IMOS - AusCPR: Plankton Biomass Index for Australian Waters

Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder survey data measures plankton dry weight as a guide to ocean health. The project is a joint effort between CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the Australian Antarctic Division, funded by the Integrated Marine Observing System. Results are available through the Australian Ocean Data Network portal, with data intended to be interoperable with other national and international programs.

Use Cases

• Mapping plankton biodiversity and distribution based on survey data.
• Documenting plankton changes in response to climate change based on long-term baseline data.
• Providing indices for fisheries management based on plankton biomass measurements.
• Detecting harmful algal blooms based on plankton community analysis.
• Validating satellite remote sensing data based on in-situ plankton observations.

Strengths

• Data collection is part of a long-term baseline project for Australian waters.
• Project involves multiple authoritative institutions: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the Australian Antarctic Division.
• Data is planned to be interoperable with other national and international programs through IMOS infrastructure.

Limitations

• This dataset has been superseded by a newer collection, as noted in the description.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Ships of Opportunity facility, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Plankton samples collected by Continuous Plankton Recorder, washed onto a pre-weighed filter, dried at 60°C for 24-48 hours, and reweighed for dry weight.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 17:56:11.939322; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australian waters.