Presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B, northern Gulf of Mexico from 2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28

This dataset reports presence/absence and density data for epipelagic tows collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico during R/V Blazing Seven cruises LF2016A and LF2016B (2016-06-09 to 2016-07-28). Larval fishes were sampled from 48 stations and cruise data were collected at each site including latitude/longitude, date, time, environmental data (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen) and Sargassum dry weight. Larval catch data before and after the oil spill will be compared to improve our understanding of the causes of temporal variability as it relates to the Deep-Water Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Habitat associations of selected taxa (billfishes, tunas, dolphinfishes, flyingfishes) will be examined before (2007-2009) and after (2015-2017) the DWHOS, and catch data will be coupled with environmental data to identify critical spawning/nursery habitats of several pelagic fishes in the nGoM. In addition, life history and ecosystem parameters that favor the production and survival of pelagic fish larvae and juveniles from multiple cohorts (2015-2017) will be compared to estimates before and after the DWHOS.本数据集收录了墨西哥湾北部海域在“布拉泽七号”（R/V Blazing Seven）科考航次LF2016A与LF2016B（2016年6月9日至2016年7月28日）期间采集的真光层拖网的物种存在/缺失情况与密度数据。研究团队在48个采样站位采集了仔鱼样本，并在每个站位收集航次相关数据，包括经纬度、采样日期、时间、环境参数（水温、盐度、溶解氧）以及马尾藻（Sargassum）干重。本研究将对比深水地平线漏油事件（Deep-Water Horizon oil spill, DWHOS）前后的仔鱼渔获数据，以深化对该事件相关的时间变异成因的认知。同时，将分析选定类群（旗鱼类、金枪鱼类、鲯鳅类、飞鱼类）在漏油事件前（2007-2009年）与后（2015-2017年）的栖息地关联特征，并将渔获数据与环境数据相结合，以识别墨西哥湾北部（nGoM）多种中上层鱼类的关键产卵及育幼栖息地。此外，本研究还将对比有利于2015-2017年多世代中上层鱼类仔鱼与幼鱼生产及存活的生活史与生态系统参数，及其在漏油事件前后的估算值。