Benthic Species Survey in the Gulf of Mexico from 1977

A 1977 survey collected benthic organisms from the Gulf of Mexico using sediment samplers aboard the vessel SW RESEARCHER. Data include species abundance, distribution, biomass, and associated environmental measurements. The dataset was submitted by Science Application, INC. for the Brine Disposal project.

Use Cases

• Analyze species_abundance and total_weight per species to model historical biomass distribution in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Correlate species_distribution data with reported environmental data like bottom_temperature and sediment_characteristics.
• Map survey station_positions and times to visualize spatial and temporal sampling coverage for the 1977 cruise.
• Use cruise information such as vessel, investigator, and institution to track data provenance for meta-analyses.

Strengths

• Data includes multiple linked facets: species counts, environmental conditions, and full cruise metadata.
• Temporal coverage is precisely documented from 1977-09-22 to 1977-12-16.

Limitations

• Dataset is from a single cruise in 1977, offering a limited temporal snapshot.
• Sample size and geographic extent are confined to the specific cruise track of the SW RESEARCHER.
• Data format and specific row/column counts are unknown, complicating initial assessment.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), submitted by Science Application, INC.

Collection Method

Field sampling using sediment sampler casts from the vessel SW RESEARCHER.

Time Range

1977-09-22 to 1977-12 16

Freshness

null

Geography

Gulf of Mexico