IMOS Picoplankton Flow Cytometry Data from Nine Australian Coastal Stations

Nine Australian coastal sites, including Maria Island and Port Hacking, provide picoplankton data analyzed by flow cytometry. Sampling began between September 2008 and November 2010 and is ongoing for seven sites, with monthly collection from small vessels. The dataset is part of the Integrated Marine Observing Systems National Reference Station network and is superseded by a combined biogeochemical collection.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in picoplankton populations based on monthly sampling from reference stations.
• Model coastal marine biogeochemistry based on flow cytometry measurements of microbial components.
• Compare long-term plankton data across distinct Australian coastal regions mentioned in the description.
• Study the impact of sampling cessation at specific sites (Ningaloo, Esperance) on data continuity.

Strengths

• Data collection spans over a decade, with sampling ongoing at seven of the nine original sites.
• Includes historical coastal monitoring data from CSIRO for three sites, with records dating back to 1944.
• Sampling follows a documented operations manual, suggesting standardized collection methods.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• The dataset has been superseded by a combined collection, indicating it may not be the current version.
• Sampling frequency varied (monthly vs. 3-monthly) and ceased at two sites in 2013.

Provenance

Source

Integrated Marine Observing Systems (IMOS) National Mooring Network, Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Monthly field sampling from small vessels, with picoplankton analyzed by flow cytometry.

Time Range

Sampling began 2008-2010 and is ongoing; historical data for some sites dates to 1944.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-28 13:29:37.390927; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Nine coastal stations around Australia: Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales.