Zooplankton were collected with a Rectangular Midwater Trawl (RMT 8+1 net) from 37 sampling sites on and near the Southern Kerguelen Plateau. The contents of each net were preserved in 5% buffered formaldehyde. This dataset covers the counts of the contents of the RMT8 net and includes the abundances for the euphausiid Thysanoessa macrura and the salp Salpa thompsoni. The contents were identified and counted under a Leica M165C stereo-microscope. A flow meter attached to the mouth of the RMT 8 was used to record the volume of seawater passing through the net. The count for Thysanoessa macrura includes the total of all developmental stages. For the salps abundances are shown for the 2 developmental phases - solitary individuals and aggregates.

These layers are polar climatological and other summary environmental layers that may be useful for purposes such as general modelling, regionalisation, and exploratory analyses. All of the layers in this collection are provided on a consistent 0.1-degree grid, which covers -180 to 180E, 80S to 30S (Antarctic) and 45N to 90N (Arctic). As far as practicable, each layer is provided for both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Where possible, these have been derived from the same source data; otherwise, source data have been chosen to be as compatible as possible between the two regions. Some layers are provided for only one of the two regions. Each data layer is provided in netCDF and ArcInfo ASCII grid format. A png preview map of each is also provided. Processing details for each layer: Bathymetry File: bathymetry Measured and estimated seafloor topography from satellite altimetry and ship depth soundings. Antarctic: Source data: Smith and Sandwell V13.1 (Sep 4, 2010) Processing steps: Depth data subsampled from original 1-minute resolution to 0.05-degree resolution and interpolated to 0.1-degree grid using bilinear interpolation. Reference: Smith, W. H. F., and D. T. Sandwell (1997) Global seafloor topography from satellite altimetry and ship depth soundings. Science 277:1957-1962. http://topex.ucsd.edu/WWW_html/mar_topo.html Arctic: Source data: ETOPO1 Processing steps: Depth data subsampled to 0.05-degree resolution and interpolated to 0.1-degree grid using bilinear interpolation on polar stereographic projection. Reference: Amante, C. and B. W. Eakins, ETOPO1 1 Arc-Minute Global Relief Model: Procedures, Data Sources and Analysis. NOAA Technical Memorandum NESDIS NGDC-24, 19 pp, March 2009. http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/global/global.html Bathymetry slope File: bathymetry_slope Slope of sea floor, derived from Smith and Sandwell V13.1 and ETOPO1 bathymetry data (above). Processing steps: Slope calculated on 0.1-degree gridded depth data (above). Calculated using the equation given by Burrough, P. A. and McDonell, R.A. (1998) Principles of Geographical Information Systems (Oxford University Press, New York), p. 190 (see http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm?TopicName=How%20Slope%20works) CAISOM model-derived variables Variables derived from the CAISOM ocean model. This model has been developed by Ben Galton-Fenzi (AAD and ACE-CRC), and is based on the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). It has circum-Antarctic coverage out to 50S, with a spatial resolution of approximately 5km. The values here are averaged over 12 snapshots from the model, each separated by 2 months. These parameters should be treated as experimental. Reference: Galton-Fenzi BK, Hunter JR, Coleman R, Marsland SJ, Warner RC (2012) Modeling the basal melting and marine ice accretion of the Amery Ice Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 117, C09031. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2012jc008214 Floor current speed File: caisom_floor_current_speed Current speed near the sea floor. Floor temperature File: caisom_floor_temperature Potential temperature near the sea floor. Floor vertical velocity File: caisom_floor_vertical_velocity Vertical water velocity near the sea floor. Surface current speed File: caisom_surface_current_speed Near-surface current speed (at approximately 2.5m depth) Chlorophyll summer File: chl_summer_climatology Source data: Near-surface chl-a summer climatology from MODIS Aqua Antarctic: Climatology spans the 2002/03 to 2009/10 austral summer seasons. Data interpolated from original 9km resolution to 0.1-degree grid using bilinear interpolation. Arctic: Climatology spans the 2002 to 2009 boreal summer seasons. Data interpolated from original 9km resolution to 0.1-degree grid using bilinear interpolation. Reference: Feldman GC, McClain CR (2010) Ocean Color Web, MODIS Aqua Reprocessing, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Eds. Kuring, N., Bailey, S.W. https://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Distance to Antarctica File:

This dataset is a collection of marine environmental data layers suitable for use in Southern Ocean species distribution modelling. All environmental layers have been generated at a spatial resolution of 0.1 degrees, covering the Southern Ocean extent (80 degrees S - 45 degrees S, -180 - 180 degrees). The layers include information relating to bathymetry, sea ice, ocean currents, primary production, particulate organic carbon, and other oceanographic data. An example of reading and using these data layers in R can be found at https://australianantarcticdivision.github.io/blueant/articles/SO_SDM_data.html. The following layers are provided: Layer name: depth Description: Bathymetry. Downloaded from GEBCO 2014 (0.0083 degrees = 30sec arcmin resolution) and set at resolution 0.1 degrees. Then completed with the bathymetry layer manually corrected and provided in Fabri-Ruiz et al. (2017) Value range: -8038.722 - 0 Units: m Source: This study. Derived from GEBCO URL: https://www.gebco.net/data_and_products/gridded_bathymetry_data/ Citation: Fabri-Ruiz S, Saucede T, Danis B and David B (2017). Southern Ocean Echinoids database_An updated version of Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic and cold temperate echinoid database. ZooKeys, (697), 1. Layer name: geomorphology Description: Last update on biodiversity.aq portal. Derived from O'Brien et al. (2009) seafloor geomorphic feature dataset. Mapping based on GEBCO contours, ETOPO2, seismic lines). 27 categories Value range: 27 categories Units: categorical Source: This study. Derived from Australian Antarctic Data Centre URL: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/Polar_Environmental_Data Citation: O'Brien, P.E., Post, A.L., and Romeyn, R. (2009) Antarctic-wide geomorphology as an aid to habitat mapping and locating vulnerable marine ecosystems. CCAMLR VME Workshop 2009. Document WS-VME-09/10 Layer name: sediments Description: Sediment features Value range: 14 categories Units: categorical Source: Griffiths 2014 (unpublished) URL: http://share.biodiversity.aq/GIS/antarctic/ Layer name: slope Description: Seafloor slope derived from bathymetry with the terrain function of raster R package. Computation according to Horn (1981), ie option neighbor=8. The computation was done on the GEBCO bathymetry layer (0.0083 degrees resolution) and the resolution was then changed to 0.1 degrees. Unit set at degrees. Value range: 0.000252378 - 16.94809 Units: degrees Source: This study. Derived from GEBCO URL: https://www.gebco.net/data_and_products/gridded_bathymetry_data/ Citation: Horn, B.K.P., 1981. Hill shading and the reflectance map. Proceedings of the IEEE 69:14-47 Layer name: roughness Description: Seafloor roughness derived from bathymetry with the terrain function of raster R package. Roughness is the difference between the maximum and the minimum value of a cell and its 8 surrounding cells. The computation was done on the GEBCO bathymetry layer (0.0083 degrees resolution) and the resolution was then changed to 0.1 degrees. Value range: 0 - 5171.278 Units: unitless Source: This study. Derived from GEBCO URL: https://www.gebco.net/data_and_products/gridded_bathymetry_data/ Layer name: mixed layer depth Description: Summer mixed layer depth climatology from ARGOS data. Regridded from 2-degree grid using nearest neighbour interpolation Value range: 13.79615 - 461.5424 Units: m Source: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/Polar_Environmental_Data Layer name: seasurface_current_speed Description: Current speed near the surface (2.5m depth), derived from the CAISOM model (Galton-Fenzi et al. 2012, based on ROMS model) Value range: 1.50E-04 - 1.7 Units: m/s Source: This study. Derived from Australian Antarctic Data Centre URL: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/Polar_Environmental_Data Citation: see Galton-Fenzi BK, Hunter JR, Coleman R, Marsland SJ, Warner RC (2012) Modeling the basal melting and marine ice accretion of the Amery Ice Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 117, C09031.

This dataset was collected as part of an honours project by Jessica Wilks at Macquarie University (submitted May 2012). The samples analysed were taken from an expedition conducted by Dr Leanne Armand in 2011 as part of the KEOPS2 mission (KErguelen: compared study of the Ocean and the Plateau in Surface water). During this mission 7 locations (A3-1, A3-2, E1-3, E14W2, NPF-L, R2 and TEW) around the Kerguelen Plateau were sampled for seafloor sediment. This study involved identification of over 50 species of diatoms as part of a species assemblage/ distribution study. A photograph of each diatom encountered in this study is included in the attached plates.

From the abstract of one of the papers: Three new zooplankton nets have been designed to enable improved collection of zooplankters from ice-covered waters. These nets also enable quantitative sampling of species not adequately sampled by other methods. The first net is a vertical tow net which can be folded like an umbrella to pass through a small ice hole (10 cm). This 'Umbrella Net' takes an integrated sample of zooplankton from all sample depths. The second net is a collapsible free-fall net designed to collect mobile zooplankters capable of avoiding towed nets. This was the only net used which was capable of collecting all furcilia stages of Euphausia crystallorophias from Ellis Fjord, Vestfold Hills, Antarctica. The third net is a diver-operated push net designed to collect zooplankters in the top 15 cm of the under-ice column. Because of the high standing crop of pytoplankton at and near the under-ice surface at particular times of the year, some species of zooplankton tend to congregate there. These species, particularly Paralabidocera antarctica, were collected in great abundance using the push net, but were rare in samples collected by other methods. The fields in this dataset are: species species density site sample

Metadata record for data from ASAC Project 1101 See the link below for public details on this project. ---- Public Summary from Project ---- Most of our knowledge of the Antarctic marine ecosystems comes from summer surveys. There are very few observations of this ecosystem in winter and there is a fundamental lack of knowledge of understanding of even basic questions such as 'what is there?' and 'what's it doing?'. The proposed visit to the sea ice zone in winter is a rare opportunity to conduct observations on phytoplankton, krill, birds, seals and whales, so that we can begin to understand the biological processes that go on in winter. Data for this project were intended to be collected on a 1998 winter voyage of the Aurora Australis, but a fire on board meant that the voyage had to return to port before work could be carried out. Data were then collected the following year during a 1999 winter voyage of the Aurora Australis (IDIOTS), which ran from July to September. Data attached to this metadata record, include zooplankton and CTD data collected from the Mertz Glacier region. The data have been compiled by Angela McGaffin, and can be found in the "processed" folder of the download file. Original datasets are also available in the "Original Datasets" folder.

The dataset contains raster files (.grd) for food-availability and predicted distribution of suspension feeder abundances averaged across a five year time-period before (2005-2009) and after (2011-2016) the calving of the Mertz Glacier Tongue in 2010. The following data are included: - sinking, settling and horizontal flux of food-particles along the seafloor - suspension feeder abundances and standard deviation of the predicted distribution All data has been generated as part of the paper: Jansen et al. (2018) Mapping Antarctic suspension feeder abundances and seafloor-food availability, and modelling their change after a major glacier calving. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution

This dataset is a document describing the Ctenophores of the Southern Ocean. It lists all the known species and with illustrated diagrams provides a guide to their taxonomic identification. The document is available for download as a pdf from the provided URL.

This dataset contains results from the Second International BIOMASS Experiment II (SIBEX II) cruise of the Nella Dan, January 1985. This cruise is the fourth cruise out of a series of six, investigating the distribution, abundance and population structure of krill Euphausia superba in the Prydz Bay region, Antarctica. SIBEX II was co-ordinated with South Africa, Japan and France, and 66 grid sampling stations covered an area from 58 degrees to 93 degrees East and from 60 degrees South to the Antarctic coast. At each sampling station, surveys of krill and other zooplankton were taken, as well as a CTD cast and water collection for phytoplankton pigment, nutrients and primary production measurement. Species identity and abundance data were obtained. The major species investigated were Euphausia superba, Euphausia frigidia, Euphausia crystallorophias and Thysanoessa marcuria. Other pteropods and cephalopods were also studied, as well as results from hydroacoustic surveys of krill biomass. Summary results are listed in the documentation. The fields in this dataset are: species Station Number Haul Type RMT Biomass Weight Flowmeter Latitude Longitude Time Date Ice Sea State Density Sea Floor Maturity This dataset was updated by Angela McGaffin. This download file also contains the original dataset provided in 2007. There are four files available: SIBEX_II_krill.xls (original file) sibex2_krill_morphometrics.xslx sibex2_station_data.xslx sibex2_zooplankton_corrected.xls A minor data update took place on 202211-03 to add a scanned copy of the original acoustics log.

Ten sediment cores were collected from 3 marine bays in the Windmill Islands. Two cores were collected in Sparkes Bay, one in Shannon Bay, and seven in Brown Bay. Only diatom data are presented here, however Pb210 and metal analyses have also been undertaken - contact Ian Snape (ian.snape@aad.gov.au) for more information regarding this. The diatom spreadsheet (diatom_data) lists the relative abundance of benthic species. The abbreviation used to identify species are explained in the separate file called sp_list. Each core has been saved as a separate file. The STE cores were collected from within a couple of meters of each other. These cores were collected in close proximity to a tip site at one end of Brown Bay. BBMid was collected from the middle of the bay, while BB Outer 1 and 2 were collected from the outer regions of this bay, and thus represent the greatest distance from the tip site. Unless otherwise stated, the lowest number within each core represents the youngest sample. This work was completed as part of ASAC project 1130 (ASAC_1130) and project 2201 (ASAC_2201). Public summary from project 1130: Algal mats grow on sea floor in most shallow marine environments. They are thought to contribute more than half of the total primary production in many of these areas, making them a critical food source for invertebrates and some fish. We will establish how important they are in Antarctic marine environments and determine the effects of local sewerage and tip site pollution. We will also investigate the impact on the algal mats of the additional UV radiation which results from the ozone hole. Public summary from project 2201: As a signatory to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty Australia is committed to comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment. This protocol requires that activities in the Antarctic shall be planned and conducted on the basis of information sufficient to make prior assessments of, and informed judgements about, their possible impacts on the Antarctic environment. Most of our activities in the Antarctic occur along the narrow fringe of ice-free rock adjacent to the sea and many of our activities have the potential to cause environmental harm to marine life. The Antarctic seas support the most complex and biologically diverse plant and animal communities of the region. However, very little is known about them and there is certainly not sufficient known to make informed judgements about possible environmental impacts. The animals and plants of the sea-bed are widely accepted as being the most appropriate part of the marine ecosystem for indicating disturbance caused by local sources. Attached sea-bed organisms have a fixed spatial relationship with a given place so they must either endure conditions or die. Once lost from a site recolonisation takes some time, as a consequence the structure of sea-bed communities reflect not only present conditions but they can also integrate conditions in the past. In contrast, fish and planktonic organisms can move freely so their site of capture does not indicate a long residence time at that location. Because sea-bed communities are particularly diverse they contain species with widely differing life strategies, as a result different species can have very different levels of tolerance to stress; this leads to a range of subtle changes in community structure as a response to gradually increasing disturbance, rather than an all or nothing response. This project will examine sea-bed communities near our stations to determine how seriously they are affected by human activities. This information will be used to set priorities for improving operational procedures to reduce the risk of further environmental damage. The fields in this dataset are: Species Site Abundance Benthic