Marine Environmental Research

Environmental Data

Results of brevetoxin analysis of dead-stranded bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) samples from Texas, and corresponding Karenia brevis abundance values

These data were collected at four intertidal soft-sediment mudflats around Anglesey Island, North Wales using 5 cm diameter cores inserted to 5 cm into the sediment. Data were collected in areas below and outside of Ascophyllum nodosum canopies and were analysed for particle size, pore water content, organic carbon, chlorophyll a, sand/silt/clay content and temperature. The macrofauna in each sample was also identified and abundance and biomass was measured.

Biochemical biomarker measurements of hagfish muscle and liver tissue.

Adult_and_recruiting_fishes: data describing post-recruit (adult) fish assemblages and the abundance of recruiting cryptobenthic species associated with 28 artificial reefs of different sizes (0.12, 0.24, 0.48, 1.08, 1.92, 4.32, 7.68 m2) and supporting different densities of transplanted kelp (Ecklonia radiata) (0, 4.1, 8.3, 16.6 kelp/m2). Adult assemblages were assessed using diver-based visual surveys conducted at three times (early: spring 2015, middle: autumn: 2016, late: spring 2016). At each time, 2 separate surveys were conducted, and the results were averaged. Recruiting cryptobenthic fishes were assessed using SMURF collectors that were deployed for a six-week period in the centre of each reef on four consecutive occasions (November 2015 to March 2016). fish_community_structure: data quantifying the density (abundance/reef area) of fish species across artificial reefs of different size (4.32m2, 7.68m2) and supporting different densities of transplanted kelp (Ecklonia radiata) (zero (0 kelp/m2), low (4.1 kelp/m2), medium (8.3 kelp/m2), high (16.6 kelp/m2) )at three times (early (spring 2015), middle (autumn 2016), late (spring 2016)). Assemblages were assessed using diver-based visual surveys conducted at the three times. At each time, 2 separate surveys were conducted, and the results were averaged. The reef code (column headings) conveys the size of the reef (m2), followed by the density of transplanted kelp, followed by the sampling time. For example: 4.32_zero_early indicates that the reef is 4.32m2, supports zero kelp (0 kelp/m2) and the data is based on surveys during the early stage of the experiment (i.e. spring 2015). The different rows are for the different species of fishes that were observed.

Raw dataset

Raw data of gastropod shell densities taken from micro-CT images, and raw data on shell compositions (calcite and aragonite) taken from powder XRD samples

Reef fish communities were assessed using visual census techniques across 100 reefs spanning over 2.000 km of coastline. Each reef was considered a sample unit and species densities per 100 m² was used for calculating true diversity measures. Diversity patterns were investigated using “true diversity” measures (sensu Jost 2006), considering the effective number of species equal to Hill numbers (qD). Values in dataset correspond to number of effective species per reef (α diversity, Dα), for q = 0, 1 and 2, using sampled area as weights. Each line represents a reef, labeled by a Code, followed by Brazilian State, Location name, Latitude, Longitude and Source of the species data. Predictors used for adjusting GLMs are presented next: Reef morphotype (categorical predictor), with five levels corresponding to Brazilian reef morphological structures (cemented terraces, fringing, patch, bank and pinnacle reefs, see Appendix S1 for a detailed description). Depth, as the average depth of the reef in meters, measured in situ, isolation, as the linear distance between the reef to the nearest point in mainland, are also presented.

Benthic assemblage structure data was collected form the IceBerg Impact Study grids located in South Cove, Ryder Bay, Adeliade Island, Western Antarctic Peninsula. Recovery Age includes only the sample grid itself and records the number of years since it was last hit. Local Disturbance includes all adjacent squares and the sample square with the proportion that had been hit in the past year recorded. Background Disturbance includes all the squares within the grid and the sample grid square and the rate at which hits have been recorded over the past 7 years. The high-dispersal assemblage diversity and abundance was collected across all samples at a single point in time. Whereas the low-dispersal assemblage is a dataset compiled from 7 years of observations with the presence and absence of each species. The Low-dispersal encrusting assemblages (bryozoans) was sampled from 2009 to 2014.Images of the high-dispersal assemblages within each grid square were captured in January 2016 with a GoPro 3+ (GoPro Inc.) in a deepwater housing. Camera lens distortion (fish-eye) was minimised using a calibration lens file and Hugins photo editing software. Grid squares were selected to ensure replication across depth, age and disturbance regimes.

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