Australian Coastal Zooplankton Abundance from Nine Reference Stations

Encompassing monthly zooplankton abundance estimates from nine National Reference Stations around the Australian coastline, with sampling conducted using a standardized drop net. The data includes community composition (taxon per cubic meter), biomass (dry weight), and size spectrum analysis. The Port Hacking station includes a historical time series from 2002 to January 2009.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term trends in zooplankton community composition (Taxon/m3) across nine Australian coastal stations.
• Model relationships between zooplankton biomass (dry weight in mg/m3) and seasonal or spatial variables at the reference stations.
• Conduct time series analysis on the Port Hacking 4 (PH4) data from 2002-2009 to compare with the enhanced Port Hacking national reference station (PHB) series.
• Perform size spectrum analysis using the zooscan data to study population structure and energy flow within the plankton community.

Strengths

• Data is collected from nine regularly sampled stations around the Australian coastline, providing broad spatial coverage.
• Includes a long-term historical component with Port Hacking 4 data spanning from 2002 to January 2009.
• Sampling follows a standardized protocol using a specific drop net design (60 cm diameter, 100 micron mesh, weighted to fall at 1 m/s).

Limitations

• Taxonomic resolution has changed over time, requiring users to consult change log tables for validity and identification dates of taxa.
• Classification fields (e.g., genus, species) may be blank if identification was only performed to a higher taxonomic level like family.
• Sampling frequency is not uniform, with Esperance and Ningaloo stations sampled only every three months instead of monthly.

Provenance

Source

CSIRO Marlin Data Catalogue, collected as part of the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) National Reference Stations program.

Collection Method

Monthly (or 3-monthly) sampling using a standardized drop net from small vessels; samples are fixed in formalin or frozen for molecular analysis, with analysis performed by the plankton ecology lab.

Time Range

Ongoing monthly sampling; includes a specific historical series for Port Hacking 4 from 2002 to January 2009.

Freshness

Data is updated monthly, with the last metadata update recorded as March 20, 2026.

Geography

Nine National Reference Stations located around the Australian coastline.