Title
Presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B, northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28
Document Type
Dataset
Publication Date
7-9-2018
UDI
R4.x257.227:0012
Funding Source
RFP-IV
Data Collection Period
2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28
Database
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC)
DOI
10.7266/N76M356C
Abstract
This dataset reports presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B (2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28). Larval fishes were sampled from 48 stations and cruise data were collected at each site including latitude/longitude, date, time, environmental data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and Sargassum dry weight. Larval catch data before and after the oil spill will be compared to improve our understanding of the causes of temporal variability as it relates to the Deep-Water Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Habitat associations of selected taxa (billfishes, tunas, dolphinfishes, flyingfishes) will be examined before (2007-2009) and after (2015-2017) the DWHOS, and catch data will be coupled with environmental data to identify critical spawning/nursery habitats of several pelagic fishes in the nGoM. In addition, life history and ecosystem parameters that favor the production and survival of pelagic fish larvae and juveniles from multiple cohorts (2015-2017) will be compared to estimates before and after the DWHOS.
File Format(s)
xlsx
NSUWorks Citation
Jay R. Rooker, R.J. David Wells (2018) Presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B, northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N76M356C
COinS
Purpose
Generalized additive models (GAMs) will be developed for periods before (2007-2009) and after (2015-2017) the DWHOS event to characterize habitat associations of selected taxa (billfishes, tunas, dolphinfishes, flyingfishes). Habitat suitability models will then be used to predict the probability of occurrence of each taxa during (2010) and several years after (2011-2013) in relation to regions exposed to oil to identify areas of high quality habitat that overlap with regions exposed to the DWHOS. In addition, life history and ecosystem parameters that favor the production and survival of pelagic fish larvae and juveniles from multiple cohorts (2015-2017) will be compared to estimates before and after the DWHOS.