Data from: Eelgrass (Zostera marina) food web structure in different environmental settings

This study compares the structure of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadows
and associated food webs in two eelgrass habitats in Denmark, differing in
exposure, connection to the open sea, nutrient enrichment and water
transparency. Meadow structure strongly reflected the environmental
conditions in each habitat. The eutrophicated, protected site had higher
biomass of filamentous algae, lower eelgrass biomass and shoot density,
longer and narrower leaves, and higher above to below ground biomass ratio
compared to the less nutrient-enriched and more exposed site. The faunal
community composition and food web structure also differed markedly
between sites with the eutrophicated, enclosed site having higher biomass
of consumers and less complex food web. These relationships resulted in a
column shaped biomass distribution of the consumers at the eutrophicated
site whereas the less nutrient-rich site showed a pyramidal biomass
distribution of consumers coupled with a more diverse consumer community.
The differences in meadow and food web structure of the two seagrass
habitats, suggest how physical setting may shape ecosystem response and
resilience to anthropogenic pressure. We encourage larger, replicated
studies to further disentangle the effects of different environmental
variables on seagrass food web structure.

C:N ratio raw data from seagrass meadows in Kertinge Nor & Dalby
Bay, DenmarkRaw data for calculation of C:N ratios of sediment, seagrass
and algaeCN_ratios.xlsxFish stomach content data from seagrass meadows in
Kertinge Nor & Dalby Bay, DenmarkFish_Stomach_content.xlsxInfauna
& Epifauna from seagrass meadows in Dalby Bay & Kertinge
Nor, DenmarkAbundance and biomass raw data for infaunal and epifaunal
invertebrate species collected using sediment cores and 200 µm mesh bags
for epifauna. Depth 2 meter.Infauna_Epifauna.xlsxSediment rawdata from
seagrass meadows in Dalby Bay and Kertinge Nor, DenmarkRawdata on density,
water content, organic matter, sulphide concentration and ammonium
concentration.Sediment_data.xlsxStable isotope values (C & N) from
vegetation and fauna in two seagrass meadows in
DenmarkStable_Isotopes.xlsxSeagrass and macroalgae data from seagrass
meadows in Dalby Bay & Kertinge Nor, DenmarkRawdata for
calculation of Zostera marina above and below-ground biomass, leaf area
index and growth. Biomass of
macroalgae.Vegetation_biomass_density_growth.xlsx