Data on isotopic niche differentiation in benthic consumers from shallow-water hydrothermal vents and nearby non-vent rocky reefs in northeastern Taiwan

This paper presents data on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in benthos from shallow-water hydrothermal vents (SV) and nearby non-vent rocky reefs (NV) located in northeastern Taiwan, which is related to the article “Isotopic niche differentiation in benthic consumers from shallow-water hydrothermal vents and nearby non-vent rocky reefs in northeastern Taiwan” [1]. Field sampling work was conducted in July 2009 and July–August 2010 to collect sediment organic matters (SOM), zooplankton, and benthos for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses. Scuba divers collected macrobenthos, seawater, and surface sediments (0–2 cm). The collection of zooplankton was by a North Pacific standard net and trawled vertically. Testing samples were lyophilized before grounding by a mortar and pestle. For carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses, approximately 1 mg of powder was weighed and encapsulated in a tin capsule. Analyses were performed at the stable isotope laboratory at the University of California at Davis using an Integra Mass Spectrometer elemental analyzer (PDZ Europa, Sandbach, UK). The information is presented as 187 and 53 unprocessed data points from SV and NV, which incorporates δ(13)C and δ(15)N values (‰) of sediment, zooplankton, and benthos’ tissue samples. Data from SOM provides information about chemosynthetic activity in SV sites. These data can be used to correlate food sources of consumers inhabiting shallow-water hydrothermal vent and rocky reef ecosystems in subtropical regions.