Gulf and Ocean Monitoring Ecosystems Coastal Cruises (GOMECC – 5) Cruise
Dates: October 19th – November 23th 2025
UTMSI Scientists:
- Sharon Herzka
- Lauren Bomer
- Alfonsina (Kena) Romo Curiel
- Sofia Armada Tapia
Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton community structure and organic matter flow during GOMECC-5: Partitioning the variability due to OA and other environmental drivers
Researchers will survey microscopic ocean animals to understand the impact of ocean acidification on their populations in the Gulf of America during the 2025 GOMECC. Using fine-mesh nets, the team will capture a range of zooplankton on each transect carried out on GOMECC. They will investigate biomass, zooplankton abundance, and community structure, with special emphasis on counting the abundance of small marine snails called pteropods that are important species in the food web. Additionally, they will run analyses on the carbon and nitrogen content of the zooplankton to determine their nutritional quality. These tests will help determine if pteropods or other zooplankton can be used as biological indicators of ocean acidification in the Gulf of America.