Ichthyoplankton density and plankton displacement volume data collected using NOAA SEAMAP Neuston Plankton Nets on the NSF RAPID Plankton Cruises in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico in 2017-2018

Website: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/829239
Data Type: Cruise Results
Version: 1
Version Date: 2020-11-17

Project
» Collaborative Research: RAPID-HARVEY: Response of plankton assemblages and trophodynamics to a historic, hurricane-induced floodwater plume in a subtropical, pelagic environment (RAPID Plankton)
ContributorsAffiliationRole
Geist, SimonTexas A&M, Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC)Principal Investigator
Robinson, Kelly L.University of Louisiana at LafayetteCo-Principal Investigator, Contact
Schnetzer, AstridNorth Carolina State University (NCSU)Co-Principal Investigator
Stauffer, BethUniversity of Louisiana at LafayetteCo-Principal Investigator
Bond, PamelaNOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA SEFSC)Scientist
Drass, DeniceNOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA SEFSC)Scientist
Zapfe, GlennNOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (NOAA SEFSC)Scientist
McAskill, ShannanTexas A&M, Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC)Student
Paxton, StormyTexas A&M, Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC)Student
Rauch, ShannonWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)BCO-DMO Data Manager

Abstract
This dataset includes ichthyoplankton density and plankton displacement volume data collected using NOAA SEAMAP Neuston Plankton Nets during three NSF RAPID Plankton cruises. RAPID Plankton Cruise 1 took place on R/V Point Sur, cruise number PS1813, from October 28-November 3, 2017. RAPID Plankton Cruise 2 took place on R/V Pelican, cruise number PE18-18, from January 6- 12, 2018. RAPID Plankton Cruise 3 took place on R/V Pelican, cruise number PE18-21, from March 19- 23, 2018.


Coverage

Spatial Extent: N:29.5 E:-93.69 S:27.3 W:-95
Temporal Extent: 2017-10-30 - 2018-03-23

Methods & Sampling

The NOAA SEAMAP Neuston Plankton Net was deployed according to the "NOAA SEAMAP Field Operations Manual for collection of data, National Marine Fisheries Service and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission, March 15, 2016."

The net is deployed so that it is half submerged in the water. Target vessel speed for the net tow is between 1.5-2.0 kts. Target tow time is 10 minutes. Duration of a neuston tow may be shortened to no less than five minutes total tow time if high concentrations of jellyfish, ctenophores, Sargassum, or debris enter the net. The net was deployed over the side.

Nets were rinsed and processed on board. A subset of larval fish was picked on board and frozen at ultra-low temperatures in liquid nitrogen and kept in an on-board Ultra Low Temperature Freezer, transported using a Dry Shipper to Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and stored in an ULT until further processing. The remainder of the sample was preserved in 200 proof Ethanol (ETOH) according to NOAA SEAMAP Operations Manual upon retrieval of nets. After 24 hours, ETOH was exchanged with fresh ETOH. ETOH Plankton samples were stored in 1000ml plastic jars until processing in the Geist Early Life History Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi during 2017 and 2020. Total Zooplankton Displacement Volume was determined using a calibrated 1000ml measuring cylinder by subtracting the volume of ethanol without sample from the volume of ethanol with sample. The plankton sample was separated from ethanol using a concentrator sieve with a mesh size < than the net mesh size. Then the plankton sample was resuspended in ETOH and larval fish were picked under dissecting microscopes using feather steel tweezers. Every sample was looked through twice for quality check purposes.


Data Processing Description

Data Processing:
Since all neuston nets for this cruise were pulled for ten minutes, total larval fish density per ten minutes is equal to the number of fish larvae found in the sample.

Problems/Issues:
On the RAPID Plankton 1 cruise (PS1813), Neuston net hauls were realized at 7 of 10 stations.
On the RAPID Plankton 2 cruise (PE18-18), Neuston net hauls were realized at 9 of 10 stations.

BCO-DMO Processing:
- concatenated separate files into one dataset;
- converted date format to YYYY-MM-DD;
- added ISO date-time fields;
- added Cruise_ID numbers.


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Data Files

File
neuston.csv
(Comma Separated Values (.csv), 4.65 KB)
MD5:b7e3d1afe98f58305665792ea1cbda3b
Primary data file for dataset ID 829239

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Related Publications

National Marine Fisheries Service and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. (2001). SEAMAP Field Operations Manual for Collection of Data. Revision 4. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/53243
Methods

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Parameters

ParameterDescriptionUnits
DateDate; format: YYYY-MM-DD unitless
Cruise_IDCruise identifier unitless
CR_NProject Internal Cruise Name unitless
P_SNProject Internal Station Number unitless
NOAA_SNRespective NOAA SEAMAP/GOMECC Station Number unitless
GEAR_TPlankton Net Gear Type unitless
MESH_WPlankton Net Mesh Width micrometers (um)
NET_NONet number, if gear has more than 1 net unitless
NET_DIADiameter of the net meters (m)
STA_LATGeneralized Station Latitude decimal degrees
STA_LONGeneralized Station Longitude decimal degrees
BOT_DAssigned Bottom Depth meters (m)
MAX_NDMax Net Depth meters (m)
MIN_NDMin Net Depth meters (m)
D_TWDepth of Tow FD_TW = MAX_ND - MIN_ND meters (m)
TGI_GMTTime Gear In (GMT), Net starting fishing; format: hh:mm unitless
TGO_GMTTime Gear Out (GMT), Net stopping fishing; format: hh:mm unitless
TGI_CSTTime Gear In (CST), Net starting fishing; format: hh:mm unitless
TGO_CSTTime Gear Out (CST), Net stopping fishing; format: hh:mm unitless
TTTime towed, Duration of Net fishing; format: hh:mm:ss unitless
FM_MFlowmeter Manufacturer unitless
FM_ICFlowmeter initial count unitless
FM_FCFlowmeter final count unitless
FM_CDFlowmeter count difference unitless
FM_COFlowmeter Constant, Manufacturer Supplied unitless
DIS_TDistance of Net towed through the water based on flowmeter readings meters (m)
NET_OANet Opening Area square meters (m²)
FIL_VFiltered Volume cubic meters (m³)
EV_WPETOH with Plankton (ml) milliliters (ml)
EV_WOPETOH without Plankton (ml) milliliters (ml)
PLA_DPlankton Displacement Volume = ETOH with Plankton - ETOH without Plankton milliliters (ml)
PLA_DDTotal Plankton Displacement Volume Density per 100 cubic meters filtered water volume milliliters per 100 cubic meters (ml/100m3)
PLA_DATotal Plankton Displacement Volume under 10m² area of the water column, PLA_DA = PLA_D * ((FD_TW / FIL_V) * 10) milliliters under 10 square meters (ml/10m2)
TFILATotal Larval Fish Number in sample number of larval fish
TFILA_DVTotal Larval Fish Density per filtered water volume larval fish per 100 cubic meters
TFILA_DATotal Larval Fish Density under 10m² area, TFILA_DA=TFILA * ((FD_TW / FIL_V) * 10) larval fish under 10 square meters (Ind./ 10m2)
TGI_ISO_DateTime_GMTDate and Time Gear In (GMT), Net starting fishing; formatted to ISO8601 standard: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mmZ unitless
TGO_ISO_DateTime_GMTDate and Time Gear Out (GMT), Net stopping fishing; formatted to ISO8601 standard: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mmZ unitless


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Instruments

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
NOAA SEAMAP Neuston Plankton Net
Generic Instrument Name
Neuston Net
Dataset-specific Description
NOAA SEAMAP Neuston Plankton Net (1 x 2m rectangular frame, 950um mesh width).
Generic Instrument Description
Neuston Nets are nets that collect zooplankton that live in the top few centimeters of the sea surface (the neuston layer). This specialized net has a rectangular mouth opening usually 2 or 3 times as wide as deep, i.e. 1 meter by 1/2 meter or 60 cm by 20 cm, with sometimes hollow piping construction to aid in flotation. They are generally towed half submerged at 1-2 kts from the side of the vessel on a boom to avoid the ship's wake.

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
Dissecting microscope
Generic Instrument Name
Microscope - Optical
Dataset-specific Description
Larval fish were picked under dissecting microscopes using feather steel tweezers.
Generic Instrument Description
Instruments that generate enlarged images of samples using the phenomena of reflection and absorption of visible light. Includes conventional and inverted instruments. Also called a "light microscope".


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Deployments

PS1813

Website
Platform
R/V Point Sur
Start Date
2017-10-28
End Date
2017-11-03

PE18-18

Website
Platform
R/V Pelican
Start Date
2018-01-06
End Date
2018-01-13
Description
More cruise information is available from the Rolling Deck to Repository (R2R): https://www.rvdata.us/search/cruise/PE18-18

PE18-21

Website
Platform
R/V Pelican
Start Date
2018-03-18
End Date
2018-03-23
Description
More information is available from the Rolling Deck to Repository (R2R): https://www.rvdata.us/search/cruise/PE18-21


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Project Information

Collaborative Research: RAPID-HARVEY: Response of plankton assemblages and trophodynamics to a historic, hurricane-induced floodwater plume in a subtropical, pelagic environment (RAPID Plankton)


Coverage: Northwestern Gulf of Mexico 95-96°W, 30-27.5°N


NSF Award Abstract:
This project will examine how plankton in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico respond to large floodwater plumes generated by extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey at time scales relevant to its development and evolution (days to months). The goal is to understand how the timing, magnitude, and constituent loads of a massive pulse of freshwater to the Louisiana-Texas shelf are: (1) driving changes in phytoplankton, zooplankton, and larval fish communities and distributions over monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales and, (2) what the consequences of those changes are to food web interactions within the plankton. The timing of Hurricane Harvey flood water disturbance coincides with the summer-fall spawning seasons for economically important Gulf of Mexico fisheries (e.g. red drum, sea trouts, snappers), raising additional questions of longer term effects of food web disruptions on recruitment. This project will train two undergraduate students and four PhD-level graduate students across three institutions, as well as support three early-career investigators. Pre- and post-floodwater plume data and samples will be shared with the broader scientific community within one year of collection to facilitate their immediate use by scientists beyond the research team. The team will give coordinated public talks at established regional science communication series and through other existing regional outreach partnerships to extend the educational scope of the project. Finally, results from this research will be incorporated in course curriculum and shared through scientific presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Record-breaking rain delivered by Hurricane Harvey to Southeast Texas in late August 2017 has resulted in a massive floodwater plume being delivered to coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This project will investigate the short- and mid-term effects of that plume on planktonic (from pico- to ichthyoplankton) community composition and trophic interactions in that system. Building on data collected in July 2017 during a GOM Ecosystems and Carbon Cycle (GOMECC-3) cruise, and from historical datasets in the region, plankton assemblages, abundance, and food web interactions will assessed during three research cruises 2, 4, and 8 months after the event. Oceanographic data and samples will be collected and processed using standard and state of the art gear, including ZooScan, FlowCAM, flow cytometry, and next generation sequencing. Onboard micro- and mesozooplankton grazing experiments will be conducted to understand the trophodynamic interactions and relationships between different plankton groups under changing environmental conditions. Diet and growth rate analyses of larval fish will be undertaken and related to phyto- and zooplankton (i.e. prey) abundance and community composition data. Application of the same gear types and methods during the three project cruises will ensure comparability of these new data to existing samples and datasets. These post-Harvey data will be compared to immediately-preceding and long-term data collected in the area by NOAA's Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP), allowing for investigation of the temporal evolution of planktonic assemblages and interpretation of plankton regime shifts in seasonal, multiyear, and decadal contexts.



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Funding

Funding SourceAward
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE)

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