| Summary: | This data set contains seasonal records of phytoplankton composition and abundance, from the eastern continental shelf waters of the United States (Cape Hatteras, N.C to Gulf of Maine). Predominantly surface (1-4m) water samples were taken (e.g. 828 total) along transects from near shore to the outer shelf during 32 cruises for phytoplankton analysis, along with accompanying station co-ordinates, salinity and temperature data. The time period represents ca. a two decade historical data set applicable to future comparative studies regarding climatic or other environmental changes associated with the phytoplankton presence in this oceanic region. All water samples collected were analyzed at the Phytoplankton Analysis Laboratory at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. The majority of the sampling came from vessels of the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service programs that included Ocean Pulse and MARMAP. Accompanying publications presenting mean concentrations and volumes for species and algal categories across regions of the shelf, and specific distribution information are in the following references. These studies represent the most extensive and concentrated coverage of phytoplankton composition completed to date for this region. References (for above and related studies): Marshall, H.G. 1984. Mesoscale distribution patterns for diatoms over the northeastern continental shelf of the United States. In: D.G. Mann, (ed.), Proceedings of the Seventh International Diatom Symposium. Koeltz Publ., Koenigstein, pp. 393 400. Marshall, H.G. 1985. Comparison of numerical and cell volume measurements of phytoplankton groups of the continental shelf off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Hydrobiologia. 120:171 179. Marshall, H.G. 1986a. Diatom associations of the northeastern continental shelf and slope waters of the United States. In: M. Ricard,(ed.), Proceedings of the 8th International Diatom Symposium. Koeltz Publ., Koenigstein, pp. 539 548. Marshall, H.G. 1986b. The seasonal influence of Chesapeake Bay phytoplankton to the continental shelf. In: S. Skreslet, (ed.), The role of freshwater outflow in coastal marine ecosystems. Springer Verlag. pp. 319 327. Marshall, H.G. 1988a. Distribution and concentration patterns of ubiquitous diatoms for the northeastern continental shelf of the United States. Proceedings of the 9th International Diatom Symposium. Koeltz Publ., Koenigstein, pp. 75 85. Marshall, H.G. l988b. Phytoplankton composition at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay. J. Elisha Mitchell Society. 104:81-89. Marshall, H.G. and M.S. Cohn. 1983. Distribution and composition of phytoplankton in northeastern coastal waters of the United States. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science. 17:119 131. Marshall, H.G. and M.S. Cohn. 1987a. Phytoplankton composition of the New York Bight and adjacent waters. J. Plankton Research. 9:267 276. Marshall, H.G. and M.S. Cohn. 1987b. Phytoplankton distribution along the eastern coast of the U.S.A. Part VI. Shelf waters between Cape Charles and Cape May. J. Plankton Research. 9:139 149. Marshall, H.G. and J.A. Ranasinghe. 1989. Phytoplankton distribution along the eastern coast of the USA. Part VII. Mean cell concentration and standing crop biomass. Continental Shelf Research. 9:153¬-164. Matta, J.F. and H.G. Marshall. 1984. A multivariate analysis of phytoplankton assemblages in the western North Atlantic. J. Plankton Research. 6:663 675.
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