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Plankton sampling

During research cruises the micropaleontology group samples marine microorganisms and accurately measures the conditions under which they have been collected. To this end, we operate different types of sampling equipment and sensors. For sampling of planktic foraminifera we employ the multiple plankton sampler / multinet (Hydro-Bios). The device utilizes five sampling nets to sample defined intervals of the watercolumn using nets with a mesh diameter of 100 µm or 250 µm. MARUM owns two multiple plankton sampler of which one has just recently been fully refurbisched and updated.

Multinet / Multiple Plankton Sampler (MPS)
Modell Midi (Hydro-Bios), inflow opening 50x50 cm, five exchangeable sampling nets (mesh diameter 63 µm / 100 µm / 250 µm), maximum deployment depth 3000 m, flow meters inside and outside

Conductivity-Temperature-Depth probe (CTD)
model CTD90M (Sea and Sun Technology), maximum depth 2000 m, equipped with sensors for temperature, conductivity, oxygen, fluorescence and pH.
The CTD is mounted on top of the MPS and operates offline.

Add-on Water Sampler
a frame with five 1.8 L Niskin water sampling bottles can be monted to the side of the MPS. The bottles are "released" simultaneously with the nets of the MPS.

 

MPS on deck

MPS in the water

A sample collected with the MPS under the binocular