http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset/998152
eng; USA
utf8
dataset
Highest level of data collection, from a common set of sensors or instrumentation, usually within the same research project
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
2026-05-07
ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
Fecal pellet elemental composition (CHN), production rates, and morphometrics from zooplankton incubation experiments collected during R/V Atlantic Explorer cruise AE2306 at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in Mar 2023
2026-05-13
publication
2026-05-13
revision
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI BCO-DMO)
2026-05-13
publication
https://doi.org/10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.998152.1
Susanne Neuer
Arizona State University
principalInvestigator
Kaitlin Baird
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
principalInvestigator
Leocadio Blanco-Bercial
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
principalInvestigator
Amy Elizabeth Maas
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
principalInvestigator
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
publisher
Cite this dataset as: Neuer, S., Blanco-Bercial, L., Maas, A. E., Baird, K., Niimi, Y. J. (2026) Fecal pellet elemental composition (CHN), production rates, and morphometrics from zooplankton incubation experiments collected during R/V Atlantic Explorer cruise AE2306 at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in Mar 2023. Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO). (Version 1) Version Date 2026-05-13 [if applicable, indicate subset used]. doi:10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.998152.1 [access date]
CHN Experiment BATS 2023 Dataset Description: Methods and Sampling: <p><strong>Zooplankton Collection</strong></p>
<p>Live zooplankton were collected during the March 2023 cruise (AE2306) using a 1-m², 150-µm mesh Reeve net for fecal pellet elemental analysis experiments.</p>
<p><strong>Fecal Pellet Incubation and Collection</strong></p>
<p>Target zooplankton taxa were incubated individually in 1-L acid-washed plastic containers ("Copepotties") filled with 0.2-µm filtered seawater. Each container included an inner insert constructed from a 1-mm mesh-bottomed plastic cup to allow separation of fecal pellets from the zooplankton. Incubations were conducted in the dark at approximately 20°C for 8–12 hours. Following incubation, fecal pellets were collected under a dissection microscope using glass pipettes and rinsed three times with nuclease-free water. Pellets were imaged at 63× magnification under a stereomicroscope, and morphometric measurements were obtained using INFINITY ANALYZE 7 software (Teledyne Technologies, Inc).</p>
<p><strong>Fecal Pellet Elemental Analysis</strong></p>
<p>Individual fecal pellets were placed onto pre-combusted, pre-weighed GF/F filters (0.7-µm pore size). Filters were dried, and changes in mass were used to estimate pellet dry weight. Filters containing fecal pellets were acidified by exposure to concentrated HCl fumes for 16 hours to remove inorganic carbon and then dried prior to analysis. Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen content was quantified using a Costech ECS 4010 elemental combustion system. Pellet carbon density and C:N ratios were calculated using measured pellet dimensions and elemental data.</p>
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-2023621 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award?AWD_ID=2023621
Funding provided by NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) Award Number: OCE-2023372 Award URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award?AWD_ID=2023372
completed
Susanne Neuer
Arizona State University
480-727-7254
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences School of Life Sciences 427 East Tyler Mall
Tempe
AZ
85287-4501
USA
susanne.neuer@asu.edu
pointOfContact
Kaitlin Baird
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
+1 441 297 1880 ext 238
kaitlin.noyes@bios.edu
pointOfContact
Leocadio Blanco-Bercial
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
leocadio@asu.edu
pointOfContact
Amy Elizabeth Maas
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
508-289-2462
17 Biological Station Ferry Reach
St.George's GE 01
Bermuda
amaas4@asu.edu
pointOfContact
asNeeded
Dataset Version: 1
Unknown
Date
Cruise
Trawl
Start_Time
End_Time
Min_Depth
Max_Depth
Experiment
GFF_filter_num
Zooplankton_Groups
Zooplankton_Taxa
num_Zooplankton
Total_Hours
num_Fecal_pellet
ug_N
ug_C
C_N
Blank_Corrected_mg_C_from_CHN
Total_Volume
Carbon_Density
FPP_using_CHN_Exp_rate
FPP_using_CHN_Exp
Average_Animal_Dry_Weight
StDev_Average_Animal_Dry_Weight
Datetime_Start_UTC
Costech ECS 4010 elemental analyzer
dissection microscope
stereomicroscope
Reeve net
theme
None, User defined
date
Cruise identifier
tow
time_start_local
time_end_local
depth_min
depth_max
experiment id
No BCO-DMO term
animal group (category)
taxon
count
time_elapsed
mass
Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N)
volume
rate_measurements
mean
standard deviation
ISO_DateTime_UTC
featureType
BCO-DMO Standard Parameters
Costech International Elemental Combustion System (ECS) 4010
Microscope - Optical
Microscope - Optical
Reeve Net
instrument
BCO-DMO Standard Instruments
AE2306
service
Deployment Activity
Bermuda
place
Locations
otherRestrictions
otherRestrictions
Access Constraints: none. Use Constraints: Please follow guidelines at: http://www.bco-dmo.org/terms-use Distribution liability: Under no circumstances shall BCO-DMO be liable for any direct, incidental, special, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this data submission. If you are dissatisfied with any materials in this data submission your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue use.
Collaborative Research: Zooplankton mediation of particle formation in the Sargasso Sea
https://osprey.bco-dmo.org/project/816744
Collaborative Research: Zooplankton mediation of particle formation in the Sargasso Sea
<p><em>NSF Award Abstract:</em><br />
The purpose of this collaborative project is to advance understanding of the role of marine planktonic animals (or zooplankton) in the biological pump, or transport of carbon from surface to deeper ocean waters. This movement of carbon from surface to deep ocean water can ultimately affect carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with implications for global climate. Many marine zooplankton, including species of copepods and krill, play a direct role in the biological pump both because they are abundant and because they can migrate from surface waters at night, where they feed, to depths of more than 500 m at night. At the same time, some organisms called flux feeders will remain at depth and do not migrate. Instead, they rely on particles produced by other zooplankton feeding in surface waters. In this project, the investigators are focusing on populations of flux feeders in the deeper ocean waters of the Sargasso Sea. They are leveraging an ongoing long-term research program, conducting field collections using specialized nets and particle traps, as well lab experiments, as a way to understand how these organisms modify the particles around them. This project is supporting a postdoctoral scientist and providing research experiences for undergraduates at two institutions. An education specialist is creating lesson plans for an award-winning Ask-A-Biologist website, designed for public and K-12 audiences. Images of zooplankton will be disseminated to the public and scientific community via EcoTaxa (a web platform devoted to plankton biodiversity, with images and taxonomic annotation) and physical samples will be archived as part of a teaching library.</p>
<p>The oceanic biological carbon pump refers to the export of dissolved and particulate organic carbon to the deep ocean, and it is a significant driver of atmospheric carbon uptake by the oceans. Evidence from long-term research carried out at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site suggests that the spectrum of particles collected by gel-traps below the euphotic zone changes drastically below 150 m, which is attributed to resident populations of zooplankton that feed on vertically migrating zooplankton as well as sinking particles. The goals of this study are to investigate the role of different zooplankton taxa on both particle aggregate formation and in particle transformation, and to compare and characterize the particles generated by the zooplankton communities with those collected by particle traps. The investigators are combining field collections with experiments onboard ship and in environmental chambers. They are collecting samples over two years, with three cruises a year to capture distinct seasons. They are assessing high-resolution vertical distribution of zooplankton in the upper 600 m using Multiple Opening-Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System (MOCNESS) tows during day- and night-time, to distinguish diel vertical migrators from resident populations and to quantify contributions to particulate organic carbon flux via fecal pellet production. On each cruise, sinking particles are being collected using gel trap tubes attached to the particle traps deployed monthly at BATS. In addition, roller tank experiments are determining how individual zooplankton mediate aggregate formation. Particle types and fecal pellets are being characterized using image analysis and DNA-based analysis of microbial communities. Finally, ongoing data collection from the long-term BATS program is providing invaluable environmental context and will ensure results from this study contribute to ongoing community efforts to observe and predict the fate of carbon in our global system.</p>
<p>This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.</p>
Zooplankton Mediation
largerWorkCitation
project
eng; USA
biota
oceans
Bermuda
-64.0824
-64.0824
31.6492
31.6492
2023-03-07
2023-03-07
Sargasso Sea/BATS area
0
BCO-DMO catalogue of parameters from Fecal pellet elemental composition (CHN), production rates, and morphometrics from zooplankton incubation experiments collected during R/V Atlantic Explorer cruise AE2306 at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in Mar 2023
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998190.rdf
Name: Date
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Date of experiment start or sample collection (Atlantic/Bermuda timezone (GMT-4))</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998191.rdf
Name: Cruise
Units: unitless
Description: <p>R/V Atlantic Explorer (AE) cruise ID number</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998192.rdf
Name: Trawl
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Net tow identifier associated with sample collection</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998193.rdf
Name: Start_Time
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Time when experiment or deployment started (Atlantic/Bermuda timezone (GMT-4))</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998194.rdf
Name: End_Time
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Time when experiment or deployment ended (Atlantic/Bermuda timezone (GMT-4))</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998195.rdf
Name: Min_Depth
Units: meters (m)
Description: <p>Minimum depth of sampling or incubation</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998196.rdf
Name: Max_Depth
Units: meters (m)
Description: <p>Maximum depth of sampling or incubation</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998197.rdf
Name: Experiment
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Experimental treatment or experiment identifier</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998198.rdf
Name: GFF_filter_num
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Identifier for glass fiber filter used for CHN analysis</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998199.rdf
Name: Zooplankton_Groups
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Broad taxonomic or functional group of zooplankton</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998200.rdf
Name: Zooplankton_Taxa
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Lowest identified taxonomic classification of zooplankton</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998201.rdf
Name: num_Zooplankton
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Number of zooplankton alive or present at end of experiment or analysis</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998202.rdf
Name: Total_Hours
Units: hours
Description: <p>Duration of experiment, incubation, or deployment</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998203.rdf
Name: num_Fecal_pellet
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Number of fecal pellets produced or analyzed</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998204.rdf
Name: ug_N
Units: micrograms (µg)
Description: <p>nitrogen mass measured on filters via CHN analyzer</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998205.rdf
Name: ug_C
Units: micrograms (µg)
Description: <p>carbon mass measured on filters via CHN analyzer</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998206.rdf
Name: C_N
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Carbon to nitrogen molar ratio</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998207.rdf
Name: Blank_Corrected_mg_C_from_CHN
Units: milligrams (mg C)
Description: <p>Carbon mass corrected for procedural blanks</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998208.rdf
Name: Total_Volume
Units: cubic micrometers (µm³)
Description: <p>Total fecal pellet volume collected on filter</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998209.rdf
Name: Carbon_Density
Units: mg C µm³
Description: <p>Carbon content per unit fecal pellet volume</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998210.rdf
Name: FPP_using_CHN_Exp_rate
Units: mg C individual⁻¹ h⁻¹
Description: <p>Individual fecal pellet carbon production rate derived from CHN analysis</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998211.rdf
Name: FPP_using_CHN_Exp
Units: mg C individual⁻¹
Description: <p>Total fecal pellet carbon production per individual from CHN data</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998212.rdf
Name: Average_Animal_Dry_Weight
Units: milligrams (mg)
Description: <p>Mean dry weight of zooplankton individuals</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998213.rdf
Name: StDev_Average_Animal_Dry_Weight
Units: milligrams (mg)
Description: <p>Standard deviation of zooplankton dry weight</p>
http://lod.bco-dmo.org/id/dataset-parameter/998214.rdf
Name: Datetime_Start_UTC
Units: unitless
Description: <p>Datetime of experiment start (UTC)</p>
GB/NERC/BODC > British Oceanographic Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
https://doi.org/10.26008/1912/bco-dmo.998152.1
download
onLine
dataset
<p><strong>Zooplankton Collection</strong></p>
<p>Live zooplankton were collected during the March 2023 cruise (AE2306) using a 1-m², 150-µm mesh Reeve net for fecal pellet elemental analysis experiments.</p>
<p><strong>Fecal Pellet Incubation and Collection</strong></p>
<p>Target zooplankton taxa were incubated individually in 1-L acid-washed plastic containers ("Copepotties") filled with 0.2-µm filtered seawater. Each container included an inner insert constructed from a 1-mm mesh-bottomed plastic cup to allow separation of fecal pellets from the zooplankton. Incubations were conducted in the dark at approximately 20°C for 8–12 hours. Following incubation, fecal pellets were collected under a dissection microscope using glass pipettes and rinsed three times with nuclease-free water. Pellets were imaged at 63× magnification under a stereomicroscope, and morphometric measurements were obtained using INFINITY ANALYZE 7 software (Teledyne Technologies, Inc).</p>
<p><strong>Fecal Pellet Elemental Analysis</strong></p>
<p>Individual fecal pellets were placed onto pre-combusted, pre-weighed GF/F filters (0.7-µm pore size). Filters were dried, and changes in mass were used to estimate pellet dry weight. Filters containing fecal pellets were acidified by exposure to concentrated HCl fumes for 16 hours to remove inorganic carbon and then dried prior to analysis. Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen content was quantified using a Costech ECS 4010 elemental combustion system. Pellet carbon density and C:N ratios were calculated using measured pellet dimensions and elemental data.</p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
<p>Raw zooplankton sample metadata (cruise ID, station, date, time, depth interval, and diel period) were recorded at sea during each cruise. Zooplankton taxa used in fecal pellet elemental analysis experiments were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level using stereomicroscope images and standard taxonomic references.</p>
<p>Fecal pellet morphometric measurements (length, width, and projected area) were obtained from stereomicroscope images using INFINITY ANALYZE 7 software (Teledyne Technologies, Inc). Pellet volumes were calculated from measured dimensions assuming cylindrical geometry. Individual fecal pellet production rates were calculated by dividing the total number of pellets produced per individual by the incubation duration (hours).</p>
<p>Dry weight values for zooplankton individuals used in elemental analyses were determined from measured mass after drying.</p>
<p>For elemental analysis, GF/F filter tare weights were subtracted from post-sample weights to obtain fecal pellet dry mass. Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen values output by the elemental analyzer were blank-corrected using pre-combusted filter blanks. Carbon density and C:N ratios were calculated from measured elemental content and pellet volume.</p>
<p>All data were compiled, quality-checked for transcription errors, and formatted into standardized tables for submission. No statistical analyses, model-based flux calculations, or graphical processing are included in the submitted datasets.</p>
Specified by the Principal Investigator(s)
- Loaded CSV file CHN_Results.csv using filename as resource name (chn_results), with empty string and "nd" treated as missing values
- Renamed 12 fields to remove special characters and units from field names to comply with BCO-DMO naming guidelines: Max_Depth_(m) to Max_Depth, Min_Depth_(m) to Min_Depth, GFF_filter# to GFF_filter_num, #_Zooplankton to num_Zooplankton, #Fecal_pellet to num_Fecal_pellet, C/N to C_N, Blank_Corrected_mg_C_(from_CHN) to Blank_Corrected_mg_C_from_CHN, Total_Volume_(um^3) to Total_Volume, FPP_using_CHN_Exp_(mg_C_ind-1_hr-1) to FPP_using_CHN_Exp_rate, FPP_using_CHN_Exp_(mg_C_ind-1) to FPP_using_CHN_Exp, Average_Animal_Dry_Weight_(mg) to Average_Animal_Dry_Weight, and StDev_Average_Animal_Dry_Weight_(mg) to StDev_Average_Animal_Dry_Weight
- Converted Date field from M/D/YYYY format to ISO 8601 date format (YYYY-MM-DD)
- Combined Date and Start_Time fields into new Datetime_Start field in ISO 8601 datetime format (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM), converting from Atlantic/Bermuda timezone to UTC; rows with missing Start_Time receive null Datetime_Start
- Renamed Datetime_Start -> Datetime_Start_UTC to reflect UTC timezone conversion
- Applied find and replace on Trawl column, removing the string "Tow" from values
- Output written to 998152_v1_chn_results.csv
Specified by BCO-DMO Data Managers
asNeeded
7.x-1.1
Biological and Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
Unavailable
508-289-2009
WHOI MS#36
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
info@bco-dmo.org
http://www.bco-dmo.org
Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
For questions regarding this resource, please contact BCO-DMO via the email address provided.
pointOfContact
Costech ECS 4010 elemental analyzer
Costech ECS 4010 elemental analyzer
PI Supplied Instrument Name: Costech ECS 4010 elemental analyzer PI Supplied Instrument Description:Carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen (CHN) content of fecal pellets were measured using a Costech ECS 4010 elemental analyzer. Instrument Name: Costech International Elemental Combustion System (ECS) 4010 Instrument Short Name:Costech ECS 4010 Instrument Description: The ECS 4010 Nitrogen / Protein Analyzer is an elemental combustion analyser for CHNSO elemental analysis and Nitrogen / Protein determination. The GC oven and separation column have a temperature range of 30-110 degC, with control of +/- 0.1 degC.
dissection microscope
dissection microscope
PI Supplied Instrument Name: dissection microscope PI Supplied Instrument Description:Following incubation, fecal pellets were collected under a dissection microscope using glass pipettes and rinsed three times with nuclease-free water. Instrument Name: Microscope - Optical Instrument Short Name: Instrument Description: Instruments that generate enlarged images of samples using the phenomena of reflection and absorption of visible light. Includes conventional and inverted instruments. Also called a "light microscope". Community Standard Description: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/LAB05/
stereomicroscope
stereomicroscope
PI Supplied Instrument Name: stereomicroscope PI Supplied Instrument Description:Pellets were imaged under a stereomicroscope, and morphometric measurements were obtained using INFINITY ANALYZE 7 software. Instrument Name: Microscope - Optical Instrument Short Name: Instrument Description: Instruments that generate enlarged images of samples using the phenomena of reflection and absorption of visible light. Includes conventional and inverted instruments. Also called a "light microscope". Community Standard Description: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/LAB05/
Reeve net
Reeve net
PI Supplied Instrument Name: Reeve net PI Supplied Instrument Description:Live zooplankton were collected during the March 2023 cruise (AE2306) using a 1-m², 150-µm mesh Reeve net for fecal pellet elemental analysis experiments. Instrument Name: Reeve Net Instrument Short Name:Reeve Net Instrument Description: A Reeve Net is a conventional ring net with a very large acrylic cylindrical cod-end (30 liters) designed to collect fragile gelatinous animals. The net is lowered to a particular depth and then hauled slowly back to the surface (5-10 m/min). Reeve (1981) also described a double net system with no bridle and flotation at the net mouth that is attached to a roller mechanism that rides on a tow wire.
The roller system is locked in place by a pressure release device. Once below a set pressure, the roller
and nets are released and they float slowly up the wire, gently collecting the zooplankton, without being
influenced by the motion of the vessel and associated vertical wire movements. (from Wiebe and Benfield, 2003) Community Standard Description: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L22/current/NETT0147/
Cruise: AE2306
AE2306
R/V Atlantic Explorer
Community Standard Description
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
R/V Atlantic Explorer
vessel
AE2306
Claire Medley
R/V Atlantic Explorer
Community Standard Description
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
R/V Atlantic Explorer
vessel