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Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

IMOS - Phytoplankton Abundance and Biovolume (CPR)

Sea Surface TemperaturePhytoplankton biomass and diversityMicrobe biomass and diversityHard coral cover and compositionOcean colour

This dataset includes Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) data, as part of the Australian Plankton Survey (AusCPR) and phytoplankton from the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey (SO-CPR). The dataset comprises the phytoplankton abundance, biovolume measurements and phytoplankton colour index (PCI).

To understand how CPR plankton data is analysed and how to use CPR data we recommend reading Richardson et al., 2006.

The data are made available in binned products for ease of use. As taxonomy changes over time and the ability of analysts improves with training more and more species can be identified over time. The products account for these changes and for real absences from the samples. A 0 abundance means that the species was looked for and not seen, null (empty cell) means that the species was not looked for in that sample. The products are therefore applicable for use in time series analysis.

There are a total of 9 products to choose from.

Phytoplankton data are available as either abundance or biovolume, and each of these at 4 levels of binning:

  • Raw product (includes all data)
  • Species product (includes all data where species have been identified)
  • Genus product (includes all data binned to genus level)
  • Higher taxonomic group (includes all data binned to functional groups). (each of these products includes the phytoplankton colour index (PCI) per samples) Plus Derived indices (useful indices at segment level for CPR data)

The PCI is an estimate of the amount of chlorophyl in the water. The colour of the silk is measured using Pantone colour charts against a numeric scale indicating increasing greenness or chlorophyll.
0 – No colour 1 – Very Pale Green 2 – Pale Green 3 – Green

Plankton abundances were originally provided on the AODN Portal only as raw data, in flat table form (with each species recorded in a separate row), without any adjustments for taxonomy changes or real absences. The first version of the "analysis-ready" products were first published on 21/12/2018. However, they were removed again in April 2021 because technical issues prevented them from being regularly updated.

This dataset supersedes the previous "IMOS - AusCPR: Phytoplankton Abundance" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/c1344979-f701-0916-e044-00144f7bc0f4 and "IMOS - AusCPR: Phytoplankton Colour Index (PCI)" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/e210cb45-910a-79c2-e043-08114f8c7800 (both collections were removed from the AODN Portal in March 2022, and the data has been archived).

Data and resources

Additional information

Temporal extent2007-11-25 – 2025-11-08
Date (creation)2021-11-01
StatusonGoing
Update frequencyasNeeded
Metadata languageen
LicenseData, products and services from IMOS are provided "as is" without any warranty as to fitness for a particular purpose.
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-05
Created2026-11-05
APIpackage_show