gov.noaa.nodc:0305475 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 2026-06-03T13:25:07Z 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): Blue crab growth and mortality rates, 2018-05-14 to 2018-09-14 (NCEI Accession 0305475) 2025-06-27 publication 2025-06-18 creation International DOI Foundation (IDF) 10.25921/tew2-ej83 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0305475 NCEI Archive Management System 0305475 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. Florida 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 Florida 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 blue crab growth and mortality data from caging and tethering experiments 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 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 NCCOS Partner: The University of Southern Mississippi NCCOS Partner: Dauphin Island Sea Lab NCCOS Partner: University of South Alabama NCCOS Partner: University of Florida NCCOS Partner: Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 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:0305475 Preview graphic PNG 0305475 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2025-05-23 publication biological data BIOMASS Canopy Characteristics DISSOLVED OXYGEN LATITUDE LONGITUDE MACROALGAE SALINITY SEA GRASSES - DENSITY SEDIMENTS - PERCENT COVER shell parameters (length or weight) SPECIES COUNT PER SAMPLE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION water depth WATER TEMPERATURE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS multi-parameter water quality sensor trap instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS 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 > MARINE SEDIMENTS EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CHEMISTRY > OXYGEN 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 Experiment Field Observation theme NCCOS Research Data Type Blue crab mortality experiments Blue crabs growth experiments Seagrass complexity Turtlegrass theme Provider Keywords TRAPS > TRAPS 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 Field caging experiment Pro 2030, YSI Inc 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 N9MTCM 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): Blue crab growth and mortality rates, 2018-05-14 to 2018-09-14 (NCEI Accession 0305475). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83. 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) Hayes, C., Alford, S., Belgrad, B., Correia, K., Darnell, M., Furman, B., Hall, M., Martin, C., McDonald, A., Smee, D., & Darnell, K. (2022). Regional variation in seagrass complexity drives blue crab Callinectes sapidus mortality and growth across the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 693, 141–155. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14084 2022-07-21 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14084 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14084 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.3354/meps14084 Journal Article information Hayes, CT Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA author Alford, SB Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA author Belgrad, BA Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA author Correia, KM Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA author Darnell, MZ Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA author Furman, BT Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA author Hall, MO Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA author Martin, CW Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA author McDonald, AM Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA author Smee, DL Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL 36528, USA author Darnell, KM Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA author Inter-Research Science Center publisher documentDigital Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 693 ISSN 0171-8630, ISSN 1616-1599, pp. 141-155 crossReference 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 2018-09-14 Methods: Study sites Blue crab growth and mortality experiments were conducted at six sites spanning the range of turtle grass distribution in the Northern GOA: two sites in Texas (Lower Laguna Madre and the Texas Coastal Bend), one site in Louisiana (Chandeleur Islands), and three sites in Florida, (St. George Sound, Cedar Key, and Charlotte Harbor). Growth experiments To quantify relationships between blue crab growth and seagrass complexity, a field caging experiment was conducted. Sampling stations at each of the six sites were selected 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, 10–15 hexagons with > 50% turtle grass cover were randomly selected and a randomly generated station was chosen within each selected hexagon to conduct each experiment. 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. A single mesocosm was deployed at each station 24–48 hrs prior to the start of the experiment to reduce effects of disturbance. Mesocosms each consisted of a collapsible, bottomless cylinder (1.07 m in diameter and 0.76 m tall) with 3.2 mm nylon mesh around the circumference and top connected by two fiberglass rings, PVC pipe, and rebar. A small closable (11.4 cm diameter, 15 cm long) sleeve sewn in the top allowed access to inside the mesocosm. During deployment, rebar was driven into the three PVC pipes supporting the mesocosm frame to anchor it in place, and the bottom edge of the mesocosm was driven ~5 cm into the sediment using a rubber mallet. Care was taken to ensure there were no gaps between the cage and the sediment and that macroalgae was cleared from the experimental area to remove potential confounding variables. Prior to deployment, the mesocosm deployment area was swept with dip nets to remove potential predators or competitors, as this could bias experimental results. Juvenile blue crabs 11–44 mm in carapace width were collected 24–96 hrs prior to the beginning of the experiment from seagrass habitat using trawl, benthic sled, throw trap, and dip net techniques, and transferred to the lab in aerated containers. Because of logistical constraints, all blue crabs used in both the growth and mortality experiments for CB, LM, and CH were collected at CB and then transported to their respective sites. To differentiate between individuals, crabs were tagged using visible implant elastomer (VIE) tags (Northwest Marine Technologies) injected into the basal segments of the right or left swimming leg, the abdomen, or the body; each crab had a unique combination of tag placement location and color to enable identification of individuals. After VIE implantation, all crabs were held overnight to monitor survival and tag retention prior to deployment. Approximately 24 hrs after VIE tagging, the blue crabs were transferred in aerated buckets to mesocosms and eight individuals were randomly deployed to each mesocosm to start the experiment. During the experiment blue crabs were not fed, but instead relied on natural prey items within the mesocosm in order to assess natural growth rates. Mesocosms were deployed for approximately 30 days. Timing of mesocosm deployment was staggered across sites between 2 June and 19 July, 2018 and experiments were terminated between 27 June and 13 August, 2018. Environmental characteristics that may affect blue crab growth were measured throughout the experiment. Water depth was measured to the nearest cm, and salinity, water temperature (°C), and dissolved oxygen (mg L-1) were measured using a handheld meter (Pro 2030, YSI Inc., Yellow Springs, OH) at the beginning, middle, and end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, blue crabs were removed from the mesocosm using throw traps, bar seines, and dip nets and measured for carapace width (mm) in the field. After the conclusion of the experiment, turtle grass structural complexity was measured at all stations. Percent cover of seagrass by species and bare sediment were quantified in 1 m2 PVC quadrats sectioned into 100 10-cm2 squares placed directly over the area where the cage was located. The presence of drift and attached macroalgae was also noted within each quadrat. Species-specific seagrass shoot density was quantified in a randomly pre- selected cell within the quadrat, and total seagrass shoot density (# shoots m-2) was calculated by multiplying species-specific percent cover and shoot count then summing those values. If seagrass was not present in the pre-selected cell, shoot density was quantified in a second (or third, if needed) randomly pre-selected cell. In each quadrat, seagrass leaf length (mm) was also measured on three replicate plants of each species, and maximum canopy height was calculated as the maximum leaf length of all measured seagrass blades. Additionally at the end of the experiment, a single core (15 cm diameter x 10 cm deep) was collected in an undisturbed area near the periphery of each cage. Cores were sieved in the field using either a 508 μM sieve or a 2.5 mm mesh bag, stored on ice and frozen for subsequent processing in the laboratory. Within each core, the number of seagrass shoots was counted for each species, leaves were scraped with a dull razor blade 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 hours, after which they were weighed for dry weights (g). Leaf area index (LAI) was calculated as the total surface area of all leaves (length x width) in a seagrass core multiplied by two and divided by the total surface area of the core bottom (0.018 m-2); seagrass shoot density (# shoots m-2) was calculated by adding the total number of shoots in a core and dividing by the core area; and epiphyte density (g g-1 m-2) was calculated as total epiphyte biomass divided by total dried seagrass aboveground biomass per square meter. Seagrass canopy height was calculated as the maximum seagrass blade length in each core. All seagrass core morphology metrics were calculated separately for each seagrass species then combined for total seagrass complexity measurements. Tethering experiments To assess the role of turtle grass structural complexity on blue crab survival, a field experiment was conducted to assess mortality due to predation. Tethering experiments were conducted at a subset of 10 hexagons from the 10–15 hexagons used for the growth experiment, with 6–12 crabs tethered in each hexagon at each site for a total of 79–120 tethers at each site. All tethering experiments took place between 2 June and 20 July, 2018. Tethered crabs were spaced at least 20 m away from one other and from mesocosm experiments to ensure independence and minimize disturbance. Juvenile crabs 9.7–38.8 mm cw were collected in nearby adjacent seagrass habitats using the same collection methods as described for the mesocosm experiments, and a tether (75–100 cm long) of 20 lb test clear monofilament line was attached to each crab’s carapace using a drop of cyanoacrylate glue. Prior to placement in the field, blue crabs were acclimated to tethers for at least 24 hrs in aerated seawater. The free end of the tether was tied to a small PVC stake (3.3 cm in diameter and 60 cm tall) that was inserted into the sediment with the turtle grass-dominated meadows at each station. Tethered blue crabs had the freedom to move anywhere within a ~1.0-m diameter area around the PVC stakes, but were limited to the assigned habitat. Blue crabs were tethered at each station for ~24 hrs and then retrieved by hand. On retrieval, crabs were categorized as live, missing, or molted (entire carapace remaining on line). Previous field and laboratory studies have indicated that crabs cannot easily escape from tethers so it was assumed that all crabs missing from tethers after 24 hrs were eaten. Prior to blue crab tethering, turtle grass structural complexity was measured near each tethering pole using the same seagrass quadrat survey techniques described for the growth experiments, and at the conclusion of the experiment one seagrass core (15 cm diameter x 10 cm deep) was collected close to each tether location, which was processed using the same methods described above. Water temperature (°C), salinity, and dissolved oxygen (mg/L) were measured at the beginning of the experiment using a handheld meter (Pro 2030, YSI Inc., Yellow Springs, OH). 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 5.196 https://doi.org/10.25921/tew2-ej83 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/305475 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/305475 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0236/0305475/ 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 0305475 v1.1 was published. 2025-06-27T17:53:38Z NCEI Accession 0305475 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0305475/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0305475 v1.1 published 2025-06-27T17:53:38Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: turtlegrass (measured); Units: n/a; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: n/a Parameter or Variable: Blue crabs growth experiments (measured); Units: na; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: field caging experiment Parameter or Variable: seagrass complexity (measured); Units: na; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: na Parameter or Variable: Blue crab mortality experiments (measured); Units: na; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: field caging experiment asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian 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). trap trap generic type of instrument used to capture sediment, animals, etc.