| Summary: | These data are part of the Gulf Watch Alaska (GWA), Environmental Drivers component of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council, project numbers 12120114-G, 13120114-G, 14120114-G, and 16120114-G. Gulf Watch Alaska is the long-term ecosystem monitoring program of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council for the marine ecosystem affected by the 1989 oil spill. This dataset is two comma-separated values (csv) files containing zooplankton counts by species from samples collected during Lower Cook Inlet oceanographic surveys. One data file (named' Raw') contains the raw zooplankton counts, whereas the file named 'Processed' contains the final processed counts to the lowest possible taxon. Zooplankton samples were collected during 2012-2016 as part of a long-term oceanographic monitoring project in Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet . Zooplankton were collected quarterly in lower Cook Inlet and outer Kachemak Bay and monthly in Kachemak Bay with a bongo style zooplankton net: 60 cm mouth diameter/333 μm mesh (Aquatic Research Instruments, Hope, ID). To calculate sample volume, a mechanical flow meter (General Oceanics) was attached to one side of the bongo frame; zooplankton were sampled from the net with no flow meter attached. At each station, 50 m vertical tows were conducted at a tow rate of approximately 0.5 m/s with an average of 14.15 m3 sampled. Preserved samples were identified and enumerated to lowest taxonomic classification possible by the Prince William Sound Science Center located in Cordova, Alaska.
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