Dataset: Mesozooplankton biomass from MOCNESS tows collected during R/V Oceanus cruises OC415-01, OC415-03, OC404-01, OC404-04 in the Sargasso Sea, 2004-2005 (EDDIES project)

Zooplankton biomass estimates were determined from 1 m^2, 150 micron mesh MOCNESS (Multiple Opening/Closing Net and Environmental Sensing System) tows. The following discrete depth intervals were sampled on the upcast: 0-50, 50-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-300, 300-400, 400-500, 500-600, and 600-700 m. Generally paired tows during the day (9:30-15:00 local time) and night (21:30-03:00) were performed at each station. A single tow generaly covered 5-15 km.  The nominal position (lat_n and lon_n) for each tow is the position at the mid depth 200-300m sampling interval.  Table 1 (pg 1362 PDF) of Goldthwait and Steinberg (2008) is a sequential list of all MOCNESS mesozooplankton tows and includes eddy identification number and location.

Each sample was size-fractionated using nested sieves of 0.15 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2mm, and 5 mm mesh. Zooplankton in each size class were transferred onto pre-weighed 0.15 mm nitex mesh filters and rinsed with deionized water. Samples were then dried for 24 hours at 60 degrees C and weighed.

Data were prepared by Sarah Goldthwait of Humboldt State University (https://fresca.calstate.edu/faculty/98)

Publication: Goldthwait, S. and D.K. Steinberg. 2008. Elevated Biomass of Mesozooplankton and Enhanced Fecal Pellet Flux in Cold-Core and Mode-Water Eddies in the Sargasso Sea. Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 55: pp. 1360-1377. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.01.003