Longline trap data collected during R/V Apalachee cruise AP-1407 in the DeSoto Canyon from 2014-05-28 to 2014-05-30 (NCEI Accession 0173132)

This dataset reports species caught using longline and trap sets during the R/V Apalachee cruise AP-1407 from May 28-30, 2014. The main objective of this project was to use large chevron traps and demersal longlines to describe and examine differences in the species assemblages and relative abundances of demersal fishes associated with the eastern and western walls of DeSoto Canyon and the adjacent continental slope (75-2000 m deep). The other objectives were to collect liver and bile samples from dominant species to examine spatial and depth-mediated differences in exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to collect muscle tissue from all species for stable isotope analyses including using radiocarbon ratios to examine attenuation of long-term exposure to hydrocarbons, and to collect specimens and samples (including curation of new species) to aid in resolving phylogenetic uncertainties and understanding life history traits in collected taxa. This dataset contains the metadata and sample data associated with the above objectives.