Australian Plankton Survey Sub-Facility - Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System
Original (non-English) name
Acronym
Australian Plankton Survey Sub-Facility - IMOS
Citation
Users of IMOS data are required to clearly acknowledge the source material by including the following statement:
Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) is enabled by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). It is operated by a consortium of institutions as an unincorporated joint venture, with the University of Tasmania as Lead Agent.
Abstract
The Australian Plankton Survey measures plankton communities around Australia using Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPRs). Being small and free-floating, plankton are useful indicators of ecosystem health and changes. The long-term datasets of Australian plankton sampled and processed by the Australian Plankton Survey provide researches and policymakers with environmental and climatic indicators, harmful algal bloom detection, eutrophication and pollution information at both local and national scales.
The key aims of the Australian Plankton Survey are to:
- Map plankton biodiversity and distribution.
- Develop and sustain the long-term monitoring of Australian waters.
- Document changes in plankton communities in response to climatic changes.
- Provide indices for fisheries management.
- Detect harmful algal blooms.
- Validate remote sensing.
- Initialise and test ecosystem models.