Plankton Base grew out of ten years of Antarctic and Arctic fieldwork. Below is a brief tour of what that science has shown — followed by the peer-reviewed papers behind each finding.
Each of these findings comes from the peer-reviewed studies listed further down the page.
During an exceptional bloom on the western Antarctic Peninsula, molecular sequencing revealed that the naked dinoflagellates driving it belong to a previously undescribed species in the Gymnodinium group — a genuinely new organism on the tree of life.
Most Antarctic phytoplankton research happens offshore from research vessels or select research stations. Sampling from expedition ships gives us a more detailed picture of what actually blooms in the nearshore fjords where glaciers meet the sea — and how those communities shift through the season.
A preliminary evaluation of the FjordPhyto project found that giving travellers a hands-on role in Antarctic research deepened their sense of connection to the polar environment and made the science more meaningful — for visitors, expedition staff, and the research team alike.
Travelers on expedition vessels — trained and supported by scientists on board — can generate peer-review-quality oceanographic data at a scale no single research cruise could. This is the framework Plankton Base carries forward.
Plankton Base publishes data openly so it can be used by scientists, educators, and communities worldwide.
Our open data supports the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, advancing SDG 14: Life Below Water.
The Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON), a UN Ocean Decade programme, uses biomolecular data like ours to understand how ocean life is responding to change.
The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) coordinates long-term observation of the Southern Ocean, and our time-series data helps fill nearshore gaps.
IPY5 (2032–33) will advance polar research and climate understanding. Our participatory model and open dataset are designed to contribute directly to that global effort.
You'll see us say our data is "open-source" and follows "FAIR" principles. In plain language: open-access means the front door is unlocked and there's no cover charge — anyone can read, download, and share the data. FAIR means that once you walk in, the library is actually organized, the books are in a language everyone speaks, and the pages aren't glued together.
Our datasets are free of charge, free of paywalls, and free of restrictive copyright. A polar researcher in Argentina, a high-school teacher, or a curious traveler all have the legal right to read, download, and reuse them.
A global scientific standard that makes data genuinely usable — not just posted online. Every dataset we publish is built to be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable by both humans and machines.
Every peer-reviewed paper produced through the FjordPhyto program that Plankton Base carries forward. Key studies are marked with a colored tag.