Abstract:

This dataset contains marine benthic invertebrate data obtained aboard R/V Weatherbird II (WB0517) from 2017-05-13 to 2017-05-23 on the northwest insular slope of Cuba. Nine sites were sampled using a multi-corer between 1000 and 1670 m depth off the northwest insular slope of Cuba. Benthic marine invertebrates were extracted from sediments and identified to the family level.

Suggested Citation:

Montagna, Paul A. and Samantha Schiereck. 2023. Marine benthic invertebrate data obtained aboard R/V Weatherbird II (WB0517) from 2017-05-13 to 2017-05-23 on the northwest insular slope of Cuba. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/psvefpzb

Purpose:

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill focused attention on the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Assessment, however, was inhibited by a lack of baseline knowledge about the resources at risk. While much past work focused on the northern and western GoM, the southern GoM, which is bordered by Cuba, has been largely ignored. To address this knowledge gap a “Joint Statement between the United States of America and the Republic of Cuba on Cooperation on Environmental Protection” was signed in November 2015. The agreement emphasizes the importance of collaboration on a number of environmental issues related to protection of the marine environment shared by both countries, but of particular importance are sections related to oil spill prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. An important part of this is enhancing understanding of marine ecosystems through observation, monitoring, and expanded research and exploration. To this end, a consortium of academic institutions (including the University of South Florida, University of Havana, Eckerd College, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and Florida Institute of Oceanography) collected marine sediments, water, and fish off the north and west coasts of Cuba, facing the Gulf of Mexico in May 2017.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (m/dd/yyyy), StationID, Station, Rep (replicate number), Sec (section name), Section (section depth range), Sequence (n/m2), BPsp (deep sea species code), n (number count/sample), Species name, abundance (n/m²), diversity (S/78.54 cm²), and mollusk shell lengths (mm).

Methods:

Methods were the same as in Montagna et al. (2013; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070540) and Reuscher et al. 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235167). Briefly, sediments were collected with an 8-core OSILmulticorer. Cores are 11 cm in outer diameter and sample a surface area of 78.54 cm². Samples were extruded, sectioned at 0-3 cm, 3-5 cm, and 5-10 cm intervals, and preserved in 10% formalin. In the lab, organisms were extracted using a 0.3 mm sieve, sorted from sediments, and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, the family level.

Provenance and Historical References:

Montagna PA, JG Baguley, C Cooksey, I Hartwell, LJ Hyde, JL Hyland, et al. 2013. Deep-Sea Benthic Footprint of the Deepwater Horizon Blowout. PLoS ONE 8(8): e70540. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070540 Reuscher MG, JG Baguley, and PA Montagna. 2020. The expanded footprint of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico deep-sea benthos. PLoS ONE 15(6): e0235167. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235167

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