Zooplankton biomass and species composition and abundance in the southeastern Caribbean Sea (Cariaco Basin, October 2001 – January 2017) collected by the CARIACO Ocean Time-Series Program

The CARIACO Ocean Time-Series Program (formerly known as CArbon Retention In A Colored Ocean) started on November 1995 (CAR-001) and ended on January 2017 (CAR-232). Monthly cruises were conducted to the CARIACO station (10.50° N, 64.67° W) onboard the R/V Hermano Ginés of the Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales de Venezuela. The program studied the relationship between surface primary production, physical forcing variables like the wind, and the settling flux of particulate carbon in the Cariaco Basin. This depression, located on the continental shelf of Venezuela, shows marked seasonal and interannual variation in hydrographic properties and primary production (carbon fixation rates by photosynthesis of planktonic algae). Zooplankton sampling was done during each CARIACO time-series cruise from October 2001 to January 2017 (cruises CAR071 - CAR232). Oblique BONGO net tow samples from 200 m to the surface were analyzed to determine biomass (dry weight and ash content) and taxonomic composition.

CARIACO海洋时间序列计划（原称碳保留于彩色海洋项目，CAR-001于1995年11月启动，CAR-232于2017年1月结束）致力于研究海洋表面初级生产、物理强迫变量（如风力）与卡里阿科盆地颗粒碳沉降通量之间的关系。该计划于委内瑞拉大陆架上的这一洼地开展，该地水文特性及初级生产（浮游植物通过光合作用固定的碳固定率）表现出明显的季节性和年际变化。自2001年10月至2017年1月（CAR071 - CAR232航次），在每次CARIACO时间序列航次期间，进行了浮游动物采样。从200米至海面采用斜向BONGO网拖曳样品，以分析生物量（干重和灰分含量）及物种分类组成。