This data record has been compiled for a statistical methods study, conducted by Abigael Proctor as part of her PhD research in 2018. The data in this record have been used to showcase a new statistical method for determining no effect concentration (NEC). The study uses the data in this record to compare NEC and LCx estimates for copper in four Antarctic marine invertebrate species. The data associated with this record are a subset of four existing larger datasets: 1. amphipod: AAS_2933_Orchomenella_pinguides_Sensitivity_metals_Davis_2010-11 2. copepod: AAS_4100_Toxicity_Copepods 3. gastropod: AAS_2933_MetaToxicityMarine_JuvenileGastropods_Kingston2007 4. ostracod: AAS_2933_MetalToxicityMarine_BrownOstracods_Kingston2007 Subset details are described in the excel file provided.

This data features stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of co-occurring Southern Ocean pteropods in order to estimate and compare their Bayesian isotopic niches. Other data includes station number, latitude and longitude, species names and sample ID. Details for each column are as follows: A: "species" - Species analysed including, "clio" = Clio pyramidata f. sulcata; "clione" = Clione limacina antarctica; "spongio" = Spongiobranchaea australis; "Large-fraction POM" = large-fraction particulate organic matter; "Small-fraction POM" = small-fraction particulate organic matter B: "speciesID" - Sample ID = unique identifier from Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania C: "station" = CTD number (KAxis research voyage) D: "date" = Date of sample (RMT-8 net trawl, KAxis research voyage) E: "lat" = Latitude (degS) F: "long" = Longitude (degE) G: "%C" = percent carbon (no unit) H: "%N" = percent nitrogen (no unit) I: "C:N (bulk)" = uncorrected (raw) carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (no unit) J: "delta 13C (bulk)" = uncorrected (raw) stable carbon isotope values (‰) H: "delta 15N (bulk)" = uncorrected (raw) stable nitrogen isotope values (‰) L: "notes" = samples may be duplicated or triplicated M: "atomic C:N" = C:N (bulk) x 14/12 (no unit) N: "atomic L" = 93/(1+ (1/((0.246 x atomic C:N) - 0.775))) O: "L" = 93/(1+(1/((0.246 x C:N (bulk) - 0.775))) P: "delta 13C (Kiljunen)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Kiljunen et al. 2006 Q: "delta 13C (atomic Kiljunen)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Kiljunen et al. 2006 and atomic L value (column N) R: "delta 13C (Post)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Post et al. 2007 S: "delta 13C (Weldrick)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Weldrick et al. 2019 T: "delta 13C (atomic Smyntek)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Smyntek et al. 2007 and atomic L value (column N) U: "delta 13C (Smyntek)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Smyntek et al. 2007 V: "delta 13C (Logan)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Logan et al. 2008 W: "delta 13C (Syvaranta)" = delta 13C (bulk) corrected using formula by Syvaranta and Rautio 2010 The analysis is featured within a recently accepted paper titled "Trophodynamics of Southern Ocean pteropods on the southern Kerguelen Plateau" peer-reviewed for Ecology and Evolution (2019). It is based on samples collected during the KAxis research voyage, 2015/16.

This metadata record contains the results from bioassays conducted to show the response of the Antarctic gastropod, Skenella palludinoides to contamination from combinations of Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) diesel, chemically dispersed with fuel dispersant Ardrox 6120. Fuel only water accommodated fractions (WAF), chemically enhanced water accommodated fractions (CEWAF) and dispersant only treatments were prepared following the methods in Singer et al. (2000) with adaptations from Barron and Ka’aihue (2003). WAF was made using the ratio of 1: 25 (v/v), fuel to filtered seawater (FSW) following the methods of Brown et al. (2017). Ratios for chemically dispersed treatments were 1: 100 (v/v), fuel to FSW and 1: 20 (v/v) dispersant to fuel. Dispersant only treatments were made using ratios for CEWAF, substituting the fuel component with FSW. Mixes were made in 5 L or 10 L glass aspirator bottles using a magnetic stirrer to achieve a vortex of approximately 20% in the FSW before the addition of test media. The same mixing energy was used to prepare all WAFs for enhanced reproducibility and comparability of results (Barron and Ka’aihue, 2003). Mixes were stirred in darkness to prevent bacterial growth for 18 h with an additional settling time of 6 h at 0 plus or minus 1 oC. A dilution series of four concentrations were made from the full strength aqueous phase of each mix using serial dilution. WAF test concentrations were 100%, 50%, 20% and 10% while CEWAF concentrations were 10%, 5%, 1% and 0.1%. These concentrations were chosen in order to quantify the mortality curve and allow statistical calculation of LC50 values. To facilitate comparisons of dispersant toxicity in the presence and absence of fuel, dispersant only test concentrations reflected those of CEWAF treatments. WAF was sealed in airtight glass bottles stored at 0 plus or minus 1 oC for a maximum of 3 h before use. Fresh test solutions were prepared every four days to ensure consistent water quality and replace hydrocarbons that adsorbed or evaporated into the atmosphere. Each test concentration was represented by five replicates with five FSW control beakers, with approximately 10 S.palludinoides individuals per replicate. The healthiest and most active individuals were chosen. Beakers were filled to 200 ml and were left open to allow the natural evaporation of lighter monoaromatic hydrocarbon components that would occur during a real spill. Animals were not fed during experiments to prevent hydrocarbons being ingested, thereby introducing an additional exposure pathway. Experiments ran for a total of 35 d exposure duration for WAF and CEWAF experiments and 15 d for dispersant only experiments. Experiments were run in cold temperature-controlled cabinets set at a temperature of 0 plus or minus 1 oC, fluorescent lights in the cabinets were set to a light regime of 18 h light, 6 h darkness, following the methods in Brown et al. (2017) to reflect Antarctic summer environmental conditions. Lethal and sublethal observations were made at test times of: 24 h, 48 h, 96 h, 7 d, 8 d, 10 d and 12 d, 14 d, 16 d, 20 d, 21 d, 28 d and 35 d for SAB + Ardrox 6120 experiments and 24 h, 48 h, 96 h, 7 d, 8 d, 10 d and 12 d, 14 d, 15 d for Ardrox 6120 only experiments. The health status of each individual was classified as per the criteria listed below: - Attached to the vial with horns in or out - Unattached (often upside down), horns out, will reattach if flipped over - Not attached but if touched, will retract - Closed but attached and out of water - Operculum closed - Dead, operculum open a little (muscles no longer working), if touched, operculum will not move and tissues might disintegrate Dead animals were removed and preserved in 80% ethanol at each observation period. In order to simulate a repeated pulse pollutant, 90 to 100% of the test solution volume of each beaker was renewed with freshly made test concentrations every four days to replenish hydrocarbons lost through evaporation and adsorption and ensure consistent water quality. Beakers were topped up to 200 ml between water changes with deionised water to maintain water quality parameters. Duplicate 25 ml aliquots of test concentrations were taken at the beginning and end of each experiment in addition to pre and post water change samples. Samples were immediately extracted with 0.7 μm of dichloromethane spiked with an internal standard of BrC20 (1-bromoeicosane) and cyclooctane. Samples were analysed using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionisation Detection (GC-FID) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Brown, K.E., King, C.K., Harrison, P.L., 2017. Lethal and behavioural impacts of diesel and fuel oil on the Antarctic amphipod Paramoera walkeri. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Animal collection, 2013 experiments: animals sourced from AAD aquarium, collected in previous seasons. Animal collection, 2014 experiments: January and February 2014 Experiments were conducted at the Marine Research Facility at the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston, Tasmania. Experiments using SAB fuel and the fuel dispersant Ardrox 6120 were conducted in August and September 2013, with additional experiments conducted in May 2014 using Ardrox 6120 only.

These are the scanned electronic copies of field and lab books used at Casey Station, Davis Station, Macquarie Island and Kingston between 2007 and 2012 as part of ASAC (AAS) project 2933 - Developing water and sediment quality guidelines for Antarctica: Responses of Antarctic marine biota to contaminants.

Study location and species The four species used in this study were collected from subantarctic Macquarie Island (54.6167 degrees S, 158.8500 degrees E), just north of the Antarctic Convergence in the Southern Ocean. Sea temperatures surrounding Macquarie Island are relatively stable throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from ~4 to 7 degrees C [25]. Collection sites were free from any obvious signs of contamination and did not have elevated concentrations of metals as confirmed by analysis of seawater samples from the collection sites by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES; Varian 720-ES). Toxicity tests were conducted at Macquarie Island over the 2013/14 austral summer, and at the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) in Tasmania, Australia, from 2013 to 2015. The aquarium at the AAD used for culturing and for holding biota prior to their use in tests was maintained at a temperature of 5.8 degrees C under flow-through conditions (at 0.49L/sec). Individuals for toxicity tests on the island and individuals for return to Australia for culturing were collected from a range of habitats within the intertidal and subtidal zones. All species were highly abundant in each of their respective habitats. The gastropod Laevilittorina caliginosa was collected from pools high on the intertidal zone; the flatworm Obrimoposthia ohlini, from the undersides of boulders from the intertidal to shallow subtidal areas; the bivalve Gaimardia trapesina, from several macroalgae species in high energy locations in the shallow subtidal; and the isopod Limnoria stephenseni, from the floating fronds of the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera, which were located several hundred meters offshore. Test specimens were acclimated to laboratory conditions 24 h to 48 h prior to commencement of tests. Juvenile flatworms, isopods and gastropods were all products of reproduction in the laboratory at the AAD, and hence their approximate age at testing is known. The flatworms hatched from small (2 mm in diameter) brown eggs, laid on rocks or on the side of aquaria. The flatworms exhibited age based morphological differences; juvenile flatworms were light grey in colour, while the adults were black. The gastropods hatched from small (1 mm in diameter) translucent eggs laid on weed, often in a cluster. For flatworms and gastropods, juveniles were not all the same age at testing due to differing hatching times, with ages ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months. In contrast, juvenile isopods were all the same age. Although brooding isopods were not observed, juveniles were noticed during routine feeding, thus were likely within 2-3 days of being released, 6 months after adults were brought from the field to the aquarium. The tests with these juvenile isopods were done within 1 week of their being observed. Care was taken to collect adults from the field, for each species, within a narrow size range to minimise differences in ages between individuals tested (Table 1). However, ages of adults individuals used in tests are unknown. The smaller size class of bivalves tested (juveniles: 2.5 plus or minus 0.5 mm, Table 1) was also collected from the field along with the adults (8.0 plus or minus 1.0 mm, Table 1). Based on knowledge on the growth rate of this species (0.8 mm per year; Everson [26], the smaller size class likely represents a young adult of approximately 2.5 to 4 y old, as opposed to a juvenile stage, and adults collected were approximately 9 to 11 y old. Toxicity tests A static non-renewal test regime was used for all tests. Two replicate tests were done for each species at each life stage, with the exception of the juvenile isopods, where due to the limited number of individuals available, only one test was done. Longer tests durations of 14 days were done for acute responses due to the longer life span and response to contaminants compared to temperate and tropical species as determined in previous studies [7, 27]. All experimental vials and glassware were washed in 10% nitric acid and rinsed thoroughly with MilliQ water three times before use. Tests were done in lidded polyethylene vials of varying sizes, depending on the size and number of individuals in the test (Table 1). Water was not aerated as DO stayed relatively high for tests due to high dissolution rates in cold water. Acid washed and Milli-Q rinsed mesh (600 micron nylon) was provided for isopods to rest on, while no structure was added to vials for the other test species. Test solutions were prepared 24 h prior to the addition of invertebrates. Five copper concentrations in seawater were prepared using a 500 mg/L Univar analytical grade CuSO4 in MilliQ stock solution, plus a control for each test. Seawater was filtered to 0.45 microns, and water quality parameters were measured using a TPS 90-FL multimeter at the start (d 0) and end (d 14) of tests. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was greater than 80% saturation, salinity was 33 to 35 ppt, and pH was 8.1 to 8.3 at the start of tests. Tests were kept in controlled temperature cabinets set at 6 degrees C under 16:8h light:dark during the summer, and 12:12 for tests during the rest of the year (light intensity of 2360 lux). Temperatures within cabinets were monitored throughout the test using Thermochron iButton data loggers. Water samples of each test concentration were taken at the start (day 0) and end of tests (day 14). Samples were filtered through an acid and Milli-Q rinsed, 0.45 microns Minisart syringe filter and acidified with 1% ultra-pure nitric acid before being analysed by ICP-OES to determine dissolved metal concentrations. Measured concentrations at the start of tests were within 96% of nominal target concentrations. Averages between measured concentrations at the start and end of tests were made to estimate exposure concentrations, which were subsequently used in statistical analyses to determine point estimates (Table 2). Both survival and sublethal (behavioural) endpoints were used to determine sensitivity to copper. Vials were checked daily and survival and sublethal responses were observed and recorded on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14. Tests were terminated when surviving individuals occurred in less than two concentrations, which was generally at 14 d for all species except for bivalves, in which this occurred sooner (7 to 10 d). Gastropods were scored as dead when their operculum was open and there was no response to stimulus (touch of a probe) on the operculum. Flatworms were scored as dead when there was no movement. Bivalves was scored as dead when there was no movement and when the shells were gaping open due to dysfunctional adductor muscles. Isopods were scored as dead when there was no movement of any appendages. The behavioural endpoint scored for each species was attachment, which indicated healthy and active individuals. For gastropods, this meant the foot was fully extended and attached to experimental vials; for flatworms, the whole body was able to attach (as those affected by copper appeared slightly contracted and could not lie flat); for bivalves, the byssal threads were used to fix individuals to the bottom of the vial, with the siphon also visible and shell slightly open for water exchange; and for isopods, individuals were either holding onto the provided mesh or were swimming, in which case they often reattached to the mesh during observation.

Infaunal marine invertebrates were collected from inside and outside of patches of white bacterial mats from several sites in the Windmill Islands, Antarctica, around Casey station during the 2006-07 summer. Samples were collected from McGrady Cove inner and outer, the tide gauge near the Casey wharf, Stevenson's Cove and Brown Bay inner. Sediment cores of 10cm depth and 5cm diameter were collected by divers using a PVC corer from inside (4 cores) and outside (4 cores) each bacterial patch. The size of each patch varied from site to site. Cores were sieved at 500 microns and the extracted fauna preserved in 4 percent neutral buffered formalin. All fauna were counted and identified to species where possible or assigned to morphospecies based on previous infaunal sampling around Casey. An excel spreadsheet is available for download at the URL given below. The spreadsheet does not represent the complete dataset, and is only the bacterial mat infauna data. Regarding the infauna dataset: - in - in the mat or patch of bacteria and out is in the "normal" sediment surrounding the patch without evidence of any bacterial mat presence. - Patch numbers were allocated to ensure there was no confusion between patches in the same area. - Fauna names are our identification codes for each species. Some we have confirmed identifications for, some not. Species names, where we have them and as we get them, are listed against these codes in the Casey marine soft-sediment fauna identification guide. This work was completed as part of ASAC 2201 (ASAC_2201).

Depth related changes in the composition of infaunal invertebrate communities were investigated at two sites in the Windmill Islands around Casey station, East Antarctica, during the 2006/07 summer. Sediment cores (10cm deep x 10cm diameter) were collected from 4 depths (7m, 11m, 17, and 22m) from each of three transects at two sites (McGrady Cove and O'Brien Bay 1). Cores were sieved through a 500 micron mesh and extracted fauna were preserved in 8% formalin and were later counted and identified to species or to morphospecies established through previous infaunal research at Casey. This work was conducted as part of ASAC 2201 (ASAC_2201).

(SRE4) was a large, long term (5 year) field experiment run at Casey Station (from 2001 to 2006) testing the effects of 4 different hydrocarbons on marine sediment ecosystems. Four different types of hydrocarbons were individually mixed with defaunated marine sediments and deployed in trays on the seabed at O'Brien Bay-1. Trays were collected after deployment periods of 5 weeks, 56 weeks, 62 weeks, 2 years and 5 years. In addition there was a bioturbation treatment using the burrowing urchin Abatus (at 56 weeks only). Samples were collected from 4 replicate trays of each treatment at each sampling time. Analyses were done of sediment hydrocarbon chemistry, microbial communities, meiofaunal communities, macrofaunal communities and diatom communities. The hydrocarbon treatments were: a synthetic Mobil lubricating oil; the same Mobil lubricating oil after 125? hours use in a vehicle engine; a Fuchs synthetic lubricating oil marketed as highly biodegradable; and Special Antarctic Blend diesel fuel (SAB). A control uncontaminated sediment treatment was used for comparison.

A variety of epifaunal invertebrates were collected from hard substrates and soft sediment habitats at various sites in the Windmill Islands near Casey station in East Antarctica. Collected fauna were frozen (-18oC) and returned to Australia for analysis. Stable isotope analysis (carbon and nitrogen) was conducted on 376 samples. This work was completed as part of ASAC project 2948 (ASAC_2948), "TRENZ: The TRophic Ecology of the antarctic Nearshore Zone: local and global constraints on patterns and processes".

Sediment Recruitment Experiment 4 (SRE4) was a large, long term (5 year) field experiment run at Casey Station (from 2001 to 2006) testing the effects of 4 different hydrocarbons on marine sediment ecosystems. Four different types of hydrocarbons were individually mixed with defaunated marine sediments and deployed in trays on the seabed at O'Brien Bay-1. Trays were collected after deployment periods of 5 weeks, 56 weeks, 62 weeks, 2 years and 5 years. In addition there was a bioturbation treatment using the burrowing urchin Abatus (at 56 weeks only). Samples were collected from 4 replicate trays of each treatment at each sampling time. Analyses were done of sediment hydrocarbon chemistry, microbial communities, meiofaunal communities, macrofaunal communities and diatom communities. The hydrocarbon treatments were: a synthetic Mobil lubricating oil; the same Mobil lubricating oil after 125? hours use in a vehicle engine; a Fuchs synthetic lubricating oil marketed as highly biodegradable; and Special Antarctic Blend diesel fuel (SAB). A control uncontaminated sediment treatment was used for comparison.