Provision has been made for the inclusion of a flow meter if required. The Autonomous Plankton Sampler is constructed in stainless steel with two spools of either silk or nylon gauze, integral microcontroller, motor, batteries and flow meter. On towing, or pumping, the water passes through the intake aperture. The zooplankton are captured upon a filtration gauze which is then covered by a second gauze and wound on to a collection spool immersed in preservative. Post-deployment analysis is undertaken either on gauze or wash off.
Error detection is used on all data transfers.
The plankton sampler screen allows the operator to set the frame advance rate based on either time, chlorophyll-a or flow. In view of our continual improvement, the designs and specifications of our products may vary from those described.