Description

Zooplankton abundance estimates from monthly samples collected at nine National Reference Stations around the Australian coastline. The dataset is produced by the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) plankton ecology lab, with sampling ongoing since at least 2002. It includes community composition, biomass, and size spectrum analysis for ecological time-series studies.

Use Cases

Analyze long-term trends in zooplankton community composition (Taxon/m3) at specific stations like Port Hacking.
Model relationships between environmental variables and zooplankton biomass (dry weight in mg/m3) across Australian coastal regions.
Investigate seasonal and interannual variability in abundance using the monthly (or 3-monthly) sampling time series.
Assess size spectrum changes over time using the zooscan analysis data.
Compare taxonomic resolution and identified taxa changes over time using the provided change log tables.

Strengths

Time-series data from nine stations provides spatial coverage around the Australian coastline.
Regular monthly sampling (3-monthly at two stations) supports seasonal and interannual analysis.
Includes multiple analysis types: community composition, biomass, and size spectrum.

Limitations

Taxonomic resolution has changed over time, requiring careful use of change logs for consistent analysis.
Sampling depth varies per station and net design changed at Port Hacking before 2009, complicating direct comparisons.
Classification fields (genus, species) may be blank if identification was only to family level.

Provenance

Source: Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) National Mooring Network, plankton ecology lab.
Collection Method: Samples collected monthly using a drop net (60 cm diameter, 100 micron mesh) at nine reference stations, with specific protocols for fixation and analysis.
Time Range: Time-series from at least 2002 to present.
Freshness: Regular monthly sampling; dataset metadata last updated April 2026.
Geography: Nine coastal stations around Australia, including Esperance, Ningaloo, Port Hacking, Darwin, Rottnest Island.

Users must refer to the change log tables for taxonomic validity and identification dates. Data is served in binned products for ease of use. Original methodology details are in Eriksen et al. 2019.

Tabular Time Series Countries Australia Marine Features Australia Kangaroo Island Sa Oceans Ocean Optics Secchi Depth Oceans Ocean Optics Turbidity Oceans Ocean Chemistry Inorganic Carbon Zooplankton Abundance Oceans Ocean Chemistry Alkalinity National Reference Stations Sub Facility Integrate Oceans Ocean Optics Fluorescence Global Oceans Indian Ocean Marine Features Australia Maria Island Tas Australian Waters Marine Features Australia Port Hacking Nsw Coastal Cities Towns Australia Esperance Wa Coastal Cities Towns Australia Darwin Nt Oceans Ocean Temperature Water Temperature Oceans Marine Biology Marine Microbiota Marine Features Australia Ningaloo Marine Park Wa Marine Features Australia Great Australian Bight S Marine Features Australia North Stradbroke Island Global Oceans Pacific Ocean Coastal Monitoring Marine Features Australia Rottnest Island Wa Marine Biology

Australian Coastal Zooplankton Abundance from National Reference Stations

Description

Use Cases

Strengths

Limitations

Provenance

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Dataset Info

Community

Dataset Info