Abstract:

This dataset contains in-situ optical measurements and lab analyses of biochemical content for water samples collected from four historical natural oyster reefs and two proposed material-planted reefs in the Mississippi Sound. The data, which integrate optical, biochemical, and biological observations with a cutting-edge oyster larval model, aim to identify, understand, and predict the nutritional constraints affecting oyster larvae performance, including survival, growth, and success at metamorphosis in the Mississippi Sound. An inherent optical properties (IOP) package, equipped with a suite of instruments such as an ACS, LISST-VSF, BB-9, ECO-BB, and CTD, is used for in-situ water measurements. Water samples are collected in the field and analyzed in the lab for lipid, protein, carbohydrate, and total suspended material content. These experiments are conducted twice a month from May to October in 2024 and 2025.