Pigments in sediments from cores collected during R/V SONNE cruise SO268/1 and SO268/2 in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean

The data set reports phytopigment concentrations in the upper horizons of deep-sea sediments. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) represents the most fresh and labile part of the phytodetritus while concentrations of phaeopigments (the Chl a degradation product) targets the older, less labile fraction. The sum of both is referred to as Chloroplastic Pigment Equivalents (CPE). Samples were taken with a Multiple Corer (MUC) and with Push Cores (PUC) that were recovered by Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV; KIEL6000, GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany) during two subsequent expeditions with the German Research Vessel SONNE (SO268/1 and SO268/2). Samples originate from six different locations in polymetallic nodule ecosystems in the deep Eastern North Pacific Ocean. Four are situated in the exploration license area of the German Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources; abbreviated BGR) granted by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). These include the Reference Site (GER Reference Site), a site that is designated for a nodule collector prototype trial (GER Trial Site), a site near the Reference Site where a benthic impact experiment (BIE) was carried out (GER Dredge Site) and a site where no polymetallic nodules are found (GER No-Nodule Site). The other two sites were located in the exploration license area of the Belgian company Global Sea Mineral Resources NV (abbreviated GSR): again a Reference Site (BEL Reference Site) and a trial site (BEL Trial Site). The primary aim of the study was to address natural spatial variability in benthic food availability and characterize baseline conditions in preparation of trials of GSR's pre-prototype polymetallic nodule collector Patania II and for the smaller BIE carried out with a dredge during SO268/2 on 11. Apr. 2019. Further the dredge area was sampled after the BIE to assess the impacts.