IMOS National Reference Station Zooplankton Biomass from Nine Australian Coastal Sites

Zooplankton biomass data from nine Australian coastal reference stations, sampled monthly as part of the Integrated Marine Observing Systems (IMOS) National Mooring Network. Samples are collected using a drop net and analyzed for community composition, biomass, and size spectrum. The dataset is superseded by a newer collection and made available through the Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN) portal.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term zooplankton biomass trends based on monthly sampling at fixed stations.
• Studying community composition changes in coastal ecosystems based on taxonomic and biomass data.
• Conducting size spectrum analysis of zooplankton populations using the mentioned Zooscan method.
• Correlating zooplankton data with other marine variables from the IMOS National Mooring Network.
• Enhancing time-series analysis by integrating data from the older Port Hacking 4 site with the newer PHB station.

Strengths

• Data collection follows a standardized protocol using a specific drop net design (60 cm diameter, 100 micron mesh).
• Sampling covers nine stations around the Australian coastline, providing geographic breadth.
• The dataset includes a long-term component, with Port Hacking samples dating from 2002 to January 2009.
• Planned interoperability with other national and international programs through IMOS infrastructure.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset has been superseded by a newer collection, indicating it may not be the most current version.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Monthly zooplankton sampling using a drop net at nine coastal stations, with samples fixed in formalin or frozen for analysis.

Time Range

Includes data from at least 2002 onwards, with specific Port Hacking data from 2002 to January 2009.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 17:48:28.494462; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Nine stations around the Australian coastline, including Esperance, Ningaloo, and Port Hacking.