai Fjords National Park), Alaska Peninsula (AKP; Katmai National Park and Preserve), and Prince William Sound (PWS; northern, western, and eastern Prince William Sound). Study site locations are described in the "Monitoring Site Locations" data release: https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R (Coletti et al. 2017). This dataset is a component of the nearshore monitoring portion of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA) program. There are multiple datasets associated with the rocky site sampling; see "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_Rocky_Intertidal_Sampling_OVERVIEW" for a list of all associated datasets. Two additional closely related USGS Data Releases from these sampling locations are available: (1) temperature logger data (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7WH2N3T) and (2) mussel (Mytilus) sampling (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7FN1498). 2006 2025 observed In work Annually Prince William Sound (east, north, and west), Kenai Fjords National Park, Katmai National Park and Preserve. -156.643 -145.415 61.122 57.938 USGS Metadata Identifier USGS:ASC486 ISO 19115 Topic Category Biota Environment NASA GCMD Earth Science Keyword Thesaurus Animals/Invertebrates Echinoderms Aquatic ecosystems Intertidal zone Biospheric indicators USGS CSA Biocomplexity Thesaurus Intertidal environments Marine invertebrates USGS Thesaurus Marine ecosystems Community ecology Ecosystem monitoring None Nearshore ecology Sea star USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Alaska Gulf of Alaska Prince William Sound Alaska Peninsula Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) Kenai Fjords National Park Katmai National Park and Preserve None Asteroidea ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Unknown online database online ITIS-North America Taxonomic details retrieved November 17, 2025, from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System online database https://www.itis.gov https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) Unknown online database online WoRMS Editorial Board Taxonomic details retrieved November 17, 2025, from the World Register of Marine Species online database https://www.marinespecies.org https://doi.org/10.14284/170 Sea star species were identified by trained observers in the field using physical characteristics. Provided here is the classification of sea stars to the taxonomic rank of 'Class'. Further details of taxonomy are provided in the table "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv" included with this data package. Kingdom Animalia Subkingdom Bilateria Infrakingdom Deuterostomia Phylum Echinodermata Subphylum Asterozoa Class Asteroidea No access constraints. No use constraints. These data are marked with a Creative Commons Zero v1.0 (CC0-1.0) Universal public domain dedication. It is requested that this USGS data release be cited for any subsequent publications that reference or utilize these data. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov Many people (USGS staff, contractors, and volunteers, NPS staff and volunteers, NOAA staff, UCSC students, Cook Inlet RCAC Staff) deserve thanks and recognition for the collection of the invertebrate and algae observations contained in this data set. The following is a non-comprehensive list of personnel involved in data collection for this dataset: Brenda Ballachey, James Bodkin, Kelly Bodkin, Heather Coletti, Ashley Coletti, Katie Corliss, Tom Dean, Angie Doroff, George Esslinger, Dan Esler, Allan Fukuyama, Frankie Gerraty, Yvette Gillies, Mack Hughes, Kim Kloecker, Mandy Lindeberg, Laura McDuffie, Melissa Miner, Dan Monson, John Paszalek, Jessica Perry, Brian Robinson, Max Rintoul, Michelle Staedler, Tjibbe Stelwagen, Sarah Traiger, Carissa Turner, Ken Vicknair, Vanessa Von Biela, Ben Weitzman. Traiger, S.B. Bodkin, J.L. Coletti, H.A. Ballachey, B. Dean, T. Esler, D. Iken, K. Konar, B. Lindeberg, M.R. Monson, D. Robinson, B. Suryan, R.M. Weitzman, B.P. 2022 journal article Marine Ecology e12715 online Wiley Traiger, S.B, Bodkin, J.L., Coletti, H.A., Ballachey, B., Dean, T., Esler, D., Iken, K., Konar, B., Lindeberg, M.R., Monson, D., Robinson, B., Suryan, R.M., Weitzman, B.P., 2022, Evidence of increased mussel abundance related to the Pacific marine heatwave and sea star wasting. Marine Ecology e12715. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12715 https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12715 Suryan, R.M. Arimitsu, M.L. Coletti, H.A. Hopcroft, R.R. Lindeberg, M.R. Barbeaux, S.J. Batten, S.D. Burt, W.J. Bishop, M.A. Bodkin, J.L. Brenner, R. Campbell, R.W. Cushing, D.A. Danielson, S.L. Dorn, M.W. Drummond, B. Esler, D. Gelatt, T. Hanselman, D.H. Hatch, S.A. Haught, S. Holderied, K. Iken, K. Irons, D.B. Kettle, A.B. Kimmel, D.G. Konar, B. Kuletz, K.J. Laurel, B.J. Maniscalco, J.M. Matkin, C. McKinstry, C.A.E. Monson, D.H. Moran, J.R. Olsen, D. Palsson, W.A. Pegau, W.S. Piatt, J.F. Rogers, L.A. Rojek, N.A. Schaefer, A. Spies, I.B. Straley, J.M. Strom, S.L. Sweeney, K.L. Szymkowiak, M. Weitzman, B.P. Yasumiishi, E.M. Zador, S.G. 2021 journal article Nature Scientific Reports 11:6235 online Nature Briefing Suryan, R.M., Arimitsu, M.L., Coletti, H.A., et al., 2021., Ecosystem response persists after a prolonged marine heatwave. Nature Scientific Reports 11:6235. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83818-5 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83818-5 Weitzman, B.P. Konar, B. Iken, K. Coletti, H.A. Monson, D.H. Suryan, R. Dean, T.A. Hondolero, D. Lindeberg, M. 2021 journal article Frontiers in Marine Science 8:556820 online Frontiers Weitzman, B.P., Konar, B., Iken, K., Coletti, H.A., Monson, D.H., Suryan, R., Dean, T.A., Hondolero, D., Lindeberg, M., 2021, Changes in rocky intertidal community structure during a marine heatwave in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Frontiers in Marine Science 8:556820. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.556820 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.556820 Bodkin, J.L. Coletti, H.A. Ballachey, B.E. Monson, D.H. Esler, D. Dean, T.A. 2018 journal article Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 147:87-97 online Elsevier Bodkin, J.L., Coletti, H.A., Ballachey, B.E., Monson, D.H., Esler, D., Dean, T.A., 2018, Variation in abundance of Pacific Blue Mussel (Mytilus trossulus) in the Northern Gulf of Alaska, 2006–2015. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 147:87-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.04.008 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.04.008 Konar, B. Iken, K. Coletti, H.A. Monson, D.H. Weitzman, B.P. 2016 journal article Estuaries and Coasts 39:1735-1745 online SpringerLink Konar, B., Iken, K., Coletti, H.A., Monson, D.H., Weitzman, B.P., 2016, Influence of static habitat attributes on local and regional rocky intertidal community structure. Estuaries and Coasts 39:1735-1745. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-016-0114-0 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-016-0114-0 Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) protocols for these data included: 1) entering identification data directly into the electronic databases in the field, thus avoiding transcription errors while copying from data sheets, 2) algae and invertebrate names were verified and standardized by using drop-down lists on electronic data entry forms, 3) data were proofed and edited immediately after each site was sampled and before beginning a new site, 4) all records were checked for missing values, duplicates, outliers, and inconsistencies, and 5) field notes and other data sheets associated with rocky intertidal monitoring were checked against the database. Counting diseased and healthy sea stars began in 2019. Observers were trained on identification of sea star wasting symptoms using the ID guide at https://marine.ucsc.edu/data-products/sea-star-wasting/#id-guides. Only presence of symptoms is recorded, severity of symptoms is not recorded. Attribute values fall within expected ranges. Count data were entered electronically in the field, rather than being recorded on datasheets to prevent transcription errors. After a site has been sampled, the data were proofed and edited in the field before beginning a new site. Field notes and other data sheets associated with rocky intertidal monitoring are checked against the database. In 2011, none of the AKP (Katmai NP) sites were sampled. In 2021, no data were collected at KEP_B5_RI_03 (Kenai Fjords) Nuka Bay due to weather. In 2022, AKP_B10_RI_02 (Katmai NP) star swath was not sampled because the site was sampled on a +0.2 m MLLW tide day, due to weather. In 2023, KEP_B05_RI_02 (Kenai Fjords) was not sampled due to inclement weather. In 2024, KEP_B05_RI_04 (Kenai Fjords) was not sampled to due weather. In 2025, none of the KEP (Kenai Fjords) sites were sampled. Transects for rocky intertidal sampling are marked with stainless steel eye-bolts and a site ID marker plate to ensure consistency in sampling location. Additionally, several eye-bolts are placed along the transects' horizontal lengths to ensure similar placement of the lines. Coordinates are not recorded for each eye-bolt. Tide prediction software and GPS clock and location data (approximately 4 m accuracy) are used to estimate 0 MLLW for the sea star swath lower boundaries, but coordinates were not recorded. Rather, each year when re-sampling the site, the same tools are used to conduct the sea star swath count. SEA STAR COUNT: Sea stars were counted along 50-meter-long swaths at each of the randomly selected sites within sheltered rocky shorelines. The lower edge of the transect was placed at 0 MLLW (mean lower low water). Star swath sizes were varied in the early years of this monitoring project from 4 m wide X 100 m long to 4 m wide X 50 m long. The 4 m X 50 m swath size was chosen for all future sampling. Unknown QA/QC: Notes were compiled on items that couldn't be addressed in the field (e.g., new species ID) by combining data from multiple field laptops. Field entered data and notes were provided to the database administrator at National Park Service - Southwest Alaska Network for updates, corrections to the master database. A copy of the data was provided to Dr. Sarah Traiger (or Dr. Tom Dean prior to 2022) for an additional round of QAQC. Any fixes were communicated back to the NPS-SWAN database administrator. Finally, a comma separated values (.csv) file of each table was exported. Each file contains the whole time series. Unknown LITERATURE CITED: Coletti, H.A., Kloecker, K.A., Bodkin, J.L., Dean, T.A., 2017. Gulf Watch Alaska nearshore component: monitoring site locations from Prince William Sound, Katmai National Park and Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R Dean, T.A., Bodkin, J.L., 2011. SOP for sampling of intertidal invertebrates and algae on sheltered rocky shores - Version 4.6: Southwest Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network. Natural Resource Report NPS/SWAN/NRR - 2011/397. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2170950 Dean, T.A., Bodkin, J.L. Coletti, H.A., 2014. Protocol narrative for marine nearshore ecosystem monitoring in the Gulf of Alaska: Version 1.1. Natural Resource Report NPS/SWAN/NRR— 2014/756. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2206501 Unknown The only spatial information in this dataset are the named locations for the sampling sites. Sites are documented with start and end coordinates and are also referred to by name (e.g., Herring Bay rocky sampling site). Please refer to Coletti et al. 2017, a USGS data release which provides for geographic coordinates of all sites: https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv Table containing the taxonomic classification of sea star species sampled along transects. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table. Author defined Kingdom Taxonomic hierarchical level; Kingdom. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Kingdom. Phylum Taxonomic hierarchical level; Phylum. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Phylum. Class Taxonomic hierarchical level; Class. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Class. Order Taxonomic hierarchical level; Order. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Order. Family Taxonomic hierarchical level; Family. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Family. Genus Taxonomic hierarchical level; Genus. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System Taxonomic hierarchical level; Genus. Species_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. This refers to the 'Species_Name' attribute throughout all tables included with this data release. The term "spp." indicated that the animal could not be identified to species, only Genus. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. Current_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. If the scientific species name has not changed over time, the 'Species_Name' and 'Current_Name' will be identical. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. Type Common name for the group in which the animal belongs. Author defined Common name for the group in which the animal belongs. Taxon_Authority Taxonomic classification authority used in the classification of the species. Author defined ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System; authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (November 17, 2025) WoRMS World Register of Marine Species World Register of Marine Species (November 17, 2025) Taxon_AuthorityID A unique identification number for each species from the particular Taxonomic Authority. For ITIS: 'Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN)'. For WoRMS: 'Aphia ID'. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species The unique identification number for each species from the particular Taxonomic Authority. KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_count.csv Table with counts of sea stars at rocky intertidal sampling sites used to estimate the density of sea stars at rocky intertidal sites. Each record is the count of sea stars at a single rocky intertidal sampling site. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table exported from a relational database. Author defined Site_Code Identification code of sampling site, as defined in Coletti et al. 2017, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R, and Dean et al. 2014. The 'Site_Code' is comprised of 4 parts, 1) the region (AKP, KEP, PWS), 2) the block number (5, 7, 8, 9, or 10), 3) the sampling type (described below), and 4) the sample type number (01-05). Coletti et al. 2017 and Dean et al. 2014 RI Sampling type = Rocky Intertidal Intensive Block. Intensive sites are chosen by a random process. Author defined RE Sampling Type = Rocky Intertidal Extensive Block Author defined RS Sampling Type = Selected Sites. Selected sites are chosen for a specific reason (e.g., existence of historic data) Author defined Site_Name Name of sampling site, as defined in Coletti et al. 2017, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R, and Dean et al. 2014. Coletti et al. 2017 and Dean et al. 2014 A unique site name given to each unique 'Site_Code'. Sample_Date Date the sea star swath was sampled. Author defined Date the sea star swath was sampled (YYYY-MM-DD). Sample_Year Year the sea star swath was sampled. Author defined Year the sea star swath was sampled (YYYY). Transect_Width_m Width of the sea star swath surveyed in meters. Author defined 4 4 meters Transect_Length_m Length of the sea star swath surveyed in meters. Author defined 50 100 meters Species_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. See table "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv" included with this data release for taxonomic details. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. Current_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. See table "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv" included with this data release for taxonomic details. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. Count Number of individual sea stars counted along the swath. Author defined 0 633 Count Density_individual200SqM Calculated density of individual sea stars within a 200 square meter swath. Includes both healthy and diseased sea stars. Author defined 0 633 Individuals per 200 square meters Density_Healthy Calculated density of healthy sea stars (showing no signs of sea star wasting disease). Null values "." indicate that no data on sea star health were recorded. Author defined 0 250 Density Density_Diseased Calculated density of diseased sea stars (with symptoms of sea star wasting disease). Null values "." indicate that no data on sea star disease were recorded. Author defined 0 2 Density KATMKEFJWPWS_2020-2025_seaStar_sizeDisease.csv Table with length measurements and disease status of sea stars at rocky intertidal sampling sites. Each record shows the length and disease status of one sea star at a single rocky intertidal sampling site. Presented in a Comma Separated Value (CSV) formatted table exported from a relational database. Author defined Site_Code Identification code of sampling site, as defined in Coletti et al. 2017, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R, and Dean et al. 2014. The 'Site_Code' is comprised of 4 parts, 1) the region (AKP, KEP, PWS), 2) the block number (5, 7, 8, 9, or 10), 3) the sampling type (described below), and 4) the sample type number (01-05). Coletti et al. 2017 and Dean et al. 2014 RI Sampling type = Rocky Intertidal Intensive Block. Intensive sites are chosen by a random process. Author defined Site_Name Name of sampling site, as defined in Coletti et al. 2017, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78S4N3R, and Dean et al. 2014. Coletti et al. 2017 and Dean et al. 2014 A unique site name given to each unique 'Site_Code'. Sample_Date Date the sea star swath was sampled. Author defined Date the sea star swath was sampled (YYYY-MM-DD). Sample_Year Year the sea star swath was sampled. Author defined Year the sea star swath was sampled (YYYY). Species_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. See table "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv" included with this data release for taxonomic details. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of data collection. Current_Name Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. See table "KATMKEFJWPWS_2006-2025_seaStar_taxonomy.csv" included with this data release for taxonomic details. ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System and World Register of Marine Species Scientific name of sampled species at the time of the data release. Size_mm Sea star radius (millimeters) from center to tip of longest arm. Author defined 5 244 millimeters Diseased_State The presence of any symptoms of sea star wasting disease. The severity of the disease was not specified. Author defined H Healthy, no signs of sea star wasting disease. Author defined D Diseased, signs of sea star wasting disease. Author defined Comments Comments on sea star diseased state. Blank cells indicate that no comments were recorded. Author defined Comments on sea star diseased state. U.S. Geological Survey USGS ScienceBase Team Mailing and Physical

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Denver Colorado 80225 USA 1-888-275-8747 sciencebase@usgs.gov The U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source of these data, distributed by ScienceBase (a USGS Trusted Digital Repository). Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes or on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. CSV Tabular data in CSV format; FGDC metadata in XML and HTML formats. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7513WCB None Gulf Watch Alaska Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA (907) 278-8012 https://gulfwatchalaska.org Gulf Watch Alaska is the long-term ecosystem monitoring program of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council for the marine ecosystem affected by the 1989 oil spill. Gulf Watch Alaska is an alternative distributor of these data. The USGS Alaska Science Center is the authoritative source and distributor of these data. To facilitate discovery and access, the data are also available through Gulf Watch Alaska via the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) - Gulf of Alaska Data Portal. The USGS Alaska Science Center is not responsible for the accuracy, maintenance, or integrity of any alternative source of these data. CSV https://gulf-of-alaska.portal.aoos.org/#metadata/7867a791-8b05-4a8c-8065-eb6e1b425f5f/project/folder_metadata/39901164 None The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) - Gulf of Alaska Data Portal is accessible at: https://portal.aoos.org/gulf-of-alaska 20251201 U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center Mailing and Physical

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Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA 907-786-7000 gs-ak_asc_datamanagers@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) FGDC-STD-001.1-1999