Dataset: Coral and Algal Stable Isotope Data

Sample Collection and Processing

Coral and algal samples were collected at 10m depth on Palmyra's fore reef habitat. Samples were frozen at -20C for transportation. Halimeda samples were decalcified in 5% HCl, dried, ground, and packaged into tin capsules. Pocillopora meandrina fragments were air blasted and the host and algal symbiont fractions were separated by centrifugation. Each fraction was loaded onto a pre-combusted GF/F filter (Whatmann), lightly acidified with 5% HCl, and packaged into tin capsules. 

Analysis Methods 

Bulk δ13C, δ15N, and mass percent Carbon and Nitrogen were measured via EA-IRMS with a Costech elemental analyzer (Valencia, CA, USA) coupled to a Thermo Scientific Delta XP Plus isotope ratio mass spectrometer (Bremen, Germany). Isotopic data are reported as delta values (δ) and expressed in ‰ relative to the international standards for Carbon (Vienna Hoffman and Rasmussen 2022) and Nitrogen (atmospheric N2). Within-run SD of in-house reference material was <0.2‰ for δ13C and δ15N.