IMOS - Zooplankton Abundance and Biomass Index (CPR)

This dataset includes Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) data, as part of the Australian Plankton Survey (AusCPR). The dataset comprises zooplankton abundance and biomass index. The biomass index is the dried mass of the plankton washed off the silk and dried in an oven at 60oC for 24 hours. This, therefore, represent the total plankton biomass. 

We acknowledge the assistance of the AAD in collecting some of our samples. The AAD have extended their regular transects to and from Antarctica by including directly south of Tasmania. The most northerly tow on these transects is counted by AusCPR and ensures that there is no spatial data gap between AusCPR and SOCPR surveys.

To understand how CPR plankton data is analysed and how to use CPR data we recommend reading Richardson et al., 2006.  

The data are made available in binned products for ease of use. As taxonomy changes over time and the ability of analysts improves with training more and more species can be identified over time. The products account for these changes and for real absences from the samples. A 0 abundance means that the species was looked for and not seen, null (empty cell) means that the species was not looked for in that sample. The products are therefore applicable for use in time series analysis.  

There are a total of 6 products to choose from. 
Zooplankton abundance products are available at 5 levels: 
Raw product (includes all data) 
Copepods product (all data where species have been identified, Copepods only) 
Non-Copepods product (all data where species have been identified, non-Copepods only)
Genus product (includes all data binned to genus level) 
Higher taxonomic group (includes all data binned to functional groups).
(each of these products includes the biomass index per samples)
Plus
Derived indices (useful indices at segment level for CPR data)

Plankton abundances were originally provided on the AODN Portal only as raw data, in flat table form (with each species recorded in a separate row), without any adjustments for taxonomy changes or real absences. 
The first version of the "analysis-ready" products were first published on 21/12/2018. However, they were removed again in April 2021 because technical issues prevented them from being regularly updated.

This dataset supersedes the following collections: "IMOS - AusCPR: Zooplankton Abundance " -  https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/c1344e70-480e-0993-e044-00144f7bc0f4 and " IMOS - AusCPR: Biomass Index (mg/m3)" -  https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/c1344979-f702-0916-e044-00144f7bc0f4. These collections were removed from the AODN Portal in March 2022, and the data has been archived.

Tags: Biological Classification | Animals/Invertebrates | Arthropods | Crustaceans | Copepods, Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Coastal Habitat, Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Pelagic Habitat, Biosphere | Microbiota | Zooplankton, Continents | Antarctica, Countries | Australia, Countries | New Zealand, Global / Oceans | Indian Ocean, Global / Oceans | Pacific Ocean, Marine Features (Australia) | Bass Strait, TAS/VIC, Marine Features (Australia) | Great Australian Bight, SA/WA, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Microbiota, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Chlorophyll, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Fluorescence, Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Water Temperature, Regional Seas | Arafura Sea, Regional Seas | Coral Sea, Regional Seas | Tasman Sea, Regional Seas | Timor Sea, States, Territories (Australia) | New South Wales, States, Territories (Australia) | Northern Territory, States, Territories (Australia) | Queensland, States, Territories (Australia) | South Australia, States, Territories (Australia) | Tasmania, States, Territories (Australia) | Victoria, States, Territories (Australia) | Western Australia
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network