Benthic organism data from the South Texas Outer Continental Shelf (STOCS) and the Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida (MAFLA) Outer Continental Shelf studies from 16 May 1974 to 20 February 1978 (NODC Accession 8500179)

Benthic organisms data were collected using sediment sampler and net casts BELLOWS and other platforms in the Gulf of Mexico from 16 May 1974 to 20 February 1978. Data were collected and submitted by Dr. William Sackett of Texas University with support from the Outer Continental Shelf project.

The data are from field sampling or surveys of bottom dwelling marine organisms in F132 format. The data provide information on species counts and species wet weight from samples collected by point sampling (grab or core) or by tow (dredge or trawl). Three operational kinds of data include: Epifauna, Infauna, and Meiofauna benthic organisms data that roughly correspond to the different sampling methods and collecting institutions that were part of this study. Cruise information such as vessel, start and end dates, investigator, and institution/agency; station numbers, positions and times; and equipment and methods are reported for each survey. Number of individual organisms or total weight of all organisms in the sample is reported for each taxonomic category identified by the researchers (often to Genus and Species taxonomic resolution).

本数据集为底栖生物（benthic organisms）数据，采集时间为1974年5月16日至1978年2月20日，采集区域为墨西哥湾，所用设备包括沉积物采样器、BELLOWS网具及其他作业平台。数据由德克萨斯大学（Texas University）威廉·萨克特（William Sackett）博士收集并提交，研究工作得到外大陆架项目（Outer Continental Shelf project）的资助。
本数据集采用F132格式存储，来源于底栖海洋生物的野外采样与调查工作。数据集涵盖通过点位采样（抓斗采样或岩心采样）或拖曳采样（拖捞网或底拖网）获取的样本的物种计数与物种湿重信息。本研究包含三类底栖生物数据集，分别为底表生物（Epifauna）、底内生物（Infauna）与小型底栖生物（Meiofauna），其分类大致对应本研究采用的不同采样方法与采样机构。每项调查均记录了完整航次信息，包括作业船舶、起止日期、调查人员及所属机构/单位；站位编号、站位坐标与采样时间；以及所用设备与采样方法。针对研究人员鉴定的每个分类单元（通常可鉴定至属与种的分类层级），数据集均记录了对应样本中该类群的个体总数或总生物湿重。