BIONESS profile and plankton sample collection data for plankton samples collected off Alabama (2007-2015)

Depth-discrete plankton samples were collected during cruises off the coast of Alabama during May-August periods (2007-2015) using a Bedford Institute of Oceanography Net Environmental Sampling System (BIONESS). The BIONESS (0.25 m2 opening) was fitted with 333-µm and 202-µm mesh nets. The BIONESS can fish as many as 9 plankton nets during a given tow, though not all nets were used during every tow. Each BIONESS tow therefore will have multiple net samples associated with it. Profile data (depth, temperature, salinity) were obtained with a SBE-19+ CTD (Sea-Bird Electronics) integrated with the BIONESS data logger. Samples were collected at stations located on the 20 m and 35 m contours. Data from 2007-2012 were collected as part of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama (FOCAL) program. Data from 2013-2015 were collected with support from GoMRI. All months were not sampled due to inclement weather or gear malfunction.