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Project: The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey: Monitoring the Plankton of the North Atlantic

Acronym/Short Name: 
CPR Plankton Survey
Project URL: 
Project Web Site
Start Date: 
2012-04
End Date: 
2027-04
Geolocation: 
Western North Atlantic Ocean
Programs: 
Unaffiliated

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Description

Note: This project has been funded by multiple NSF OCE awards between 2012 to 2027.  This section contains the current project information associated with the most recent award (OCE-2336430, PI: Rubao Ji).  See the "Data Management Plan"  and "Files" sections of this page for data management plans for project abstracts for each past award (PI: Peter Weibe).  Project information for each award can also be found at NSF's website: www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ .

NSF project information (OCE-2336430):

Project Summary

The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey, operational since 1958, is globally renowned for its longevity and scope in oceanic plankton monitoring. It is vital to continue the CPR survey to preserve the long time series, to fully leverage this rich dataset, and to ensure its widespread accessibility. This proposal concentrates on three primary objectives. 1) Maintain core monitoring: Continue the established CPR monitoring in the Northwest Atlantic along the 'Z route,' which spans from Iceland to the eastern margin of the USA. Supported by NSF for over 17 years, the Z route has recognized importance due to its traversal through the climate-sensitive and highly productive subpolar gyre region, which holds critical implications for basin-wide fisheries and carbon sequestration. 2) Form a working group for CPR data exploration: Assemble a working group by bringing together current and new collaborators to develop major research themes and data analysis methodologies. The group will convene annually to pinpoint key research areas that can capitalize on the extensive temporal coverage of the Z route and other CPR routes globally. 3) Enhance training and outreach for the US researchers: Implement annual training workshops for US researchers, focusing on CPR data utilization.

Intellectual Merit:

Long-term observations like the CPR survey are critical in evaluating and quantifying the scale and effects of climate and anthropogenic pressures such as climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity in the Northwest Atlantic. This program will form a working group for CPR Z route data exploration to examine a series of scientific questions, examining timescales of change in community diversity and structure, how connected the changes are to the broader ocean, and how changes can impact ecosystem function. We will bring together a multidisciplinary group of collaborators to develop major research themes and data analysis methods. A critical aspect of this project is the continued maintenance of long-term time series. Without sustained support, we risk the creation of a data gap that could inhibit our understanding of long-term trends and changes in marine ecosystems. The continued observation provided by this project is essential to preserving the continuity of these invaluable datasets, enabling us to monitor, understand, and adapt to the ongoing shifts in ocean ecosystems.

Broader Impacts:

The proposed project will not only address U.S marine issues but significantly contribute to international programs such as the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), GEO-BON, the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the Scientific Commission on Oceanic Research (SCOR), the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) and the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES). In collaboration with the Biological & Chemical Oceanography Data Management Office (BCO-DMO), we will ensure that all data from the survey is publicly accessible, fostering collaboration and engagement. Capacity building is integral to our project. We will conduct annual workshops alongside working group meetings to train early-career researchers for CPR data utilization. Experts will share practical use cases, with details on data access and processing procedures, data analysis approaches, and scientific discoveries. Securing the long-term maintenance of the CPR sample archive will maximize its use by the broader scientific community. By making it available for diverse research, including molecular studies, biogeochemical analyses, biodiversity assessments, and more, we address critical areas in marine policy and societal concerns regarding marine environments. 

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