RV Investigator Voyage IN2023_V06 Plankton Imaging Dataset

Full description

This dataset comprises plankton images collected during the Marine National Facility (MNF) RV Investigator voyage IN2023_V06, titled “Understanding Eddy Interactions and Their Impacts in the East Australian Current System.” The voyage took place between October 9 and November 2, 2023 (AEST), departing from Sydney and returning to Sydney.

Images were generated from water samples collected using Niskin bottles and processed with a PlanktoScope imaging system. The resulting dataset, hosted on the EcoTaxa platform, contains high-resolution images of planktonic organisms along with associated metadata, supporting applications in taxonomic classification, biodiversity assessment, and ecological research.

Data collection was undertaken by Dr. Alice Della Penna and Dr. Alexandre Lheriau-Nice under the leadership of Chief Scientist Prof. Moninya Roughan. This research was supported by a grant of sea time on R/V Investigator from the CSIRO Marine National Facility.

This is a dynamic, “living” dataset undergoing ongoing validation and expansion. Current efforts focus on improving classification accuracy, particularly within the Radiozoa group where inconsistencies have been identified. The number of available images will increase as validation progresses. Users are encouraged to report errors and to contact the data contributors when planning to use the dataset, as validation priorities may be adjusted based on research needs.