Stable isotope data of a community of mid‑trophic level epipelagic species in the North Atlantic

A total of 495 individuals from a guild of 14 species (fishes, squids and crustaceans) were sampled along the west and south Iberia (Portuguese coast) aboard a research vessel during 2014, 2016 and 2017. Two seasonal oceanographic surveys were conducted each year to sample pelagic mid-trophic level species during spring and autumn. Specimens were captured with trawl hauls, and information on date, time, position of capture (latitude and longitude) and depth (m) were recorded. The body mass (g) and total length (in fishes; mm), mantle length (in squids; mm) or carapace width (in crustaceans; mm) were recorded for each individual. Stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were analysed in the muscle of each individual. Lipids were removed from samples by successive rinses in a 2:1 chloroform–methanol solution. More details of the methodology can be found in: Ceia FR, Cherel Y, Silva AV, Garrido S, Angélico MM, da Silva JM, Laranjeiro MI, Ramos JA (2023) Drivers of niche partitioning in a community of mid-trophic level epipelagic species in the North Atlantic. Hydrobiologia, 850: 1583–1599. (DOI:10.1007/s10750-023-05160-3).2014、2016及2017年，研究团队依托研究船在伊比利亚半岛西部与南部沿岸（葡萄牙海岸带）开展采样，共获取由14个物种类群（鱼类、柔鱼类与甲壳类）组成的495个个体样本。每年于春季和秋季各开展1次季节性海洋调查，针对中上层水域中层营养级物种进行采样。所有样本均通过拖网作业捕获，同时记录采样日期、采样时间、采样点位（经纬度）及采样水深（单位：米）。针对每个个体，均记录其体质量（单位：克），并根据类群分别记录形态学指标：鱼类记录全长（单位：毫米），柔鱼类记录胴长（单位：毫米），甲壳类记录头胸甲宽（单位：毫米）。对每个个体的肌肉组织开展碳（δ¹³C）与氮（δ¹⁵N）稳定同位素分析。采用体积比为2:1的氯仿-甲醇溶液连续浸洗，完成样本的脂质脱除处理。该方法学的更多细节可参阅以下文献：Ceia FR, Cherel Y, Silva AV, Garrido S, Angélico MM, da Silva JM, Laranjeiro MI, Ramos JA (2023) 北大西洋真光层中层营养级物种种群生态位分化的驱动因子. Hydrobiologia, 850: 1583–1599. (DOI: 10.1007/s10750-023-05160-3)