Molecular study of marine microbial samples from the Ocean Sampling Day. Ocean Sampling Day

The Ocean Sampling Day (OSD) is a simultaneous sampling campaign of marine stations around the world providing a snapshot of the world's oceans on the June and December solstice in several consecutive years allowing to study marine microbial complexity and interactions with the surrounding environment. Pilot OSD studies from the solstices in the years 2012 and 2013 preceded the main campaign taking place on 21st June in the year 2014 and 2015. This collection of OSD samples, which were acquired according to standardised protocols and integrated in a rich environmental context via infrastructures built within the Micro B3 project, will allow modelling of marine ecosystems and shall provide a better insight into the biodiversity and function of marine microbial communities.