Size-fractionated zooplankton dry weight collected using a 1-m diameter ring net with 200-μm mesh at Palmer Station, Antarctica during Palmer LTER field seasons, 2017-2020 ...

• Main Authors: LTER, Palmer Station Antarctica, Conroy, John A, Steinberg, Deborah K
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Environmental Data Initiative 2024
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/1064e1cba693382b01c33d4684b5ceb9; https://portal.edirepository.org/nis/mapbrowse?packageid=knb-lter-pal.318.1

Zooplankton are a morphologically and taxonomically diverse group of animals. Many zooplankton feed on phytoplankton in surface waters and thus provide a link between primary producers and higher trophic levels. The density of zooplankton dry weight for five size fractions was determined at Palmer LTER Stations B and E. Samples were collected with a 1-m diameter, 200-μm mesh ring net towed obliquely from the surface to a target depth of 50 m and back. Tows were conducted during daytime, and sampling frequency was nominally twice weekly while personnel were at Palmer Station between the months of November and March. One-half of the catch was size-fractionated with nested sieves into the following five size classes for biomass analysis: 0.2−0.5, 0.5−1, 1−2, 2−5, and >5 mm. Individual size fractions were concentrated on preweighed 200 μm mesh filters and frozen at −20°C until analysis. Samples were thawed, weighed to determine wet biomass, dried at 60°C for at least 24 h, and weighed again to determine dry ...