Report on the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Standards Workshop 2016: SCAR SO-CPR Database Expert Group

Abstract

The“Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Survey Standards Workshop”was held at the Australian Antarctic Division on 12−16December 2016. The purposes of the workshop were to confirm that consistent and high standards of species identification, methodology, and data quality were being maintained amongst the main analysts in the SO-CPR Survey, and to discuss future training methods, including a SO-CPR manual that will include a counting rule book, and a future road map for the SO-CPR program. During the workshop we discussed a range of topics including: taxonomic resolution issues (particularly for Foraminifera and euphausiid larval identification and staging); laboratory methods (preservation and storage, with emphasis on maintaining correct pH); shipboard techniques; training methods; data handling (metadata, database, data sharing); gap analysis (spatial, temporal, data, quantitative); and future workshops/conferences, including comprehensive training workshops for emerging SO-CPR survey partners (India). We agreed that there should be a larger workshop every two years to ensure that the high standards of the SO-CPR program are maintained.

Keywords

• Continuous Plankton Recorder