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MOCNESS profile and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data collected during NRDA Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02 on board R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017 (NCEI Accession 0247549)

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This data package contains MOCNESS (Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System) profile 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 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, 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.
  • Cite as: Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda (2022). MOCNESS profile and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data collected during NRDA Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02 on board R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017 (NCEI Accession 0247549). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0247549. In Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda. MOCNESS profile, zooscan imagery, and other plankton specimen identification data collected during NRDA plankton survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GRIIDC-DWH-WS1017_WS3-MOCNESS. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0247549
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Distribution Formats
  • CSV
  • MOCNESS
  • Excel
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information(link is external)
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information(link is external)
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -92.508
East: -87.5
South: 26.999
North: 29.329
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • MOCNESS profile, zooscan imagery, and other plankton specimen identification data collected during NRDA plankton survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02
  • Zapfe, Carley, Verena Wang, and Frank Hernandez. (2019). MOCNESS profile data collected during 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 [Data set]. Harte Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.7266/n7-n2t3-aa19
  • Zapfe, Carley, Verena Wang, and Frank Hernandez. (2019). MOCNESS ichthyoplankton data collected during 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 [Data set]. Harte Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.7266/n7-s18h-wr95
  • Wang, Verena, Carley Zapfe, and Frank Hernandez. (2019). MOCNESS decapod data collected during 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 [Data set]. Harte Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.7266/n7-0m44-a189
  • Calhoun, Stacy, Kelly Robinson, and Malinda Sutor. (2021). MOCNESS zooplankton data collected during NRDA Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-01 on board the R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017 [Data set]. Harte Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.7266/n7-p2np-j983
  • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:GRIIDC-DWH-WS1017_WS3-MOCNESS
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2022-02-25
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose This data was collected as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) response to the 2010 MC252 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS) to evaluate the distribution and densities of ichthyoplankton and other zooplankton in northern Gulf of Mexico waters potentially affected by the DWHOS.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda (2022). MOCNESS profile and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data collected during NRDA Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02 on board R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017 (NCEI Accession 0247549). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0247549. In Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda. MOCNESS profile, zooscan imagery, and other plankton specimen identification data collected during NRDA plankton survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GRIIDC-DWH-WS1017_WS3-MOCNESS. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)
  • Funding Agency: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information & Data Cooperative (GRIIDC)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • Decapod Identification
  • MOCNESS net tow angle
  • MOCNESS net tow horizontal velocity
  • MOCNESS net tow vertical velocity
  • Potential density
  • Specimen measurements
  • Taxonomic Identification
  • Volume of water filtered through the net
  • Water flow meter output
  • Water pressure
  • Zooplankton density
  • Zooscan imagery
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Provider Platform Names
  • R/V F.G. Walton Smith
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Provider Project Names
  • Deep-Pelagic Plankton Communities of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Trophic Ecology, Assemblage Dynamics, and Connectivity with the Upper Ocean
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • NR94LP
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda (2022). MOCNESS profile and other zooplankton, ichthyoplankton and decapod specimen identification data collected during NRDA Plankton Survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02 on board R/V F.G. Walton Smith Cruise WS1017 (NCEI Accession 0247549). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0247549. In Zapfe, Carley; Wang, Verena; Hernandez, Frank; Calhoun, Stacy; Robinson, Kelly L.; Sutor, Malinda. MOCNESS profile, zooscan imagery, and other plankton specimen identification data collected during NRDA plankton survey Walton Smith 3 (WS3) in the northern Gulf of Mexico from 2010-09-26 to 2010-10-02. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/GRIIDC-DWH-WS1017_WS3-MOCNESS. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2022-02-25T19:51:19Z - NCEI Accession 0247549 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: Water pressure (measured); Units: dbar; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Water pressure was recorded in 4-second intervals throughout the MOCNESS deployment (i.e., 15 environmental samples recorded for each minute). Depth reported as pressure; positive number increasing with water depth (1 dbar = 1 m seawater). Samples were collected using a 1-m2 MOCNESS outfitted with nine nets (0-8) 0.333 mm mesh, pressure sensor, flowmeter, temperature probe, and conductivity probe sensors. Net opening, net closing, and/or mean and standard deviation are provided for each environmental parameter in the summary data "WS3_MOC_summary.csv" for each net from the "WS3_MOC_all.csv" file.
  • Parameter or Variable: Water depth (measured); Units: m; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Data Quality Method: Negative depth (pres < 0) data were recorded at the start and/or end of tows, when the MOCNESS instrument was at the surface awaiting deployment or retrieval. Environmental readings associated with these negative depths are not representative of the water column, and were thus removed from the dataset.
  • Parameter or Variable: Volume of water filtered through the net (measured); Units: m3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: FISHERY SURVEY - GEAR DEPTH - WATER TEMPERATURE (calculated); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: Profile; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Water temperature at measurement depth was recorded in 4-second intervals throughout the MOCNESS deployment (i.e., 15 environmental samples recorded for each minute). Samples were collected using a 1-m2 MOCNESS outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets, pressure sensor, flowmeter, temperature probe, and conductivity probe sensors. Net opening, net closing, and/or mean and standard deviation are provided for each environmental parameter in the summary data "WS3_MOC_summary.csv" for each net from the "WS3_MOC_all.csv" file.
  • Parameter or Variable: FISHERY SURVEY - GEAR DEPTH - SALINITY (calculated); Units: psu; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Samples were collected using a 1-m2 MOCNESS outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets, pressure sensor, flowmeter, temperature probe, and conductivity probe sensors. Net opening, net closing, and/or mean and standard deviation are provided for each environmental parameter in the summary data "WS3_MOC_summary.csv" for each net from the "WS3_MOC_all.csv" file.
  • Parameter or Variable: Potential density (measured); Units: kg m-3; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: MOCNESS net tow angle (measured); Units: degrees; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: 1-m2 Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) was outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets.
  • Parameter or Variable: MOCNESS net tow horizontal velocity (measured); Units: knots; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: 1-m2 Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) was outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets.
  • Parameter or Variable: MOCNESS net tow vertical velocity (measured); Units: m min-1; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: 1-m2 Multiple Opening/Closing Net Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) was outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets.
  • Parameter or Variable: Water flow meter output (measured); Units: number of revolutions; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: ICHTHYOPLANKTON IDENTITY (measured); Units: count; Observation Category: biological; Sampling Instrument: net - plankton net
  • Parameter or Variable: Decapod Identification (measured); Units: Count; Observation Category: biological; Sampling Instrument: net - plankton net; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Decapod identification protocol was followed for the sample processing, and the Decapods were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level the target taxa 1-14 which belong to the following families: Palinuridae, spiny lobsters (Panulirus spp.), Scyllaridae, slipper lobsters (Scyllarus and Scyllarides); commercial shrimp species, Penaeidae, Sicyoniidae and Solenoceridae - Litopenaeus setiferus (white shrimp), Farfantepenaues duorarum (pink shrimp), F. aztecus (brown shrimp), rock shrimp (Sicyonia spp.), seabob shrimp (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri), roughneck shrimp (Rimapenaeus spp.); Solenocera spp; commercial crab species- Portunidae, blue crab Callinectes sp., Arenaeus cribrarius, Ovalipes floridanus, Portunus spp. Achelous spp., Menippidae , stone crab Menippe spp., Geryonidae, red deep sea crab Chaceon quinquedes and golden crab (C. fenneri). Identified “Other decapods” taxa to infraorder level (caridea, anomura, etc) or lower level when such identification can be made easily with little additional time such as for the typical planktonic shrimp Lucifer sp and Acetes americanus. If an abundant taxon is recognizable record the taxon name and the respective number for future reference in the comments of the benchsheet.; Data Quality Method: 45.5% of samples from Walton Smith 3 were processed for decapods. The remaining decapods from the collection were not quantified or identified due to time constraints and the tiered prioritization of NRDA sample processing. Only completed samples are provided in this dataset.
  • Parameter or Variable: Taxonomic Identification (calculated); Units: text; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: Specimen measurements (measured); Units: mm; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: Potential temperature (theta) (measured); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Samples were collected using a 1-m2 MOCNESS outfitted with nine 0.333mm nets, pressure sensor, flowmeter, temperature probe, and conductivity probe sensors. Net opening, net closing, and/or mean and standard deviation are provided for each environmental parameter in the summary data "WS3_MOC_summary.csv" for each net from the "WS3_MOC_all.csv" file.
  • Parameter or Variable: FISH SPECIES (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: FISHERY SURVEY - CATCH MEASUREMENTS - DETAILS (measured); Units: count; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: ICHTHYOPLANKTON LENGTH (measured); Units: mm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: ZOOPLANKTON SPECIES IDENTITIES (measured); Units: count; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • Parameter or Variable: Zooscan imagery (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: Original zooplankton data were received as image data and excel spreadsheets with density calculations for samples processed during the NRDA effort. The image dataset includes neuston zooplankton samples in addition to the MOCNESS zooplankton samples. However, the dataset authors cannot confirm that all neuston samples taken during the cruise are represented in this dataset. Scans that were not separated into vignettes at the time of receipt were not processed by the dataset authors, but the files necessary for processing are included. Samples processed by the Robinson lab were sorted manually in Ecotaxa and do not have "Learning Set" PID process files. Other PID process files produced by Zooscan are available in the PID process folder for each sample.
  • Parameter or Variable: Zooplankton density (measured); Units: number of individuals/m^3; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS); Sampling and Analyzing Method: The samples not scanned during the original NRDA effort were scanned by the Robinson lab at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for Walton Smith 3. The densities in this dataset were calculated from the ZooScan image data. Density was calculated as the (number of individuals*reciprocal of aliquot)/volume filtered. The dataset authors are curating the deep-pelagic plankton data for analysis and were not part of the sample collection effort. Original zooplankton data were received as image data and excel spreadsheets with density calculations for samples processed during the NRDA effort. Image data submitted under the MOCNESS data was received as excel files from the Hernandez lab at the University of Southern Mississippi that compiled the field data from Microsoft Access database files. Data were acquired from the Deepwater Horizon Plankton Assessment Archive (DWHPAA) and NCEI. Field data were filtered by cruise and joined to zooplankton density data. NRDA data have undergone QC by the dataset authors. Data have been reviewed and edited for accuracy (e.g., corrections to depth, volume, latitude, and longitude based on MOCNESS instrument files and cruise plans). Samples without corresponding volume data were considered non-quantitative and were removed from the dataset. Columns and stations not pertinent to MOCNESS zooplankton data analysis were removed from the dataset.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS)
  • net - plankton net
Platform
  • R/V F.G. Walton Smith
Last Modified: 2025-04-03T21:54:07Z
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