Zooplankton Distribution in the Bering Strait, July 1991

16 sampling stations across the Bering Strait were surveyed during a joint Russian-U.S. research cruise in July 1991. The data captures distinct zooplankton communities and biomass differences between the Bering Sea/Anadyr and Alaskan water masses. The dataset was last updated in 2001 and originates from the organization SCIOPS.

Use Cases

• Compare zooplankton biomass and density between distinct water masses (Alaskan vs. Bering/Anadyr) based on the stratified sampling described.
• Analyze species composition dominance (e.g., North Pacific species vs. coastal species) across different hydrological regions.
• Study the physical concentration of zooplankton by currents, particularly near the Diomede Islands, as mentioned in the description.
• Investigate vertical distribution patterns (surface, thermocline, bottom) of zooplankton abundance and biomass.

Strengths

• Sampling covers 16 stations across the Bering Strait, providing spatial coverage.
• Data includes vertical stratification (0-bottom, 0-thermocline) and comparisons between distinct water masses.
• Specific biomass ratios are reported, such as surface layer biomass in Alaskan waters being 1.5 times higher than in Bering/Anadyr waters.

Limitations

• Last updated 2001-07-08 23:59:59.999000; freshness should be verified.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file format are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

nasa_earthdata

Collection Method

Vertical stratified tows with a ring net (1 m diameter, 333 µm mesh) during a joint Russian-U.S. research cruise on R/V Tiglax.

Time Range

July 1991

Freshness

Last updated 2001-07-08 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Bering Strait, including stations in Bering Sea/Anadyr and Alaskan water masses, near the Diomede Islands.