Davis Station Antarctic Marine Species Survey 1982

Over 150 identified species were documented in a year-long Antarctic marine biology program at Davis Station. The survey, prepared by Mark Tucker for the Australian Antarctic Division, systematically collected benthic, planktonic, pelagic, and epontic fauna from the Vestfold Hills region throughout 1982. Quantitative examinations of seasonal changes were conducted monthly at three distinct sampling sites.

Use Cases

• Analyze species distribution and abundance patterns across three distinct sediment-type sites (Site A, B, C).
• Model seasonal changes in zooplankton populations using monthly collection data from January to December 1982.
• Correlate benthic species presence with environmental variables like depth, sediment type (sandy, mud, rocky), and macrophyte cover.
• Compare faunal composition between different habitats: benthic, planktonic, pelagic, and epontic.
• Use the species inventory of over 150 taxa as a baseline for biodiversity studies in the Vestfold Hills.

Strengths

• Data collection spanned a full 12-month period from January to December 1982, capturing seasonal variation.
• Surveys covered three distinct sites selected for differing depths, sediment types, and macrophyte cover.
• Program aimed for systematic investigation, resulting in a documented inventory of over 150 species.

Limitations

• The exact row count, column names, and file structure of the underlying dataset are unknown.
• Data is from a single year (1982) and a specific geographic region, limiting temporal and spatial generalizability.
• Sample data and specific measurement values for monitored species are not provided in the description.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Division (AU_AADC), sourced from NASA's Earthdata platform.

Collection Method

Field collections and quantitative monthly monitoring at three sites, as described in the official biology report.

Time Range

1982

Freshness

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Geography

Inshore marine area of Davis Station, Vestfold Hills, Antarctic region, including Wyatt Earp islands and Sorsdal Glacier.