Abstract:

These data were collected to examine larval King Mackerel abundance and condition in relation to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Ichthyoplankton samples were collected monthly (May through August) along a cross-shelf transect off the coast of Alabama (USA) prior, during and after the DWHOS. Samples were collected during daylight hours using a Bedford Institute of Oceanography Net Environmental Sampling System (BIONESS; Open Seas Instrumentation, Inc.). The BIONESS had a 0.25-m2 mouth opening fitted with 333 um or 202 um mesh nets. All King Mackerel larvae used in the morphometric analyses were imaged under a dissecting microscope fitted with a high-resolution digital camera (Canon EOS Rebel T3i, Canon, Inc.). Body dimensions were measured using -Solution Lite imaging software (IMT i-Solution, Inc.).

Suggested Citation:

Hernandez, Frank; Filbrun, Jesse. 2016. Abundance estimates and morphometric measurements of King Mackerel larvae collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico, 2007-2011. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7154F3P

Purpose:

These data were collected to examine larval King Mackerel abundance and condition in relation to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS).

Data Parameters and Units:

Cruise; Date (MM/DD/YYYY); Station; Mesh size (um); Depth bin where sample was collected (m below surface); Sample ID; Larval King Mackerel abundance (larvae/10m2); larval fish notochord length (NL, mm); larval fish depth at pectoral fin (DPF, mm); larval fish depth at anus (DA, mm); larval fish head length (HL, mm); larval fish head height (HH, mm); larval fish eye diameter (ED, mm); larval fish lower jaw length (LJL, mm)

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