Southern Ocean Zooplankton Isotope Data from K-Axis Voyage

Zooplankton specimens including krill, salps, and pteropods were collected during the 2016 K-Axis voyage of the Aurora Australis. The dataset contains isotopic measurements for delta15N and delta13C, analyzed at the University of Tasmania. Data originates from the Australian Antarctic Data Centre.

Use Cases

• Analyze trophic levels by comparing delta15N values across species like Euphausia superba and Salpa thompsoni.
• Investigate carbon sources in the Southern Ocean by examining delta13C measurements from shelled and naked pteropods.
• Compare isotopic signatures between different zooplankton groups such as krill, salps, and siphonophores like Diphyes antarctica.
• Study species-specific isotopic ratios using data from identified specimens of Euphausia triacantha, E. frigida, and Thysanoessa macrura.

Strengths

• Data includes multiple zooplankton groups: krill (4 species), salps, pteropods (thecosomes and gymnosomes), and siphonophores.
• Isotopic analysis performed for two key tracers: delta15N and delta13C.

Limitations

• Sample size for some species is very small, e.g., only 2 specimens of the siphonophore Diphyes antarctica.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a single voyage in 2016.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AU_AADC) via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Specimens collected with an RMT8 net, processed, dried, ground, and analyzed via ICP-MS at the University of Tasmania.

Time Range

2016

Freshness

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Geography

Southern Ocean, along the K-Axis voyage track of the Aurora Australis.