Abstract:

The total particulate organic carbon (POC), organic nitrogen (PON) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) are all proxies for planktonic biomass. POC and PON include contributions from bacteria, zooplankton and phytoplankton; however, Chl a is operationally considered to be solely from phytoplankton (assumes no substantial Chl a from microzooplankton kleptoplasty). Size-fractioning these bulk particulates provides information regarding the distribution of biomass among large and small cells. Such information is useful for biogeochemical modelers who typically divide plankton into groups based on size.

Suggested Citation:

Krause, Jeffrey W,; Acton, Sydney. 2017. Size-fractionated particulate organic matter and chlorophyll on the Mississippi-Alabama Shelf in Fall 2015. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N79Z930H

Publications:

Dzwonkowski, B., Greer, A. T., Briseño-Avena, C., Krause, J. W., Soto, I. M., Hernandez, F. J., … Graham, W. M. (2017). Estuarine influence on biogeochemical properties of the Alabama shelf during the fall season. Continental Shelf Research, 140, 96–109. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2017.05.001

Greer, A., Shiller, A., Hofmann, E., Wiggert, J., Warner, S., … Graham, W. (2018). Functioning of Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems and Implications for Oil Spill Response: From Observations to Mechanisms and Models. Oceanography, 31(3). doi:10.5670/oceanog.2018.302

Purpose:

Rates of biological productivity were determined through a consortia partnership with the Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER) and Consortium for Oil Spill Exposure Pathways in Coastal River-Dominated Ecosystems (CONCORDE). The shared goal for each consortium was to understand the spatial and temporal variability in biological productivity rates. This information is critical for providing baseline information to understanding the potential effects of anthropogenic (e.g. oil spill) or natural (e.g. hurricane) disturbances on biological productivity in the Mississippi-Alabama shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Data Parameters and Units:

Cruise Name Event Number (YYYYMMDDHHHH, GMT) Local Time (HHHH) Operation Type (Activity) Station Name Latitude, Degrees North (integer) Latitude, decimal minutes Longitude, Degrees West (integer) Longitude, decimal minutes Bottom Depth, meters Target Depth, meters Hydrocast #, sequential number >0.6 μm Particulate Organic Carbon μg L-1 >5 μm Particulate Organic Carbon μg L-1 >0.6 μm Particulate Organic Nitrogen μg L-1 >5 μm Particulate Organic Nitrogen μg L-1 >0.6 μm Chlorophyll a μg L-1 >5 μm Chlorophyll a μg L-1

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