Abstract:

This dataset reports plankton species relative abundances from sites off the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. Plankton samples were collected from 15 offshore shelf sites from June 02 to June 04, 2013. It includes sites, date/times, length of tow, plankton samples, counts, and the percentage of total sample represented by each group. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros/Bacteriastrum spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia spp, Eucampia/Hemiaulus spp., other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionematales spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton.

Suggested Citation:

Nienow, James. 2014. Plankton species relative abundance data collected during R/V Bellows cruise BE-1322 in the DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico from 2013-06-02 to 2013-06-04. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7K64G2Z

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. Sampling stations: Station code: latitude (degree minutes); longitude (degree minutes); depth (meters) Station P1: 30° 15’ N; 87° 15’ W; 17 meters Station P3: 30° 05’ N; 87° 15’ W; 30 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; 28 meters Station C5: 30° 00’ N; 86° 40’ W; 93 meters Station C7: 29° 50’ N; 86° 40’ W; 100 meters Station C9: 29° 30’ N; 86° 40’ W; 100 meters Station A1: 30° 08’ N; 85° 46.5’ W; 15 meters Station A3: 29° 59.5’ N; 85° 52‘ W; 25 meters Station A5: 29° 51.25’ N; 85° 58’ W; 25 meters Station A7: 29° 42.75’ N; 86° 03.5’ W; 42 meters Station A9: 29° 34.75’ N; 86° 09.5’ W; 75 meters

Methods:

Samples were collected with a 25 micron mesh net with a 0.5 m mouth diameter

Individual Files: