Abstract:

This dataset contains quantification and source tracking data of surficial nutrients to Baffin Bay, Texas obtained from 2021-05-13 to 2022-05-25. To improve Baffin Bay ecosystem health, large-scale watershed restoration aimed at reducing nutrient loads is needed. Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi used Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funds under the Coastal Management Program’s 25th grant cycle to convene a multidisciplinary team of researchers to quantify nutrient loadings to Baffin Bay from surficial, groundwater/benthic and atmospheric sources. This dataset encompasses data collected as part of Task 1, which focused on potential nutrient sources to surface waters of Baffin Bay, Texas and its watershed.

Suggested Citation:

Wetz, Michael. 2024. Quantification and source tracking data of surficial nutrients to Baffin Bay, Texas obtained from 2021-05-13 to 2022-05-25. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/z00h6b2x

Purpose:

To improve Baffin Bay ecosystem health by focusing on potential nutrient sources to surface waters of Baffin Bay and its watershed.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (mm/dd/yyyy), Time (hh:mm), Site, Replicate, Level (m), Chlorophyll (µg/L), Conductivity (µS/cm), Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (mg/L), Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (%), pH, Temperature (°C), Dissolved Organic Carbon (µM/L), Total Dissolved Nitrogen (µM/L), Total Organic Carbon (µM/L), Total Nitrogen (µM/L), Ammonium (µM/L), Nitrate + Nitrite (µM/L), Nitrite (µM/L), Orthophosphate (µM/L), Silicate (µM/L), 15-N signature of particulate nitrogen (o/oo)

Methods:

At each site, hydrographic measurements were collected with a YSI ProPlus multi-parameter instrument from the surface. Surface measurements for temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation, and pH was obtained. Discrete grab samples were collected at 10 cm below the surface in acid-washed, polycarbonate amber bottles, and were stored on ice until processing. Refer to Wetz et al. 2017 for further methodological details.

Instruments:

YSI Professional Plus Multi-Parameter Probe Seal QuAAtro autoanalyzer Shimadzu TOC-Vs analyzer with nitrogen module Turner Trilogy fluorometer

Provenance and Historical References:

Wetz, M.S., E.K. Cira, B. Sterba-Boatwright, P.A. Montagna, T.A. Palmer, and K.C. Hayes. 2017. Exceptionally high organic nitrogen concentrations in a semi-arid South Texas estuary susceptible to brown tide blooms. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science, 188:27-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2017.02.001

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