Microbial respiration from microcosm experiments conducted under three light treatments using water originating from West Bay of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina USA in 2021 and 2022

Microbial respiration assays were conducted for two microcosm incubation experiments. Sample water originated from West Bay of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina USA in 2021 and 2022. The microcosms were 60-liters, conducted in biological duplicates under three light treatment incubations: 12-hour light-dark cycle of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), 12-hour light-dark cycle of UV-B radiation, or darkness. Respiration assays of the unfiltered and 5-micron filtered community were initiated every few days using foil-membrane optodes to examine light effects on community respiration.