Seasonal fatty acid profiles of marine algae and invertebrates from Sitka Sound, Alaska in 2019

These data include fatty acid compositions of select marine macroalgae and macroinvertebrate grazers collected in Sitka Sound, Alaska in January 2019 and July 2019. Samples were collected using SCUBA at three sites, all within 6 km of each other in Sitka Sound: Harris Island (N 57.03165, W 135.27754), Breast Island (N 57.03896, W 135.33309), and Samsing Pinnacle (N 56.98750, W 135.35718). Sampled species included six seaweeds, including three Laminarian kelps (Ochrophyta) and three red algae from the Gigartinales and Ceramiales, that are present in both seasons in these sites: Neoagarum fimbriatum, Macrocystis pyrifera, Hedophyllum nigripes, Cryptopleura ruprechtiana, Opuntiella californica, and Osmundea spectabilis. They also include six macro-invertebrates (two each of gastropods, crustaceans, echinoderms) that are present and dominant herbivores in these sites: Haliotis kamtschatkana, Tegula pulligo, Pentidotea resecata, Pugettia producta, Mesocentrotus franciscanus, and Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis.
Understanding seasonal variation in fatty acid trophic biomarkers between dominant macrophyte resources and their benthic herbivores can help reveal how producers and their primary consumers may respond to future environmental change. These unique data from a high latitude kelp forest ecosystem were collected by a collaborative team of marine ecologists: Dr. Reyn Yoshioka, Dr. Aaron Galloway, Dr. Julie Schram, Dr. Kristy Kroeker, and Dr. Lauren Bell.