Seabird presence and seasonality influence nutrient dynamics of atoll habitats

In this study, we investigate nutrient dynamics linked to seabird presence and seasonality. We compare seabird colonies of different taxa nesting on separate islands of Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles. We first quantify guano nutrient input and guano nitrogen isotopes for each seabird species. We assess the transfer of seabird-derived nutrients in terrestrial and marine habitats by comparing nitrogen isotope values in soil, plants, and seagrass on each seabird island and a control island, during the wet and dry seasons. We then assess the influence of seabirds by comparing nutrient levels in soil, plants, and seagrass on each seabird island and a control island, during the wet and dry seasons. For plants and seagrass, we also assess and compare nutrient ratios and carbon stable isotope ratios on each seabird island and a control island, during the wet and dry seasons., This dataset was collected on Farquhar Atoll (Seychelles) between March and August 2022.
Details for each dataset are provided in the README file., , # Seabird presence and seasonality influence nutrient dynamics of atoll habitats

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b8gtht7m4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.b8gtht7m4)

The dataset contains the following raw data : Seabird guano nutrients (2 files), soil and plant nitrogen isotopes (1 file), soil nutrient levels (1 file), coastal plant nutrient levels (1 file) and seagrass nutrient levels (1 file).

## Description of the data and file structure

Raw data files:

1. Seabird guano nutrients:
* seabird_nutrient_metrics.csv: guano nutrient quantity (nitrogen [N] and phosphorus [P]) and population metrics (number of breeding pairs, number of days of breeding period, proportion of time spent on nests, productivity [proportion of fledged chicks per breeding pair], defecation rate) for red-footed boobies, brown noddies and sooty terns. Nutrient quantities are in g/kg dry weight, defecation rates are in g/bird/day.
* guano_nitrogen_isotope.csv: guano nitrogen isotope ratios (d15N, **‰*...