Data for "Upward migration of calanoid copepods is driven by high food quality in surface waters in an alpine lake"

In this study, we explored why zooplankton migrated to surface waters at night from the perspective of their physiological characteristics and adaptability to the environment. The calanoid Arctodiaptomus sp. accumulated large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and astaxanthin, which relieved oxidative stress to fatty acids. The concentrations of lutein, a precursor of astaxanthin synthesis, were highest in surface water, indicating the enhancement of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to precursor synthesis, which was confirmed by our indoor experiment. The calanoids migrated to surface water at night to obtain high concentrations of lutein and PUFAs from their diets. Relevant data for this study include: the vertical distribution of Arctodiaptomus sp. during the day and at night; concentrations of total astaxanthin, free astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters in Arctodiaptomus sp. at night and during the day; fatty acid concentration and the ratio of SAFAs (saturated fatty acids), MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids), and PUFAs in Arctodiaptomus sp. during the day and at night; the carotenoid concentrations  in seston at different depth of Lake Heihai during the day and at night; the lutein concentration in seston under UVR and dark treatment; main characteristics of Lake Heihai; fatty acid concentrations and the ratio of SAFAs , MUFAs, and PUFAs of seston in Lake Heihai; the relative abundance of Chlorophytes with the size of greater than 5 μm and 0.2-5 μm in different layers of Lake Heihai; fatty acid concentrations of the calanoids in Fuxian Lake.