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Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama (FOCAL) (2004-2010)

Dataset extent

The FOCAL (Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama) program aims to examine the close connection between the biological and physical environments of coastal Alabama and how this interaction affects larvae and eggs dynamics across the shelf. The shallow coastal northern U.S. Gulf of Mexico represents one of the most biologically and physically dynamic systems in North America. The overarching scientific goal of the FOCAL program is to understand the key ecological and environmental drivers of egg and larval fish variability, and how this variability influences later adult stages entering the fishery. The core element of FOCAL is a cross-shelf survey initiated in fall 2004. These data are currently being employed in several long-term studies aimed at understanding recruitment variability of several key fish species. Additionally, FOCAL continues to provide support to state and federal agencies in the areas of taxonomic expertise and training in ichthyoplankton and other plankton groups.

Data and Resources

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Additional Info

Field	Value
Author	Dr. Frank Hernandez
Maintainer	data@disl.org
Last Updated	July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Created	July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Access_Constraints	Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Frank Hernandez of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
ISO 19115 Topic Categories	biota, environment, oceans
Place Keywords	Alabama, Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay, USA, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, DISL
Theme Keywords	zooplankton, phytoplankton, ichthyoplankton, oceanography, larvae, eggs, fishery, continental shelf, dynamics, variability
Use_Constraints	Acknowledgment of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab FOCAL Lab and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division is required in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.
dc.coverage.placeName	Alabama Gulf of Mexico Mobile Bay USA Dauphin Island Sea Lab DISL
dc.coverage.t.max	20100708T
dc.coverage.t.min	20040501T
dc.coverage.x.max	-87.25
dc.coverage.x.min	-88.375
dc.coverage.y.max	31.0
dc.coverage.y.min	29.75
dc.creator	Dauphin Island Sea Lab's FOCAL Laboratory
dc.date	Unpublished material
dc.description	The FOCAL (Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama) program aims to examine the close connection between the biological and physical environments of coastal Alabama and how this interaction affects larvae and eggs dynamics across the shelf. The shallow coastal northern U.S. Gulf of Mexico represents one of the most biologically and physically dynamic systems in North America. The overarching scientific goal of the FOCAL program is to understand the key ecological and environmental drivers of egg and larval fish variability, and how this variability influences later adult stages entering the fishery. The core element of FOCAL is a cross-shelf survey initiated in fall 2004. These data are currently being employed in several long-term studies aimed at understanding recruitment variability of several key fish species. Additionally, FOCAL continues to provide support to state and federal agencies in the areas of taxonomic expertise and training in ichthyoplankton and other plankton groups.
dc.language	en
dc.subject	zooplankton phytoplankton ichthyoplankton oceanography larvae eggs fishery continental shelf dynamics variability
dc.title	Fisheries Oceanography of Coastal Alabama (FOCAL) (2004-2010)
spatial	{ "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ -88.375, 31.0 ], [ -87.25, 31.0 ], [ -87.25, 29.75 ], [ -88.375, 29.75 ], [ -88.375, 31.0 ] ] ] }