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, part of the NOAA NEFSC MARMAP program, supports analysis of spatial and temporal patterns in marine ecosystems. It was compiled for a biogeographic assessment of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Use Cases

• Analyzing spatial distribution patterns of zooplankton communities within the Gulf of Maine.
• Investigating long-term (12-year) temporal trends in marine plankton populations.
• Creating kriged probability maps for species presence as part of habitat assessments.
• Correlating zooplankton abundance with physical oceanographic data for ecosystem modeling.

Strengths

• Contains a substantial collection of 6,864 individual biological samples.
• Covers a long-term, continuous 12-year observation period from 1977 to 1988.
• Focuses on a specific, ecologically important region: the Gulf of Maine and Stellwagen Bank.

Limitations

• Specific column names, measurement variables, and data formats are not detailed in the provided metadata.
• The last update date conflicts between sources, with one listing 2006 and another listing a future date in 2026.
• The original sampling methodology is referenced but not described within the provided metadata snippets.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Field surveys and sampling, methodology described in Sibunka and Silverman (1989).

Time Range

1977 to 1988

Freshness

2006-09-01 00:00:00

Geography

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