A computer-based system for recording and sorting phytoplankton count data

Abstract

A computerized system for the inputting of phytoplankton species-count data is described. A major feature is the handling of free-format input, imposing the minimum of constraints on the user. It thus deals easily with records containing information on different species enumerated under different magnifications and/or varying counting effort. Examples of the design of the input “source” files are given. The paper also shows the relationship between these raw data arrays and various program modules for re-formatting them for the purpose of checking and tabulating for subsequent statistical and graphical analysis. © 1987 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.