Chlorophyll data from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica from 2012 to 2015 (McMurdo Predator Prey project)

Abstract

Discrete chlorophyll a data were collected as part of an ecosystem study in McMurdo Sound, which is located at the southern extent of the Ross Sea in the Southern Ocean. The major goal of this multi-disciplinary project was to assess the influence of top−down forcing (predation) on pelagic zooplankton and fish. Samples were collected using Niskin water bottles deployed through the fast ice (sea ice attached to land) during two spring/summer seasons: 3 November 2012 – 21 January 2013 and17 November 2014 – 1 January 2015. Water samples were collected at the surface and in the chlorophyll maximum, when present, as determined by a fluorescence sensor during a CTD cast. During 2012/2013, stations were located along a transect in the middle of McMurdo Sound, perpendicular to the fast ice edge. During 2014/2015, stations were located along the fast ice edge, and along three transects into the fast ice along the eastern side of the McMurdo Sound (Ross Island), in the middle of the Sound, and on the western side of the Sound. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the supplemental document 'Field_names.pdf', and a full dataset description is included in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: http://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/679685