We will deploy an observing platform combining the Remote Access Sampler (RAS) and the Autonomous Clean Environmental sampler (ACE). We will collect samples once per month, and at higher frequency during spring and summer, in surface waters. At each time point two separate samples will be collected, one for chemical (inorganic nutrients) and one for biological (bacteria and phytoplankton) analyses. These samples will serve for the determination of the community composition (by amplicon sequencing) and for the functional gene and genome inventories (metagenomics) of bacteria and phytoplankton.
Samples for the concentration of dissolved Fe will be collected by the ACE. Seawater will be filtered in situ and upon recovery of the ACE sampler the filtrates will be analyzed for trace metal concentrations at the IMAS (Hobart). Environmental data (e.g. temperature, salinity, Chla) will be recorded by a suite of sensors from the RAS mooring.