This dataset reports plankton species relative abundances from sites off the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. Plankton samples were collected from 16 offshore shelf sites October 24 to October 26, 2011. It includes sites, date/times, length of tow, plankton samples, counts, and the percentage of total plankton represented by each group. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros/Bacteriastrum spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia spp, Eucampia/Hemiaulus spp., other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionematales spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton.

This dataset reports plankton species relative abundances from sites off the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. Plankton samples were collected from 15 offshore shelf sites from June 02 to June 04, 2013. It includes sites, date/times, length of tow, plankton samples, counts, and the percentage of total sample represented by each group. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros/Bacteriastrum spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia spp, Eucampia/Hemiaulus spp., other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionematales spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton.

This dataset contains CTD and plankton species relative abundance data collected during R/V Bellows cruise BE-1403 from 2013-09-14 to 2013-09-16. CTD data were collected from 27 sample sites, while plankton samples were collected from 14 offshore shelf sites off the Florida Panhandle at the head of DeSoto Canyon using a net with a mesh size of 25-micrometer and 0.5-meter diameter. Plankton abundance data report the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species are categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia, Eucampia/Hemiaulus, other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionema spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as percentages of the total sample. Diatoms and dinoflagellates counted as cells, cyanobacteria as colonies/filaments, and zooplankton as individuals.

This dataset reports plankton species abundance from 14 sites off the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Bellows cruise BE-1317 from 2013-04-06 to 2013-04-08. Plankton samples were collected using a net with a mesh size of 25 micrometer and 0.5m diameter. This dataset reports the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros/Bacteriastrum spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia spp, Eucampia/Hemiaulus spp., other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionematales spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as percentages of the total sample. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at 5 sites (P1, P3, P5, P7, P9). For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

This dataset contains plankton abundance, CTD, and water quality data collected from 18 stations during R/V Bellows cruise BE-1407 in the Gulf of Mexico from 2013-12-07 to 2013-12-08. Plankton samples were collected from 10 offshore shelf sites. This dataset reports the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species were categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros/Bacteriastrum spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia spp, Eucampia/Hemiaulus spp., other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionematales spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as percentages of the total sample. Water column profiles were collected at 18 stations and the data includes CTD, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, Chlorophyll-a, and Color Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) fluorescence and turbidity measurements.

This dataset contains CTD, plankton species relative abundance, and quantitative phytoplankton profiles data collected from 9 sites off the Florida Panhandle at the head of DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Bellows cruise BE-1307 from 2012-10-13 to 2012-10-15. Plankton samples were collected using a net with mesh size of 25 micrometer and 0.5m diameter. Plankton abundance data reports the location, date, time, and length of tow for each sample. Plankton species are categorized as Ceratium spp., Dinophysis spp., other dinoflagellates, Chaetoceros spp., Rhizosolenia/Guinardia, Eucampia/Hemiaulus, other chain-forming diatoms, Thalassionema spp., Nitzschioid diatoms, other diatoms, Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium spp.), and Zooplankton. Abundances were recorded as individual counts as well as percentages of total sample. Diatoms and dinoflagellates were counted as cells, cyanobacteria as colonies/filaments, zooplankton as individuals. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at 5 sites (P1, P3, P5, P7, D1) along the Pensacola transect. For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

This dataset reports plankton species abundance from 5 sites off the Florida Panhandle at the head of DeSoto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Bellows cruise BE-1415 on 2014-05-31. The R/V Bellows cruise BE-1415 extended from 2014-05-29 to 2014-06-01. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were collected at 5 sites (P1, P3, P5, P7, P9) along the Pensacola transect (Longitude -87.25 degrees N). For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45-micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

This dataset contains CTD, water quality, plankton species abundance, quantitative phytoplankton profiles, and chlorophyll a and b concentrations in sediment samples data collected from R/V Bellows cruise BE-1212 in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2011-05-21 to 2013-09-16. CTD data were collected from 26 sites from 2012-05-05 to 2012-05-07. In addition, water samples were collected and analyzed for nutrient concentrations at the Wetlands Research Laboratory at the University of West Florida. Quantitative nanoplankton census data were taken via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine after-the-fact, the effects of the Macondo Oil Spill on skeletal (coccolith)-bearing phytoplankton. Plankton samples were collected from 14 offshore shelf sites from 2012-05-05 to 2012-05-07 and abundances were recorded as counts and as percentages of the total sample. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles were taken specifically at station P7, and these data includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter, and micrographs taken during the analysis. For this, one-liter samples were collected from the surface and at different depths using Niskin bottles. Samples were filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. Similarly, sediment samples were collected using replicate Shipek sediment grabs from 28 samples sites between 2011-05-21 and 2013-09-16. Sediment was frozen in the field for transfer to the laboratory. Once in the laboratory, samples were acetone extracted and fluorescence was determined on a Perkin Elmer scanning fluorometer. Standard chlorophyll preparations were used for sample quantification.

Shelf-wide Research Vessel Surveys are conducted 4-8 times per year over the continental shelf from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, using NOAA research ships or charter vessels. The Cape Hatteras to Cape Sable area is divided into four regions, and 30 randomly selected stations are targeted for sampling from each region. The investigation utilizes shelf-wide research vessel surveys to gather data on planktonic organisms including zooplankton and ichtyoplankton. Environmental parameters are also collected but stored in different databases (e.g., OCDBS). The investigation monitors the fishery-relevant components of the Northeast Shelf ecosystem, to characterize the baseline conditions and to determine the effects of biological and physical processes on the recruitment of Northeast shelf fishes.

This data package contains MOCNESS (Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System) profile data, ZooScan image data, and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data collected during Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02 on board the R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017. This survey was part of a series of WS NRDA cruises conducted in 2010 and 2011 to evaluate the distribution and densities of ichthyoplankton and other zooplankton in northern Gulf of Mexico waters potentially affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWHOS). The data package includes the original profile data representing environmental samples (e.g., temperature, salinity, pressure) for individual MOCNESS tows as well as combined and summary data (all tows) for the full cruise, ZooScan image data with the accompanying ZooScan files so that the images can be reanalyzed, sampling event data (e.g., time, latitude, longitude, depth, volume filtered) and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data (e.g., taxonomic identification, length, number of individuals). Zooplankton density and specimen data were derived from the ZooScan imagery data included in this data package.