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Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

IMOS - Phytoplankton Abundance and Biovolume (reference stations)

Inorganic CarbonParticulate matterSea Surface SalinitySea Surface TemperatureSubsurface SalinitySubsurface TemperaturePhytoplankton biomass and diversityMicrobe biomass and diversityHard coral cover and compositionOcean colour

This dataset comprises the phytoplankton abundance and biovolume measurements from samples collected at the Integrated Marine Observing Systems (IMOS) National Reference Stations (NRS), Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) and Bonney Coast Mooring and other repeatedly sampled stations. For information on sampling and analysis methods for the NRS stations and Bonney Coast Mooring please refer to Eriksen et al. 2019. It is advised that anyone using this data should read this methodology or contact the project contact person to understand the nuances of each sampling and analysis chain. The SOTS phytoplankton data are collected and analysed as per Eriksen 2018. Data collected from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) mooring array are collected with a Niskin bottle and analysed by Microalgal Solutions.

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 10 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) Plus Derived indices – NRS only (useful indices at sample level for NRS data) Depth Binned CTD Data – NRS only (NRS CTD data binned to 1m and matched to TripCode).

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 04/04/2019. However, they were removed again in November 2020 because technical issues prevented them from being regularly updated.

This dataset supersedes the previous "IMOS National Reference Station (NRS) - Phytoplankton Abundance and Biovolume" - https://catalogue-imos.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/api/records/dfef238f-db69-3868-e043-08114f8c8a94 (collection was removed from the AODN Portal in December 2021, and the data has been archived).

Data and resources

Additional information

Temporal extent2009-01-14 – 2025-10-20
Date (creation)2021-09-10
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