Cephalopods are important in midwater ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as both predator and prey. Vertical distribution and diel migration patterns are not known for the majority of deep-water cephalopods. These varying patterns are of interest as they have the potential to contribute to the movement of large amounts of nutrients and contaminants through the water column during diel migrations. Two large-scale programs (the Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program [ONSAP] and the Deep Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico [DEEPEND]) focused on the deep water column (0-1500 m) between the years 2010-16 to produce a combined dataset of over 12,500 midwater-cephalopod records for the region. Cephalopod vertical distribution patterns will be highlighted from the ONSAP and DEEPEND cruises, which utilized a Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System to acquire discrete-depth data. Species accounts include those with synchronous (e.g. Pterygioteuthis sp.) and asynchronous (e.g. Stigmatoteuthis arcturi) vertical migration. Non-migration patterns of various midwater cephalopods (e.g. Vampyroteuthis infernalis) are also highlighted.

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