Mesozooplankton biomass from MOCNESS tows collected during R/V Oceanus cruises OC415-01, OC415-03, OC404-01, OC404-04 in the Sargasso Sea, 2004-2005 (EDDIES project)

Website: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/3211
Version: 7 July 2011
Version Date: 2011-07-07

Project
» Eddies Dynamics, Mixing, Export, and Species composition (EDDIES)

Program
» Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB)
ContributorsAffiliationRole
Steinberg, Deborah K.Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)Principal Investigator
Goldthwait, Sarah A.Humboldt State University (Humboldt)Scientist
Chandler, Cynthia L.Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)BCO-DMO Data Manager


Dataset Description

Zooplankton biomass estimates were determined from 1 m^2, 150 micron mesh MOCNESS (Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System) tows. The following discrete depth intervals were sampled on the upcast: 0-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-300, 300-400, 400-500, 500-600, and 600-700 m. Generally paired tows during the day (9:30-15:00 local time) and night (21:30-03:00) were performed at each station. A single tow generaly covered 5-15 km.  The nominal position (lat_n and lon_n) for each tow is the position at the mid depth 200-300m sampling interval.  Table 1 (pg 1362 PDF) of Goldthwait and Steinberg (2008) is a sequential list of all MOCNESS mesozooplankton tows and includes eddy identification number and location.

Each sample was size-fractionated using nested sieves of 0.15 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2mm, and 5 mm mesh. Zooplankton in each size class were transferred onto pre-weighed 0.15 mm nitex mesh filters and rinsed with deionized water. Samples were then dried for 24 hours at 60 degrees C and weighed.

Data were prepared by Sarah Goldthwait of Humboldt State University (https://fresca.calstate.edu/faculty/98)

Publication: Goldthwait, S. and D.K. Steinberg. 2008. Elevated Biomass of Mesozooplankton and Enhanced Fecal Pellet Flux in Cold-Core and Mode-Water Eddies in the Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 55: pp. 1360-1377. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.01.003


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Data Files

File
zoop_biomass.csv
(Comma Separated Values (.csv), 56.33 KB)
MD5:47cec169740b8affadbd5c9f44b0e88e
Primary data file for dataset ID 3211

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Parameters

ParameterDescriptionUnits
Cruise_IDcruise designation code dimensionless
datedate (UTC) at start of tow in YYYYMMDD format unitless
latlatitude, average during tow (negative denotes South) decimal degrees
lonlongitude, average during tow (negative denotes West) decimal degrees
timetime (UTC) at start of tow hhmm
depth_enddepth at end of tow meters
depth_begindepth at beginning of tow meters
vol_filtvolume filtered by net meter^3
zoop_bm_150zooplankton dry weight; 150 to 500 microns milligrams/meter^3
zoop_bm_500zooplankton dry weight; 500 to 1000 microns milligrams/meter^3
zoop_bm_1000zooplankton dry weight; 1000 to 2000 microns milligrams/meter^3
zoop_bm_2000zooplankton dry weight; 2000 to 5000 microns milligrams/meter^3
zoop_bm_5000zooplankton dry weight; gt 5000 microns milligrams/meter^3
zoop_bm_totalzooplankton dry weight; total milligrams/meter^3
event_IDevent identification number; unique within EDDIES project dimensionless
cruise_cast_netcruise_cast_net is a sample identifier unique within the EDDIES project dimensionless
lat_nnominal latitiude (same as mid-depth position for the tow) decimal degrees
lon_nnominal longitude (same as mid-depth position for the tow) decimal degrees


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Instruments

Dataset-specific Instrument Name
MOCNESS1
Generic Instrument Name
MOCNESS1
Generic Instrument Description
The Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System or MOCNESS is a family of net systems based on the Tucker Trawl principle. The MOCNESS-1 carries nine 1-m2 nets usually of 335 micrometer mesh and is intended for use with the macrozooplankton. All nets are black to reduce contrast with the background. A motor/toggle release assembly is mounted on the top portion of the frame and stainless steel cables with swaged fittings are used to attach the net bar to the toggle release. A stepping motor in a pressure compensated case filled with oil turns the escapement crankshaft of the toggle release which sequentially releases the nets to an open then closed position on command from the surface. -- from the MOCNESS Operations Manual (1999 + 2003).


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Deployments

OC415-01

Website
Platform
R/V Oceanus
Report
Start Date
2005-06-20
End Date
2005-07-15
Description
EDDIES project 2005 Survey 1 cruise Funded by: NSF OCE-0241310 Original cruise data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog

OC415-03

Website
Platform
R/V Oceanus
Report
Start Date
2005-08-07
End Date
2005-08-26
Description
EDDIES project 2005 Survey 2 cruise Funded by: NSF OCE-0241310 Original cruise data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog

OC404-01

Website
Platform
R/V Oceanus
Report
Start Date
2004-06-11
End Date
2004-07-03
Description
EDDIES 2004 Survey 1 cruise Funded by: NSF OCE-0241310 Original cruise data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog (Cruise DOI: 10.7284/900337)

OC404-04

Website
Platform
R/V Oceanus
Report
Start Date
2004-07-25
End Date
2004-08-12
Description
EDDIES project 2004 Survey 2 cruise Funded by: NSF OCE-0241310 Original cruise data are available from the NSF R2R data catalog


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Project Information

Eddies Dynamics, Mixing, Export, and Species composition (EDDIES)


Coverage: Sargasso Sea


The original title of this project from the NSF award is: Collaborative Research: Impacts of Eddies and Mixing on Plankton Community Structure and Biogeochemical Cycling in the Sargasso Sea".

Prior results have documented eddy-driven transport of nutrients into the euphotic zone and the associated accumulation of chlorophyll. However, several key aspects of mesoscale upwelling events remain unresolved by the extant database, including: (1) phytoplankton physiological response, (2) changes in community structure, (3) impact on export out of the euphotic zone, (4) rates of mixing between the surface mixed layer and the base of the euphotic zone, and (5) implications for biogeochemistry and differential cycling of carbon and associated bioactive elements. This leads to the following hypotheses concerning the complex, non-linear biological regulation of elemental cycling in the ocean:

H1: Eddy-induced upwelling, in combination with diapycnal mixing in the upper ocean, introduces new nutrients into the euphotic zone.

H2: The increase in inorganic nutrients stimulates a physiological response within the phytoplankton community.

H3: Differing physiological responses of the various species bring about a shift in community structure.

H4: Changes in community structure lead to increases in export from, and changes in biogeochemical cycling within, the upper ocean.

Publications

Andrews, J.E., Hartin, C., and Buesseler, K.O.. "7Be Analyses in Seawater by Low Background Gamma-Spectroscopy.," Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, v.277, 2008, p. 253.

Andrews, J.E., Hartin, C., Buesseler, K.O.. "7Be Analyses in Seawater by Low Background Gamma-Spectroscopy," Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, v.277, 2008, p. 253.

Benitez-Nelson, C.R. and McGillicuddy, D.J.. "Mesoscale Physical-Biological-Biogeochemical Linkages in the Open Ocean: An Introduction to the Results of the E-Flux and EDDIES Programs.," Deep Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1133.

Benitez-Nelson, C.R. and McGillicuddy, D.J.. "Mesoscale Physical-Biological-Biogeochemical Linkages in the Open Ocean: An Introduction to the Results of the E-Flux and EDDIES Programs," Deep-Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1133.

Bibby, T.S., Gorbunov, M.Y., Wyman, K.W., Falkowski, P.G.. "Photosynthetic community responses to upwelling in mesoscale eddies in the subtropical North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans," Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, v.55, 2008, p. 1310.

Buesseler, K.O., Lamborg, C., Cai, P., Escoube, R., Johnson, R., Pike, S., Masque, P., McGillicuddy, D.J., Verdeny, E.. "Particle Fluxes Associated with Mesoscale Eddies in the Sargasso Sea," Deep Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1426.

Carlson, C.A., del Giorgio, P., Herdl, G.. "Microbes and the dissipation of energy and respiration: From cells to ecosystems," Oceanography, v.20, 2007, p. 89.

Davis, C.S., and McGillicuddy, D.J.. "Transatlantic Abundance of the N2-Fixing Colonial Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium," Science, v.312, 2006, p. 1517.

Ewart, C.S., Meyers, M.K., Wallner, E., McGillicuddy, D.J., Carlson, C.A.. "Microbial Dynamics in Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Mode-Water Eddies in the Northwestern Sargasso Sea," Deep Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1334.

Ewart, C.S., Meyers, M.K., Wallner, E., McGillicuddy, D.J., Carlson, C.A.. "Microbial Dynamics in Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Mode-Water Eddies in the Northwestern Sargasso Sea," Deep-Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1334.

Goldthwait, S.A. and Steinberg, D.K.. "Elevated biomass of mesozooplankton and enhanced fecal pellet flux in cyclonic and mode-water eddies in the Sargasso Sea," Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, v.55, 2008, p. 1360.

Greenan, B.J.W.. "Shear and Richardson number in a mode-water eddy," Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, v.55, 2008, p. 1161.

Jenkins, W.J., McGillicuddy, D.J., and Lott III, D.E.. "The Distributions of, and Relationship Between 3 He and Nitrate in Eddies," Deep Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1389.

Jenkins, W.J., McGillicuddy, D.J., Lott III, D.E.. "The Distributions of, and Relationship Between 3 He and Nitrate in Eddies," Deep-Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1389.

Ledwell, J.R., McGillicuddy, D.J., and Anderson, L.A.. "Nutrient Flux into an Intense Deep Chlorophyll Layer in a Mode-water Eddy.," Deep Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1139.

Ledwell, J.R., McGillicuddy, D.J., Anderson, L.A.. "Nutrient Flux into an Intense Deep Chlorophyll Layer in a Mode-water Eddy," Deep-Sea Research II, v.55, 2008, p. 1139.

Li, Q.P. and Hansell, D.A.. "Intercomparison and coupling of MAGIC and LWCC techniques for trace analysis of phosphate in seawater," Analytical Chemica Acta, v.611, 2008, p. 68.

Li, Q.P., Hansell, D.A., McGillicuddy, D.J., Bates, N.R., Johnson, R.J.. "Tracer-based assessment of the origin and biogeochemical transformation of a cyclonic eddy in the Sargasso Sea," Journal of Geophysical Research, v.113, 2008, p. 10006.

Li, Q.P., Hansell, D.A., Zhang, J.-Z.. "Underway monitoring of nanomolar nitrate plus nitrite and phosphate in oligotrophic seawater," Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, v.6, 2008, p. 319.

Li, Q.P., Zhang, J.-Z., Millero, F.J., Hansell, D.A.. "Continuous colorimetric determination of trace ammonium in seawater with a long-path liquid waveguide capillary cell," Marine Chemistry, v.96, 2005, p. 73.

McGillicuddy, D.J., et. al.. "Eddy/Wind Interactions Stimulate Extraordinary Mid-Ocean Plankton Blooms," Science, v.316, 2007, p. 1021.

McGillicuddy, D.J., Ledwell, J.R., and Anderson, L.A.. "Response to Comment on "Eddy/Wind Interactions Stimulate Extraordinary Mid-Ocean Plankton Bloom".," Science, v.320, 2008.

McGillicuddy, D.J., Ledwell, J.R., Anderson, L.A.. "Response to Comment on "Eddy/Wind Interactions Stimulate Extraordinary Mid-Ocean Plankton Bloom"," Science, v.320, 2008.

McGillicuddy, et. al.. "Eddy/Wind Interactions Stimulate Extraordinary Mid-Ocean Plankton Blooms.," Science, v.316, 2007, p. 1021.

Mourino B., and McGillicuddy, D.J.. "Mesoscale Variability in the Metabolic Balance of the Sargasso Sea," Limnology & Oceanography, v.51, 2006, p. 2675.



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Program Information

Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB)


Coverage: Global


The Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) program focuses on the ocean's role as a component of the global Earth system, bringing together research in geochemistry, ocean physics, and ecology that inform on and advance our understanding of ocean biogeochemistry. The overall program goals are to promote, plan, and coordinate collaborative, multidisciplinary research opportunities within the U.S. research community and with international partners. Important OCB-related activities currently include: the Ocean Carbon and Climate Change (OCCC) and the North American Carbon Program (NACP); U.S. contributions to IMBER, SOLAS, CARBOOCEAN; and numerous U.S. single-investigator and medium-size research projects funded by U.S. federal agencies including NASA, NOAA, and NSF.

The scientific mission of OCB is to study the evolving role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle, in the face of environmental variability and change through studies of marine biogeochemical cycles and associated ecosystems.

The overarching OCB science themes include improved understanding and prediction of: 1) oceanic uptake and release of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases and 2) environmental sensitivities of biogeochemical cycles, marine ecosystems, and interactions between the two.

The OCB Research Priorities (updated January 2012) include: ocean acidification; terrestrial/coastal carbon fluxes and exchanges; climate sensitivities of and change in ecosystem structure and associated impacts on biogeochemical cycles; mesopelagic ecological and biogeochemical interactions; benthic-pelagic feedbacks on biogeochemical cycles; ocean carbon uptake and storage; and expanding low-oxygen conditions in the coastal and open oceans.



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Funding

Funding SourceAward
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE)

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