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Australian Plankton Survey

The Australian Plankton Survey measures plankton communities around Australia using Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPRs). Being small and free-floating, plankton are useful indicators of ecosystem health and changes. The long-term datasets of Australian plankton sampled and processed by the Australian Plankton Survey provide researches and policymakers with environmental and climatic indicators, harmful algal bloom detection, eutrophication and pollution information at both local and national scales.   

Key aims

  • Map plankton biodiversity and distribution
  • Develop and sustain the long-term monitoring of Australian waters
  • Document changes in plankton communities in response to climatic changes
  • Provide indices for fisheries management
  • Detect harmful algal blooms
  • Validate remote sensing
  • Initialise and test ecosystem models

Useful information

Newsletters
Useful links
Plankton 2015 – State of Australia’s oceans

Plankton 2015 is an assessment of the state of the oceans around Australia using plankton as indicators of ecological change.

The Plankton 2015 report from CSIRO and based on data from the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) looks at why plankton are important to the health of our oceans and Australia’s future prosperity.

Download Plankton 2015 (PDF 8MB).

Continuous Planton Recorder

Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science

Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey

Global Alliance of Continuous Plankton Recorder Surveys

Plankton
Essential Ocean Variables / Essential Climate Variables

This sub-Facility contributes to 2 Essential Ocean Variables and Essential Climate Variables.

EOVs: Phytoplankton biomass and diversity, Zooplankton biomass and diversity

ECVs: Plankton

Contact

Anthony Richardson 
E:
 Anthony.Richardson(at)csiro.au

Operating institution

CSIRO