Gulf of Maine Zooplankton Survey Data 1977-1988

6,864 zooplankton samples were collected over twelve years from 1977 to 1988 in the Gulf of Maine. This dataset originates from the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center's MARMAP program and was used for a biogeographic assessment of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The data is available on multiple government data platforms.

Use Cases

• Analyzing spatial patterns of zooplankton communities within the Gulf of Maine using georeferenced sample locations.
• Investigating temporal trends in zooplankton populations over a 12-year period from 1977 to 1988.
• Creating predictive distribution maps (kriged) for key zooplankton species as part of a sanctuary assessment.

Strengths

• Contains a substantial collection of 6,864 individual zooplankton samples.
• Covers a long-term, 12-year time series from 1977 to 1988 for temporal analysis.
• Data collection follows a documented methodology described in Sibunka and Silverman (1989).

Limitations

• Specific column names, data types, and the full variable list are not provided in the available metadata.
• The last update date conflicts between sources, with one listing 2006 and another listing a future date in 2026, casting doubt on data maintenance.

Provenance

Source

NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) Marine Resources Monitoring Assessment and Prediction Program (MARMAP).

Collection Method

Zooplankton surveys conducted via field sampling; methodology detailed in Sibunka and Silverman (1989).

Time Range

1977 to 1988

Freshness

2006-09-01 00:00:00

Geography

Gulf of Maine, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, specifically including the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.