Harpacticoida family diversity and environmental data after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 2010-09-19 to 2010-10-27

This dataset contains Harpacticoida family diversity and environmental data after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill aboard several research cruise or cargo vessels (MV IRISH, RV GYRE, Ocean_Veritas, MV SARAH BORDELON) from 2010-09-19 to 2010-10-27. The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout and oil spill began on April 20, 2010, in the deep sea (1525 m) of the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM). Previous studies documented an impacted area of deep-sea floor totaling 321 km2 and were based on taxonomy at the macrofauna family level and the meiofauna major taxonomic level. In the present study, finer taxonomic resolution of the meiofauna community were employed, specifically harpacticoid copepod family biodiversity. Sediment samples were collected using an Ocean Scientific International multicorer, (core size:10 cm inner diameter and 60 cm length). Meiofauna was then extracted from remaining sediments using isopycnic centrifugation in Ludox HS-40. Animals were identified using standard morphological characteristics and keys for marine Harpacticoida. In addition, trace metals were evaluated in sediments using EPA Method 6010C (inductively coupled plasmaatomic emission spectrometry). Severe or moderate impacts to harpacticoid family biodiversity were observed at 35 of 95 sampling stations, covering an estimated area of 2864 km2, 8.9 times greater impacted area than previously reported. Sensitive and tolerant harpacticoid families were observed in the impact zone. The present study greatly expands the understanding of DWH deep-sea impacts in 2010 and demonstrates that the harpacticoid family-level response is the most sensitive indicator (reported to date) of this oil spill pollution event. This dataset supports the publication: Montagna PA, Baguley JG, Cooksey C, Hartwell I, Hyde LJ, Hyland JL, Kalke RD, Kracker LM, Reuscher M, Rhodes AC. Deep-sea benthic footprint of the deepwater horizon blowout. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 7;8(8):e70540. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070540