Building up DeepIso - A global open database of stable isotope ratios and elemental contents for deep-sea ecosystems.

Stable isotopes have been instrumental to many key-findings about deep-sea ecosystem functioning, particularly in chemosynthesis-based habitats (hydrothermal vents, cold seeps). However, constraining sampling logistics commonly limit the scope, extent, and therefore insights drawn from isotope-based deep-sea studies. Overall, much is left to discover about factors globally influencing food web structure in deep-sea ecosystems. In this context, it is crucial that all generated data are easily discoverable, available, and reusable. DeepIso is a collaborative effort to produce a global compilation of stable isotope ratios and elemental contents in organisms from deep-sea ecosystems. In doing so, it aims to provide the deep-sea community with an open data analysis tool that can be used in the context of future ecological research, and to help deep-sea researchers to use stable isotope markers at their full efficiency. The database, accessible under CC-BY licence at https://doi.org/10.17882/76595, currently contains 18677 fully documented measurements. Archived parameters include δ13C (n = 4587), δ15N (n = 4388), δ34S (n = 951), %C (n = 2740), %N (n = 2741), %S (n = 752) and C/N ratio (n = 2518). Those measurements pertain to 4378 distinct samples belonging to 493 taxa, plus sediments, suspended particulate organic matter, plankton and detritus. Samples were taken between 1989 and 2018 in multiple environments (hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, cold water coral reefs, and other benthic or pelagic environments) and at depths ranging up to 5209 meters. To maximise the scope of the project, we are looking to integrate more data, either underlying published articles, from grey literature, or even unpublished. We’ll be happy to assist in data formatting and publication. If you are willing to contribute, or simply if you have feedback about the database, please get in touch via loicnmichel@gmail.com