Abstract:

This dataset reports conductivity, temperature, and depth data from 25 sites collected during R/V Bellows cruise BE-1301 of the offshore shelf of the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon from July 8th to 10th, 2012. Water samples collected in the field were analyzed in the Wetlands Research Laboratory at the University of West Florida for nutrient concentrations. Quantitative nanoplankton census data taken via scanning electron microscopy to determine after-the-fact, the effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on these skeletal (coccolith)-bearing phytoplankton is reported here.

Suggested Citation:

Snyder, Richard. 2014. Conductivity, temperature, depth, water quality, and coccolith species data from R/V Bellows cruise BE-1301, July 8-10, 2012. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7NS0RSN

Publications:

Moss, J. A., McCurry, C., Schwing, P., Jeffrey, W. H., Romero, I. C., Hollander, D. J., & Snyder, R. A. (2016). Molecular characterization of benthic foraminifera communities from the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico shelf and slope following the Deepwater Horizon event. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 115, 1–9. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2016.04.010

Purpose:

To evaluate the biological diversity and trophic interactions among organisms ranging from primary producers to apex predators and from the deep-sea benthos to the coast. These data contribute to a food web model used to determine risks to ecosystem structure and function and regional economies following from extreme anthropogenic events (e.g., discharged and background hydrocarbon) and adaptive management strategies. Calcareous nanoplankton are important photosynthetic protist constituents at the base of the food chain in the Gulf of Mexico. The nanoplankton flora is strongly controlled by the physical and chemical conditions of the water. Hence, the spatial and temporal variation in their populations, composition and coccolith production in the water column indicate the prevalence of one type of environment versus another. Quantitative nanoplankton census data taken via scanning electron microscopy to determine after-the-fact, the effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on these skeletal (coccolith)-bearing phytoplankton is reported here.

Data Parameters and Units:

CTD: Depth (m) Temperature [ITS-90, deg C] Conductivity [S/m] Pressure, Strain Gauge [db] Oxygen, SBE 43 [ml/l] Oxygen, SBE 43 [% saturation] Oxygen Saturation, Weiss [ml/l] Salinity, Practical [PSU]Fluorescence, WET Labs CDOM [mg/m^3] Fluorescence, WET Labs ECO-AFL/FL [mg/m^3] Turbidity, WET Labs ECO [NTU]. Nutrients: Ammonia - N (FIA) (ug N/L), Nitrate/Nitrite Total (ug N/L), Phosphorus (FIA) (ug P/L), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (FIA) (mg N/L), Total Phosphorus (FIA) (mg P/L).PLANKTON: Coccolithophore cell density - Number of coccolithophore cells per liter of water. Species count - Number of listed species encountered.

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