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Recommendation: A minimum of three replicates for each sample type is recommended. 



3.3.5.2 Component Field Studies 



The choice of study components must trade off the need to focus resources upon aspects which has greatest 

 MMS mission relevance versus attempts to dilute resources in an effort to be comprehensive. 



physical - vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, light penetration, and suspended 

 sediments; 



geological - sediment samples for grain size analysis, total organic content, carbonate content, and 

 hydrocarbon and trace metal analysis as well as for special pollutants; 



chemical - water samples for surface (floating) and water column (suspended) hydrocarbons; sediment 

 samples for pollutant analysis; biological tissues for pollutant analysis; 



biological - macro-infauna, demersal invertebrates and fishes; samples for foodchain analysis; samples 

 for tissue analysis for pollutants. 



3.3.5.3 Special Integrative Studies 



Analysis, Modeling and Prediction - All analyses shall be designed and conducted so as to estimate time 

 to time change in the variable. Models relating relationships among variables shall be created and 

 refined on the basis of the data. As the data base develops, all continued sampling will be simulated 

 and predicted in advance. Actual results will be used to suggest model improvements. 



Intensive Areal Sampling - Since cross-shelf transects may not provide information on variation at the 

 appropriate spatial scale, it is important to include a program of sampling which intensively samples an 

 area of approximately 4 square Ian. The analyses of samples should parallel those of the transect study 

 with the addition of long-term environmental monitoring using moored platforms. This study should be 

 conducted in conjunction with the TEXLA Ecosystem Study to assure the greatest availability of 

 supportive process data. 



Process Oriented Studies - In order to maximize applicability of TEXLA Ecosystem studies seeking to 

 link process and populations, at zones 3 and 4 in midshelf stations, process-related studies should be 

 included. 



3.3.6 Project Management and Organization 



Given the lack of experience in long-term studies of this nature on the part of MMS and the coastal ocean 

 community, it is appropriate to give some thought to the special management requirements. Both the regional 

 coverage and time duration of the recommended study are unusual for most oceanographic work. 



• It is envisioned that the six regional transects sampled will be studied by different organizations with a 

 history and balance of expertise appropriate to each region. 



Design, coordination of field efforts, quality assurance, modeling, data management and data analysis 

 must be vested in a single organization or team to guarantee effective execution of the study. 



• Chemical analyses should be centralized at a single organization. For any other analyses conducted at 

 other organizations, a program of blind standards must be applied to guarantee compatible results. 



