Abstract:
Baffin Bay, Texas is a predominantly hypersaline estuarine system with frequent fluctuations in water quality and algal blooms. Stable isotope samples (for analysis of δ13C and δ15N) were collected to better understand trophic dynamics within the system, particularly in relation to Black Drum (Pogonias cromis), a commercially important benthic predator. Black Drum were collected through partnerships with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and commercial anglers. Other fish species (Red Drum, Atlantic Croaker, Spotted Seatrout, and Sheepshead) were sampled opportunistically on one occasion. Macroinfauna and sediment organic matter were collected quarterly using benthic coring. Suspended particulate organic matter was also sampled quarterly via surface water samples. Collections were completed over a wide range of salinity conditions from April 2015 to August 2017. Stations in the Baffin Bay were assessed for the entire study period, and 2 stations in the more hydrologically stable Laguna Madre were added in 2015 for comparison. Sites in the Laguna Madre were characterized by the presence of seagrass, while the bottom-type in the Baffin Bay is primarily bare sediment. These data were collected as part of a larger study to assess trophic functioning of Baffin Bay, particularly resource availability for the commercially important Black Drum (Pogonias cromis). Quantitative macrofaunal community analyses were also conducted, and those data are available under GRIIDC Unique Dataset Identifier (UDI) HI.x846.000:0001 (DOI: 10.7266/ZNMDE1P0). This dataset supports the publications: Breaux, N., Lebreton, B., Palmer, T. A., Guillou, G., & Beseres Pollack, J. (2019). Ecosystem resilience following salinity change in a hypersaline estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 225, 106258. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2019.106258; and Rubio, K. S., Ajemian, M., Stunz, G. W., Palmer, T. A., Lebreton, B., & Beseres Pollack, J. (2018). Dietary composition of black drum Pogonias cromis in a hypersaline estuary reflects water quality and prey availability. Journal of Fish Biology, 93(2), 250–262. doi:10.1111/jfb.13654.
This dataset was funded by the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries program, Texas Sea Grant, and the Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservation Program.
Suggested Citation:
Jennifer Pollack, Terry Palmer, Benoit Lebreton, Natasha Breaux, Kathryn Rubio. 2019. Stable isotope composition of organic matter, benthic macrofauna, and fish in Baffin Bay and Laguna Madre, Texas, from 2015-04-21 to 2017-08-11. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/PJ139ZRD
Purpose:
These data were collected as part of a larger study to assess trophic functioning of Baffin Bay and the Upper Laguna Madre, particularly resource availability for the commercially important Black Drum (Pogonias cromis).
Data Parameters and Units:
Identifier (Location-date-species combination), Date (ddMMMyyyy), Bay (BB= Baffin Bay or LM= Laguna Madre), Station (TPWD or TAMU-CC station code, listed as combined when all samples were pooled from one bay), Latitude and Longitude (Decimal Degrees), Fish ID (#), Fish TL (Total Length, in mm), Sample Type (Core Fauna, Muscle Tissue, Seagrass, Stomach Liquid, Gut Content, SOM-C (Sediment Organic Matter for Carbon analysis), SOM-N (Sediment Organic Matter for Nitrogen analysis), SPOM-C (Suspended Particulate Organic Matter for Carbon analysis), SPOM-N (Suspended Particulate Organic Matter for Nitrogen analysis)), Species/Kind, %N (Percentage composition of Nitrogen, %), d15N vs. Air (Ratio of 15N to 14N as compared to a standard, ‰), %C (Percentage composition of Carbon, %), d13C vs. VPDB (Ratio of 13C to 12C as compared to a standard, ‰).
Note: AL = Alazan Bay; BB = Baffin Bay; CG = Cayo del Grullo; LS = Laguna Salada; LM189S = Laguna Madre 189 Sand; and LM189G = Laguna Madre 189 Grass.
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