NOAA Ichthyoplankton Survey Data for Gulf of Maine (1977-1988)

NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center collected standardized ichthyoplankton survey data from 1977 to 1988 along the continental shelf between Cape Hatteras, NC and Cape Sable, NS. A subset of 6,406 bongo samples from this broader collection of 25,000 samples was used to model abundance and distribution within the Gulf of Maine. The dataset supports studies on fish community structure changes and recruitment mechanisms.

Use Cases

• Modeling ichthyoplankton abundance and distribution within the Gulf of Maine using sample counts and location data.
• Analyzing seasonal time series of larval fish populations to investigate recruitment mechanisms.
• Determining species composition and abundance within specific areas like the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
• Identifying long-term changes in fish community structure along the continental shelf from 1977 to 1988.

Strengths

• Dataset contains a substantial collection of 25,000 bongo samples from a 12-year survey period.
• Analysis uses a well-defined subset of 6,406 samples for modeling within the Gulf of Maine, providing a focused dataset.
• Standardized survey methodology across a broad geographic area enhances comparability over time.

Limitations

• Specific column names and the complete data structure are unknown from the provided sources.
• Platforms disagree on the last updated date: nasa_earthdata lists 1988, while datagov lists 2026, indicating potential metadata conflicts.

Provenance

Source

NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Collection Method

Standardized ichthyoplankton surveys using bongo net samples.

Time Range

1977-1988

Freshness

1988-01-01 00:00:00

Geography

Continental shelf between Cape Hatteras, North Carolina and Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, with a focus subset in the Gulf of Maine.