Bongo Zooplankton Data from the R/V TINRO, NOAA Bell M. Shimada, F/V Northwest Explorer and R/V CCGS Sir John Franklin during the 2022 International Year of the Salmon Pan-Pacific Winter High Seas Expedition

Study Extent

Data includes zooplankton abundance and biomass data collected with a bongo net at 69 stations throughout the North Pacific Ocean, between February 5 - April 17, 2022, by four vessels: F/V Northwest Explorer, R/V TINRO, the NOAA Bell M. Shimada and the R/V CCGS Sir John Franklin.

Sampling

Zooplankton were collected using a bongo net at each station, weather and oceanic conditions permitted. The paired bongo nets (60 cm in diameter, 253 micron mesh size) were deployed to a depth of approximately 250 m and retrieved vertically at 1 m s-1. Collected data are used to offer insights in zooplankton community composition, density and distribution. After the bongo net deployment and recovery, the net was rinsed down into the cod end. Volume of sea water filtered was determined using flowmeters. This dataset includes samples that were preserved in formalin. These samples were enumerated and identified to the lowest taxonomic rank possible or practical. Abundance (individuals per cubic meter) was recorded by species, lifestage, sex and size (range), but not provided in this dataset.

Method steps

1. Zooplankton taxonomic processing was done by Chris Stark (Stark Research) for the R/V TINRO data, by Alexei Pinchuk (University of Alaska Fairbanks) for data of the F/V Northwest Explorer and NOAA Bell M. Shimada, and by Joanne Breckenridge and Moira Galbraith for the R/V CCGS Sir John Franklin. Zooplankton were transferred from the formalin solution and rinsed with tap water. All individuals in the subsample were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible or practical, and to life stage and sex when possible.

North Pacific Ocean