Methodology:

Data were collected from each of 5 stations in 2017 (B13-B17) and 6 stations in 2018 (B13-B17 and Xs) during two consecutive cruises (RRS James Clark Ross: JR16006, 30th June to 8th August, 2017; JR17007: 10th July to 5th August, 2018) following a transect along the 30ºE meridian. At each station four replicate intact sediment cores (LWH: 20 x 20 x 12 cm) were obtained from replicate 0.1m2 USNL (Unites States Naval Laboratory) box cores using a core extruder, transferred to transparent acrylic aquaria (internal dimensions, LWH: 20 x 20 x 34 cm) and overlain with ~8 L (20cm depth) surface seawater (salinity, ~34). Aquaria (2017, n = 20; 2018, n = 24) were randomly transferred to one of two insulated fibreglass seawater baths (LWH: 1.2 x 1.2 x 0.8m, Tanks Direct, UK) and maintained at a representative ambient bottom temperature in the dark. Faunal mediated sediment particle reworking was estimated by establishing the redistribution of optically distinct particulate tracers (luminophores: 215g aquaria-1, fluorescent green, <200µm silica sand, density 2.35 kg dm-3; Glass Pebbles Ltd., UK). Luminophores were evenly distributed across the sediment surface immediately after the partial seawater change. After 12 days, images (RGB colour, JPEG compression) of the redistribution of luminophores were taken of all four sides of each aquarium using a digital SLR camera (Canon 400D: 2017, 10 s exposure, f5.6 aperture, ISO 400, 83 µm pixel-1; 2018, 10 s exposure, f5.6 aperture, ISO 800, 74 µm pixel-1) housed within a UV illuminated imaging box.

Resolution:

Realised camera resolution of 83 µm pixel-1 in 2017 and 74 µm pixel-1 in 2018.

Data collection:

Instrumentation:

Canon 400D digital SLR camera

Data quality:

Original unedited images provided. Image JR16006_2017_B16_aquarium3_side1.jpg not available due to unrecoverable corruption at point of transfer from camera.