These three tapes contain Ichthyoplankton data from the BLM/OCS South Texas Program. The data were collected from December 1974 to September 1975 on the R/V Longhorn. The data were submitted by Dr. John H. Finucane from National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in Panama city. This project was supported by contract no. AA550-CT6-17, Inter-agency no. 08550-IAS-19. These data used to be under accession numbers 7800506 and 7800032 but were never processed. They have now been consolidated under one accession number 9000183 and are available in F124-Zooplankton file format of NODC.

Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard Zooplankton (F124) format. The F124 format is used for data from sampling and analysis of marine zooplankton. Information on zooplankton abundance, distribution, and productivity derived from these data support studies of marine populations and ecosystems. Data reported may include: cruise information, position, date, and time of sampling; bottom depth, sampling depths, temperature, and salinity; gear type, volume of water filtered, total dry and wet weight, and other data for total haul; and data for subsamples by species. Data on zooplankton catch by species may include subsample size, zooplankton concentration, life history code, and numbers of adults, juveniles, eggs, and larvae. Estimated density of holoplankton and meroplankton and data on ichthyoplankton may also be reported. A text record is available for comments. Note: there are two options for reporting subsample counts of individuals at different life history stages. If life history codes are used, only number of adults should be reported on that record. Additional separate records should then be used to report number of juveniles and so on. Alternatively, life history codes may not be used and number of adults, juveniles, and so entered in the proper fields of a single record.

Data submitted by Dr. Gerald L. Engel. The data was collected between June 1976 and September 1976. This study was organized to collect Histopathology and Benthic data. SST, wave, turbidity, gear type (trawl v.s dredge), benthic species counts and weights were collected. These data are "megabenthic" species. The documentation describes instruments employed for sampling, units, and a detailed description of the record format. The original data on tape has been converted to current NODC storage format. These studies were part of the Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Studies (OCS). These data were collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).

This dataset contains XBT data collected from the J.M. GILLIS in the Gulf of Mexico from 1972-06-04 to 1972-06-16 and submitted by Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami. The data has been converted and is now available on line in C116 file format of NODC. The data type C116 contained temperature-depth profile data obtained using expendable bathythermograph (XBT) instruments. Cruise information, position, date and time were reported for each observation. The data record was comprised of pairs of temperature-depth values. The XBT data files contained temperature values at non-uniform depths. These depths were recorded at the minimum number of points ("inflection points") required to accurately define the temperature curve. Standard XBTs can obtain profiles to depths of either 450 or 760 m. With special instruments, measurements can be obtained to 1830 m.

Chemical, benthic organisms, and other data were collected using moored current meter casts and other instruments in the Gulf of Mexico from November 11, 1983 to November 13, 1984. Data were submitted by Alaska Research Associates, Inc., as part of the Gulf of Mexico North Continental Slope Study (MNCSS) project. Data has been processed by NODC to the NODC standard F004 Water Physics and Chemistry, F123 Fish Shellfish Resource, and F132 Benthic Organisms formats. The F004 format is used for data from measurements and analyses of physical and chemical characteristics of the water column. Among chemical parameters that may be recorded are salinity, pH, and concentration of oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll, and suspended solids. Physical parameters that may be recorded include temperature, density (sigma-t), transmissivity, and current velocity (east-west and north-south components). Cruise and station information, including environmental conditions of the study site at the time of observations, is also included. The F123 format is used for data from field sampling of marine fish and shellfish. The data derive from analysis of midwater or bottom tow catches and provide information on population density and distribution. Cruise information, position, date, time, gear type, fishing distance and duration, and number of hauls are reported for each survey. Environmental data may include meteorological conditions, surface and bottom temperature and salinity, and current direction and speed. Bottom trawl or other gear dimensions and characteristics are also reported. Catch statistics (e.g., weight, volume, number of fish per unit volume) may be reported for both total haul and for individual species. Biological characteristics of selected specimens, predator/ prey information (from stomach contents analysis), and growth data may also be included. A text record is available for comments. The F132 format contains data from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms. The data provide information on species abundance, distribution, and biomass; they may have been collected by point sampling (grab or core), by tow (dredge, trawl or net), by photographic surveys, or by other methods. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Environmental data reported at each sampling site may include meteorological and sea surface conditions; surface and bottom temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen; and sediment characteristics. Number of individual organisms and total weight of organisms is reported for each species. A text record is available for comments.

Benthic organisms data were collected using sediment sampler and net casts BELLOWS and other platforms in the Gulf of Mexico from 16 May 1974 to 20 February 1978. Data were collected and submitted by Dr. William Sackett of Texas University with support from the Outer Continental Shelf project. The data are from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms in F132 format. The data provide information on species counts and species wet weight from samples collected by point sampling (grab or core) or by tow (dredge or trawl). Three operational kinds of data include: Epifauna, Infauna, and Meiofauna benthic organisms data that roughly correspond to the different sampling methods and collecting institutions that were part of this study. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Number of individual organisms or total weight of all organisms in the sample is reported for each taxonomic category identified by the researchers (often to Genus and Species taxonomic resolution).

The Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD); and bathythermograph (XBT) data were collected as part of Distribution/Abundance of Marine Mammals in Gulf of Mexico (GULFCET I) funded by grant no MMS 14-35-0001-30619. The data was collected over two year period spanning from April 15, 1992 to December 12, 1993. Data from 239 casts of CTD and 566 XBT drops was submitted via internet by Dr. Giulietta Fargion of Texas A&M University, Galveston, TX.