The Plankton Imager and Continuous Plankton Recorder observations provide complementary insights into copepod dynamics across spatial scales

Scott, J, Johns, DG, Pitois, S, Ostle, C, Ribeiro, J, Devlin, M and Best, M 2026 The Plankton Imager and Continuous Plankton Recorder observations provide complementary insights into copepod dynamics across spatial scales. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 83 (9). 10.1093/icesjms/fsag168

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Abstract/Summary

Plankton monitoring is central to marine ecosystem research and policy, but the growing use of automated imaging systems must be assessed against established methods. Here, the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) and the Plankton Imager (Pi-10) were compared during two transects in the North Sea. Copepod abundances recorded by the Pi-10 were much higher than those from the CPR, with mean values around 36 times greater, and no significant correlation was found between the two datasets. The CPR identified clear latitudinal shifts in copepod community composition, while the Pi-10 captured fine-scale spatial variation of total copepod abundances and size distribution within the population, both of which declined significantly with increasing latitude. The two instruments therefore offered different but complementary views of the plankton: the CPR delivered high taxonomic resolution, whereas the Pi-10 provided high-resolution measurements of abundance and size. Together, they improved characterization of plankton variability across spatial scales and underscored the value of overlapping deployments to support the integration of imaging technologies into long-term monitoring programmes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Plankton Imager, CPR, Continuous Plankton Recorder, zooplankton, copepods, machine learning, Pi-10
Subjects:	Marine Sciences
Divisions:	Marine Biological Association of the UK > Ocean Biology
Depositing User:	Ms Kristina Hixon
Date made live:	01 Oct 2026 09:00
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2026 09:00
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/10669

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