US AMLR Program zooplankton dataset

Zooplankton research in the US AMLR Program focuses on the link between prey production, availability, and climate variability in relation to predator and fishery demands. Annual studies include estimates of krill abundance, and experiments to develop and enhance hydro-acoustic methodologies. Long-term objectives include quantifying the inter-annual and decadal mesoscale (10's to 100's of kilometers) variability in water mass structure, phytoplankton biomass and productivity, and zooplankton (especially krill) associated with potential basin scale climate forcing. Conversely, the microscale (1 to 10's of kilometers) features of the distribution and abundance of krill within the foraging range of krill predators breeding at Cape Shirreff and Admiralty Bay is also studied to resolve local and remote forcing effects on predator foraging success.

The Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Convention Act of 1984 provided the legislative authority to establish the U.S. AMLR Program. This national program provides information needed for the development and support of U.S. policy regarding the conservation and management of the marine living resources in the ocean areas surrounding Antarctica.

The datasets incorporated into this archive have been collected by researchers affiliated with the U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Program under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These data are part of a long term ecosystem project centered on the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica. Funding for this project was from the NMFS AMLR Program. Data were collected from land and ship based platforms.

Primary sample processing is conducted in laboratory compartments within the ship. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) are separated from the catch and enumerated; a sub-sample of salps (Salpa thompsoni) are separated, counted and measured; other adult and larval euphausiids, ichthyoplankton,

and zooplankton material are identified, counted, and preserved (varies by year depending on availability of funds). Sub-samples of E. superba from each tow

are processed in the on-board laboratory space to determine the distribution of krill length, maturity stage, sex ratio, and reproductive condition. Myctophid fish are processed to determine sex, morphometric measurements,

species, stomach contents, etc. Breadth of sampling is determined each year depending on funding availability for resources, staff and sea days.

Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of NOAA, the National Marine Fisheries Service, US AMLR or its partners.

Available upon request; response time varies based on data management resources available at the time of the request.

Contact AMLR Point of Contact as provided above.

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Generally, volume of abundnace is =/- 10% between tows.

Standardized data collection and processing methods are used.

Data are stored on a server at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center which has all appropriate access controls.

Trawl samples are analysed and entered into data files on board vessel, or returned to laboratory for analysis and entered into data files at the SWFSC. Post sample analysis requires QA/QC.