DOI: 10.5061/dryad.1c59zw45p
title: A unique demersal fish fauna in the Chukchi Borderland, Central Arctic Ocean

description: The samples of fish were collected in the Chukchi Borderland (east to
 west: 179.99°E to 154.68°W, anticlockwise; south to north: 73.69°N to
 78.38°N), Central Arctic Ocean by the Chinese National Arctic Research
 Expedition (CHINARE) using bottom trawls during voyages from 2017 to 2020
 (detailed in the documents). A suite of elemental concentrations of ratios
 in the edge and core of the otolith samples were measured in spot mode via
 laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) at
 Createch Testing Technology (Tianjin, China) using an ICP–MS instrument
 (Analytik Jena PlasmaQuant MS, Denmark) coupled with a 193 nm excimer
 laser ablation system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution, Australia).
 Off-line processing of the analytical data, including background and
 analyte signals, such as time-drift correction and quantitative
 calibration, was performed via ICPMSDataCal software. The continuous line
 scans of otolith were conducted at the Analytical and Testing Center of
 the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China,
 using an ICP–MS instrument (iCAP RQ, Thermo, USA) coupled with a 193 nm
 excimer laser ablation system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution,
 Australia). In addition, we took dorsolateral muscle from fish
 individuals, and the ratios of heavy to light carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)
 were measured at the Analytical and Testing Center of the Third Institute
 of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China using a Vario
 ISOTOPE cube elemental analyser (Elementar Analysensysteme GMBH, Hanau,
 Germany) coupled to an IsoPrime100 isotope ratio mass spectrometer
 (Isoprime, Cheadle, United Kingdom). Fish body lengths were measured to an
 accuracy of 1 mm.
description: The samples of fish were collected in the Chukchi Borderland
 (east to west: 179.99°E to 154.68°W, anticlockwise; south to north:
 73.69°N to 78.38°N), Central Arctic Ocean by the Chinese National Arctic
 Research Expedition (CHINARE) using bottom trawls during voyages from 2017
 to 2020 (detailed in the documents).  A suite of
 elemental concentrations of
 <sup>43</sup>CaCO<sub>3</sub> (weight percent,
 wt%), <sup>88</sup>Sr (parts per million, ppm), and
 <sup>137</sup>Ba (parts per million, ppm) in the edge and core
 of the otolith samples were measured in spot mode via laser ablation
 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) at Createch
 Testing Technology (Tianjin, China) using an ICP–MS instrument (Analytik
 Jena PlasmaQuant MS, Denmark) coupled with a 193 nm excimer laser ablation
 system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution, Australia). Off-line processing
 of the analytical data, including background and analyte signals, such as
 time-drift correction and quantitative calibration, was performed via
 ICPMSDataCal software. The continuous line scans of otolith were conducted
 at the Analytical and Testing Center of the Third Institute of
 Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, using an ICP–MS
 instrument (iCAP RQ, Thermo, USA) coupled with a 193 nm excimer laser
 ablation system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution, Australia). The
 analytical data were reduced by Iolite version 4.The dataset contains a
 .docx file listing the fish species with the otolith microchemical
 measurements and their station information (No. 1), a .xlsx file listing
 the elemental ratios determined via spot sampling in the otolith core and
 edge zones (No. 2), as well as nine .xlsx files of continuous line scans
 across the otolith structures (Nos. 3.1 to 3.9). We
 took dorsolateral muscle from fish individuals, and the ratios of heavy to
 light carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were measured at the Analytical and
 Testing Center of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural
 Resources, China using a Vario ISOTOPE cube elemental analyser (Elementar
 Analysensysteme GMBH, Hanau, Germany) coupled to an IsoPrime100 isotope
 ratio mass spectrometer (Isoprime, Cheadle, United Kingdom). Fish body
 lengths were measured to an accuracy of 1 mm (file No, 4). 
description: # A unique demersal fish fauna in the Chukchi Borderland, Central Arctic
 Ocean
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1c59zw45p](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1c59zw45p) ## Description of the data and file structure #### Fish collection The samples of fish were collected in the Chukchi Borderland (east to west: 179.99°E to 154.68°W, anticlockwise; south to north: 73.69°N to 78.38°N), Central Arctic Ocean by the Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) using bottom trawls during voyages from 2017 to 2020 (detailed in the documents).  #### Otolith microchemistry A suite of elemental concentrations of 43CaCO3 (weight percent, wt%), 88Sr (parts per million, ppm), and 137Ba (parts per million, ppm) in the edge and core of the otolith samples were measured in spot mode via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) at Createch Testing Technology (Tianjin, China) using an ICP–MS instrument (Analytik Jena PlasmaQuant MS, Denmark) coupled with a 193 nm excimer laser ablation system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution, Australia). Off-line processing of the analytical data, including background and analyte signals, such as time-drift correction and quantitative calibration, was performed via ICPMSDataCal software. The continuous line scans of otolith were conducted at the Analytical and Testing Center of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China, using an ICP–MS instrument (iCAP RQ, Thermo, USA) coupled with a 193 nm excimer laser ablation system (RESOlution SE 193 nm, RESOlution, Australia). The analytical data were reduced by Iolite version 4.The dataset contains a .docx file listing the fish species with the otolith microchemical measurements and their station information (No. 1), a .xlsx file listing the elemental ratios determined via spot sampling in the otolith core and edge zones (No. 2), as well as nine .xlsx files of continuous line scans across the otolith structures (Nos. 3.1 to 3.9). ####  Stable isotope analyses We took dorsolateral muscle from fish individuals, and the ratios of heavy to light carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were measured at the Analytical and Testing Center of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China using a Vario ISOTOPE cube elemental analyser (Elementar Analysensysteme GMBH, Hanau, Germany) coupled to an IsoPrime100 isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Isoprime, Cheadle, United Kingdom). Fish body lengths were measured to an accuracy of 1 mm (file No, 4).  ### Files and variables #### File: 1.1\_List\_of\_fish\_species\_for\_the\_measurement\_of\_otolith\_microchemistry.csv **Description:** This data file lists individual fish that were collected in different years and places. For each fish, it includes the species name, a unique ID, the year and location where it was collected, and which methods were used to analyze its otoliths (ear bones). Two analysis methods are mentioned: "spot sampling" and "line sampling," which help researchers learn about the fish's environment and life history. #### File: 1.2\_Stations\_information\_of\_fish\_with\_otolith\_microchemistry\_measurement\_in\_the\_Chukchi\_Borderland\_\_CAO.csv **Description:** This data file shows information about research stations where fish were collected. For each station, it lists the date, the research vessel used (all samples here are from Xue Long), the location (longitude and latitude), the depth of the water, and the type of gear used for sampling (in this case, a "triangle trawl" net). #### File: 2.\_Data\_of\_spot-sampling\_in\_otolith\_core\_and\_edge.xlsx **Description:**  The elemental ratios determined via spot sampling in the otolith core and edge zones (consisting of four spreadsheets) . It shows different sample taken from a specific station (2018_P15) and specific part of the otolith (core or edge). The table includes labels identifying the samples and shows the concentrations of various elements (like sodium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, etc.) measured in parts per million (ppm) or weight percent (wt%). ##### Variables * 43CaCO3 (weight percent, wt%), 88Sr (parts per million, ppm), and 137Ba (parts per million, ppm) #### File: 3.1\_Line\_scan\_Arctic\_cod.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li (Lithium), Mg (Magnesium), Ca (Calcium), Mn (Manganese), Zn (Zinc), Sr (Strontium), and Ba (Barium) #### File: 3.2\_Line\_scan\_Artediellus\_atlanticus.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.3\_Line\_scan\_Lycodes\_adolfi\_Arc\_N9\_P15-3.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.5\_Line\_scan\_polar\_cod\_Arc\_N9\_BT01-21.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.4\_Line\_scan\_Lycodes\_adolfi\_Arc\_N11\_P3-8-1.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.7\_Line\_scan\_polar\_cod\_Arc\_N11\_R1-2-1.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.9\_Line\_scan\_walleye\_pollock.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.8\_Line\_scan\_Triglops\_nybelini.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 3.6\_Line\_scan\_polar\_cod\_Arc\_N11\_E1-1.xlsx **Description:** The elemental ratios determined via continuous line scans across the otolith structures. ##### Variables * Li, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba #### File: 4.\_Stable\_isotope\_ratios\_of\_fishes\_in\_the\_Chukchi\_Borderland\_\_Central\_Arctic\_Ocean.xlsx **Description:** We took dorsolateral muscle from fish individuals, and the ratios of heavy to light carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were measured at the Analytical and Testing Center of the Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China using a Vario ISOTOPE cube elemental analyser (Elementar Analysensysteme GMBH, Hanau, Germany) coupled to an IsoPrime100 isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Isoprime, Cheadle, United Kingdom). Fish body lengths were measured to an accuracy of 1 mm. ##### Variables * the ratios of heavy to light carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)