Trends and drivers of faunal abundance in the offshore Gulf of Mexico: narrowing the largest data gap in the Gulf’s large marine ecosystem
Implementing Organization
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$2,794,147
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Funding Program
The RESTORE Act Funds Bucket 4: NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
Details
Project Category
Science
Project Actions
Environmental Research
Targeted Resources
Fish/Fish Habitats
Project Description
The deep-pelagic habitat in the Gulf of Mexico is one of four ‘hyperdiverse’ deep-pelagic ecoregions on Earth. It is also the largest and least known habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. This project uses midwater nets and acoustics (i.e. sound waves) to sample the deep-pelagic region. By analyzing the data collected, the project team is able to quantify trends across the Gulf of Mexico and over time. The project is also developing baselines for deep-pelagic fauna in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the project team analyzes temperature, salinity, and ocean circulation data to locate the Gulf of Mexico loop current and the Mississippi River plume and identify key drivers of deep-pelagic community structure and abundance.
Contact
Tracey Sutton954-262-5366
tsutton1@nova.edu
Project Website
NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA National Systematics Laboratory
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