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Datasets / Australian Ocean Data Network (AODN)

Phytoplankton primary production measurements in reef lagoons, Great Barrier Reef

Phytoplankton biomass and diversity

Five series of experiments were carried out within the lagoons of mid-shelf coral reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef to measure phytoplankton biomass and primary production. The first three were conducted during August, 1984 as part of the MECOR Workshop. Meteorological and hydrographic conditions during these experiments typify those frequently observed in the winter tradewind season. The last two series of experiments were conducted during February, 1986 under summer conditions, with light winds.

Series Dates and Locations:

  1. 2-5 August, 1984: Davies Reef
  2. 12-15 August,1984: Davies Reef
  3. 21-23 August, 1984: Davies Reef
  4. 11-15 February, 1986: Davies Reef
  5. 22-25 February, 1986: Old Reef

With the exception of series 3, each series includes one experiment using shelf water collected outside the relevant reef lagoon. Three time series experiments were also carried out (23 August, 1984; 14, 24 February, 1986) to establish relationships between photosynthesis measured in short-term mid-day incubations and estimates of daily production integrated from dawn-to-dusk series of contiguous short incubations.

Experiments were carried out to measure phytoplankton biomass and primary production within the lagoons of mid-shelf coral reefs of the central Great Barrier Reef and to compare these rates with shelf waters surrounding the reefs.

Data and resources

Additional information

Date (revision)2026-10-24
Statuscompleted
Update frequencynotPlanned
Metadata languageen
LicenseCreative Commons Attribution 4.0
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-05
Created2026-11-05
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