Phytoplankton microscopic observations from the FjordPhyto Citizen Science Project of the 2017-2018 Antarctic season

Martina Mascioni; Gastón O. Almandoz; Allison Cusick; Lorenzo Kohler; Tobias Chavero; Rick A. Reynolds; Maria Vernet

doi:10.15468/k6zs88

Phytoplankton microscopic observations from the FjordPhyto Citizen Science Project of the 2017-2018 Antarctic season

Citation

Mascioni M, Almandoz G O, Cusick A, Kohler L, Chavero T, Reynolds R A, Vernet M, International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (2024). Phytoplankton microscopic observations from the FjordPhyto Citizen Science Project of the 2017-2018 Antarctic season. Museo de La Plata. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/k6zs88 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

Phytoplankton data acquired by microscopic counts of seawater samples collected as part of the FjordPhyto citizen science project (www.fjordphyto.org) during the 2017-2018 summer season along the Antarctic Peninsula

Sampling Description

Study Extent

Samples were taken along the western Antarctic Peninsula during austral summer 2017-2018 between November and March.

Sampling

Microscopy samples (120-ml surface seawater fixed in Lugol) were collected from surface waters from an inflatable boat (e.g., a Zodiac) along the Antarctic Peninsula. For further information refer to: Cusick, A.M., Gilmore, R., Bombosch, A., Mascioni, M., Almandoz, G.O. and Vernet, M., 2020. Polar tourism as an effective research tool. Oceanography, 33(1), pp.50-61.

Quality Control

The quality control of the sampling was carried out by comparing samples taken by citizen scientists and samples taken by scientists on board the cruise ships.

Method steps

1. Microscopy counts For phytoplankton identification, abundance, and carbon biomass estimates by microscopy, surface seawater (0–1 m depth) was collected and preserved by filling pre-rinsed amber HDPE bottles (120 mL) and adding a Lugol’s solution (4% final concentration; Edler and Elbrachter, 2010), which is a less toxic preservation option that stains more fragile organisms. Samples were kept in a cool, dark place until the end of the season, when they were offloaded and sent to Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina, for researchers to analyze (Mascioni et al., 2019, 2023). Cell counts were performed according to Utermöhl (1958) using an inverted optical microscope Leica DMIL LED. Subsamples of 50 mL were left to settle for 24hs in a composite sedimentation chamber. At least 100 cells of the dominant taxa were counted at the maximum amplification (400X) (Lund et al. 1958). The whole chamber bottom was also scanned at 200X to count large and sparse species. The measurement error is <10% with 400 cells counted per sample. Organism abundances are provided in concentrations of cells/liter.
2. Phytoplankton identification During cell counts taxa were mostly identified down to the genus level and in some cases to the level of large groups (e.g., family, order), within which organisms were classified by size. Cell dimensions were measured by using an ocular micrometer. In such cases, closer observation of the samples with specific techniques or electron microscopy allowed the identification of taxa to the genus level and in some cases to the species level. Identification of organisms was carried out by consulting general literature relevant to marine plankton and in particular Antarctica or specific literature where particular taxa are described.

Taxonomic Coverages

Cosconodiscaceae
rank: family
Cocconeidaceae
rank: family
Cryptista
rank: phylum
Suessiaceae
rank: family
Pyramimonadaceae
rank: family
Dinophyceae
rank: class
Fragilariaceae
rank: family
Eupodiscales
rank: order
Corethraceae
rank: family
Naviculales
rank: order
Chromista
rank: kingdom
Gonyaulacales
rank: order
Coscinodiscophyceae
rank: class
Prorocentrales
rank: order
Bacillariales
rank: order
Dictyochaceae
rank: family
Plantae
rank: kingdom
Haptophyta
rank: phylum
Phaeocystaceae
rank: family
Bacillariophyceae familia incertae sedis
rank: family
Naviculaceae
rank: family
Oxytoxaceae
rank: family
Aphanizomenonaceae
rank: family
Cryptophyceae
rank: class
Thalassionematales
rank: order
Gymnodiniales
rank: order
Pyramimonadophyceae
rank: class
Cyanobacteria
rank: phylum
Protozoa
rank: kingdom
Achnanthales
rank: order
Thalassionemataceae
rank: family
Dinoflagellata
rank: phylum
Pyramimonadales
rank: order
Coscinodiscales
rank: order
Fragilariales
rank: order
Dictyochales
rank: order
Peridiniales familia incertae sedis
rank: family
Eubacteria
rank: kingdom
Oscillatoriales
rank: order
Suessiales
rank: order
Attheyaceae
rank: family
Prorocentraceae
rank: family
Achnanthaceae
rank: family
Pleurosigmataceae
rank: family
Thalassiosirales
rank: order
Licmophoraceae
rank: family
Coccolithophyceae
rank: class
Gyrodiniaceae
rank: family
Bacillariophyceae ordo incertae sedis
rank: order
Peridiniales
rank: order
Oscillatoriaceae
rank: family
Chaetocerotales
rank: order
Protoperidiniaceae
rank: family
Chlorophyta
rank: phylum
Warnowiaceae
rank: family
Dictyochophyceae
rank: class
Biddulphiales
rank: order
Phaeocystales
rank: order
Corethrales
rank: order
Tovelliaceae
rank: family
Bacillariophyceae
rank: class
Plagiotropidaceae
rank: family
Heterocapsaceae
rank: family
Odontellaceae
rank: family
Bacillariophyceae incertae sedis
rank: class
Probosciales
rank: order
Heterokontophyta
rank: phylum
Mediophyceae
rank: class
Chaetocerotaceae
rank: family
Bacillariaceae
rank: family
Nostocales
rank: order
Cyanophyceae
rank: class
Licmophorales
rank: order
Probosciaceae
rank: family

Geographic Coverages

Samples were taken at numerous locations along the western Antarctic Peninsula between King George Island (62°S, 58°W) and Marguerite Bay (near 68°S).

Bibliographic Citations

Bender, N.A., Crosbie, K. and Lynch, H.J., 2016. Patterns of tourism in the Antarctic Peninsula region: a 20-year analysis. Antarctic Science, 28(3), p.194. - https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102016000031
Cusick, A.M., Gilmore, R., Bombosch, A., Mascioni, M., Almandoz, G.O. and Vernet, M., 2020. Polar tourism as an effective research tool. Oceanography, 33(1), pp.50-61. - https://www.jstor.org/stable/26897835
Edler, L. and Elbrächter, M., 2010. The Utermöhl method for quantitative phytoplankton analysis. Microscopic and molecular methods for quantitative phytoplankton analysis, 110, pp.13-20. -
Gommerman, L. and Monroe, M.C., 2012. Lessons learned from evaluations of citizen science programs. EDIS, 2012(6). -
Lund, J. W. G., Kipling, C., and le Cren, E. D. (1958). The inverted microscope method of estimating algal numbers and the statistical basis of estimations by counting. Hydrobiologia 11, 143–170. - https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007865
Mascioni, M., Almandoz, G.O., Cefarelli, A.O., Cusick, A., Ferrario, M.E. and Vernet, M., 2019. Phytoplankton composition and bloom formation in unexplored nearshore waters of the western Antarctic Peninsula. Polar Biology, 42(10), pp.1859-1872. - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02564-7
Mascioni, M., Almandoz, G. O., Cusick, A., Pan, B. J., & Vernet, M. (2023). Phytoplankton dynamics in nearshore regions of the western Antarctic Peninsula in relation to a variable frontal zone in the Gerlache Strait. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1139293. - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1139293
McKinley, D.C., Miller-Rushing, A.J., Ballard, H.L., Bonney, R., Brown, H., Cook-Patton, S.C., Evans, D.M., French, R.A., Parrish, J.K., Phillips, T.B. and Ryan, S.F., 2017. Citizen science can improve conservation science, natural resource management, and environmental protection. Biological Conservation, 208, pp.15-28. - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.05.015
Shirk, J.L., Ballard, H.L., Wilderman, C.C., Phillips, T., Wiggins, A., Jordan, R., McCallie, E., Minarchek, M., Lewenstein, B.V., Krasny, M.E. and Bonney, R., 2012. Public participation in scientific research: a framework for deliberate design. Ecology and society, 17(2). - https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04705-170229
U.S. Federal Government. 2019. The Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit. - https://www.citizenscience.gov/toolkit/#
Utermöhl, H. (1958). Zur Vervollkommnung der quantitativen Phytoplankton-Methodik. SIL Communications, 1953-1996 9, 1–38. - https://doi.org/10.1080/05384680.1958.11904091

Contacts

Martina Mascioni
originator
position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: marmascioni@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4994-5289

Gastón O. Almandoz
originator
position: Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del Bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: galmandoz@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-582X

Allison Cusick
originator
position: PhD Candidate
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: all178@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-2016

Lorenzo Kohler
originator
position: Undergraduate Student
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del Bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: lorenzokohler1@gmail.com

Tobias Chavero
originator
position: Biologist
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del Bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: tobiaschavero1@gmail.com

Rick A. Reynolds
originator
position: Project Scientist
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Drive #0238
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: rreynolds@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1579-3600

Maria Vernet
originator
position: Researcher
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: mvernet@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-5343

Martina Mascioni
metadata author
position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: marmascioni@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4994-5289

Martina Mascioni
author
position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: marmascioni@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4994-5289

Gastón O. Almandoz
principal investigator
position: Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del Bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: galmandoz@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7931-582X

Allison Cusick
author
position: PhD Candidate
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: all178@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-2016

Rick A. Reynolds
principal investigator
position: Project Scientist
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Drive #0238
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: rreynolds@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1579-3600

Maria Vernet
principal investigator
position: Researcher
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: mvernet@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-5343

International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators
originator
position: Project Collaborator
(IAATO)
225 Dyer Stree
Providence
02903
Rhode Island
US
email: iaato@iaato.org
homepage: https://iaato.org/

Martina Mascioni
administrative point of contact
position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Museo de La Plata - División Ficología “Dr. Sebastián A. Guarrera”
Paseo del bosque s/n
La Plata
1900
Buenos Aires
AR
email: marmascioni@gmail.com
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4994-5289

Allison Cusick
administrative point of contact
position: PhD Candidate
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: all178@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1372-2016

Maria Vernet
administrative point of contact
position: Researcher
University of California, San Diego - Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Dr #0218
La Jolla
92037
California
US
email: mvernet@ucsd.edu
userId: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-5343