Obsolete - AFSC/RACE/EcoFOCI - Zooplankton data collected in support of FOCI assessment surveys and ecosystem observations in the Bering, Beaufort, and Chukchi Seas and the Gulf...

Zooplankton data are abundance by taxanomic group (to species where possible), stage, size and sex. Zooplankton sorting is performed at The Polish Plankton Sorting Institute in Szcecin, Poland. The zooplankton protocol was changed in 2012 to include a wider range of taxaonomic categories for all study areas and to finer taxanomic resolution where possible. Limited biomass information is available using literature values for micrograms carbon of select copepod species. Various gears with different mesh sizes are used to asses different size classes of zooplankton including 20/60cm paired bongos, Tucker, Multinet, MOCNESS, Methot, CalVET and microzooplankton nets hung on nisken bottles.

Zooplankton data are collected in an attempt to describe the prey field for larval, juvenile and adult fish species (commercially and ecologically important). The zooplankton time series is also used with oceanographic and phytoplankton datasets to describe the lower trophic food webs in the Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Beaufort and Chuckchi Seas that are used in ecosystems based fisheries management. The zooplankton time series is particularly valuable in looking at species composition changes and distribution in relation to climate variability. Trends in zooplankton species composition, abundance and distribution are used to predict survival and success of commercially important fish species (including walleye pollock) and overall ecosystem health.

Supplemental Information - Data Parameters and Units - Descriptive Information about the Data Parameters and Units.

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Vial Number Specimens

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1 Neocalanus spp. (C6-C3 unidentified & C2)

2 N. cristatus: C6 - C2

3a Calanus marshallae/glacialis: C6 - C2

3b Calanus hyperboreus: C6 – C2

4 C. pacificus: C6 - C2

5 All unknown calanid C3 - C1 that fit the specified size ranges

6 Eucalanus bungii: C6 - C1

7 Pseudocalanus spp.: all stages

8a Metridia pacifica/lucens: C6 - C4

8b Metridia ochotensis: C6 - C4

8c Metridia spp.: C3 - C1

9 Acartia and Oithona spp.

10 All other Copepoda

11 Euphausiids

12 Decapoda (Crustacea)

13 Amphipoda: Hyperiidae and Gammaridae

14 All gelatinous zooplankton (except Chaeotognatha)

15a Chaeotgnatha

15b Appendicularia

15c Gastropoda: (Gymnosomata, Thecosomata, Gastropoda)

15d All other zooplankton

Stage Codes Stage Size Codes Size

0 adult 1 > 5 mm

3 medusa 2 < 5 mm

11 egg 3 > 2 and < 5 mm

13 nauplius 4 < 2 mm

19 C-1 to C-4 5 > 5 and < 20 mm

20 C - 1 (copepodite I) 6 > 20 mm

21 C -2 (copepodite II) 7 Damaged

22 C - 3 (copepodite III) 8 < 150 µm

23 C - 4 (copepodite IV) 9 = 150 µm

24 C - 5 (copepodite V) 999 Not determined

25 cypris

29 furcilia

50 (not used) Sex Codes Sex

51 larva 1 male

60 calyptopis (stage not determined) 2 Female

61 calyptopis 1 3 Female w. spermatophores

62 calyptopis 2 7 Not applicable

63 calyptopis 3 999 Not determined

64 A & J (adult and juvenile)

70 zoea Gear Codes Gear

75 megalopae 20BON 20 cm Bongo

80 juvenile 60BON 60 cm Bongo

240 C6 + C5 LGCB Large Clarke-Bumpus

999 stage not determined METH Methot

MOC1 1 m2 MOCNESS

SLED Epi-benthic Sled

TUCK1 1m2 Tucker

Figure 3. Zooplankton Maximum Dimensions

Supplemental Information – Methods - Descriptive Information about the methods used.

Sampling:

Zooplankton are collected using bongo samplers (Posgay and Marak, 1980) towed in a

double-oblique manner from the surface to near bottom, generally within 10 m. The main

sampler is 60 cm in diameter with 333/~m mesh nets. A second bongo frame 20 cm in

diameter with 150 ~m mesh nets is used to collect smaller zooplankton beginning in

1986. The small bongo is attached to the towing wire 1 m above the large frame. A Seacat or Fastcat is used to collect depth, temperature, and salinity data coincident with the biological samples. Calibrated flow meters were used to estimate volumes

filtered by each net. Samples were condensed using appropriately sized sieves and were

preserved in 5% buffered formalin.

Survey operational procedures

The SeaCat is attached to the wire approximately one meter above the 60m cm bongo frame to provide real-time depth data. The frame is fitted with 505 ¿m mesh nets and 4" PVC codends (with 505 ¿m mesh drain holes). The initial flowmeter readings for each side of the bongo are recorded on the Cruise Operations Database (COD) form along with the station identification information (Figure 2). The nets and codends are inspected for damage before and after each tow. The gear is launched via the starboard winch at 40 meters per minute. During periods of bad weather and heavy surge, the winch operator is instructed to let the wire out at a much slower rate (20 - 30 m/min) to prevent backlash on the winch. The direction of the tow should be such that the wind and swells are taken at a 45 degree angle across the starboard bow to prevent the gear and wire from being run over by the ship and risking entanglement with the centerboard or screw. The depth of the nets are monitored from a dedicated computer inside the ship and commands are given to standby and stop the winch at depth and begin retrieval when the gear has reached 100 meters or 10 meters off bottom. In the event that the SeaCat suddenly fails during a tow and there will not be time to repeat the tow, the wire out vs wire angle chart (see Brown et al. 2009) may be used to continue the tow (Table 1).

The gear is brought back to the surface at 20 m/min. The ship speed is maintained between 1.5 and 2.0 knots and is continually adjusted to maintain a 45 degree wire angle. These angles are radioed to the Bridge by either the Survey Tech or a scientist who uses a hand held inclinometer to determine wire angle. The wire angles must be kept between 35 and 55 degrees to insure proper fishing of the gear. Low wire angles result in the frame moving too slow (larvae may avoid the nets). High wire angles result in the net moving too fast (larvae may be extruded through the net or avoid the net due to an increase in the frontal pressure wave). If the wire angle is outside these tolerances (35 < x < 55 º) for more than 30 seconds, then the catch should be discarded and the tow repeated.

When the nets surface, they are brought aboard and quickly washed. The nets and codends are inspected for damage and possible sample loss. The final flowmeter readings are recorded for each side of the bongo. The total flowmeter revolutions (final revolutions minus initial revolutions) for each flowmeter are calculated before the sample is preserved and should be within 100 - 200 counts of each other. Since net 1 is the only net that is used quantitatively and if there is a time restriction that does not allow the tow to be repeated, net 2 may be used in its place if there is a suspected problem with the flowmeter (jellyfish tentacles wrapped around the flowmeter, slow gears, damaged codend, etc.). Any changes to regular procedures, such as substituting net 2 for net 1, should be noted on the COD form. Problem flowmeter(s) should be replaced before the next station. Under normal operating conditions, the codend from net 2 is immediately taken into the laboratory and sorted for larval walleye pollock or other species of interest over an ice bed to reduce possible shrinkage of the fish larvae (Theilacker and Porter, 1995). Larval walleye pollock are counted and put into a vial of 95% ethanol for otolith and/or genetics studies. The codend from net #1 is the quantitative sample (recorded as QTowF on the COD form) that will be used for the larval abundance estimates. The codend contents of net #1 are carefully poured into a 505 mm mesh sieve to reduce the fluid enough to pour the sample into a 32 oz jar and preserve it with 50 ml of 37% formaldehyde and 20 ml of sodium borate used to buffer the solution (see Dougherty et al. 2009 for complete details on sample handling). In the event that the above specifications have not been met, or it is suspected that the gear may have hit bottom or some of the sample was lost during the tow due to net or codend damage, the tow should be repeated. The scientists are responsible for recording tow time, maximum depths, and all other data required for the COD form. All station data is entered into a relational database (COD) soon after the tow. During the cruise, scientists will verify that the station data have been correctly entered by comparing the paper form with an edit form printed by the COD application. A digital record of the tow trajectory and maximum depth is archived for future reference (SeaCat files).

Sample sorting and analysis

60 cm BONGO, MOCNESS, SLED AND TUCKER (333 or 505 µm mesh)

Step 1 Determine location of sample and find the Taxa List for that region

(eastern Bering Sea/Gulf of Alaska or Chukchi/Beaufort

Seas).

Step 2 Obtain the FORM F and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 3 Split the coarse mesh sample (333 or 505 µm) to obtain = 200

large-sized individuals from column #3 of the Taxa List.

Step 3 Count all the large-sized organisms and write on FORM F.

Step 4. Repeat Step 3, if the split did not yield = 200 organisms.

20 cm BONGO, CalVET, or Large Clarke-Bumpus (153 µm).

Step 1 Determine location of sample and find Taxa List for that region

(Table 1, eastern Bering Sea/Gulf of Alaska or Table 2, Chukchi/Beaufort

Seas).

Step 2 Obtain FORM G and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 3 Split the fine mesh sample (153 µm) to obtain = 200

Medium-sized individuals from column #4 of the Taxa List.

Step 4 Count all the medium-sized organisms and write on FORM G.

Step 5 Repeat Step 4, if the split did not yield = 200 organisms.

Step 6 Obtain FORM H and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 7 Choose a split that will yield = 250 small-sized organisms from

column #5 of the Taxa List

Step 8 Count all the small-sized organisms and write on FORM H.

Step 9 Repeat step 8, if the split did not yield = 250 organisms.

MOCNESS (153 µm mesh)

Step 1 Determine location of sample and find the Taxa List for that region

(Table 1, eastern Bering Sea/Gulf of Alaska or Table 2, Chukchi/Beaufort

Seas).

Step 2 Obtain the FORM F and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 3 Split the coarse mesh sample (333 or 505 µm) to obtain = 200

large-sized individuals from column #3 of the Taxa List.

Step 3 Count all the large-sized organisms and write on FORM F.

Step 4. Repeat Step 3, if the split did not yield = 200 organisms.

Step 5 Obtain FORM G and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 6 Split the fine mesh sample (153 µm) to obtain = 200

Medium-sized individuals from column #4 of the Taxa List.

Step 7 Count all the medium-sized organisms and write on FORM G.

Step 8 Repeat Step 4, if the split did not yield = 200 organisms.

Step 9 Obtain FORM H and make a note on the form of material removed

that would interfere with splitting.

Step 10 Choose a split that will yield = 250 small-sized organisms from

column #5 of the Taxa List

Step 11 Count all the small-sized organisms and write on FORM H.

Step 12 Repeat step 8, if the split did not yield = 250 organisms.

Supplemental Information – Instruments - Descriptive Information about the instruments and equipment used.

Pressure sensors:

A SeaBird SeaCat (SBE-19) is attached to the wire approximately 1 meter above the 60 cm bongo frame. Real time display of conductivity, temperature, and depth is monitored in remotely on a designated computer display.

Flowmeter calibrations:

General Oceanics flowmeters are mounted in both mouths of the bongo frame.

All flowmeters are annually calibrated (see procedures used by Smith and Richards, 1977).

Supplemental Information - Sampling Scales and Rates - Descriptive Information about the sampling spatial and temporal scales and rates.

Supplemental Information - Error Analysis - Descriptive Information about the error analysis.

Handwritten zooplankton forms are compared to data entered and edited as needed. QC checks are performed for common errors (mainly non entries and subsample > 1). Haul data are QC'd to flag questionable wire angles, flowmeter revs, net performance and time, date and location outliers are flagged.

Supplemental Information - Provenance and Historical References -

Descriptive Information about the provenance, historical data, key information packaged elsewhere.

Incze and Ainaire 1994. Distribution and abundance of sopepod nauplii and other small zooplankton during spring in Shelikof Strait Alaska. Fish Bull 92: 67-78.

INCZE, L. S., D. W. SIEFERT, and J. M. NAPP. 1997. Mesozooplankton of Shelikof Strait, Alaska: Abundance and community composition. Cont. Shelf Res. 17(3):287-305

There are no legal restrictions on access to the data. They reside in public domain and can be freely distributed.

TBD

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Data will reside at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/AFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested.

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Oracle database and ArcServer user interface.

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See methods.

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See methods

Samples are not processed automatically.

No archive currently able to support this kind of data.

local and offsite backups

Results are returned in an SQLite database. Results are visually verified and the final corrected data are loaded into an Oracle database.