Photosynthetic pigment composition data (benthic microalgae) from Barataria Bay, 2011-2014

Benthic microalgal biomass (using the concentration of chlorophyll a as a proxy) and photosynthetic pigment composition of samples collected from Barataria Bay, Louisiana from 2011-2014 in a study of the effects of and recovery from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill are presented here. Samples were collected the salt marsh platform in the intertidal region in areas expected to be dominated by Spartina alterniflora. Data are presented as ug pigment per sample for chlorophyll a, fucoxanthin, pheophytin and zeaxanthin.