The overall purpose of the study was to assess the current status of ecological condition and stressor impacts throughout these waters and to provide this information as a framework for evaluating future changes due to natural or human-induced disturbances. To address this objective, the study incorporated standard methods and indicators applied in previous coastal EMAP/NCA projects (U.S. EPA 2001, 2004, 2008), including multiple measures of water quality, sediment quality, and biological condition (benthic community health and fish tissue contamination). Synoptic sampling of the various indicators provided an integrative weight-of-evidence approach to assessing condition at each station and a basis for examining potential associations between the presence of stressors and biological responses.
DATA/REPORT DETAILS
Ecological condition of coastal ocean waters of the western Gulf of Mexico: 2011
- Published on:
- Science Area(s): Coastal Change, Marine Spatial Ecology
- Region(s) of Study: Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Waterbodies
- Primary Contact(s): ed.wirth@noaa.gov, len.balthis@noaa.gov
Citation:
Balthis, W.L., J.L. Hyland, C. Cooksey, M.H. Fulton, and E.F. Wirth
Balthis, W.L., J.L. Hyland, C. Cooksey, M.H. Fulton, and E.F. Wirth
Data/Report Type:
NOAA Technical Memorandum
NOAA Technical Memorandum
Related Project(s):
Description
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