Marine biodiversity is a key component of ocean health. Monitoring and understanding marine biodiversity is essential for our ability to forecast and respond to changes. The goal of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) project is to demonstrate and build an operational marine biodiversity observing network from microbes to whales, integrating diversity levels from genetic to organismal. AMBON field region is located on the Chukchi Sea continental shelf in the US Arctic as a region exposed to climatic changes and anthropogenic influences. This dataset contains biomass and abundance data collected in the Chukchi Sea during the August 2017 Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise. Epifauna samples were collected using beam trawl during a research cruise during August 2017 in the Chukchi Sea, U.S. Arctic. The data consist of biomass per taxon of epibenthic invertebrates. The dataset is a comma separated values file exported from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This dataset was transformed from the native format into a table structure using Darwin Core term names as column names.

This dataset contains zooplankton species biomass and abundance data collected in the Chukchi Sea during the 11 August through 3 September, 2015. Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise on the vessel Norseman II. This dataset contains three comma separate values (csv) files. The data were collected from zooplankton samples caught with traditional 150µm plankton nets and taxonomically identified. Each data file include the location, date, time, depth, and identification of zooplankton taxa collected during the 2015 AMBON cruise. The data in the file named AMBON2015_Zooplankton_Abundance_150_DC.csv and AMBON2015_505_Zooplankton_Abundance_DWC.csv consists of abundance per taxon of zooplankton. The data in the file named AMBON2015_Zooplankton_Biomass_150_DC.csv and AMBON2015_505_Zooplankton_Biomass_DWC.csv consists of biomass per taxon of zooplankton. These data files are presented in a table structure using Darwin Core term names as column names. This dataset also contains the file AMBON_station_masterlist.csv, describing stations sampled during AMBON cruises.

This dataset contains fish haul and specimen information collected during the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise in 2017. During the cruise, demersal fishes were collected with a plump-staff beam trawl, identified to species, and their length was measured while onboard. A subset of specimens was frozen or preserved in ethanol for laboratory analyses to contribute to this and other datasets. Juvenile and pelagic fishes were also captured with an Isaac-Kidds midwater trawl. The final dataset consists of 3 comma separated values files (csv), one lookup table as a comma separated values file (csv), and two ISO 19110/19115 metadata records in xml form. The data files are presented in a table structure using Darwin Core OBIS-GBIF form (https://obis.org/manual/dataformat/#emof), using Darwin Core term names as column names and in keeping with that metadata standard (https://dwc.tdwg.org/). They are: AMBON2017_fish_Event_DWC.csv, AMBON2017_fish_MoF_DWC.csv, AMBON2017_fish_Occurrence_DWC.csv. This dataset also contains the file AMBON2017_Fish_data_HaulInfo_lookupTable.csv, describing details of sampling efforts such as stations and date and comments/notes of sampling efforts.

This dataset documents the epifauna occurrences collected from 2021 to 2024 during the Canadian Beaufort Sea Marine Ecosystem Assessment (CBS-MEA) conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). This scientific program focuses on the integration of oceanography, food web linkages, physical-biological couplings, and spatial and interannual variabilities. The program also aims to expand the baseline coverage of species diversity, abundances, and habitat associations in previously unstudied areas of the Beaufort Sea and Western Canadian Archipelago. The study took place mainly in the Canadian Beaufort Sea and the Amundsen Gulf. Sampling is done along transects at fixed stations in the study area. Catches are collected with a 3 m benthic beam trawl for 10 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 2 knots and with a modified Atlantic Western IIA otter trawl for 20 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 2.9 knots. A total of 32 stations were sampled for epifauna in 2021, 22 in 2022, 23 in 2023 and 22 in 2024, between 22-655 m depth. Epibenthic invertebrates were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible and photographed. All unknown specimens are frozen. In the lab, the identifications are validated or refined with the photos and the frozen specimens. The data are presented in Darwin Core and are separated in two files: The "Activité_épifaune_CBSMEA_epifauna_event_en" file which contains information about missions, stations and deployments, which are presented under a hierarchical activity structure. The "Occurrence_épifaune_CBSMEA_epifauna_en" file that contains the taxonomic occurrences.

This dataset includes marine biodiversity data collected in support of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) project from 2015 to 2020. These data include fish, seabird and marine mammal survey data, biomass and abundance data, surface sediments data, as well as physical oceanographic and meteorological data, and other related data. These data were collected on AMBON research cruises and in other related efforts by various partner organizations.

This dataset contains marine mammal observation data conducted during shipboard transects in the Chukchi Sea during the 5 August - 25 August 2017 Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise. The dataset is two comma-separated values (csv) files exported from the marine bird and mammal observation software WinCruz from the entire survey. One data file contains the dates, times, latitude, longitude, species and best-high-low estimates of numbers for cetacean (whales) and pinniped (seals, seal lions, and walrus) sightings. The second data file contains the track of the ship (as geographic coordinates) and the Beaufort sea state at two minute intervals as a measurement of effort. This dataset was transformed from the native format into a table structure using Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, occurrence core) term names as column names.

This dataset contains marine mammal observation data conducted during shipboard transects in the Chukchi Sea during the 9 August - 3 September 2015 Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise. The dataset is three comma-separated values (csv) files exported from the marine bird and mammal observation software WinCruz from the entire survey. Two data files contain the dates, times, latitude, longitude, species and best-high-low estimates of numbers for each cetacean (whales) and pinniped (seals, seal lions, and walrus) sightings. A third data file contains the track of the ship (as geographic coordinates) and the Beaufort sea state at two minute intervals as a measurement of effort. This dataset was transformed from the native format into a table structure using Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A, occurrence core) term names as column names.

This dataset contains summary measurements of surface sediment collected at fixed stations in the Chukchi Sea during the 12 August - 3 September 2015 and 6 August - 22 August 2017 Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruises. A Van Veen grab was used for collection of sediment samples at AMBON sampling stations. Sediment grain size was then determined in the laboratory after removal of organics and iron oxides. This dataset contains two comma-separated values (csv) files containing summary measurements of surface sediment collected at each station for AMB15 and AMB17 by Station Number, Station name, Date (YYYYMMDD), latitude (dec deg N), longitude (dec deg E), and Station Depth (m). The following parameters are listed in this data file for surface sediment values: grain size percentage (≤0 phi, 1 phi, 2 phi, 3 phi, 4 phi, sand 1-4 phi, ≥5 phi, and modal phi size), percent total organic carbon (TOC), percent total organic nitrogen (TON), C/N ratio, del-13 carbon (per mil), del-15 nitrogen (per mil), surface sediment chlorophyll (chl a; mg/m2), and stable isotope values of 13C and 15N (per mil vs VPDB and air, respectively).

This dataset contains fish haul and specimen data collected in the Chukchi Sea, U.S. Arctic during the 11 August - 3 September 2015 Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) research cruise. The dataset is one comma separated values (csv) file containing the length, weight, and life stage of the fish collected using a plump-staff beam or Isaac-Kidds midwater trawl. This dataset was used to derive catch per unit effort (CPUE) by weight and species richness (number of taxa per haul) using analyses generated in the R software environment. The data was transformed from the native format into a table structure using Darwin Core term names as column names.

This resource documents a dataset of epifauna occurrences collected in 2021 during The Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay (KEBABB) program developed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in collaboration with university partners. The overall objective of KEBABB is to characterize the variability and trends in physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions and food webs supporting fisheries in the connected ecosystems of western Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound. In 2021, DFO expanded the KEBABB program to Barrow Strait (KEBABS-Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Barrow Strait), a key productive area of the Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area. The study took place in the Eastern Canadian Arctic (mainly in Baffin Bay, Davis Strait and Barrow Strait). Sampling is done along transects at fixed stations in the study area. Catches are collected with a 1.5 m Agassiz trawl (5 mm mesh net) for 3 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 1.5 knots and with a 3 m benthic beam trawl (6.4 mm mesh net) for 15 minutes bottom-contact time at a target speed of 3 knots. A total of 16 stations were sampled for epifauna in 2021 between 85-850 m depth. Epibenthic invertebrates are identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and photographed. All unknown specimens are frozen. In the lab, the identifications are validated or refined with the photos and the frozen specimens. The data are presented in Darwin Core and are separated in two files: The “Activité_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_event_en” file which contains information about missions, stations and deployments, which are presented under a hierarchical activity structure. The “Occurrence_épifaune_KEBABB_epifauna_en” file that contains the taxonomic occurrences. Further details on sampling can be found in the following report: Pućko, M., Charette, J., Tremblay P., Brulotte S., St-Denis B., Ciastek S., Hedges, K., Kuzyk, Z., Roy V., and Michel, C. 2022. An ecosystem-based approach in the eastern Arctic: KEBABB/S (Knowledge and Ecosystem-Based Approach in Baffin Bay/Barrow Strait) 2021 expedition report. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3250: viii + 58 p. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs97-4-3250-eng.pdf USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.