DY008, DY021 DY030, DY034 Celtic Sea benthic cruise megafauna and macrofauna composition, abundance and biomass data collected during Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB).

This data set contains Macrofauna and Megafauna data collected from sediment cores conducted in the Celtic Sea. The samples were collected during RRS Discovery cruises DY008, DY021, DY030 and DY034 between March 2014-August 2015, as part of the UK Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry research programme (UK-SSB). Macro species composition, abundance and biomass were measured from 0.1 square metre sediment cores collected using a NIOZ box corer at each of 4 stations (A, H, G, I). Five 0.5 square metre sediment cores were collected using a SMBA box corer to collect megafauna samples at each of 4 stations sampled. The four locations had the following sediment types: mud (station A), sand (station G), muddy sand (station H) and sandy mud (station I). Faunal identification was conducted by one experienced analyst. Species were identified using the most up to date literature available. The accuracy of the balance used is regularly calibrated and professionally checked annually. A reference collection has been created containing an example of each taxon to ensure maximum quality control is maintained for subsequent cruise data generated. Where reference specimens have not been decalcified to maintain good quality taxonomic identification features <i>ref</i> (reference specimen) has been recorded as a temporary measure in the data sheet until all future cruises have been completed. Upon completion of all cruise surveys the remaining reference animals will be decalcified to complete the data set. The data were collected as part of the Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry (SSB) research programme as part of the Biogeochemistry, Macronutrient and Carbon Cycling in the benthic layer (BMCC) research programme. SSB was co-funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The programme took a holistic approach to the cycling of nutrients and carbon and the controls on primary and secondary production in UK and European shelf seas, to increase understanding of these processes and their role in wider biogeochemical cycles. The British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) created the metadata entry and is responsible for holding master copies of the data.

本数据集涵盖在凯尔特海（Celtic Sea）采集的大型底栖动物（Macrofauna）与巨型底栖动物（Megafauna）数据。样品采集于2014年3月至2015年8月期间，由RRS探索号（RRS Discovery）执行的DY008、DY021、DY030及DY034航次完成，属于英国陆架海生物地球化学研究计划（UK Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry, UK-SSB）的研究内容。
研究人员在4个站位（A、H、G、I）使用NIOZ箱式采泥器（NIOZ box corer）采集了0.1平方米的沉积物岩芯，以此测定大型底栖动物的物种组成、丰度与生物量；同时在上述4个站位使用SMBA箱式采泥器（SMBA box corer）采集5份0.5平方米的沉积物岩芯，用于获取巨型底栖动物样品。
4个站位的沉积物类型分别为：站位A为泥质（mud）、站位G为砂质（sand）、站位H为粉砂质砂（muddy sand）、站位I为砂质泥（sandy mud）。
所有物种鉴定工作均由一名经验丰富的分析人员完成，鉴定依据为当时最新的公开文献。所用分析天平的精度会定期校准，并每年接受专业核查。为保障后续航次数据的质控质量，研究团队已建立参考标本库，收录每个类群的代表性标本。因部分参考标本未进行脱钙处理以保留良好的分类学鉴定特征，数据记录表中临时标注了<i>ref</i>（参考标本）作为临时标识，待所有航次调查全部完成后，将对剩余的参考动物标本进行脱钙处理，以完善本数据集。
本数据同时隶属于陆架海生物地球化学（Shelf Sea Biogeochemistry, SSB）研究计划，以及底栖层生物地球化学、宏营养盐与碳循环（Biogeochemistry, Macronutrient and Carbon Cycling in the benthic layer, BMCC）研究计划。SSB由自然环境研究理事会（Natural Environment Research Council, NERC）与环境、食品与农村事务部（Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Defra）联合资助。该计划采用整体性研究思路，探究英国及欧洲陆架海的营养盐与碳循环过程，以及初级、次级生产的调控机制，以期加深对这些过程及其在更广范围生物地球化学循环中作用的理解。
英国海洋数据中心（British Oceanographic Data Centre, BODC）负责创建本数据集的元数据条目，并负责保管数据的主副本。