Fluorescent sediment profile images (fSPI) for replicate macrofaunal communities from the Western Barents Sea for summer 2017 and 2018

• Main Authors: Wood, Christina, Centre, UK Polar Data, Reed, Adam, Grange, Laura, Godbold, Jasmin, Solan, Martin, Ward, Ellie Rose
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Natural Environment Research Council 2020
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Barents Sea; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/478970/

Images of the macrofaunal mediated redistribution of optically distinct particulate tracers (luminophores) for intact communities from the western Barents Sea after 12 days incubation. Images of all four sides of each aquarium are taken using a digital SLR camera housed within a UV illuminated imaging box. Data were collected on cruises JR16006 and JR17007. Funding was provided by 'The Changing Arctic Ocean Seafloor (ChAOS) - how changing sea ice conditions impact biological communities, biogeochemical processes and ecosystems' project (NE/N015894/1 and NE/P006426/1, 2017-2021), part of the NERC funded Changing Arctic Ocean programme.,Data were collected from each of 5 stations in 2017 (B13-B17) and 6 stations in 2018 (B13-B17 and Xs) during two consecutive cruises (RRS James Clark Ross: JR16006, 30th June to 8th August, 2017; JR17007: 10th July to 5th August, 2018) following a transect along the 30°E meridian. At each station four replicate intact sediment cores (LWH: 20 x 20 x 12 cm) were obtained from replicate 0.1m2 USNL (Unites States Naval Laboratory) box cores using a core extruder, transferred to transparent acrylic aquaria (internal dimensions, LWH: 20 x 20 x 34 cm) and overlain with ~8 L (20cm depth) surface seawater (salinity, ~34). Aquaria (2017, n = 20; 2018, n = 24) were randomly transferred to one of two insulated fibreglass seawater baths (LWH: 1.2 x 1.2 x 0.8m, Tanks Direct, UK) and maintained at a representative ambient bottom temperature in the dark. Faunal mediated sediment particle reworking was estimated by establishing the redistribution of optically distinct particulate tracers (luminophores: 215g aquaria-1, fluorescent green