Code and data for \"Effects of phytoplankton species distribution on particulate organic carbon dynamics along a coastal gradient\"

Phytoplankton communities affect carbon dynamics worldwide, strongly influencing the quality and quantity of organic carbon in coastal ecosystems. Yet, we still know little about the impacts of changing phytoplankton community composition on the potential carbon pathways in estuaries and coasts. Here, we sampled 25 sites along a coastal salinity and nutrient gradient, collecting water for water chemistry and phytoplankton for community composition analyses. For each site, we determined phytoplankton taxonomic diversity and used Bayesian joint species distribution models considering species interactions, taxonomic relatedness, and traits to identify key environmental factors driving phytoplankton community composition. Subsequently, we used structural equation modelling to establish direct and indirect links between the identified key environmental factors, taxonomic diversity (richness and evenness), and particulate organic carbon (POC). We found that the phytoplankton distribution alon..., , # Code and data for \"Effects of phytoplankton species distribution on particulate organic carbon dynamics along a coastal gradient\"

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bjf](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bjf)

## Description of the data and file structure

We conducted a field sampling campaign comprising 25 sampling sites along a coastal salinity and nutrient gradient, collecting water for water chemistry and phytoplankton for community composition analyses. For each site, we determined taxonomic diversity (based on genera) and used joint species distribution models to identify key environmental factors driving phytoplankton community composition. Subsequently, we used structural equation modelling to establish direct and indirect links between the identified key environmental factors, taxonomic diversity, and particulate organic carbon (POC).

### Files and variables

#### File: code_data_submission.zip

Combined R Studio project repository, containing raw community data (folde...,