Carbon and nitrogen δ13C, δ15N) isotopic fingerprint of zooplankton in Lake Maggiore: a 13years' dataset (2010-2022)

We present a dataset of 2168 analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes’ fingerprint (d13C‰, d15CN‰) and carbon and nitrogen contents (C%, N%) of zooplankton taxa, including copepods’ developmental stages, and of pooled organisms in three size fractions, ≥80 µm, ≥450 µm and ≥850 µm from Lake Maggiore (Italy). We also include 1232 data on Standing Stock Density and Biomass (SSD and SSB) of the ≥450 µm and ≥850 µm samples. The dataset resulted from a monitoring program on pelagic zooplankton and persistent organic pollutants funded by the Commissione Internazionale per la Protezione delle Acque Italo-Svizzere (CIPAIS) during 2010-2022. The data allow for investigation of trophic relationships within the zooplankton community and with respect to fish in the large, deep subalpine Lake Maggiore, providing a basis for modelling transfer of persistent organic pollutants through the pelagic food web. Data on seasonal changes in POPs (DDTs and PCBs) and mercury concentrations of zooplankton size fractions ≥450 µm and ≥850 µm are already available, allowing quantitative estimates of pollutants’ transfer to the upper trophic levels, which are essential for developing realistic predictive models.