Abstract:

Reef fish were sampled at natural reef sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-11-09 to 2017-11-02. Stomachs were removed from fish and fixed in 200 proof ethanol for preservation. Diet composition analysis was performed by identifying stomach contents to the lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerating them with the aid of a dissecting microscope. Samples were sorted by prey type and a wet mass was obtained for each prey type. The samples were then placed in an oven to dry for 48 hours at 60°C, after which dry mass (g) was obtained.

Suggested Citation:

Glabach, Miaya. 2019. Gut content data from reef fishes sampled at natural reefs sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-11-09 to 2017-11-02. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-gppr-4f64

Purpose:

To examine reef fish diet and feeding ecology following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Data Parameters and Units:

2015 Reef Fish Diet Data 1 worksheet: Sample ID, Date (MM/DD/YYYY), Species, Site, TL (total length mm), Stomach Mass (g), Prey number and mass (g). 2015 Reef Fish Diet Data 2 worksheet: Sample ID, Date (MM/DD/YYYY), Species, Site, Latitude (decimal degrees), Longitude (decimal degrees), TL (total length mm), Stomach mass (g), Prey number and mass (g). 2016 Reef Fish Diet Data worksheet: Date of capture (MM/DD/YYYY), Site, Latitude (decimal degrees), Longitude (decimal degrees), Sample ID, Species, FL (fork length mm), TL (total length mm), Mass (kg), Sex, Empty, Stomach mass (g), Prey number and mass (g). 2017 Reef Fish Diet Data worksheet: Date of capture (MM/DD/YYYY), Site, Latitude (decimal degrees), Longitude (decimal degrees), Sample ID, Species, FL (fork length mm), TL (total length mm), Mass (kg), Sex, Empty, Stomach mass (g), Prey number and mass (g). Coordinates for the sites The Edge, Yellow Gravel, and Trysler Grounds are incorrect in the data file. The correct coordinates are as follows: The Edge: 29.82835, -87.32493 Yellow Gravel: 29.72506, -87.40498 Trysler Grounds: 29.89628, -87.53241

Individual Files: