Romanian Black Sea Zooplankton BRIDGE-BS_2022_2024

The dataset contains the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of zooplankton  samples (neuston, mesozooplankton) collected during the cruises carried out onboard R/V Mare Nigrum within the framework of H202020 BRIDGE – BS project in the period 2022 -2024.   The hyponeuston samples were collected in two cruises onboard R/V Mare Nigrum carried out by NIRD GeoEcoMar within 29.07 -03.08.2022 and 02 - 07.02.2023. In 2022, three stations (transects) located in front of Constanta, Sf. Gheorghe and Portita were collected, whereas 4 stations along Mangalia transect were sampled in 2023. The analysis focused on strictly neuston and pseudoneuston (meroneuston and facultative neuston) species inhabiting the surface water layer (0-20 cm). Sampling was performed using a neuston net with the opening of 280 cm2 and 200 µm mesh size towed horizontally for 3 to 5 minutes.  The neuston datasets include: GEM_NEUSTON_Bridge-BS_29.07 -03.08.2022 GEM_NEUSTON_Bridge-BS_02 -07.02.2023   The mesozooplankton samples were collected in the framework of H2020 BRIDGE-BS Project in four cruises onboard R/V Mare Nigrum, carried out by NIRD GeoEcoMar within: 29.07. - 03.08. 2022, 02 -07.02.2023, 13 -17.06.2023 and 21 -24.07.2024. The samples were collected either integrally, using a Juday net with 36 cm diameter opening and 150 µm mesh size towed from bottom to surface or fractioned on certain depth intervals (surface, thermocline, under thermocline) (most stations). The samples were preserved onboard with 4% buffered formaldehyde. Taxonomic identification at lowest possible level, individual and total abundances (ind.m-3) and biomasses (mg.m-3) (Petipa et al., 1957, Alexandrov et al., 2014) estimation were conducted in NIRD GeoEcoMar laboratory. In summer 2022, the samples were collected along six transects crossing Sf. Gheorghe, Portita, Constanta, Eforie, Tuzla and Mangalia, whereas only Mangalia transect was sampled during the other cruises (2023 and 2024). The mesozooplankton datasets include: GeoEcoMar__Zooplankton_Bridge-BS_29.07. - 03.08. 2022 GeoEcoMar_Zooplankton_Bridge-BS_02 -07.02.2023 GeoEcoMar__Zooplankton_Bridge-BS_13 -17.06.2023 GeoEcoMar__Zooplankton_Bridge-BS_21 -24.07.2024 Citation: Mureșan, Mihaela; National Institute for Research and Development on Marine Geology and Geo-ecology (GeoEcoMar), Romania (2024); Romanian Black Sea Zooplankton BRIDGE-BS_2022_2024