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    • Biological, physical, and chemical data collected from inshore and shelf surface waters in Alabama from 2009-07 to 2011-12 (NCEI Accession 0117507)

    Metadata Updated: March 17, 2023

    Quantifying the linkages between primary production and higher trophic levels is necessary to understand why particular regions can support high fisheries production. Modified dilution experiments were employed to characterize microbial communities in surface waters at four sites from within a bay to the shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). Inshore surface waters were more variable than shelf surface waters due to the strong influence of river discharge. Phytoplankton (Chl a) and prokaryote biomass were both significantly higher inshore than on the shelf, with phytoplankton significantly higher than prokaryotes inshore. Virus and heterotrophic nanoflagellate abundances, however, did not differ between inshore and shelf waters. Samples were amended with nutrients (N + P) to examine the impact of nutrient limitation. Prokaryotes were nutrient limited in 14 (28%) of the experiments, while phytoplankton were nutrient limited in 26 (52%) of the experiments. When phytoplankton were nutrient limited, prokaryote growth rates were significantly altered. A similar impact on phytoplankton growth rates occurred when prokaryotes were nutrient limited, suggesting that the two groups are in competition for resources. Grazing was detected in the majority of experiments, while viral lysis was only detected in 24% of phytoplankton and 12% of prokaryote experiments. Growth and grazing rates for both phytoplankton and prokaryotes were tightly coupled inshore and on the shelf, with significantly more phytoplankton and prokaryotes grazed inshore (average = 106% and 75%, respectively) than on the shelf (average = 55% and 57%). These findings indicate that surface waters across the estuary are highly productive, with microzooplankton grazing transferring the majority of the microbial production to higher trophic levels.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2022-10-19T15:52:45Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date March 17, 2023
    Reference Date(s) April 21, 2014 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Preview graphic

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2022-10-19T15:52:45Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date March 17, 2023
    Reference Date(s) April 21, 2014 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0117507
    Access Constraints Cite as: Ortmann, Alice (2014). Biological, physical, and chemical data collected from inshore and shelf surface waters in Alabama from 2009-07 to 2011-12 (NCEI Accession 0117507). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0117507. Accessed [date]., 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.
    Bbox East Long -88.0113
    Bbox North Lat 30.4374
    Bbox South Lat 29.79887
    Bbox West Long -88.2116
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0117507
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 765b0a8c-71fb-47c6-b36a-98886ec7dc07
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-88.2116, 29.79887], [-88.0113, 29.79887], [-88.0113, 30.4374], [-88.2116, 30.4374], [-88.2116, 29.79887]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2009-07-01
    Temporal Extent End 2011-12-31

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