Natural Resource Damage Assessment Plankton Processing

Plankton sampling in response to the DWH oil spill has generated more samples than can be processed at marine laboratories in the Gulf region and/or at the Plankton Sorting and Identification Center in Poland where NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC normally sends SEAMAP plankton samples for analysis. The laboratory of Dr. John Lamkin at the NOAA/NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami is prepared to assist in the analysis of DWH plankton samples which are critical not only to ongoing DWH oil spill impact assessments but also to advance understanding of plankton dynamics in the Gulf. Physical laboratory space is available in the Lab to accommodate up to five ichthyoplankton sorter/identifiers. Dr. Lamkin’s lab is routinely engaged in the SEAMAP Spring Plankton Surveys and has decades of experience in the collection and identification of the larvae of Gulf of Mexico fishes. Dr. Lamkin’s laboratory will bring on and train five new contract biologists to sort and assist with identification of fish larvae taken in Gulf samples within the specified DWH area of interest. Analysis of samples collected in 2010 within the DWHOS NRDA area of interest (i.e. approximately east of the Texas/LA border and 26 degrees and north) will be conducted at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center.

To determine impact of Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill on Gulf of Mexico ichthyoplankton