Abstract:
Benthic organisms data were collected using sediment sampler and net casts BELLOWS and other platforms in the Gulf of Mexico from 16 May 1974 to 20 February 1978. Data were collected and submitted by Dr. William Sackett of Texas University with support from the Outer Continental Shelf project.The data are from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms in F132 format. The data
... provide information on species counts and species wet weight from samples collected by point sampling (grab or core) or by tow (dredge or trawl). Three operational kinds of data include: Epifauna, Infauna, and Meiofauna benthic organisms data that roughly correspond to the different sampling methods and collecting institutions that were part of this study. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Number of individual organisms or total weight of all organisms in the sample is reported for each taxonomic category identified by the researchers (often to Genus and Species taxonomic resolution). 
Purpose:
Basic research.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Record Count 145,999, Taxa Count 2588
The publications listed below are related to the data collection and are available from the NOAA Central Library
Report: Environmental studies, South Texas Outer Continental Shelf, chemistry and biology: executive summary, 1977. Port Aransas, Tex., Port Aransas Marine Laboratory, [1978].
Book: Flint, R. Warren,
... and Nancy N. Rabalais 1981 Environmental Studies of a Marine Ecosystem; South Texas Outer Continental Shelf. University of Texas Press, Austin. 240pp.
These data files are in NODC F132 format. This format is described at http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f132.html. The codes used in this format are listed at http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-Archive/f132.txt
CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: ground condition
