Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in bulk samples and nitrogen isotopes in amino acids of mesozooplankton (200 - 2000 µm) of NW Spain (NE Atlantic) during 2001 and 2017

This dataset contains the values of natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in bulk samples and of nitrogen isotopes in amino acids measured in 22 samples of mesozooplankton (200–2000 µm) from a shelf station off A Coruña (NW Spain, NE Atlantic). The samples were collected by double oblique tows between the surface and 50 m depth with a Juday-Bogorov net (0.5 m Ø, mesh size 200 µm), at approximately monthly intervals during the years 2001 and 2017. The net was equipped with a General Oceanic Flowmeter for the calculation of water filtered and a depth recorder. All samples were collected between 10:00 and 14:00 (local time) and were preserved dried (50 °C, 24h). Large specimens (particularly gelatinous plankton) were excluded by filtration through a 2000 µm sieve. Stable isotope determinations were made by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry using and elemental analyzer (bulk samples) or a gas-chromatograph (derivatized amino acids) as the inlet device.