Geochemical parameters of sediments and water of the Black Sea, data of Cruise 8 of R/V Vityaz-2

The book presents results of comprehensive geological investigations carried out during Cruise 8 of R/V "Vityaz-2" to the western part of the Black Sea in 1984. Systematic studies in the Black Sea during about hundred years have not weakened interest in the sea. Lithological and geochemical studies of sediments in estuarine areas of the Danube and the Kyzyl-Irmak rivers, as well as in adjacent parts of the deep sea and some other areas were the main aims of the cruise. Data on morphological structures of river fans, lithologic and chemical compositions of sediments in the fans and their areal distribution, forms of occurrence of chemical elements, role of organic matter and gases in sedimentation and diagenesis are given and discussed in the book.

Collection of data on soil carbon (particulate and dissolved) in the Jena Experiment (Main Experiment, time series since 2002)

This data set contains three time series of measurements of soil carbon (particular and dissolved) from the main experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; see further details below). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by bi-annual weeding and mowing. 1. Particulate soil carbon: Stratified soil sampling was performed every two years since before sowing in April 2002 and was repeated in April 2004, 2006 and 2008 to a depth of 30 cm segmented to a depth resolution of 5 cm giving six depth subsamples per core. Total carbon concentration was analyzed on ball-milled subsamples by an elemental analyzer at 1150°C. Inorganic carbon concentration was measured by elemental analysis at 1150°C after removal of organic carbon for 16 h at 450°C in a muffle furnace. Organic carbon concentration was calculated as the difference between both measurements of total and inorganic carbon. 2. Particulate soil carbon (high intensity sampling): In one block of the Jena Experiment soil samples were taken to a depth of 1 m (segmented to a depth resolution of 5 cm giving 20 depth subsamples per core) with three replicates per block ever 5 years starting before sowing in April 2002. Samples were processed as for the more frequent sampling. 3. Dissolved organic carbon: Suction plates installed on the field site in 10, 20, 30 and 60 cm depth were used to sample soil pore water. Cumulative soil solution was sampled biweekly and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon concentration by a high TOC elemental analyzer. Annual mean values of DOC are provided.

Immobilisation data of juvenile and adult male and female Weddell seals at Drescher Inlet from expeditions DRE1990 and DRE1992

Fourten Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) and two crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga) were immobilised at Drescher Inlet (Riiser Larsen Ice Shelf), eastern Weddell Sea coast, between January and February 1990 using a combination of ketamine, xylazine, and diazepam. Eleven Weddell seals were drugged once, and two and one were drugged two and three times each, coming to a total of 18 immobilisation procedures. Another 16 seals were immobilised between January and February 1992. Ten seals were drugged once, and three and two were drugged two and three times each, coming to a total of 25 immobilisation procedures. Narcoses were terminated with yohimbine. Data as given by doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.438920 were selected for publication. Data sets doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.438921 and doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.438926 followed the same methods and dose regimes.

Dive depth and dive duration data of subadult and adult, male and female southern elephant seals from Marion Island between 2004 and 2008 with links to datasets

Although numerous studies have addressed the migration and dive behaviour of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), questions remain about their habitat use in the marine environment. We report on the vertical use of the water column in the species and the potential lifetime implications for southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Long-term mark-resight data were used to complement vertical habitat use for 35 known individuals tagged with satellite-relay data loggers, resulting in cumulative depth use extrapolated for each individual over its estimated lifespan. Seals spent on average 77.59% of their lives diving at sea, 7.06% at the sea surface, and 15.35% hauled out on land. Some segregation was observed in maximum dive depths and depth use between male and female animals-males evidently being physiologically more capable of exploiting increased depths. Females and males spent 86.98 and 80.89% of their lives at sea, respectively. While at sea, all animals spent more time between 300 and 400 m depth, than any other depth category. Males and females spent comparable percentages of their lifetimes below 100 m depth (males: 65.54%; females: 68.92%), though males spent 8.98% of their lives at depths in excess of 700 m, compared to females' 1.84% at such depths. Adult males often performed benthic dives in excess of 2,000 m, including the deepest known recorded dive of any air-breathing vertebrate (>2,133 m). Our results provide a close approximation of vertical habitat use by southern elephant seals, extrapolated over their lifespans, and we discuss some physiological and developmental implications of their variable depth use.

Dive depth and dive duration data of subadult and adult, male and female southern elephant seals from Marion Island between 2004 and 2008 with links to datasets

Sexual segregation in habitat use occurs in a number of animal species, including southern elephant seals, where differences in migration localities and dive behaviour between sexes have been recorded. Due to the extreme sexual size dimorphism exhibited by southern elephant seals, it is unclear whether observed differences in dive behaviour are due to increased physiological capacity of males, compared to females, or differences in activity budgets and foraging behaviour. Here we use a mixed-effects modelling approach to investigate the effects of sex, size, age and individual variation on a number of dive parameters measured on southern elephant seals from Marion Island. Although individual variation accounted for substantial portions of total model variance for many response variables, differences in maximum and targeted dive depths were always influenced by sex, and only partly by body length. Conversely, dive durations were always influenced by body length, while sex was not identified as a significant influence. These results support hypotheses that physiological capability associated with body size is a limiting factor on dive durations. However, differences in vertical depth use appear to be the result of differences in forage selection between sexes, rather than a by-product of the size dimorphism displayed by this species. This provides further support for resource partitioning and possible avoidance of inter-sexual competition in southern elephant seals.

Hydrogen isotope data of aquatic and terrestrial lipid biomarkers from Lake Meerfelder Maar during the Younger Dryas

Here we use compound-specific hydrogen isotope data of aquatic and terrestrial lipid biomarkers from precisely dated annually laminated sediments from Lake Meerfelder Maar (MFM) in Western Germany to reconstruct decadal resolved hydroclimatic changes during the Younger Dryas. We show that cooling at MFM begun synchronous to the onset of cooling in Greenland at 12.850 years BP. Major environmental changes at MFM however took place 170 years later as a result of substantially drier conditions.