Picoplankton Flow Cytometry Data from Nine Australian Coastal Stations

Aggregating picoplankton component data analyzed by flow cytometry from samples collected at nine Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) National Reference Station sites around Australia. Sampling began between September 2008 and November 2010 and is ongoing at seven sites, with depths ranging from the surface to 105 meters, typically at 10-meter intervals. Historical coastal monitoring data is also available for three sites, with records extending back to 1944.

Use Cases

• Analyze picoplankton population dynamics over time at specific station locations like Maria Island or Yongala.
• Compare picoplankton data across different sampled depths, from surface to 105 meters, to study vertical distribution.
• Investigate long-term trends by integrating the ongoing NRS data with historical coastal station data from 1944-2010.
• Study spatial variability in marine microbiology by comparing data from the nine distinct geographic sites around Australia.

Strengths

• Data originates from nine established National Reference Station sites providing geographic coverage of Australian coastal waters.
• Includes historical data series for three sites, with the longest record (Port Hacking) spanning from 1953 to 2010.
• Sampling follows a documented regime with specified depth intervals, detailed in an operations handbook.

Limitations

• Sampling frequency is monthly for most sites but was only 3-monthly for the now-discontinued Esperance and Ningaloo sites.
• Data collection has ceased at two of the nine original sites (Ningaloo and Esperance) as of 2013.
• The specific data variables (columns), sample size (rows), and file structure for the core cytometry data are not detailed in the provided metadata.

Provenance

Source

CSIRO Marlin Data Catalogue, collected as part of the IMOS National Mooring Network - National Reference Station field sampling.

Collection Method

Monthly (or 3-monthly) sampling off small vessels, with picoplankton component analyzed by flow cytometry.

Time Range

Primary NRS sampling from 2008-09-29 ongoing; historical coastal data from 1944-2010 for three sites.

Freshness

Ongoing sampling at seven sites; metadata was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Nine coastal sites around Australia: Maria Island (TAS), Kangaroo Island (SA), Esperance (WA), Rottnest Island (WA), Ningaloo (WA), Darwin (NT), Yongala (QLD), North Stradbroke Island (QLD), Port Hacking 100 (NSW).