Brief description
Phytoplankton samples were collected from two sites in Cockburn Sound at weekly intervals for a total of 51 weeks over the period July 1977 to August 1978 for identification and counts. Chlorophyll a and other nutrients were also measured at these sites.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: The two locations were in Cockburn Sound (station 214 - northern end of the CBH jetty) and in Owen Anchorage (station 238 - end of the Mines Department Explosives Reserve jetty) (see thumbnail).
The Cockburn Sound site was chosen because it allowed sampling of the deeper water of the Sound in the region phytoplankton biomass had been observed to be highest.
The Owen Anchorage site was chosen because it is the only structure which extends any distance out into the Anchorage.
Statement: Discrete water samples were collected using Niskin bottles at three depths at station 214 (1.0m, 8.0m, 15.0m; total depth = 16.0m) and two depths at station 238 (1.0m and 7.0m; total depth = 8.0m). Samples were preserved on-site and later counted using a membrane filter technique.
Statement: -membrane filter technique-
A cellulose nitrate filter (Gelman, 0.45 u pore size, 13 mm diameter) was placed in a filter holder (Millipore "Swinnex-13") attached to a hand operated vacuum pump. An aliquot of sample is drawn through the system under a pressure not exceeding 150 mm Hg (0.2 ATM), followed by a rinse with distilled water. This serves two purposes:
- to wash any organisms adhering to the pipette on the filter; and
- to prevent the formation of salt crystals.
The volume of sample used is dependent on cellular density, and ranges from 2 ml at the height of a bloom to 100 ml for some Owen Anchorage samples. The filter is then placed on a clean dry slide on a hotplate for about 15 minutes, and mounted in immersion oil. The slides are examined under a phase contract microscope with the same slides being used for counts and identification.
Initially, an attempt was made to count the entire area of the filter. In an attempt to quantify the difference between counting say 30 fields of view and 100 fields of view, three field-by-field counts were done on separate samples, using two different microscopes. Each field was scored separately for number of cells and different taxa. The fields were then dealt with in groups of five, and means and standard errors calculated. The results from these counts were very similar.
It was therefore decided to count 50 or 60 fields.
Notes
CreditBased on research undertaken for the Environmental Protection Authority (was Dept. of Conservation and Environment)
Credit
Dr. Graham Chittleborough and members of the Cockburn Study Group
Dr. Graham Chittleborough and members of the Cockburn Study Group
Credit
Arthur McComb and staff from Botany Dept. particularly the Wetland Study Group Laboratory
Arthur McComb and staff from Botany Dept. particularly the Wetland Study Group Laboratory
Credit
WA Department of Fisheries
WA Department of Fisheries
Credit
CSBP and Farmers Ltd
CSBP and Farmers Ltd
Credit
Kwinana Nitrogen Co. Pty Ltd
Kwinana Nitrogen Co. Pty Ltd
Credit
B.P. (Australia) Ltd
B.P. (Australia) Ltd
Purpose
To monitor changes in phytoplankton species over one year.
To monitor changes in phytoplankton species over one year.
Created: 10 07 2007
Data time period: 1977-07 to 1978-08
text: westlimit=115.6; southlimit=-32.4; eastlimit=115.75; northlimit=-32.05
text: uplimit=21; downlimit=0
Subjects
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION |
Chlorophyll |
EARTH SCIENCE |
Nutrients |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Microbiota |
Phytoplankton |
PLANKTON |
PROTISTS |
TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE |
WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY |
oceans |
User Contributed Tags
Login to tag this record with meaningful keywords to make it easier to discover
Identifiers
- global : fed84c00-2ea2-11dc-9bc1-00188b4c0af8