Collection of zooplankton abundance data from the Arctic Ocean during POLARSTERN cruises

This data collection combines data sets of zooplankton abundances and distribution in the Arctic Ocean during Polarstern cruises since 1984. Data sets cover either abundances of life stages of Calanus species, copepod communities or entire zooplankton communities. During most expeditions depth-stratified samples were taken with a Hydrobios multinet with five or nine nets, thus allowing inter-comparability between the different expeditions. Maximum sampling depth varied greatly among stations due to different bottom depths.