Abstract:

This dataset reports plankton species abundance from sites off the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. Plankton samples were collected from 14 offshore shelf sites May 5-7, 2012. This dataset reports the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia, Eucampia/Hemiaulus, other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionema spp., Nitzschiod diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and Zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as counts and as percentages of the total sample.

Suggested Citation:

Nienow, James. 2014. Plankton species abundance data collected from R/V Bellows cruise of DeSoto Canyon, May 2012 (BE-1212). Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N76W981D

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.

Data Parameters and Units:

Diatoms and dinoflagellates counted as cells, cyanobacteria as colonies/filaments, zooplankton as individuals (xlsx files) Station P1: 30° 15’ N; 87° 15’ W; 18 meters Station P3: 30° 05’ N; 87° 15’ W; 33 meters Station P5: 29° 55’ N; 87° 15’ W; 48 meters Station P7: 29° 45’ N; 87° 15’ W; 100 meters Station P9: 29° 25’ N; 87° 15’ W; 100 meters Station C1: 30° 20’ N; 86° 40’ W; 15 meters Station C3: 30° 10’ N; 86° 40’ W; 25 meters Station C5: 30° 00’ N; 86° 40’ W; 90 meters Station C7: 29° 50’ N; 86° 40’ W; 100 meters Station A1: 30° 08’ N; 85° 46.5’ W; 12 meters Station A3: 29° 59.5’ N; 85° 52‘ W; 25 meters Station A5: 29° 51.25’ N; 85° 58’ W; 35 meters Station A7: 29° 42.75’ N; 86° 03.5’ W; 45 meters Station A9: 29° 34.75’ N; 86° 09.5’ W; 85 meters

Methods:

Vertical tows from the surface to the depth indicated for each station and back to the surface- (net mesh = 25 micrometers; net diameter = 0.5 meters)

Individual Files: