AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Phytoplankton concentration measurements in Sydney Harbour - 4th November 2004

A study of the response of phytoplankton to rainfall in Sydney Harbour on 4th November 2004 is reported here. 
Sydney Harbour is an important port and recreational region for the city of Sydney. Phytoplankton can be used as one of the indexes of water quality. The concentration of phytoplankton is influenced by the nutrients in the water and the amount of nutrients is thought to alter according to the urban and industrial wastes that drain from the city of Sydney.  
The amount of phytoplankton before and after rainfall at Pyrmont in Sydney Harbour was observed. The concentration of chlorophyll after a period of rainfall from the 15th October to the 4th November 2004, as measured from the surface to 7m deep, was almost 5 times as much as that as before the rain event. The maximum chlorophyll concentration observed by fluorometer was 27 [ug/litre].

Tags: Biosphere | Microbiota | Phytoplankton, Oceans | Ocean Optics | Turbidity, Oceans | Water Quality | Chlorophyll, chlorophyll concentration, depth, mass_concentration_of_chlorophyll_in_sea_water, phytoplankton count, taxonomic_group_count
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Ecology of the whelk Nassarius clarus in Shark Bay Marine Park

Salinity tolerances and natural diet of the Whelk, Nassarus clarus, bivalve predation, in Shark Bay Marine Park.

Tags: Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Predation, Biosphere | Zoology | Mollusks, Bivalves, Gastropod, Marine Features (Australia) | Shark Bay, WA, Nassarius clarus, Whelk
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Physical processes associated with subsurface intrusions of Coral Sea water into the central Great Barrier Reef

An array of 15 Aanderaa current meters (C), 4 Aanderaa water level recorders (WLR) and 4 Sea Data temperature-depth recorders (TDR) were deployed in the central Great Barrier Reef between January and August 1983.The array was deployed to cover as much of the extent of the central zone (approximately 350km between 17°S and 20°S) as was necessary to gain a general picture of the space-time extent of intrusions. The array was configured to provide a longshore line of thermistors and water level recorders, interspersed with current meters. This longshore line was closed at the north and south by cross-shelf transects of current meters and was bisected by a transect of current meters, water level recorders and termistors in Palm Passage. Instruments were concentrated in the Passage to facilitate the interpretation of data from concurrent cross-shelf transect cruises, sampling chemical and biological water properties. Current meters were placed 5 to 10 m above the bottom, except at moorings 6 and 8, which also carried a mid-depth current meter to allow estimation of vertical shear. Temperature-depth recorders and water level recorders were placed on either very short bottom moorings or in the protection of reefs or islands. Meteorological data were obtained at half-hourly intervals from a remote weather station located at Rib Reef.
 This study was initiated to investigate the horizontal extent and coherence of upwelling related intrusions of Coral Sea water into the shelf sea of the central Great Barrier Reef.
 A concurrent time series of data was collected from hydrographic stations, located at the centre of the instrument array, along a transect through Palm Passage, to enable mapping of the vertical structure during the progress of individual intrusion events. A description of the hydrographic sampling is not included in this record.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Habitat Maps derived from Point Lookout Ecological Surveys (PLEA)

In 2014, UniDive (The University of Queensland Underwater Club) conducted an ecological assessment of the Point Lookout Dive sites for comparison with similar surveys conducted in 2001 - the PLEA project. Involvement in the project was voluntary. Members of UniDive who were marine experts conducted training for other club members who had no, or limited, experience in identifying marine organisms and mapping habitats.
Since the 2001 detailed baseline study, no similar seasonal survey has been conducted. The 2014 data is particularly important given that numerous changes have taken place in relation to the management of, and potential impacts on, these reef sites. In 2009, Moreton Bay Marine Park was re-zoned, and Flat Rock was converted to a marine national park zone (Green zone) with no fishing or anchoring. In 2012, four permanent moorings were installed at Flat Rock. Additionally, the entire area was exposed to the potential effects of the 2011 and 2013 Queensland floods, including flood plumes which carried large quantities of sediment into Moreton Bay and surrounding waters. The population of South East Queensland has increased from 2.49 million in 2001 to 3.18 million in 2011 (BITRE, 2013). This rapidly expanding coastal population has increased the frequency and intensity of both commercial and recreational activities around Point Lookout dive sites (EPA 2008).
Habitats were mapped using a combination of towed GPS photo transects, aerial photography and expert knowledge. This data provides georeferenced information regarding the major features of each of the Point Lookout Dive Sites.

Tags: Benthic habitat, Benthic physical habitat
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Deep water fish and shark surveys with baited video (BRUVS)

The use of baited videos enabled non-destructive sampling of a vast variety (228 species) of fishes, sharks, rays and sea snakes below the limits of safe SCUBA diving. No localised nests of species richness and diversity were detected, but sightings for 42% of all species were restricted to one or other particular area of the six areas surveyed. On average, this restriction to single areas occurred for 53% of the families sighted. About 50% of butterfly fish species were restricted in their distributions to one particular area and this family had important leverage in forcing the community patterns. Two major groupings, and one further, minor grouping, of fish communities were recognised in the Lagoon the seaward lagoon margins, the inner, central lagoon, and a further split away by 2 locations in the innermost lagoon.

Tags: Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS), Biodiversity, Oceans | Marine Biology | Fish, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Habitat, Rays, Sea Snakes, Sharks
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
The hydrodynamic regime at John Brewer Reef, Great Barrier Reef: Mooring CM14: Current Meter

A S4 current meter was attached to mooring CM14, which was deployed in 10m of water. Deployment Details:Date Deployed: 5/5/1987Date Recovered: 6/9/1987Instrument Deployed:S4 #S632; Depth: 5m
 The aim of this project was to collect field data to calibrate a numerical model for the combined tidal and wind-forced circulation at John Brewer Reef, and to apply those circulation patterns to calculate the trajectories, residence times and likelihood of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish on areas of the reef.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
IMOS - Deep Water Moorings - Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) Subantarctic Zone Sediment Trap Moorings (SAZOTS) (deployments from 1998)

Sediment traps (IMOS platform code:SAZOTS) are cones which intercept and store falling marine particles in collection cups. The particles consist of a range of material including phytoplankton, zooplankton, faecal pellets, and dust. Each trap collects a time series of samples. The sediment traps are from deep moorings in the Southern Ocean, typically at 47S, but also including 54S, and 61S and at around 140 degrees East. Each mooring typically has 2-3 traps between 800m and 3800m below sea-level.
The samples are size fractionated into &lt;1mm and &gt;1mm fractions using a 1mm sieve. Various chemical analyses and observations have been made on the &lt;1mm fraction. Analysis methods are described in the attached document "SAZ PROJECT MOORED SEDIMENT TRAPS: RESULTS OF THE 1997-1998 DEPLOYMENTS", and in more detail in the SOTS annual reports (https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/afc166ce-6b34-44d9-b64c-8bb10fd43a07).
Photographs of the &gt;1mm fraction from the 47S deployments are available here for download, starting from 1998. After processing, data from IMOS deployments will be made available.
Data from 47S deployments, starting in 1997, have been quality controlled and are available through the AODN Portal.

Tags: Biosphere | Microbiota | Zooplankton, Buoys | Moored Buoys, Countries | Australia, Global / Oceans | Southern Ocean, IMOS Facility | Deep Water Moorings, IMOS Node | Bluewater and Climate, IMOS Platform | SAZOTS | Sub-Antarctic Zone Sediment Trap Mooring, Microscopes | Optical Microscopes, Oceans | Marine Biology | Fish, Sediment Traps, Subantarctic Zone (SAZ)
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Roe's Abalone Sustainability

This project entails catch and effort database monitoring, dive surveys to monitor stocks, policy advice and liaison, annual status reports and stock assessment, assistance to other state fishery bodies with population model development and publication of manuscripts in reputable international journals on issues relevant to the fishery.
The project provides:
* an overview annual report on the status of the Roe's abalone fishery;
* management advice as to the long-term sustainability of the Roe's Abalone Managed Fishery; and
* assistance to industry and management decision-makers by investigating and reporting on the biology of Roe's abalone.


Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
2016 SoE Marine Chapter - State and Trends - Secondary production (zooplankton)

The Marine chapter of the 2016 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "The state and trends of ecological processes – secondary production (zooplankton)". The full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided), is attached to this record. Where available, the Data Stream(s) used to generate this Expert Assessment are accessible through the "On-line Resources" section of this record.

DESCRIPTION OF ECOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT
Secondary production in the ocean is the generation of biomass by zooplankton – the primary consumers of phytoplankton. The most common zooplankton, the copepods, are the most abundant animals on Earth, even outnumbering insects. Zooplankton are important components of the biological pump, shunting carbon from the surface to the deep ocean through sinking of faeces or dead carcasses. The recruitment of fish stocks and the carrying capacity of marine ecosystems – the mass of fish, squid and shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles) – is related to secondary production. Productivity hotspots (e.g. Eden and Bonney upwelling zones) have high densities of zooplankton, sustaining fish and whales alike.
DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT
IMOS plankton data – both from the National Reference Stations and the Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder survey.

2016 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details]
• 2016 •
Assessment grade: Very good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Comparability: Not previously assessed
• 2011 •
(not previously assessed)

CHANGES SINCE 2011 SOE ASSESSMENT
Not previously assessed.

Tags: expert assessment, secondary productivity, zooplankton
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) data collected on the RV L'Astrolabe from 16/11/2007 to 20/11/2007 (Dumont d'Urville - Hobart)

These data were collected on the RV L'Astrolabe (platform code: FHZI) from 16/11/2007 to 20/11/2007 on a trip from Dumont D'Urville to Hobart.
Maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), also called maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), has become one of the most widely utilized fluorescence parameters in phytoplankton research. It represents the potential photochemical efficiency, which is the probability that the light energy captured by the photosynthetic apparatus is being utilized as photochemistry. Fv/Fm has been shown to have an instant response to variations in physical and chemical properties and is interpreted as a diagnostic of the overall health or competence of phytoplankton. Together with the absorption cross section area of PSII and chlorophyll concentration, it can be used to measure primary production (Cheah et al. 2011, Deep Sea Research).
Seawater from 3 m depth was supplied continuously from the ship’s clean seawater line. FRR fluorescence yields were measured continuously at 1 minute intervals in dark-adapted state (! 15 minutes dark-adaptation) using a flash sequence consisting of a series of 100 subsaturation flashlets (1.1 μs flash duration and 2.8 μs interflash period) and a series of 20 relaxation flashlets (1.1 μs flash duration and 51.6 μs interflash period).

Tags: Continents | Antarctica, Countries | Australia, Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometer (FRRF), Global/Oceans | Southern Ocean, Instrument's photomultiplier electronic sensitivity (1-256), Latitude, Longitude, Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm), Minimum fluorescence in the light chamber of the FRRF (also used as a proxy for biomass), Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Sea Surface Temperature, Oceans | Salinity/density | Salinity, Photosynthesis, connectivity between PSII reaction centres under actinic light, functional absorption cross section of PSII (measure of the proportion of light harvested for photoc, maximum fluorescence in the light chamber of the FRRF, maximum quantum yield of photosystem II ( (FmL - FoL) / FmL), primary production, time constant of electron transport from PSII to PSI, variable fluorescence (FmL - FoL)
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
WAMSI Node 4.1 - Applying the EBFM framework

WAMSI Node 4.1 focussed on:
1) developing a means (mechanisms and processes) of integrating Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) into “mainstream” fisheries management, including the WA Government’s Integrated Fisheries Management (IFM) initiative, and;
2) to source, identify and integrate appropriate supporting research. 
Ultimately, this project will provide stakeholders, including the broader WA community, with a much improved understanding of what EBFM means and how it could be achieved in WA. The key outcome will be the development of a risk assessment system that encompasses each of the ecological, social and economic aspects of fisheries management. 
The West Coast Bioregion was used as a case study, with a report to be available for download.

Tags: Ecosystem Model, Effort Spike, Human Dimensions | Attitudes,preferences,behavior | Social Behavior, Oceans | Marine Biology | Fish
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Lizard Island Sensor Float 2

A round 1.4m yellow buoy has been deployed in the southern part of the main lagoon of Lizard Island to the east of Palfrey Island.The buoy is configured as a sensor-float with a Campbell Scientific logger, spread-spectrum radio and 2.4/5 GHz 802.11 wireless for communicating with the base station (located at the workshop near the Research Station) a surface mounted (60cm under the water surface) thermistor and an inductive modem to support a range of inductive sensors, initially this will be a SeaBird SBE39 measuring temperature and pressure (depth) and a SeaBird SBE37 measuring conductivity (salinity), temperature and depth.As of August 2010 the inductive sensors are located along a 30m cable that runs north into the main lagoon with a SBE39 located at the base of the buoy and the SBE37 at the end of the sensor run.The unit will be serviced every six months and will be used in the future for attaching new sets of sensors.
 The buoy is one of four buoys and two relay-poles being deployed on Lizard Island as part of the GBROOS Project. The design looks to measure the water within the lagoon as well as water impinging onto the reef and potentially any upwelling or movement of warm water that may cause thermal stress such as coral bleaching. The buoys initially have a Campbell Scientific loggers powered off four 5W solar panels, a wind turbine and one thermistor located at the base of the buoy around 60cm below the water line. The buoys use a Campbell Scientific spread-spectrum radio as well as 802.11 Wi-Fi to talk back to Relay Pole 2 and then to Replay-Pole 1 and then to the Base Station.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Grainsize of surface samples collected from the reef flat physiographic zone of Wistari Reef

Wistari Reef is a lagoonal platform reef, situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, within the Capricorn and Bunker region of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Five surface samples were taken from the reef flats and analysed to determine mean grainsize and the sorting coefficient (expressed as the standard deviation of grainsize) within each sample. The reef flat features moderately well-sorted coarse to very coarse sand, and can be divided into two sub-groups: the windward reef flats (samples S62 and S61) and the leeward reef flats (samples S24, S25 and S02).

Tags: Oceans | Coastal Processes | Coral Reefs, Oceans | Marine Sediments | Sediment Grain Size, grainsize_size_category, latitude, longitude
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
The demography of a new Common Noddy (Anous stolidus) colony during the establishment period

Common Noddies (Anous stolidus) were first recorded on Lancelin Island off south-western Australia in January 1992.  A study of the population dynamics of this colony began in the 1994-95 breeding season and was continued for over 10 years, until 2011.  The demography of the colony was modelled using information on adult survivorship, age of first breeding and natal recruitment from the analysis of banding-recapture data and annual colony census data.

Tags: 40 128002, Anous stolidus, Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Population Dynamics, Common Noddy, Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Birds
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Quick and hydrated lime dissolution for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement is a promising negative emissions technology with high CO2 capture potential, put forward to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement targets. However, most current knowledge relies on numerical models. This dataset present the first laboratory experiments focusing on quick and hydrated lime dissolution in natural seawater, for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement purposes. The total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon concentration were collected after various alkalinity increases, using different alkaline minerals. The total alkalinity was obtained by potentiometric titration, and the dissolved inorganic carbon concentration was measured with an automated infra-red inorganic carbon analyser, coupled to a LICOR infra-red detector.

Tags: Automated Infra-Red Inorganic Carbon Analyzer (AIRICA), CO2 capture, CO2SYS, MATLAB, Metrohm 848 Titrino Plus, Negative Emission Technologies, Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, Time
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Seagrass surveys in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia

In September 1994, seagrass surveys were undertaken at 64 sites in Exmouth Gulf. Sites were grouped into 5 areas located along the eastern and southern coast of Exmouth Gulf and 1 area on the west coast. Initially, spot checks were used to describe the type and extent of the benthic vegetation. If seagrass was not seen, the sediment was also checked for the presence of rhizomes. Areas where seagrass was present in measureable amounts were selected for quantitative sampling. Water depth and substrate composition were also recorded.Percent cover of seagrasses (by genera, or species when easily identified) and algae (in functional groups) was estimated from 5 replicate quadrats placed randomly on 50m, haphazardly laid transects. For each quadrat, taxa were identified under 100 points on a 1m² string grid.The density of seagrasses and any abundant macro-invertebrates was also recorded within 5 replicate 50cm² or 25cm² quadrats randomly placed on each transect. Seagrass density was determined by counting the numbers of erect shoots (leaf groups/clusters) per quadrat.At 3 sites, 2 transects separated by 100 to 200m were sampled to examine patchiness in seagrass abundance at that scale. At 5 sites, all plant matter in 50cm² quadrats was collected and frozen for biomass estimates. The thawed samples were blotted, separated into above ground and below ground fractions and the wet weight measured.
 This research was undertaken to describe seagrass community composition in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Distribution and abundance of dictyoceratid sponges across Torres Strait (CRC-TS Project: Task Number T1.6a)

In July 2004, dictyoceratid sponges were surveyed in the vicinity of two islands in western Torres Strait (Badu Island and Thursday Island (Waiben)) and two islands in eastern Torres Strait (Yorke Island (Masig) and Darnley Island (Erub)). These locations were between 50 and 220 km apart.Six sites were surveyed at Darnley, 5 sites at Yorke and 7 sites each at Badu and Thursday. At each location, sites were surveyed close to the main community and on neighbouring islands. Sites within each location were 2 to 27km apart.At each site, four 50 x 2 m haphazardly placed belt transects, separated by at least 30m, were surveyed following a constant depth profile or compass bearing. All transects were between 5 and 15m depth. All dictyoceratid sponges found within 2m of one side of the 50m long transect line were counted, identified where possible and assigned a size category (small 20 cm). For dictyoceratid sponges that were not positively identified underwater, a small tissue sample was collected and preserved in alcohol for later taxonomic analysis. Voucher specimens of all dictyoceratid sponges were collected to confirm field identification. A general survey of the area was also carried out to find any dictyoceratid species not recorded in the transects. Underwater photographs were taken of representative specimens of all known and new species encountered.General habitat features were recorded for each transect. These included dominant organisms (e.g. hard coral, sponges); depth; substrate type (solid rock, rubble and sand; categorised as 0=0-1%, 1=2-35%, 2=26-50%, 3=51-75%, 4=75-100%); rock slope (1=1-30°, 2=31-60°, 3=61-90°). Ambient water temperature and salinity (measured with a refractometer) were also recorded at each site. Light intensity was not measured because sites were surveyed at different times during the day.To examine spongin quality, tissue samples were collected, killed and then left in sea water for 2-10 days until its mesohyl (living tissue) had disintegrated and fallen off leaving behind a clean spongin skeleton.
 Surveys were undertaken to examine spatial variability in community structure of dictyoceratid sponges in Torres Strait with the aim of identifying possible locations for farming Dictoceratida (bath) sponges. Spongin quality of Torres Strait Dictyoceratida sponges was examined to identify species suitable as candidates for commercial bath sponge aquaculture.
 This research formed part of the CRC Torres Strait Project T1.6a: Exploring the potential of bath sponge aquaculture in Torres Strait.

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network