University of South Florida Showcase

Between 1993 and 2023, 5,587 neuston net tows were conducted onboard Sea Education Association’s (www.sea.edu) SSVs Westward and Corwith Cramer during oceanographic research cruises across the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Cruise tracks varied seasonally and annually. The neuston net (1.0m × 0.5m frame, 33​3​ um mesh) was deployed from a boom extended 5 m off the ship’s port side while sailing on a port tack. Any wind​r​ows of Sargassum were thus crossed perpendicularly and any bow wake effect was minimized. Tows were conducted at two knots for 30 minutes for a typical distance of ~1.0 nm; tow distance (m) was calculated as the difference between start/end GPS locations (1993–2003) and from minute-by-minute GPS locations (2004–2023). Standard net processing included identifying pelagic Sargassum specimens to morphotype, patting dry, and weighing using a spring scale to yield mass (g) for each morphotype. Three common holopelagic morphotypes are reported: Sargassum natans var. natans (Sn_n), S. natans var. wingei (Sn_w), and S. fluitans (Sf). Weighted arithmetic mean Sargassum density (g/km2) was calculated from the sum of Sargassum mass divided by the sum of tow area for all tows in a given year (season, time frame) for a given region. Morphotypes reported as percentage of total collected biomass in a given year (season, time frame) for a given region. The date and GPS position were captured with each sample. All net tows were assigned to one of five regions defined on the basis of physical oceanographic boundaries. Analysis of data was organized by ecological year (March–February, corresponding with the start of the annual spring bloom period in the Sargasso Sea) and season (spring/summer March-August, fall/winter September-February). In most years, neuston tows occurred during both the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons in a region; sporadic changes in cruise track may have caused occasional missed seasons. Examined time frames (pre-MODIS 1993-1999, pre-GASB 2000-2010, early GASB 2011-2014, and recent GASB 2015-2023) were selected for comparison with satellite data and Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB) dynamics. Quality control confirmed accurate, consistent data entry and GPS positions, and filtered out incomplete records. Blank cell = no data.

This spreadsheet contains summer SST trends (℃/decade) for 1,505 and winter SST trends for 740 lakes and estuaries worldwide, derived from MODIS 1-km nighttime SST data during 2003–2023. For lakes, the FID corresponds to the ID used in the HydroATLAS database. Summer is defined as July–September in the Northern Hemisphere and January–March in the Southern Hemisphere, while winter is defined as January–March in the Northern Hemisphere and July–September in the Southern Hemisphere.

This spreadsheet contains digital data and graphics of reflectance of various types of floating matters found in the natural aquatic environments. The data have been compiled from published literature, where the worksheets contain more explanations and references of the data origins.

This dataset contains measurements of fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli) and microbial source tracking (MST) gene markers (HF183 and EC23S857), as well as detections of culturable E. coli from tile surfaces experimentally inoculated with sewage influent. Swabbing was conducted using three swab types (i.e., polyester, foam, and nylon-flocked) across three surface treatments: wet (immediate recapture), dry (recapture 20–25 minutes post-inoculation), and 24-hours dry. E. coli culture results are reported in colony forming units (CFU) per milliliter (mL), while qPCR-derived gene marker concentrations are expressed as gene copies (GC) per 100 cm². Experiments were conducted in the Harwood laboratory at the University of South Florida to assess swab recapture and efficiency of recovery under varying moisture and time-delay conditions. Data may be used to evaluate microbial persistence on surfaces and inform sampling protocol development for environmental monitoring and public health surveillance.

This dataset contains measurements of concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and enterococci) and microbial source tracking (MST) markers (HF183, Rum2Bac, GFD, DG37, CowM3, and GenBac), and detections of culturable E. coli that carry the sewage-associated H8 gene. This data also includes environmental parameters recorded during each sampling event, including estimations of tide and precipitation, measurements of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, and turbidity. Surface water was sampled in five different water bodies (Bullfrog Creek, Frenchmans Creek, Hamilton Creek, Northshore Park, and Salt Creek) that discharge directly or indirectly to Tampa Bay in Hillsborough and Pinellas, Florida counties. Samples were collected at several sites in each water body on a monthly basis from July 2022 to June 2024 to identify major sources of fecal pollution. QPCR MST data were also used to estimate human health risk ascribed to primary contact recreational exposure by QMRA.

Data for manuscript titled "Cooperation in Nature: Nature-based intervention improves mood, creativity, collaboration, and interpersonal affiliation" Abstract: As urbanization accelerates, the cognitive effects of exposure to manmade environments and decreased time in nature become increasingly important to understand. The current study investigates the effects of real-world outdoor exposure versus simulated office-based activities on verbal creativity, mood, and collaboration. Office workers engaged in workplace collaboration either outdoors in nature or indoors in an office setting. Measures of individual affect and verbal creativity were also administered before and after a period of exposure to the assessed environments. The outdoor group showed lower self-reported negative emotions and demonstrated increased performance in one of our two verbal creativity measures. Moreover, groups exposed to nature demonstrated greater satisfaction with their collective problem-solving solutions and with the degree of influence they felt they had during the group discussions, as compared to their indoor counterparts. The current research design and results address multiple components of the Tetrahedal Model, specifically the vertices of materials, participants, contexts, and outcomes. Within the vertex of materials, this study contributes to nature-based research focused on real-world, immersive environments. This study utilizes working adult participants within the context of work-related collaboration. Finally, our findings extend Attention Restoration Theory to include other prefrontal cortex (PFC) processes, such as sensitivity to emotions, verbal creativity, and social cognition.

This dataset contains all microbial data collected (February 2023-January 2025) for the Microbial Source Tracking for Selected Waterbodies within Hillsborough County project. This includes measurements of concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and enterococci) and microbial source tracking markers (HF183, GenBac, GFD, and Rum2Bac), and detections of culturable E. coli that carry the sewage-associated H8 gene. Surface water was sampled in three different water bodies (the Alafia River, Buckhorn Creek, and Rice Creek) on a monthly basis. Environmental data including precipitation is included in the datasheet.

This dataset provides monthly frequency maps of Karenia brevis blooms (red tides) on the West Florida Shelf, 1978-1986, 2003-2024. It integrates data from two satellite sensors: - CZCS-derived maps: Covering 1978-1986, based on CZCS Nimbus-7 data - MODIS-derived maps: Covering 2003-2019, based on MODIS Aqua data - VIIRS-derived maps: Covering 2012-2014, based on VIIRS SNPP data Two spatial resolutions are provided: - 1 km resolution, geographic extent: 88.0°W to 81.0°W, 23.0°N to 31.0°N - 0.1° resolution, geographic extent: 87.5°W to 81.0°W, 25.0°N to 30.5°N File Formats: - TIFF (.tif): Each file contains monthly bloom frequency values ranging from 0 to 1, indicating the proportion of days within the month when a bloom was detected at each pixel. Pixels with no valid observations are marked as NaN. - PNG (.png): Visualization-ready images using a 'jet' colormap, where values from 0 to 1 are mapped to a color gradient (blue to red) for rapid visual inspection. Each file name follows the format: YYYY_MM_monthly_frequency_SENSOR_RESOLUTION.EXT Where: YYYY_MM = year and month of observation SENSOR = MODIS or VIIRS RESOLUTION = 1km or 0.1deg EXT = file extension (.tif or .png)

This dataset collects a record of physical and chemical observations made by two uncrewed sailing vehicles (Saildrone 1038 and Saildrone 1039) in the South Indian Ocean during 2022 and 2023. SD1038 collected data near 15°E and between latitudes 35°S and 50°S during July 19-26, 2022. SD1039 made observations within the Subantarctic Zone (37-47°S, 20-45°E) between September 1, 2022 until February 24, 2023. The local atmospheric and surface ocean parameters measured are listed below: -- Atmospheric measurements: temperature, pressure, humidity. -- Seawater measurements: temperature, pressure, conductivity, salinity. -- Carbon measurements: fCO2, xCO2, and pCO2 in atmosphere and seawater. -- Chlorophyll measurements: concentration. -- Oxygen measurements: concentration, saturation, ratio of O2 in water to air. -- Wind measurements: eastward, northward, and downward speed, plus gusts and direction. -- Wave measurements: significant wave height and dominant wave period. -- Irradiation measurements (SD1039 only): longwave, shortwave, and PAR. -- Current velocity measurements (SD1039 only): eastwards, northwards, and upwards, down to 102m. -- CCMP wind estimates (hourly only): collocated to Saildrone time and location. -- Directions of large eddies transitted (SD1039 hourly only): based on AVISO eddy database. Four files included: -- SD1038_1min.nc (SD1038’s raw data at 1-minute timesteps with frequent gaps) -- SD1039_1min.nc (SD1039’s raw data at 1-minute timesteps with frequent gaps) -- SD1038_hrly.nc (SD1038’s hourly-averaged data, plus eddies and CCMP winds) -- SD1039_hrly.nc (SD1039’s hourly-averaged data, plus eddies and CCMP winds) 1-minute files contain the “raw” data, at all times it was collected. Because many variables were only sampled once or a few times an hour, these files include frequent gaps. Hourly files were made from the 1-minute data, averaging whatever data exists within each hour, such that few gaps in the data exist for most variables.

Steady State Emission