Gulf of Mexico Ichthyoplankton Survey from 1974-1976

Ichthyoplankton data was collected aboard the R/V Longhorn in the Gulf of Mexico from December 1974 to December 1976. The dataset was submitted by Dr. John H. Finucane of the National Marine Fisheries Service. It was part of the BLM/OCS South Texas Program under contract AA550-CT6-17.

Use Cases

• Analyze seasonal patterns of ichthyoplankton abundance using collection date and location fields.
• Model species distribution in the Gulf of Mexico based on taxonomic identification and sampling coordinates.
• Assess historical baseline for larval fish populations using count or density metrics from the survey.

Strengths

• Data collection spans a two-year period from 1974-12-03 to 1976-12-12.
• Originates from a defined research program (BLM/OCS South Texas Program) and a specific vessel (R/V Longhorn).

Limitations

• The exact number of rows, columns, and sample size is unknown.
• Data is historically stale, with the last update in December 1976.

Provenance

Source

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), submitted by Dr. John H. Finucane.

Collection Method

Field collection from the R/V Longhorn.

Time Range

1974-12-03 to 1976-12-12

Freshness

1976-12-12

Geography

Gulf of Mexico, specifically related to the South Texas Program.