Zooplankton Abundance and Biomass from Beaufort Sea Shelf Surveys

NOGAP B2 data contains zooplankton samples collected from the Canadian Beaufort Sea shelf in 1984 and 1985. SCIOPS gathered over 22.5 million specimens from 18 stations in 1984 and 60 stations in 1985 using multiple net types. The dataset includes taxonomic identifications, wet and dry biomass for 1985, and length-frequency data for 20 species.

Use Cases

• Analyze species composition and abundance across stations using the 64 taxonomic identifications from 1984 and 210 from 1985.
• Model biomass distribution by applying wet and dry biomass data for individual specimens from 1985 samples.
• Study copepod population structure using length-frequency data provided for 20 species from 23 net samples.
• Compare sampling efficiency and catch composition between different net gears (e.g., 500 µm neuston, 85 µm bongo).
• Assess spatial and temporal variability in zooplankton communities across the 78 total stations sampled over two years.

Strengths

• Large specimen count with over 22.5 million total individuals recorded.
• Detailed taxonomic resolution with 210 identifications across 32 taxonomic groups in 1985.
• Includes multiple measurement types: abundance, wet/dry biomass, and length-frequency data.

Limitations

• Temporally limited to two sampling seasons (1984-1985), providing only a historical snapshot.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to the Canadian Beaufort Sea shelf, limiting geographic generalizability.
• Biomass and length-frequency data are not available for all years or all sampling gears.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Plankton net sampling using Wisconsin, neuston, and bongo gear at the surface and in the water column.

Time Range

July and September 1984; July to September 1985.

Freshness

Historical dataset; last updated September 1985.

Geography

Canadian Beaufort Sea shelf.