Abstract:

This dataset contains zooplankton dry weight biomass calculated from samples collected during RV Weatherbird II and RV Bellows cruises from June 2012 to August 2014. Zooplankton was collected using towed bongo nets from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the west Florida shelf. The contents of the dataset are an assessment of the seasonal and interannual changes in zooplankton biomass after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Suggested Citation:

Daly, Kendra. 2015. Zooplankton dry weight biomass data for the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and west Florida shelf: June 2012 – August 2014. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7BG2KX7

Publications:

Daly, K. L., Remsen, A., Outram, D. M., Broadbent, H., Kramer, K., & Dubickas, K. (2021). Resilience of the zooplankton community in the northeast Gulf of Mexico during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 163, 111882. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111882

Purpose:

To assess the seasonal and interannual changes in zooplankton biomass after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (local and GMT), time (local and GMT), Latitude (N), Longitude (W), station, bottom depth (m), estimated depth of tow (m), volume filtered (m3), zooplankton dry weight biomass (mg/m3).

Methods:

Bongo nets sample collection. Bongo nets (60 cm diameter, 505 µm mesh nets) were towed obliquely through the water column from 200 meters to the surface, while the ship was underway at 1 - 2 knots keeping an approximate 45 degree wire angle. At stations shallower than 200 m, the maximum sampling depth was targeted to be 5 m above the bottom. The wire was let out at 50 m/min until the maximum depth was reached, held at depth for 30 seconds, and then retrieved at a constant rate (20 m/min). Flow meters in each net were read before and after each net deployment. The sample in the right cod end was preserved in buffered 10% formalin. The sample in the left cod end was concentrated onto a 200 μm sieve using salt water. The sample was photographed and then scooped into Falcon tubes or combusted 30 mL glass vials with screw caps for biomass analyses. The biomass tubes were placed into a labeled freezer bag and frozen at -20° C. Zooplankton Biomass Analyses. Zooplankton samples were removed from the freezer and allowed to thaw to room temperature. The samples were then placed into pre-weighed aluminum boats and dried at 60º C for about one week. Once dried, the samples were removed from the oven, allowed to cool to room temperature, and then reweighed. Zooplankton dry weight (mg) = (zooplankton + boat weight) – weight of boat. Zooplankton dry weight biomass (mg/m3) was calculated as the weight of zooplankton (mg) divided by the volume of water filtered (m3) by the bongo net for each specific tow. Biomass data are provided in excel files, with each cruise in a separate excel file. Files are named by cruise/date, where BE: RV Bellows; WB: RV Weatherbird II

Individual Files: