Description
Summary:No problems to report with regards to the dataset or data collection. Standard methods were used (Rathburn et al. 1997). All slides were counted on the same microscope by a single analyst. The site codes are the names given to the individual coring sites by the CEAMARC mission. See other CEAMARC records for more information (particularly the "Events" metadata record). This data provides the absolute abundance of diatom valves from cores recovered from the George V coast as part of the CEAMARC (Collaborative East Antarctic Marine Census) mission of 2007-2008. Data are presented as valves/gram dry weight of sediment. All samples analyzed were core top samples, however no age constraints have been established. Chaetoceros resting spores were included in the absolute abundance calculations. Slides were prepared following Rathburn et al 1997. These data were generated in order to assess flux of diatom valves to the sea floor across a sea ice dominated ecosystem. The data cover the sea ice, polynya and open ocean habitats. The data can also be used to evaluate the influence of currents on sediment deposition patterns. Absolute diatom abundance is often used as a proxy of primary productivity.