Larval Billfish Data from Plankton Tows Conducted off the Kona Coast in West Hawai'i between 1997 and 2018

Description

This is a 20-year (1997-2018) dataset of neustonic ichthyoplankton collections from West Hawai'i and beyond focusing on four species of billfishes (Blue Marlin /Makaira nigricans/, Striped Marlin /Kajikia audax/, Shortbilled Spearfish /Tetrapturus angustirostris/, and Swordfish /Xiphias gladius/). We compiled observations of 1963 larvae over this 20- year period (from 998 discrete ichthyoplankton tows in West Hawaii), and provide specimen information and species level identifications for 1109 larvae using both existing and new genetic assignments. Additionally, we filtered these data to tows with consistent methodologies revealing 1761 larval billfishes (from 771 discrete surface tows in West Hawaii). We also constructed a thorough dataset of environmental variables (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll) associated with each occurrence of larval billfish and all absences using oceanographic data collected in-situ during cruises and satellite data. We present the first complete multispecies larval billfish dataset with coupled environmental data in the Pacific Islands Region ready for statistical analysis. This dataset will be critical for improving our understanding of how oceanographic features and environmental changes will affect larval growth, survival, and ultimately population replenishment.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Larval billfish specimen information paired with temperature, salinity and chlorophyll measurements at the time and site of larva collection for all surface tows only. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/74319
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 Online Resource https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/74319.pdf
0 This file contains metadata for all tows completed in West Hawai'i from 1997-2018 including sample ID, tow type, mean depth, slick, gear type, mesh size, date, latitude, and longitude. These tow metadata are paired with billfish specimen data. Stations where billfish were not caught are thusly noted. This .CSV file is 898KB. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 This file contains metadata for all tows completed in West Hawai'i from 1997-2018 including sample ID, tow type, mean depth, slick, gear type, mesh size, date, latitude, and longitude. These tow metadata are paired with billfish specimen data. Stations where billfish were not caught are thusly noted. This .CSV file is 898KB. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 Larval billfish specimen information paired with temperature, salinity and chlorophyll measurements at the time and site of larva collection for all surface tows only. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/74319
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 Online Resource https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/74319.pdf
0 This file contains metadata for all tows completed in West Hawai'i from 1997-2018 including sample ID, tow type, mean depth, slick, gear type, mesh size, date, latitude, and longitude. These tow metadata are paired with billfish specimen data. Stations where billfish were not caught are thusly noted. This .CSV file is 898KB. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 Larval billfish specimen information paired with temperature, salinity and chlorophyll measurements at the time and site of larva collection for all surface tows only. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/74319
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 Online Resource https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/74319.pdf
0 This file contains metadata for all tows completed in West Hawai'i from 1997-2018 including sample ID, tow type, mean depth, slick, gear type, mesh size, date, latitude, and longitude. These tow metadata are paired with billfish specimen data. Stations where billfish were not caught are thusly noted. This .CSV file is 898KB. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 Larval billfish specimen information paired with temperature, salinity and chlorophyll measurements at the time and site of larva collection for all surface tows only. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0306183
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/74319
0 Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov
0 Online Resource https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/pacific-islands#science
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/74319.pdf

Tags

  • distance to shore
  • fish species
  • water column habitat
  • townsend cromwell
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/pifsc
  • united states of america
  • visual observation
  • latitude
  • kona coast (19n155w0002)
  • aquatic habitat
  • date
  • gear type
  • pifsc
  • ecological characterization
  • sea surface temperature
  • biosphere
  • longitude
  • tow type
  • coastal habitat
  • thermosalinographs
  • tetrapturus angustirostris
  • survey
  • oceans
  • oscar elton sette
  • surface salinity
  • species identification- organism length
  • continent
  • noaa
  • hawaii
  • chlorophyll
  • integrated ecosystem assessment
  • nmfs
  • biological classification
  • fish eggs and larvae
  • ocean temperature
  • profile
  • plankton
  • time series
  • mesh size
  • xiphiidae
  • north america
  • us doc
  • fish
  • aquatic sciences
  • habitat- slicks
  • pacific islands fisheries science center
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • istiophoridae
  • animals/vertebrates
  • earth science
  • tow depth
  • national marine fisheries service
  • ocean optics
  • ocean
  • hawaiian islands
  • coastal waters of hawaii
  • climate indicators
  • sample identification
  • ray-finned fishes
  • fisheries
  • atmospheric/ocean indicators
  • water depth- average
  • microbiota
  • kajikia audax
  • xiphias gladius
  • central pacific ocean
  • ocean basin
  • ecosystem sciences division
  • esd
  • discrete sample
  • gps
  • pacific ocean
  • geographic information
  • makaira nigricans
  • neuston
  • country/territory
  • hawaii island
  • chlorophyll concentration

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