Concurrent Planktobenthic and Benthic Fauna Samples from Carnarvon Shelf

MAPS, a tri-layered net system, enabled the first deliberate concurrent sampling of seafloor (benthic) and near-seafloor water column (planktobenthic) organisms. The Australian Ocean Data Network published this methodological and biological data, with a record last updated in April 2026. It includes counts of species like mysids and infauna, with analysis showing correlations between planktobenthic and benthic species numbers across taxonomic groups.

Use Cases

• Analyze correlation between planktobenthic_species_count and benthic_species_count across different taxonomic_groups.
• Identify collected organism types such as mysids, fragile_larvae, epibenthic_animals, and infaunal_animals from the tri-layered net and sled samples.
• Study sampling efficacy by comparing organism collection from the three separate net layers versus a single net.
• Assess deployment success and species variety for the MAPS tool at the specific location Carnarvon_Shelf.

Strengths

• Describes a novel, first-of-its-kind concurrent sampling method for a previously understudied ecological zone.
• Data supports analysis of species correlation across taxonomic groups, providing a quantitative ecological relationship.

Limitations

• Sample size and row count are unknown, limiting statistical power for broader inference.
• Geographic coverage is limited to a single deployment on the Carnarvon Shelf in Western Australia.
• Primary data formats (PDF, HTML) suggest the core dataset may be embedded within publication documents, not a standalone structured table.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Deployment of the Mounted Assembly for Planktobenthic Sampling (MAPS), a tri-layered net system attached to an epibenthic sled.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Record metadata indicates an update in April 2026, suggesting recent management.

Geography

Carnarvon Shelf, Western Australia.