X-Cell Disease in Antarctic Pagothenia Fish with Condition and Organ Data

An investigation recorded measurements from Pagothenia borchgrevinki fish captured in McMurdo Sound to study the distribution and effects of x-cell disease. Data includes condition factor, gut contents, internal organ status, tissue samples, and otoliths for age determination. The dataset was created by SCIOPS and last updated in December 1997.

Use Cases

• Modeling disease prevalence across different sampling transects near Scott Base.
• Correlating fish age (determined from otoliths) with disease status and condition factor.
• Analyzing gut contents to understand feeding ecology differences between healthy and diseased fish.
• Comparing internal organ status metrics to assess the physiological impact of x-cell disease.

Strengths

• Data collection involved multiple linear transects on both the eastern and western sides of McMurdo Sound.
• Measurements include a multi-faceted health assessment covering disease status, condition factor, gut contents, and organ analysis.

Limitations

• The dataset is temporally stale, with the last update recorded in 1997.
• The specific number of sampled fish (rows) and measured variables (columns) is unknown.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Fish were captured via sampling along linear transects, then weighed, measured, and examined for disease; otoliths were removed for aging, and tissues were preserved.

Time Range

Data collection likely occurred during the Antarctic summer, specific years unknown.

Geography

McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, specifically near Scott Base on the eastern and western sides of the sound.