Chemistry data on otoliths of deepwater fishes collected aboard the R/V Point Sur cruises PS16-22 (DP03) and PS17-03 (DP04) in the Gulf of Mexico from 2016-05-02 to 2016-08-19

This dataset contains chemistry data on otoliths of deepwater fishes collected aboard the R/V Point Sur cruises PS16-22 (DP03) and PS17-03 (DP04) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) from 2016-05-02 to 2016-08-19. Natural, chemical tracers in the otoliths of deep-pelagic taxa were used to assess ecological connectivity at two spatial scales: 1) within the Gulf of Mexico, and 2) across basins (i.e., the exchange between the GoM and adjacent waters of the western Atlantic Ocean [Bear Seamount, New England Seamount Chain], and the Caribbean). Chemistry data on otoliths of deepwater fishes in the GoM were collected as well as two classes of chemical tags (trace elements, stable isotope ratios) to examine variation in chemical signatures among distinct geographic locations. The dataset includes dates and location (latitude and longitude) of sample collection, the species of otoliths that were captured, and the averages and standard deviations of concentrations of various metals in tissue.