The temporal variation of meroplankton at Cape Roberts

Samples of meroplankton were collected through the ice as a feasibility study (of planktonic larval growth and nutrition) in the 2001-2002 field season. Samples were collected from Cape Evans about 1 km from shore over a depth of 53 meters. Three vertical hauls were collected through 50 m of water on each a five successive days. Samples were also collected from Cape Roberts through a crack in the sea ice over a depth of 59 meters. 20 plankton samples in total were collected for analysis. In the 2008-2009 field season the Cape Roberts site was re-sampled for 5 consecutive days on dates as close as possible to the dates in 2001-2002 field season (8th-12th Dec) and concurrent with the spatial-sampling conducted at Granite Harbour. This data set therefore allows temporal comparison (2001 to 2008) and a broader spatial sampling at Granite Harbour as Cape Roberts is approx. 8 km away from Sites 1-4.