Temporal analysis of NRDA macrofauna data, northern Gulf of Mexico, 2010, 2011, and 2014

Benthic macrofauna samples from the northern Gulf of Mexico were collected with multi-corers on research cruises during 16 September - 30 October 2010, 23 May - 11 June 2011, and 29 May - 28 June 2014. Organisms were identified taxonomically and their abundance was determined. Taxonomic richness, diversity, and evenness were calculated. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to determine, if abundance, richness, and diversity varied significantly between impact and non-impact zones (as defined by Montagna, P.A., Baguley, J.G., Cooksey, C., Hartwell, I., Hyde, L.J., Hyland, J.L, Kalke, R.D., Kracker, L.M., Reuscher, M., and Rhodes, A.C.E. (2013) Deep-sea benthic footprint of the Deepwater Horizon blowout. PLoS ONE 8(8): e70540. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070540) or between the different sampling times.