Abundance of mesozooplankton in the Mediterranean Sea in August and September 2008 during SES_GR2

The SES_GR2_Mesozooplankton dataset is based on samples taken during August-September 2008 in Ionian Sea, Libyan Sea, Southern Aegean Sea and Northern Aegean Sea. Sampling volume was estimated by the net mouth surface and the towing distance for WP-2. The sample was split on board in two halves by using the beaker approach. The first sub-sample was immediately fixed and preserved in a seawater formalin solution containing about 4% buffered formaldehyde to allow the determination of species composition abundance. Pipette for the subsamples used in the taxonomic analysis of zooplankton under binocular microscope.

Abundance and biomass of mesozooplankton in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in March and April 2008 during SES_GR1

The dataset is based on samples taken during March-April 2008 in Libyan Sea, in Southern Aegean Sea and in Northern Aegean Sea. Sampling volume was estimated by the net mouth surface and the towing distance for WP-2. Taxon-specific mesozooplankton abundance and total abundance: The sample was split on board in two halves by using the beaker approach. The first sub-sample was immediately fixed and preserved in a seawater formalin solution containing about 4% buffered formaldehyde to allow the determination of species composition abundance. Pipette for the subsamples used in the taxonomic analysis of zooplankton under binocular microscope.

Abundance of mesozooplankton in the SESAME Italian cruise S-IT2 in the Ionian Sea in March 2008

The "SESAME_IT2_ZooAbundance_0-50-100m_SZN" dataset contains data of mesozooplankton species composition and abundance (ind. m-3) from samples collected in the Ionian Sea in the late winter (2-8 March) of 2008 during the SESAME-WP2 cruise IT2. Samples were collected by vertical tows with a closing WP2 net (56 cm diameter, 200 ?m mesh size) in the following depth layers: 100-200 m, 50-100 m, 0-50 m. Sampling was always performed in light hours. A flowmeter was applied to the mouth of the net, however, due to its malfunctioning, the volume of filtered seawater was calculated by multiplying the the area by the height of the sampled layer from winch readings. After collection, each sample was split in two halves (1/2) after careful mixing with graduated beakers. Half sample was immediately fixed and preserved in a formaldehyde-seawater solution (4% final concentration) for species composition and abundance. The other half sample was kept fresh for biomass measurements (data already submitted to SESAME database in different files).Here, only the zooplankton abundance of samples in the upper layers 0-50 m and 50-100 m are presented. The abundance data of the samples in the layer 50-100 m will be submitted later in a separate file. The volume of filtered seawater was estimated by multiplying the the area by the height of the sampled layer from winch readings. Identification and counts of specimens were performed on aliquots (1/20-1/5) of the fixed sample or on the total sample (half of the original sample) by using a graduate large-bore pipette. Copepods were identified to the species level and separated into females, males and juveniles (copepodites). All other taxa were identified at the species level when possible, or at higher taxonomic levels. Taxonomic identification was done according to the most relevant and updated taxonomic literature. Total mesozooplankton abundance was computed as sum of all specific abundances determined as explained above.

Abundance of mesozooplankton collected in October and November 1991 at 20 stations in the South Aegean Sea during O91

The O91- Mesozooplankton dataset is based on samples collected in mid October-mid November 1991 at 20 stations in the South Aegean, the SE.Ionian Sea and in NW Levantine. Samples were collected at discrete layers (from the surface till 300m. These data are published. Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area with the wire length. The entire sample (for deep layers) or aliquot of Taxon-specific mesozooplankton abundance (1/4) (for the upper layer) was analyzed under the binocular microscope. Copepod and cladoceran species were identified and enumerated; the other zooplankters were identified and enumerated at higher taxonomic level (commonly named as zooplankton groups). Taxonomic identification was done by I.Siokou-Frangou, E.Christou, and N.Fragopoulu, using the relevant taxonomic literature. The entire sample (for deep layers) or aliquot of Mesozooplankton total abundance (1/4) (for the upper layer) was analyzed under the binocular microscope. All zooplankters were enumerated.

The Global Plankton Database: an inventory and data from the Former Soviet Union expeditions

At present time, there is a lack of knowledge on the interannual climate-related variability of zooplankton communities of the tropical Atlantic, central Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea, due to the absence of appropriate databases. In the mid latitudes, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is the dominant mode of atmospheric fluctuations over eastern North America, the northern Atlantic Ocean and Europe. Therefore, one of the issues that need to be addressed through data synthesis is the evaluation of interannual patterns in species abundance and species diversity over these regions in regard to the NAO. The database has been used to investigate the ecological role of the NAO in interannual variations of mesozooplankton abundance and biomass along the zonal array of the NAO influence. Basic approach to the proposed research involved: (1) development of co-operation between experts and data holders in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UK, and USA to rescue and compile the oceanographic data sets and release them on CD-ROM, (2) organization and compilation of a database based on FSU cruises to the above regions, (3) analysis of the basin-scale interannual variability of the zooplankton species abundance, biomass, and species diversity.