Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Status Report
Data Set (DS) | Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:30673 | Updated: May 15, 2025 | Published / External
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Summary
Short Citation
Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 2025: Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Status Report, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30673.
Full Citation Examples
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most ecologically and economically valuable marine ecosystems in the world and is affected by a variety of natural and anthropogenic phenomena including climate, hurricanes, coastal development, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and fishing. These complex and interacting stressors, together with the highly dynamic nature of this ecosystem, present challenges for the effective management of its resources. We analyze a compilation of over 100 indicators representing physical, biological, and economic aspects of the Gulf of Mexico and find that an ecosystem-wide reorganization occurred in the mid-1990s. Further analysis of fishery landings composition data indicates a major shift in the late 1970s coincident with the advent of US national fisheries management policy, as well as significant shifts in the mid-1960s and the mid-1990s. These latter shifts are aligned temporally with changes in a major climate mode in the Atlantic Ocean: the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). We provide an explanation for how the AMO may drive physical changes in the Gulf of Mexico, thus altering higher-level ecosystem dynamics. The hypotheses presented here should provide focus for further targeted studies, particularly in regard to whether and how management should adjust to different climate regimes or states of nature. Our study highlights the challenges in understanding the effects of climatic drivers against a background of multiple anthropogenic pressures, particularly in a system where these forces interact in complex and nonlinear ways.
Distribution Information
-
zip file download
None
Not for use in litigation
Please cite as appropriate
Controlled Theme Keywords
ECOSYSTEMS
Child Items
| Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Entity | ECOSYSTEM STATUS REPORT |
| Entity | Eutrophication.csv |
| Document | Evidence of climate-driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Entity | SLR_state.csv |
| Entity | SST_3regions.csv |
| Entity | amo.csv |
| Entity | articial_structuresFINAL.csv |
| Entity | avePopDensity.csv |
| Entity | aveSocialConnectedness.csv |
| Entity | biodiversity.csv |
| Entity | bird_standardized_abundancesFINAL.csv |
| Entity | bottomDO.csv |
| Entity | commercial_landings_revenue.csv |
| Entity | economically_important_spp_abundance.csv |
| Entity | human_pop.csv |
| Entity | mean_trophic_level_catch.csv |
| Entity | menhaden_abundance_index.csv |
| Entity | npp.csv |
| Entity | pH.csv |
| Entity | recreational_effort.csv |
| Entity | seagrass_acreage.csv |
| Entity | stock_status |
| Entity | totalEmployment.csv |
| Entity | totalGDP.csv |
| Entity | total_lulc_urban.csv |
| Entity | total_lulc_wetland.csv |
| Entity | zooplankton.csv |
Contact Information
Point of Contact
John Hoolihan
john.hoolihan@noaa.gov
305-365-4116
Metadata Contact
Michael J Schirripa
michael.schirripa@noaa.gov
305-361-4568
Extents
-98° W,
-76° E,
32° N,
18° S
Gulf Of Mexico
2011 - Present
Item Identification
| Title: | Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Status Report |
|---|---|
| Status: | Completed |
| Creation Date: | 2016 |
| Abstract: |
The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most ecologically and economically valuable marine ecosystems in the world and is affected by a variety of natural and anthropogenic phenomena including climate, hurricanes, coastal development, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and fishing. These complex and interacting stressors, together with the highly dynamic nature of this ecosystem, present challenges for the effective management of its resources. We analyze a compilation of over 100 indicators representing physical, biological, and economic aspects of the Gulf of Mexico and find that an ecosystem-wide reorganization occurred in the mid-1990s. Further analysis of fishery landings composition data indicates a major shift in the late 1970s coincident with the advent of US national fisheries management policy, as well as significant shifts in the mid-1960s and the mid-1990s. These latter shifts are aligned temporally with changes in a major climate mode in the Atlantic Ocean: the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). We provide an explanation for how the AMO may drive physical changes in the Gulf of Mexico, thus altering higher-level ecosystem dynamics. The hypotheses presented here should provide focus for further targeted studies, particularly in regard to whether and how management should adjust to different climate regimes or states of nature. Our study highlights the challenges in understanding the effects of climatic drivers against a background of multiple anthropogenic pressures, particularly in a system where these forces interact in complex and nonlinear ways. |
| Purpose: |
To develop ecosystem indicators for the Gulf of Mexico |
| Notes: |
This is a collection of indicators based on synthesis of hundreds of existing publically-available and private databases. The data have been reprocessed for the publications listed in column P. |
Keywords
Theme Keywords
| Thesaurus | Keyword |
|---|---|
| Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords |
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS
|
| UNCONTROLLED | |
| None | Ecosystem Management |
| None | fishery-dependent |
Temporal Keywords
| Thesaurus | Keyword |
|---|---|
| UNCONTROLLED | |
| None | 1950-2015 |
Spatial Keywords
| Thesaurus | Keyword |
|---|---|
| Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords |
OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA
|
| UNCONTROLLED | |
| None | Gulf Of Mexico |
Physical Location
| Organization: | Southeast Fisheries Science Center |
|---|---|
| City: | Miami |
| State/Province: | FL |
| Country: | USA |
| Location Description: |
Location Of The Main Office Of The South East Fisheries Science Center |
Data Set Information
| Data Set Scope Code: | Data Set |
|---|---|
| Data Presentation Form: | Table (digital) |
Support Roles
Data Steward
| Date Effective From: | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Date Effective To: | |
| Contact (Person): | Karnauskas, Mandy M |
| Address: |
75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 USA |
| Email Address: | mandy.karnauskas@noaa.gov |
| Phone: | 305-361-4592 |
| Contact Instructions: |
Contact by email preferred. |
Distributor
| Date Effective From: | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Date Effective To: | |
| Contact (Organization): | Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) |
| Address: |
75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 USA |
| Phone: | (305)361-5761 |
| URL: | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southeast-fisheries-science-center |
| Business Hours: | 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST |
| Contact Instructions: |
Contact by email preferred. |
Metadata Contact
| Date Effective From: | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Date Effective To: | |
| Contact (Person): | Schirripa, Michael J |
| Address: |
75 VA Beach Dr Miami, FL 33139 |
| Email Address: | michael.schirripa@noaa.gov |
| Phone: | 305-361-4568 |
| Fax: | 305-361-4219 |
| Business Hours: | 8:00-430 EST/EDT |
Point of Contact
| Date Effective From: | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Date Effective To: | |
| Contact (Person): | Hoolihan, John |
| Address: |
75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, FL 33149 USA |
| Email Address: | john.hoolihan@noaa.gov |
| Phone: | 305-365-4116 |
| Contact Instructions: |
Contact by email preferred. |
Extents
| Currentness Reference: | Ground Condition |
|---|
Extent Group 1
Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1
| W° Bound: | -98 | |
|---|---|---|
| E° Bound: | -76 | |
| N° Bound: | 32 | |
| S° Bound: | 18 | |
| Description |
Gulf Of Mexico |
|
Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1
| Time Frame Type: | Continuing |
|---|---|
| Start: | 2011 |
Access Information
| Security Class: | Unclassified |
|---|---|
| Data Access Policy: |
Open to everyone |
| Data Access Procedure: |
Please Download From provided links |
| Data Access Constraints: |
None |
| Data Use Constraints: |
Not for use in litigation Please cite as appropriate |
| Metadata Access Constraints: |
Published metadata is open to everyone |
| Metadata Use Constraints: |
Please cite as appropriate |
Distribution Information
Distribution 1
| Start Date: | 2017 |
|---|---|
| End Date: | Present |
| Download URL: | https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/ocd/ocdweb/ESR_GOMIEA/download.html |
| Distributor: | Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) (2011 - Present) |
| File Name: | ESR 2017 FINAL TIME SERIES DATA.zip |
| Description: |
zip file download |
| File Type (Deprecated): | Zip |
| Compression: | Zip |
| Review Status: | Chked Viruses Inapp Content |
URLs
URL 1
| URL: | https://www.integratedecosystemassessment.noaa.gov/regions/gulf-of-mexico/ |
|---|---|
| Name: | Homepage Gulf of Mexico Integrated Ecosystem Assessment |
| URL Type: |
Online Resource
|
| File Resource Format: | html |
| Description: |
Gulf of Mexico Integrated Ecosystem Assessment "Balancing the needs of nature and society through integrated science for current and future generations of the Gulf of Mexico" |
URL 2
| URL: | https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/17422 |
|---|---|
| Name: | NOAA Fisheries 05/2017 workshop to review the status of ESRs |
| URL Type: |
Online Resource
|
| Description: |
Challenges, opportunities, and future directions to advance NOAA Fisheries ecosystem status reports (ESRs) : report of the National ESR Workshop |
Data Quality
| Completeness Measure: |
Data was collected from what would be perceived as reliable sources |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Procedures Employed: |
Karnauskas M, Schirripa MJ, Craig K, Cook G, Kelble C, Agar J, Black B, Enfield D, Lindo-Atichati D, Muhling B, Purcell K, Richards P ,Wang C (2015) Evidence of climate-driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico. Global Change Biology doi: 10.1111/gcb.12894 |
Data Management
| Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: | No |
|---|---|
| Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: | 0 |
| Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: | Yes |
| Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: | No |
| If Distributor (Data Hosting Service) is Needed, Please Indicate: | No |
| Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: | 365 |
| If Delay is Longer than Latency of Automated Processing, Indicate Under What Authority Data Access is Delayed: |
N/A |
| Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: | No Archiving Intended |
| Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: | 365 |
| How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?: |
The data resides on a secure government network requiring multi-factor authentication for network access. |
Lineage
Sources
Evidence of climate‐driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico
| Contact Role Type: | Originator |
|---|---|
| Contact Type: | Person |
| Contact Name: | Mandy Karnauskas |
| Publish Date: | 2015-03-16 |
| Citation URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.12894 |
| Citation URL Name: | Global Change Biology Volume 21 Issues 7 July 2015 Pages 2554-2568 |
| Citation URL Description: |
Wiley Online Library |
| Source Contribution: |
Describes how parameters were gathered |
Process Steps
Process Step 1
| Description: |
Various data sources compiled under Excel files and stored on the SEFSC server. |
|---|---|
| Process Contact: | Karnauskas, Mandy M |
| Phone (Voice): | 305-361-4592 |
| Email Address: | mandy.karnauskas@noaa.gov |
| Source: | Evidence of climate‐driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico |
Child Items
Rubric scores updated every 15m
|
Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Entity | ECOSYSTEM STATUS REPORT | |
| Entity | Eutrophication.csv | |
| Document | Evidence of climate-driven ecosystem reorganization in the Gulf of Mexico | |
| Entity | SLR_state.csv | |
| Entity | SST_3regions.csv | |
| Entity | amo.csv | |
| Entity | articial_structuresFINAL.csv | |
| Entity | avePopDensity.csv | |
| Entity | aveSocialConnectedness.csv | |
| Entity | biodiversity.csv | |
| Entity | bird_standardized_abundancesFINAL.csv | |
| Entity | bottomDO.csv | |
| Entity | commercial_landings_revenue.csv | |
| Entity | economically_important_spp_abundance.csv | |
| Entity | human_pop.csv | |
| Entity | mean_trophic_level_catch.csv | |
| Entity | menhaden_abundance_index.csv | |
| Entity | npp.csv | |
| Entity | pH.csv | |
| Entity | recreational_effort.csv | |
| Entity | seagrass_acreage.csv | |
| Entity | stock_status | |
| Entity | totalEmployment.csv | |
| Entity | totalGDP.csv | |
| Entity | total_lulc_urban.csv | |
| Entity | total_lulc_wetland.csv | |
| Entity | zooplankton.csv |
Catalog Details
| Catalog Item ID: | 30673 |
|---|---|
| GUID: | gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:30673 |
| Metadata Record Created By: | Carlos Rivero |
| Metadata Record Created: | 2016-02-11 06:54+0000 |
| Metadata Record Last Modified By: | SysAdmin InPortAdmin |
| Metadata Record Last Modified: | 2025-05-15 19:15+0000 |
| Metadata Record Published: | 2021-05-05 |
| Owner Org: | SEFSC |
| Metadata Publication Status: | Published Externally |
| Do Not Publish?: | N |
| Metadata Last Review Date: | 2021-05-05 |
| Metadata Review Frequency: | 1 Year |
| Metadata Next Review Date: | 2022-05-05 |