Abstract:

Depth-discrete plankton samples were collected during cruises off the coast of Alabama during May-August periods (2007-2015) using a Bedford Institute of Oceanography Net Environmental Sampling System (BIONESS). The BIONESS (0.25 m2 opening) was fitted with 333-µm and 202-µm mesh nets. The BIONESS can fish as many as 9 plankton nets during a given tow, though not all nets were used during every tow. Each BIONESS tow therefore will have multiple net samples associated with it. Profile data (depth, temperature, salinity) were obtained with a SBE-19+ CTD (Sea-Bird Electronics) integrated with the BIONESS data logger. Samples were collected at stations located on the 20 m and 35 m contours. Data from 2007-2012 were collected as part of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama (FOCAL) program. Data from 2013-2015 were collected with support from GoMRI. All months were not sampled due to inclement weather or gear malfunction.

Suggested Citation:

Hernandez, Frank. 2016. BIONESS profile and plankton sample collection data for plankton samples collected off Alabama (2007-2015). Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7JW8BW5

Purpose:

Data were collected as part of a long-term ichthyoplankton survey off the coast of Alabama (2007-2012) and a continuation of that survey during summer months as part of a GoMRI RFP II funded project.

Data Parameters and Units:

For BIONESS plankton tows, the following data are provided: 1) Station data: tow number, cruise, date, station: T20 (30.0902 N, 88.19 W), T35 (29.7905 N, 88.2083 W), sample depth (m), wind speed, wind direction, sea state, weather state, start time (local), start latitude (degrees), start latitude (minutes), start longitude (degrees), start longitude (minutes), end time (local), end latitude (degrees), end latitude (minutes), end longitude (degrees), end longitude (minutes) 2) Net data: tow number, cruise number, station: T20 (30.0902 N, 88.19 W), T35 (29.7905 N, 88.2083 W), sample ID, net number, net mesh: size (um), date, tow start time (local), net opening time (local), net opening depth (m), net opening temp (°C), net opening salinity (psu), net closing time (local), net closing depth (m), net closing temp (°C), net closing salinity (psu), total swept volume (m3), total time open (hh:mm:ss) 3) Profile Data: tow number, net number, salinity (psu), temperature (°C), depth (m)

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