Hydrographic and Activity Data From: Light Sensitivity of the Arctic Copepod Metridia Longa During Midnight Sun and Polar Night
Date
2025-09-18
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Abstract
We sampled the water column hydrography at three locations in the Barents Sea and Kongsfjorden, Svalbard during May 2022 (Midnight Sun) and January 2023 (Polar Night), then collected the copepod Metridia longa for behavioral experiments.
Sampling took place in May 2022 (Midnight Sun) and January 2023 (Polar Night) in the Barents Sea at two locations: 74.597 N, 29.057 E (Midnight Sun-shelf; MS-S) and 75.007 N, 15.117 E (Polar Night-shelf; PN-S). Further Polar Night sampling was conducted in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard at 78.967 N, 11.967 E (Polar Night-fjord; PN-F). For more details on sampling and instrumentation, see the paper associated with this dataset: Lightfoot et al. (2025) 247:118-133.
Collections of the copepod Metridia longa were used to measure irradiance and spectral activity responses of copepods in a novel laboratory locomotor activity apparatus. For more details on sampling, instrumentation, and experimental protocols see the paper associated with this dataset: Lightfoot et al. (2025) 247:118-133.
Description
“CTD-Light_Figs1andA3.csv” is a .csv file containing CTD data (MS-S, PN-S, PN-F) and downwelling irradiance data (MS-S and PN-F only). CTD data are location, depth (m), temperature (C), and salinity (psu). Downwelling irradiance data are location, depth (m), EdPAR (μmol photons cm-2 s-1), and EdPAR (photons cm-2 s-1). These data are presented in Figures 1 and A3 of the associated paper.
“SpectralData_Fig2.csv” is a .csv file containing data from locomotor activity experiments with spectral light stimuli. For each collection location (MS-S, PN-S, PN-F), the file contains three data tables showing the step-wise analysis of locomotor activity data: 1) summed beam breaks/4min interval, 2) normalized beam breaks/4min interval with wavelength-averaged dark values; and 3) normalized and dark-corrected beam breaks/4min interval. Each table contains Wavelength (nm), Light.Dark condition, and subsequent columns for each locomotor activity monitor tube position with each of these representing a single copepod replicate. These data are presented in Figure 2 of the associated paper.
“All Individuals_IrradianceData_Figs3and4.csv” is a .csv file containing data from locomotor activity experiments with irradiance light stimuli. The file contains 5 data tables showing beam breaks/4min interval for the five irradiance experiments in the paper (MS-S, PN-S, PN-F, PN-F -1C, PN-F 6C). Each table contains Experiment, locomotor activity monitor position, and stimulus irradiance level. Therefore, each row represents a single copepod replicate. These data are presented in Figures 3 and 4 of the associated paper.
“Significant Individuals_IrradianceData_FigA4.csv” is a .csv file from the above irradiance experiments where data are only provided from individual copepods that had significant model fits with four-parameter logistic dose-response function. The table contains Experiment, locomotor activity monitor position, logistic regression p-value, and half saturation of the function (log50_Irradiance, log photons cm-2 s-1). These data are presented in Figure A4 of the associated paper.
“LightAttenuationThresholdModel_Fig5.csv” is a .csv file containing data underwater light modeled from measurements. Data are Location (MS-S, PN-F), Depth (m), and EdPAR (photons cm-2 s-1). These data are presented in Figure 5 of the associated paper.
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Citation
Lightfoot, M., K.S. Last, J.H. Cohen (2025) Hydrographic and activity data from: Light Sensitivity of the Arctic copepod Metridia longa during Midnight Sun and Polar Night.