| Abstract: |
Station data and ichthyoplankton (biological) data from cruise 0903 from the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Anegada Passage, Leeward Islands and Saba Bank. In addition, inshore data from St. Thomas seine net tows is included. Data is housed in in a spreadsheet database (Excel) format to be maintained, updated and utilized by members the Early Life History (ELH) group and all project partners. |
| Supplementary information: |
The USVI larval distribution and supply study completed its third research cruise aboard the NOAA ship Nancy Foster during April 7-20, 2009. Ichthyoplankton sampling yielded 314 samples (217 MOCNESS and 97 bongo) from 105 stations and 125 fish families were identified from a total of 24,593 larvae collected. MOCNESS (Multiple Opening and Closing Environmental Sampling System) samples were collected from 100 m to the surface at 25 m increments while Bongo samples were collected from just below the sea surface for 10 minute intervals at each station. A total of 23,512 larvae have been successfully identified taxonomic family level or beyond, with only 4.2% or 1,041 categorized as unidentifiable due to early stage at development or damage that occurred during the sample collection and/or processing. Approximately 76 % of the fish larvae samples were represented by 20 principle families: Bregmacerotidae, Labridae, Myctophidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae, Mullidae, Sternoptychidae, Scombridae, Eleotridae, Gobiidae, Apogonidae, Sphyraenidae, Serranidae, Coryphaenidae, Pomacentridae, Gonostomatidae, Chauliodontidae, Epigonidae, Bythitidae, and Lutjanidae. All samples collected have been identified using taxonomic keys and a subsample will be identified using genetic techniques. |