From Australian Oceans Data Network

Diffusion culture experiments using natural phytoplankton from the Great Barrier Reef

Created 12/03/2025

Updated 12/03/2025

Seventeen experiments were carried out between April 1983 and June 1985 to measure in situ growth rates of phytoplankton communities and constituent species in mid- to outer-shelf waters of the central Great Barrier Reef. Growth rates of identifiable phytoplankton taxa, composite groups of phytoplankton (eg microflagellates) and size classes were calculated from changes in cell numbers or chlorophyll concentration occurring while size-fractionated natural phytoplankton assemblages were incubated in situ within diffusion chambers. Growth experiments were carried out either in the lagoons of, or most commonly, in waters immediately adjacent to three reefs in the central GBR province, Myrmidon Reef, Rib Reef and Davies Reef. Myrmidon Reef was selected to typify conditions found on the outer shelf and in oceanic waters of the western Coral Sea. Located on a protrusion extending seaward from the continental shelfbreak, the sheltered northern side of Myrmidon Reef is exposed to oceanic waters in the southward flowing East Australian Current. Davies Reef and Rib Reef have mid- shelf locations and are surrounded by waters typifying the reef matrix and outer GBR lagoon. Sites at or near reefs for individual experiments were selected to enable safe deployment of diffusion chambers at depths corresponding to desired light penetration depths. Water samples for dissolved nutrient, chlorophyll, phaeophytin, temperature and salinity analyses were collected daily from incubation depths at the mooring sites. At most deep water stations underwater light profiles were measured to determine irradiance levels at the depths of incubation. The purpose of these experiments was to measure in situ growth rates of phytoplankton communities and constituent species in mid- to outer-shelf waters of the central Great Barrier Reef.

Files and APIs

Tags

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Diffusion culture experiments using natural phytoplankton from the Great Barrier Reef
Language eng
Licence notspecified
Landing Page https://devweb.dga.links.com.au/data/dataset/fdf02c30-5b4d-4bbb-940d-bc0071cab8f5
Contact Point
CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere
adc@aims.gov.au
Reference Period 14/10/2019
Geospatial Coverage {"type": "Point", "coordinates": [147.63599395751956, -18.81694256497476]}
Data Portal data.gov.au

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on data.gov.au "Diffusion culture experiments using natural phytoplankton from the Great Barrier Reef". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://devweb.dga.links.com.au/data/dataset/diffusion-culture-experiments-using-natural-phytoplankton-from-the-great-barrier-reef

No duplicate datasets found.