Larval fish dispersal in the Florida Current

Western boundary currents of the North Atlantic Ocean may transport larval fish considerable distances, resulting in unusual reports of tropical fish along the New England coast. The Florida Current is an example of such a strong current, flowing northward past the Florida Keys and along the eastern shore of Florida. Quarterly cruises across a 27N latitudinal transect of the Florida Current have been conducted since 2001 on the R/V F.G. Walton Smith, collecting physical oceanographic data in order to determine the total transport of water at this location. Biological sampling was added during the 10-11 September and 23-24 November 2009 cruises. This data complements the physical oceanographic findings so that the currents effect on larval distribution and seasonal variation can be assessed. Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) measurements and ichthyoplankton samples were collected at stations from the Florida Coast to Little Bahama Bank. Samples were collected at nine stations using ten-minute neuston tows with a 500 m mesh net. Each sample was sorted, fish were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, and their distribution at each station was determined. Larvae of over thirty families, including those ecologically and commercially valuable, such as Serranidae, Scombridae, Lutjanidae, and Istiophoridae, were identified, and their distribution is discussed. Results from this study can provide a time series for larval distribution along this transect, and create a baseline for future research in this area.

To observe variation in ichthyoplankton abundance and composition across the Florida Current

Larval sampling took place as part of the quarterly cable calibration cruise conducted by Physical Oceanography department at AOML AOML was the lead on project

Temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll data collected aboard the RV F.G WALTON SMITH in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, and North Atlantic Ocean from 01/29/1998 to 08/09/2012 (NCEI Accession 0092099)

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/ocean-carbon-acidification-data-system/oceans/Coastal/Walton_Smith.html

Cite as: Johns, Elizabeth; NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (2012). Temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll data collected aboard the RV F.G WALTON SMITH in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, and North Atlantic Ocean from 01/29/1998 to 08/09/2012 (NCEI Accession 0092099). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0092099

N/A

The data will be available from a public web server once an access methodology has been developed.

None

Larvae are identified using dichotomous keys and published literature, and colleagues in the field are consulted for confirmation and accuracy.

This data is currently wavered under the current NOAA guidelines for relational databases.

The archival process is currently under development.

The data resides on a secure government network requiring multi-factor authentication for network access.