Abstract:

This dataset reports phytoplankton species abundance data for samples collected from the R/V Bellows during the May 31-June 1, 2014 cruise. Samples were taken at Pensacola Transect Station P5 (29.9167 N, 87.25 W) in the Florida Panhandle Bight at the head of DeSoto Canyon. One-liter samples were collected from the surface and at depths of 25 and 45 meters using Niskin bottles. Up to one liter of each sample was filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample. The dataset includes the depth, the volume filtered, the number of cells of each taxon counted, and the calculated abundance of each taxon in cells per liter. Micrographs taken during the analysis are included.

Suggested Citation:

Nienow, James. 2015. Quantitative phytoplankton profiles for Pensacola Transect Station P5 collected during the R/V Bellows cruise of DeSoto Canyon, May 31, 2014. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7PR7SZX

Purpose:

Develop phytoplankton profiles as baseline for future studies.

Data Parameters and Units:

Cell counts in cell/liter at specified depths

Methods:

One-liter samples were collected from the surface and at depths of 25 and 45 meters using Niskin bottles. Up to one liter of each sample was filtered onto a 0.45 micrometer nitrocellulose filter and air-dried. A portion of each filter was mounted on an aluminum stub, sputter-coated, and examined with a JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope. Diatoms, coccolithophores, and armored dinoflagellates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic category. The number of cells of each taxon in a field of view at a magnification of 1000x was recorded, with up to 700 fields-of-view examined, depending on the density of phytoplankton in the sample.

Instruments:

JEOL JSM-6480 LV scanning electron microscope

Individual Files: