gov.noaa.nodc:0305769 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-06-03T13:24:08Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum): Nekton abundance, size, biomass, and associated environmental parameters in turtle-grass dominated seagrass beds in the northern Gulf of America, 2018-05-14-2019-09-06 (NCEI Accession 0305769) 2025-07-17 publication 2025-07-01 creation International DOI Foundation (IDF) 10.25921/8z6s-dk86 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0305769 NCEI Archive Management System 0305769 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Kelly M. Darnell The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) kelly.darnell@usm.edu http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator M. Zachary Darnell The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) zachary.darnell@usm.edu http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator D. Lee Smee Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) lsmee@disl.org https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Charles W. Martin University of Florida (UF) martin.charles.w@gmail.com http://www.ufl.edu/ HTTP University of Florida (UF) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Margaret O. Hall Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) penny.hall@myfwc.com http://myfwc.com/research/ HTTP Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Bradley Furman Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) Bradley.furman@myfwc.com http://myfwc.com/research/ HTTP Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Kelly M. Darnell The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Kelly.darnell@usm.edu http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information pointOfContact Frank Parker NOAA RESTORE Science Program frank.parker@noaa.gov https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA RESTORE Science Program website Institution web page information pointOfContact NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) NCCOS Data Manager nccos.data@noaa.gov https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information pointOfContact NOAA RESTORE Science Program noaarestorescience@noaa.gov https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA RESTORE Science Program website Institution web page information pointOfContact Darnell, Kelly M. The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Darnell, M. Zachary The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Smee, D. Lee Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information author Martin, Charles W. University of Florida (UF) http://www.ufl.edu/ HTTP University of Florida (UF) website Institution web page information author Hall, Margaret O. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/research/ HTTP Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) website Institution web page information author Furman, Bradley Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/research/ HTTP Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) website Institution web page information author Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information contributor NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information contributor The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information contributor Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/research/ HTTP Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) website Institution web page information contributor University of Florida (UF) http://www.ufl.edu/ HTTP University of Florida (UF) website Institution web page information contributor NOAA RESTORE Science Program https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA RESTORE Science Program website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital This dataset consists of trawl and epibenthic sampling in turtlegrass-dominated seagrass beds of the northern Gulf of America, including Lower Laguna Madre, TX; Coastal Bend, TX; Chandeleur Islands, LA; St. George Sound, FL; Cedar Key, FL, and Charlotte Harbor, FL. The dataset consists of multiple .csv files containing nekton abundance, biomass, and size data, habitat characteristics including seagrass density and measurements, and abiotic measures of water quality. The overarching goal of this project is to conduct a management-driven, Gulf of America-wide assessment of the use of turtlegrass as habitat by nekton and to evaluate the support provided to blue crabs, a commercially valuable species, using habitat-specific production estimates. This project was a collaboration between The University of Southern Mississippi, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, University of Florida, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. This dataset is a result of research funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's RESTORE Science Program under award NA17NOS4510093 to The University of Southern Mississippi. Funding Agency: NOAA RESTORE Science Program; Award Number: NA17NOS4510093 to the University of Southern Mississippi NCCOS Partner: The University of Southern Mississippi completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0305769 Preview graphic PNG 0305769 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2025-06-12 publication biological data BIOMASS Canopy Characteristics DISSOLVED OXYGEN irradiance LATITUDE LONGITUDE MACROALGAE PLANT COVER SALINITY SEA GRASSES - DENSITY Secchi depth shell parameters (length or weight) species abundance SPECIES COUNT PER SAMPLE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SPECIES WET WEIGHT PER SAMPLE SUBSTRATE DESCRIPTION surface irradiance water depth WATER TEMPERATURE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS laboratory analysis microscope multi-parameter water quality sensor PAR Sensor scale Secchi disk trawl instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ survey - biological water chemistry theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS Dauphin Island Sea Lab Fish and Wildlife Research Institute NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA RESTORE Science Program The University of Southern Mississippi University of Florida dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coastal Waters of Florida Coastal Waters of Gulf of America Coastal Waters of Gulf of Mexico Coastal Waters of Louisiana Coastal Waters of Texas place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum) US DOC; NOAA; NOS; NCCOS; RESTORE Science Program (ROR - https://ror.org/0042xzm63) project Provider Project Names EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > ANGIOSPERMS (FLOWERING PLANTS) > MONOCOTS > SEAGRASS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > MACROALGAE (SEAWEEDS) EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > BIOMASS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > CANOPY CHARACTERISTICS EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > BATHYMETRY/SEAFLOOR TOPOGRAPHY > WATER DEPTH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > OXYGEN EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > IRRADIANCE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN OPTICS > SECCHI DEPTH EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Field Observation theme NCCOS Research Data Type Nekton abundance Nekton biomass Nekton size data Seagrass complexity Turtlegrass Water visibility theme Provider Keywords MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES PAR SENSORS > Photosynthetically Active Radiation Sensors SECCHI DISKS > SECCHI DISKS TRAWL instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Handled YSI meter Spherical quantum light sensor Trawl and epibenthic sled instrument Provider Instruments OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Region > Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) place NCCOS Research Location Apalachicola, Florida Breton National Wildlife Refuge Cedar Key, Florida Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana Charlotte Harbor, Florida Coastal Bend, Texas Laguna Madre, Texas Redfish Bay, Texas St. George Sound, Florida place Provider Place Names WH8BMC Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Darnell, Kelly M.; Darnell, M. Zachary; Smee, D. Lee; Martin, Charles W.; Hall, Margaret O.; Furman, Bradley (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum): Nekton abundance, size, biomass, and associated environmental parameters in turtle-grass dominated seagrass beds in the northern Gulf of America, 2018-05-14-2019-09-06 (NCEI Accession 0305769). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/8z6s-dk86. Accessed [date]. 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. otherRestrictions 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. license This dataset has been dedicated to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. SPDX License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0) Correia, K. M., Alford, S. B., Belgrad, B. A., Darnell, K. M., Darnell, M. Z., Furman, B. T., Hall, M. O., Hayes, C. T., Martin, C. W., McDonald, A. M., & Smee, D. L. (2022). Drift macroalgal distribution in northern Gulf of Mexico seagrass meadows. PeerJ, 10, e13855. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13855 2022-08-23 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13855 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13855 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13855 Journal Article information Correia, Kelly M. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United States of America author Alford, Scott B. Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States of America author Belgrad, Benjamin A. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United States of America author Darnell, Kelly M. Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, United States of America author Darnell, M. Zachary Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, United States of America author Furman, Bradley T. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America author Hall, Margaret O. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, United States of America author Hayes, Christian T. Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, United States of America author Martin, Charles W. Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States of America author McDonald, Ashley M. Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL, United States of America author Smee, Delbert L. Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL, United States of America author PeerJ publisher documentDigital PeerJ 10 ISSN 2167-8359, p. e13855 crossReference sciencePaper Correia, K. M., Alford, S. B., Belgrad, B. A., Darnell, K. M., Darnell, M. Z., Furman, B. T., Hall, M. O., Hayes, C. T., Martin, C. W., McDonald, A. M., & Smee, D. L. (2022). Drift macroalgae positively influence seagrass-associated nekton communities of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.939296 2022-08-23 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.939296 https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.939296 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.939296 Journal Article information Correia, Kelly M. author Alford, Scott B. author Belgrad, Benjamin A. author Darnell, Kelly M. author Darnell, M. Zachary author Furman, Bradley T. author Hall, Margaret O. author Hayes, Christian T. author Martin, Charles W. author McDonald, Ashley M. author Smee, Delbert L. author Frontiers Media SA publisher documentDigital Front. Environ. Sci. 10 ISSN 2296-665X crossReference sciencePaper Belgrad, B. A., Correia, K. M., Darnell, K. M., Darnell, M. Z., Hayes, C. T., Hall, M. O., Furman, B. T., Martin, C. W., & Smee, D. L. (2021). Environmental Drivers of Seagrass-Associated Nekton Abundance Across the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Estuaries and Coasts, 44(8), 2279–2290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00927-0 2021-03-19 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00927-0 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00927-0 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-00927-0 Journal Article information Belgrad, Benjamin A. Dauphin Island Sea Lab https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information author Correia, Kelly M. author Darnell, Kelly M. author Darnell, M. Zachary author Hayes, Christian T. author Hall, Margaret O. author Furman, Bradley T. author Martin, Charles W. author Smee, Delbert L. author Springer Science and Business Media LLC publisher documentDigital Estuaries and Coasts 44(8) ISSN 1559-2723, ISSN 1559-2731, pp. 2279-2290 crossReference sciencePaper Darnell, Kelly M.; Darnell, M. Zachary; Smee, D. Lee; Martin, Charles W.; Hall, Margaret O.; Furman, Bradley (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum): Nekton and primary producer stable isotopes in turtlegrass-dominated seagrass beds in the northern Gulf of America, 2018-05-23 to 2018-10-03 (NCEI Accession 0304846). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/9b8j-zn57. 2025-06-24 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25921/9b8j-zn57 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0304846 https://doi.org/10.25921/9b8j-zn57 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25921/9b8j-zn57 NCEI Accession 0304846 information Darnell, Kelly M. The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Darnell, M. Zachary The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Smee, D. Lee Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information author Martin, Charles W. University of Florida (UF) http://www.ufl.edu/ HTTP University of Florida (UF) website Institution web page information author Hall, Margaret O. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/ HTTP Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) website Institution web page information author Furman, Bradley Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/ HTTP Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) website Institution web page information author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Darnell, Kelly M.; Darnell, M. Zachary; Smee, D. Lee; Martin, Charles W.; Hall, Margaret O.; Furman, Bradley (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum): Blue crab growth and mortality rates, 2018-05-14 to 2018-09-14 (NCEI Accession 0305475). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83. 2025-06-27 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0305475 https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83 NCEI Accession 0305475 information Darnell, Kelly M. The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Darnell, M. Zachary The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) http://www.usm.edu/ HTTP The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) website Institution web page information author Smee, D. Lee Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) https://www.disl.edu/ HTTPS Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) website Institution web page information author Martin, Charles W. University of Florida (UF) http://www.ufl.edu/ HTTP University of Florida (UF) website Institution web page information author Hall, Margaret O. Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/ HTTP Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) website Institution web page information author Furman, Bradley Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) http://myfwc.com/ HTTP Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) website Institution web page information author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. 2020. RESTORE Sponsored Research Project: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum). https://inport.nmfs.noaa.gov/inport/item/66730 2020 publication https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/66730 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/66730 InPort Metadata Record information crossReference RESTORE Project: Gulf-wide assessment of habitat use and habitat-specific production estimates of nekton in turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum). https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/projects/turtlegrass 2025 publication https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/projects/turtlegrass HTTPS https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/projects/turtlegrass RESTORE Turtlegrass Project Page information NOAA RESTORE Science Program https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA RESTORE Science Program website Institution web page information publisher documentDigital crossReference project Coastal Ecology and Seagrass Biology Lab. http://www.darnellseagrassecologylab.com/turtlegrass 2025 publication http://www.darnellseagrassecologylab.com/turtlegrass HTTP http://www.darnellseagrassecologylab.com/turtlegrass Project Website information documentDigital crossReference eng; USA utf8 environment oceans biota -98 -82 26 31 2018-05-14 2019-09-06 Methods: Study Sites This study was conducted across six sites spanning the range of turtle grass distribution in the Northern GOA: two sites in Texas (Lower Laguna Madre and Coastal Bend), one site in Louisiana (Chandeleur Islands), and three sites in Florida (St. George Sound, Cedar Key, and Charlotte Harbor). Sampling location design Sampling stations at each of the six sites were chosen using a stratified random sampling method of hexagonal tessellation in which a grid of hexagons (500 or 750 m edge) was overlaid on the mapped areal extent of known seagrass cover at each site. At each site 25 hexagons were randomly selected that had >50% turtle grass cover and a randomly generated station was chosen within each selected hexagon to conduct surveys, ensuring that this location was within a monospecific or turtle grass-dominated (e.g., >50% cover of turtle grass) meadow. In cases where no turtle grass was found at a station, or stations were inaccessible, alternative hexagons were chosen and new stations were randomly generated. Mean distance between the farthest sampling stations at each site was 22.5 ± 2.4 km (Laguna Madre, TX = 20 km, Coastal Bend, TX = 20 km, Chandeleur Islands, LA = 24 km, Saint George Sound, FL = 21 km, Cedar Key, FL = 25 km, and Charlotte Harbor = 25 km). Hereafter, sites will be abbreviated respectively as: LM, CB, LA, AP, CK, and CH. All sites were surveyed twice: (1) during early (May 14–June 14) summer 2018, and (2) during late (August 13–September 17) summer 2018, hereafter referred to as “early” and “late”, respectively. CK, AP, and LA sites were additionally sampled three times following landfall of Hurricane Michael ('ph1' = Oct-Nov 2018, 'ph2' = May-Jun 2019, 'ph3' = Aug-Sep 2019). LA sites were sampled one additional time following the second 2019 opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway (‘BCS’ = 2019-06-12). Nekton sampling- Trawl To characterize juvenile nekton assemblages at each site, all stations were sampled using trawl and epibenthic sled surveys during both sampling events. Larger nekton were surveyed using a 4.8 m flat trawl (3.8 cm [1.5”] stretch mesh with 6.4 mm [0.25”] mesh in the cod end, and 0.36 m x 0.6 m [14” x 24”] doors) towed from a boat for 1–3 minutes at a speed of 3.7–5.6 km h-1 for a mean trawl distance of 116.7 m ± 0.12 SE. All nekton were counted, measured (mm), identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, and weighed to obtain total biomass (g) for each species present in each sample. All fish species were measured for both standard length (SL, tip of the snout to the end of the last vertebrae) and total length (TL, snout to the end of the end of the tail), crabs were measured for carapace width (CW, distance between ventral spines), and shrimp were measured for total length (TL, anterior margin of the carapace to the posterior tip of the telson). For trawl loads with more than 25 individuals of a single species, a subsample of 25 randomly selected individuals was measured for that trawl. Total combined drift macroalgae for all species in each trawl tow was weighed on the boat using a spring scale (g). Nekton sampling- Epibenthic Sled At the midpoint of each trawl tow at each station, juvenile nekton were sampled using an epibenthic sled (0.75 m wide x 0.60 m high aluminum frame on two 0.70 m long skids) with a 2 mm mesh pulled by hand a distance of 13.3 m at a speed of ~0.3 m s-1. Epibenthic sled surveys were conducted on different days than trawl surveys to avoid gear-related disturbance to the habitat, and the contents of all sled tows from all sites were stored on ice and transported to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for identification, enumeration, and weighing (g). As with the trawl samples, a maximum of 25 individuals of each species in a given sled pull was measured, fish were measured for SL and TL, crabs were measured for CW, and shrimp were measured for TL. All drift macroalgae collected in sled samples was weighed (g) after spinning the tissue in a salad spinner for approximately 3 min to remove excess water. Seagrass structural complexity and environmental variables After each trawl tow, turtle grass structural complexity metrics and environmental parameters were measured adjacent to the beginning, middle, and end locations of each tow at each station. Percent cover of seagrass by species and bare sediment were quantified in four replicate 1 m2 PVC quadrats sectioned into 100 10-cm2 squares placed at each of the four cardinal directions of the boat at each of the three locations along the trawl transect (beginning, middle, and end; total of 12 replicates per trawl tow). The presence of drift and attached macroalgae was also noted within each quadrat. Species- specific seagrass shoot density was quantified in a pre-selected random cell within the quadrat. If seagrass was not present in that cell, shoot density was quantified in a second (or third, if needed) pre-selected random cell. In each quadrat, seagrass leaf length (mm) was also measured on four replicate plants of each species to calculate mean canopy height. Following each epibenthic sled pull, one seagrass core (15 cm diameter x 10 cm deep) was collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the sled path, for a total of three cores per sled pull. Cores were cleaned in the field using either a 508 μM sieve or a 2.5 mm mesh bag, stored on ice and frozen for subsequent processing. Seagrass cores were processed in the laboratory. For each core, the number of seagrass shoots was counted for each species, leaves were scraped with a dull razor to remove epiphytes, and leaf lengths (mm) and widths (mm) were measured. Aboveground biomass (leaves) and belowground biomass (roots and rhizomes) were separated and seagrass leaves, roots/rhizomes, and epiphytes were dried separately in a drying oven at 60°C for a minimum of 48 hrs, after which they were weighed for dry weight (g). Due to logistical constraints, seagrass belowground biomass was weighed for all sites except LA and CH. Environmental parameters At the middle point of each trawl, salinity, temperature (°C), and dissolved oxygen (mg L-1) were measured using a handled YSI meter (Pro 2030, YSI Inc., Yellow Springs, OH), surface irradiance and irradiance at depth (both measured as photosynthetically active radiation [PAR]) were measured in triplicate using a spherical quantum light sensor (LI-1500, LI-Cor., Lincoln, NE), and water visibility was measured using a Secchi disk. Water depth was measured to the nearest cm at the beginning, middle, and end of each trawl path and the middle point of each sled pull. Data reduction and missing data methods To account for trawl gear selectivity bias, all benthic species (e.g., sea urchins, sea hares, and spider crabs) that are poorly selected for in the trawl were excluded from statistical analysis to allow for evaluation of relationships between seagrass complexity metrics and only juvenile nekton assemblage data. In two instances, the weight for a specific nekton species was recorded in a trawl tow but the abundance was not; in these instances, a missing species abundance record was estimated as the average species abundance of that species in all other trawl tows at that site and season that had species- specific weights similar to the weight recorded for the missing record. For multiple quadrats, percent cover by species was recorded but no leaves were measured for the recorded species (i.e., shoots of that species were not present in any of the pre-selected cells); for these records, the shoot counts for that species from other quadrats at that site were averaged and used in order to estimate shoot density values for those records. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact 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. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV 12.616 https://doi.org/10.25921/8z6s-dk86 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/305769 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/305769 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0234/0305769/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0305769 v1.1 was published. 2025-07-17T14:44:39Z NCEI Accession 0305769 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0305769/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0305769 v1.1 published 2025-07-17T14:44:39Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: turtlegrass (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: n/a Parameter or Variable: seagrass complexity (measured); Units: na; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: na Parameter or Variable: nekton abundance (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: trawl and epibenthic sled Parameter or Variable: nekton biomass (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: trawl and epibenthic sled Parameter or Variable: nekton size data (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: trawl and epibenthic sled asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian laboratory analysis laboratory analysis use as an observation type microscope microscope instrument is used in lab analyses A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. multi-parameter water quality sensor multi-parameter water quality sensor used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters Instrument used to measure temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters, often used to measure water quality parameters. Can be a hand-held instrument or a sonde for unattended monitoring. Often used in coastal water monitoring stations. YSI is the preeminent brand (as of 2024). PAR Sensor PAR Sensor Photosynthetically Active Radiation Sensor The PAR sensor measures global solar radiation from 400 to 700 nm, which approximates the spectral band active in photosynthesis. The response of the instrument falls sharply to zero on either side of this band, and between 400 and 670 nm it increases monotonically from about 50% to 100%. There is no protective glass dome over the receiving surface. Irradiance from the sun passes through a small white visible bandpass filter/diffuser in the shape of a horizontal disk at the top of the instrument. Within the instrument radiation is directed through a series of colored glass filters and onto a silicon photodiode detector. The factory-supplied calibration converts the signal from the detector to a flux of photons in micro-mole (of photons) s-1 m-2. (One micro-mole equals 6.022 E17 photons.) For the solar spectrum, these units may be converted to watts per square meter by dividing by 4.6. (http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/instrument/par.htm) scale scale An instrument for measuring mass or weight. Secchi disk Secchi disk The Secchi disk (or Secchi disc), as created in 1865 by Angelo Secchi, is a plain white, circular disk 30 cm (12 in) in diameter used to measure water transparency or turbidity in bodies of water. The disc is mounted on a pole or line, and lowered slowly down in the water. The depth at which the disk is no longer visible is taken as a measure of the transparency of the water. This measure is known as the Secchi depth and is related to water turbidity. [Wikipedia, 2021-09-02] trawl trawl A fishing net that is dragged behind a boat. A wide range of demersal (bottom) or pelagic (mid-water) species of fish are taken by this fishing method which entails one or a pair of vessels towing a large bag-shaped net either along the seafloor or in mid-water.