The standard zooplankton time series analyses and graphical visualizations used by COPEPOD and its associated time series working groups (WG125, WGZE, WG137, WGPME) were developed in-support-of and in-collaboration-with the SCOR Global Comparisons of Zooplankton Time Series Working Group (WG125).   O'Brien et al. 2010 updates and replaces the older O'Brien et al. 2008 reference that may be listed in older work by these groups.

The COPEPOD / WG125 / WGZE / WG137 / WGPME "standard time series analysis and visualization" methods are designed to allow for easy comparison of zooplankton (and other hydrographic variables) of different types, methods, and sampling frequencies (e.g., "biomass sampled three times per year" vs. "copepod abundance sampled weekly").   This is accomplished by looking at relative changes in the data values within a single time-series, relative to the long term average of those data, expressed as a unit-less ratio (or "anomaly").   A full summary of this method is summarized in O'Brien et al. 2010, available via link to PDF above and below.