Abstract:

Diver surveys for a non-indigenous damselfish, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, were performed in September 2017 on a natural gas platform offshore of Alabama and forty-two individuals were collected by divers. Standard, fork, and total length measurements were recorded to the nearest millimeter and mass was recorded to the nearest 0.01 gram for each specimen. Temperature and salinity of the water column were measured with a Sontek Castaway CTD.

Suggested Citation:

Alison Robertson, Clay Bennett. 2018. Measurements of regal damselfish, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico, September 2017. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7RB733X

Publications:

Bennett, C. (2019). First record of the non-indigenous Indo-Pacific damselfish, Neopomacentrus cyanomos (Bleeker, 1856) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. BioInvasions Records, 8(1), 154–166. doi:10.3391/bir.2019.8.1.17

Purpose:

The purpose of this data set was to document ecology and life history data on non-indigenous regal damselfish, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, in the northern Gulf of Mexico and determine the impact on the biodiversity of the natural community assemblage.

Data Parameters and Units:

damselfish_ACER_2017.csv: sample identification: identity number for fish sample date: month, day, year (MM/DD/YYYY) when data were collected latitude: latitude of site, measured in decimal degrees (DDD.DDDD) longitude: longitude of site, measured in decimal degrees (DDD.DDDD) site description: description of reef type bottom type: characterization of the substrate directly surrounding the structure depth: approximate water depth at site, measured in meters species: genus species of specimen standard length: the distance from the anterior tip of the snout to the origin of the caudal fin rays, measured to the nearest millimeter fork length: the distance from the anterior tip of the snout to the fork in the caudal fin, measured to the nearest millimeter total length: the distance from the anterior tip of the snout to the posterior tip of the pinched caudal fin, measure to the nearest millimeter weight: the wet whole weight of a fish, measured to the nearest hundredth decimal in grams note: explanation of blanks in measurement data blank fields indicate no measurement recorded damselfish_CTD_ACER_2017.csv: date: month, day, year (MM/DD/YYYY) when data were collected time: time when data were collected, in military scale site description: description of reef type latitude: latitude of site, measured in decimal degrees (DDD.DDDD) longitude: longitude of site, measured in decimal degrees (DDD.DDDD) surface temperature: water temperature in the top 1 meter of the water column, measured in degrees Celsius bottom temperature: water temperature at the bottom of the water column, measured in degrees Celsius surface salinity: salinity in the top 1 meter of the water column, measured in practical salinity units bottom salinity: salinity at the bottom of the water column, measured in practical salinity units

Methods:

Initial diver surveys using SCUBA recorded Neopomacentrus cyanomos at a natural gas platform approximately 9 miles south of Ft. Morgan, Alabama, and return trips were made to sample fish. CTD casts were performed for hydrographic data collection using a handheld SonTek Castaway CTD (San Diego, CA, USA). Dives were performed during daylight hours. Fish collection permits were approved by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources- Marine Resources Division and collection methods were approved via an IACUC protocol from the University of South Alabama (protocol #1105747). Fish were anesthetized (~1 min) with a small dose of a solution of 20% clove oil and 80% ethyl alcohol (190 proof) delivered within 20 cm of the fish using a 50-mL syringe. Fish were then captured using a dip net or pole spear with 3-prong paralyzer tip and transferred at depth to a clear plastic container with neoprene closure. Collected fish were euthanized with immersion in an ice-water slush followed by spinal cord dislocation according to the IACUC protocol. Whole wet weight to the nearest 0.01 g and total, fork, and standard lengths to the nearest mm were recorded for each fish.

Individual Files: