IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Zooplankton Biomass

This dataset comprises the biomass sampling component analysed from samples collected as part of the Integrated Marine Observing Systems (IMOS) National Mooring Network - National Reference Station (NRS) field sampling. Regular monthly zooplankton samples are undertaken at the stations as part of a larger water sampling program by the Australian National Reference Stations. In total nine stations are sampled regularly around the Australian coastline. Sampling is conducted monthly (Esperance and Ningaloo 3 monthly) off small vessels at each of the nine reference stations. The sampling is conducted using a drop net (as per the design of Heron) which has a 60 cm diameter, 100 micron mesh and is weighted to fall at 1 m/s. The net is designed to pull closed at the end of its fall so that it samples on the way down and does not sample on the way up. The depth of the sample varies at each station. 3 zooplankton samples are taken each month. 2 are fixed in formalin and will be analysed as described below. The unfixed sample is concentrated and frozen (-80 deg C)and will be used for molecular analysis in the future. The Port Hacking 4 (PH4) samples (2002 - Jan 2009) were sampled using a smaller net, 20 cm diameter, which sampled on the way up and down. The PH4 site is very close to the Port Hacking national reference station (PHB) where samples are now taken to build up and enhance the time series. The plankton ecology lab (based in Queensland) will analyse the samples collected for: 1. Community composition (Taxon/m3) 2. Biomass (dry weight in mg/m3) 3. Size spectrum analysis using zooscan (in progress) Data storage and access is planned to be interoperable with other national and international programs through the IMOS Infrastructure. Station metadata can be found through this resource. Data is freely available through the AODN portal: https://portal.aodn.org.au. 
Additional information for this dataset may be available via the original MarLIN metadata entry: https://marlin.csiro.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/c13451a9-7cfc-091c-e044-00144f7bc0f4. For information on using the data please refer to Eriksen et al. 2019. 
This dataset has been superseded by the "IMOS - Zooplankton Abundance and Biomass (reference stations)" collection that is available at https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/bc14672f-c007-408e-972b-684d8415dae8 (this collection was removed from the AODN Portal in December 2021).

Tags: Biosphere | Animal Taxonomy | Zooplankton, Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Coastal Habitat, Biosphere | Aquatic Habitat | Pelagic Habitat, Biosphere | Microbiota Taxonomy | Microalgae, Biosphere | Microbiota Taxonomy | Phytoplankton, Biosphere | Microbiota Taxonomy | Plankton, Biosphere | Microbiota Taxonomy | Zooplankton, Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Darwin, NT, Coastal Cities / Towns (Australia) | Esperance, WA, Countries | Australia, Global / Oceans | Indian Ocean, Global / Oceans | Pacific Ocean, Marine Features (Australia) | Great Australian Bight, SA/WA, Marine Features (Australia) | Kangaroo Island, SA, Marine Features (Australia) | Maria Island, TAS, Marine Features (Australia) | Ningaloo Marine Park, WA, Marine Features (Australia) | North Stradbroke Island, QLD, Marine Features (Australia) | Port Hacking, NSW, Marine Features (Australia) | Rottnest Island, WA, National Reference Stations Sub-Facility, Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Microbiota, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Alkalinity, Oceans | Ocean Chemistry | Inorganic Carbon, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Fluorescence, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Secchi Depth, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Turbidity, Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Water Temperature, Oceans | Salinity/Density | Salinity, 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