This file contains the comprehensive benthic macroinvertebrate taxa list maintained by the NARS_IM system used for assessment purposes for the National Coastal Condition Assessment.

Data have been thoroughly reviewed, however they are not considered final until the NCCA Report is published. Data may be updated at any time. The changelog for the associated file may be found below the column name definitions.  

End-users are responsible for reviewing the suitability of these data for their purposes.                                               		
Please bring any questions about the data to the attention of Hugh Sullivan, NCCA Lead at sullivan.hugh@epa.gov.		
                                                		
                                         		
		
COLUMN_HEADING	LEGAL_VALUES	DESCRIPTION
PUBLICATION_DATE		Date the dataset was published by NARS IM     
TAXA_ID		NARS IM-assigned taxonomic ID number
TARGET_TAXON		Name of taxon at target taxon level used by NCCA
APHIA_ID		Taxon ID from World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
ITISTSN		ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number
HABITAT	EST for estuary| GL for Great Lakes	NCCA habitat type
PHYLUM		Phylum of taxon
CLASS		Class of taxon
ORDER		Order of taxon
FAMILY		Family of taxon
		
		
Changelog		
		
Publication Date 
Of Most recent
File Posted to
NARS Data Page 
        		Change
5/3/2024		Initial publication
8/23/2024		File refresh for multiple variables including updates to target taxon counts