Abstract:

This dataset contains the stable isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in coral tissue collected aboard multiple cruises (E/V Nautilus, Ocean Inspector, Ocean Intervention II, Ocean Project) around areas of natural seepage in the Gulf of Mexico from 2015-04-29 to 2017-08-04. The stable isotopic compositions of coral tissue were analyzed as part of a larger study to investigate the effects of natural seepage on corals in the Gulf of Mexico. Colonies of the octocorals Callogorgia delta and Paramuricea sp. type B3 growing near signs of seepage and colonies growing away from signs of seepage were collected. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic compositions of coral tissue were analyzed to determine any input of chemoautotrophic primary production into the coral diet. The dataset includes sample collection information including the species name, site, sample ID, collection date, location coordinates (latitude and longitude), depth, and cruise information. This dataset supports the publication: Vohsen, S. A., Anderson, K. E., Gade, A. M., Gruber-Vodicka, H. R., Dannenberg, R. P., Osman, E. O., … Baums, I. B. (2020). Deep-sea corals provide new insight into the ecology, evolution, and the role of plastids in widespread apicomplexan symbionts of anthozoans. Microbiome, 8(1). doi:10.1186/s40168-020-00798-w

Suggested Citation:

Vohsen, Sam. 2020. Stable isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen in coral tissue collected aboard multiple cruises around areas of natural seepage in the Gulf of Mexico from 2015-04-29 to 2017-08-04. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/RYMQTDQ9

Publications:

Vohsen, S. A., Anderson, K. E., Gade, A. M., Gruber-Vodicka, H. R., Dannenberg, R. P., Osman, E. O., … Baums, I. B. (2020). Deep-sea corals provide new insight into the ecology, evolution, and the role of plastids in widespread apicomplexan symbionts of anthozoans. Microbiome, 8(1). doi:10.1186/s40168-020-00798-w

Purpose:

The classify coral colonies as seep-influenced or not seep-influenced for later analyses.

Data Parameters and Units:

Species name, Site, Sample ID, Colony Name, Marker Name, Replicate, d13C (delta 13-carbon), C Amount (mass of carbon, ug), d13C Comment, d15N (delta 15-nitrogen), N Amount (mass of nitrogen, ug), d15N Comment, Tray Name, Well Id, Type of Material, Analysis, Enriched?, Estimated Enrichment, Amount (mg), OurLabID, Analysis Number, Collection Date (D-Mon-YY), Latitude (degrees N), Longitude (degrees W), Collection Depth (m), Cruise Sample ID, other names, Cruise ID, Analysis, Reference, Weight (ug), C Amount (ug), d13C, N Amount (ug), d15N, and Reference Values. The dataset also includes cruise documentation for the E/V Nautilus (NA057, leg 1; NA058, leg 2), Ocean Inspector (OI2016), Ocean Intervention II (OIII2017), and Ocean Project (OP17) cruises led by chief scientists Chuck Fisher, Erik Codes, Fanny Girad, Iliana Baums, and Santiago Herrera respectively.

Methods:

Tissue samples from multiple coral species were processed for stable isotopic analysis. Coral samples were collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017, frozen in liquid nitrogen upon recovery of the ROV, and stored at -80 °C for up to 12 months. Frozen tissue was dried at 47 °C for two days then acidified with 2-5 drops of 2 N phosphoric acids to remove calcium carbonate. Samples were then redried and acidified until all carbonate was removed as indicated by a lack of bubbling and then redried a final time. Two mg from each dried sample was encapsulated in the tin and sent to UC Davis for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analysis. Samples were analyzed using a PDZ Europa ANCA-GSL elemental analyzer coupled to a PDZ Europa 20-20 isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Sercon, Cheshire, UK).

Instruments:

Samples were analyzed using a PDZ Europa ANCA-GSL elemental analyzer coupled to a PDZ Europa 20-20 isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Sercon, Cheshire, UK).

Individual Files: