AusCPR: Plankton Biomass Index for Australian Ocean Health

Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder survey data provides a dry-weight biomass index for plankton communities, serving as a baseline for ocean health. The joint CSIRO and Antarctic Division project aims to map biodiversity, document climate change impacts, and support fisheries management. Results are available through the Australian Ocean Data Network portal, with data intended for interoperability with other national and international programs.

Use Cases

• Tracking plankton biodiversity and distribution changes over time based on survey data.
• Developing indices for fisheries management based on plankton biomass and abundance.
• Validating satellite remote sensing data with in-situ plankton biomass measurements.
• Detecting harmful algal blooms through changes in plankton community composition.
• Initializing and testing marine ecosystem models with baseline plankton data.

Strengths

• Data is part of a long-term baseline survey funded by the national Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS).
• Project involves multiple authoritative institutions: CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere and the Australian Antarctic Division.
• Dataset is cross-platform, appearing on multiple government data portals, indicating recognized importance.

Limitations

• Column names, row counts, and specific data formats are not provided in the available metadata.
• The dataset is noted as superseded by a newer collection, which may affect its current utility.
• Explicit license details and a precise time range for the data are not stated.

Provenance

Source

Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) Ships of Opportunity facility, analyzed by CSIRO and Australian Antarctic Division staff.

Collection Method

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

Freshness

Last updated metadata dates range from 2026-04-28 to 2026-06-16, but the underlying data time range is null.

Geography

Australian waters