The dataset contains energy density values and concentrations in 19 elements analysed in whole bodies of 15 meso- to bathypelagic species sampled in the twilight zone (deep pelagic area) of the Bay of Biscay, North-East Atlantic. The species included 4 crustacean species (Pasiphaea sivado, Sergia robusta, Systellaspis debilis, Ephyrina figueirai) and 11 fish species (Xenodermichthys copei, Searsia koefoedi, Myctophum punctatum, Notoscopelus kroeyeri, Lampanyctus crocodilus, Argyropelecus olfersii, Arctozenus risso, Stomias boa, Serrivomer beanii, Chauliodus sloani, Aphanopus carbo). The elements included 6 major constitutive elements (macro-minerals) and 13 trace elements among which 9 essential (micro-nutrients) and 4 non-essential elements (undesirables, with no know biological function). Specimens were collected during a single fishery in a canyon of the slope of the Bay of Biscay in October 2017, during the EVHOE fishery survey (“Evaluation Halieutique de l'Ouest de l'Europe”; https://doi.org/10.17600/17002300) conducted each autumn by the “Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer” (Ifremer) on R/V Thalassa. A total of 266 individuals belonging to the 15 species were collected at night using a 25 m vertical opening pelagic trawl in the deep scattering layer (ca. 800 m depth in the water column; 1330 m bottom depth). All organisms were collected during one haul of 60 min, at a speed of approximately 4 knots (geographical coordinates at the beginning of the turn/end of the fishing: 45.103°N, -3.543° W).
For small fish and crustaceans, organisms belonging to the same species were pooled by individuals of similar sizes. The size of each individual (total length for fish, cephalothorax length for crustaceans, in mm) as well as the total fresh weight of individuals or pools (to the nearest 0.5 g wet mass) were determined on board, and the individuals were rinsed with ultrapure water before storage. Mean individual sizes and fresh wet weights are here reported for each sample constituted by a pool of individuals. Samples (individuals or pools of individuals, N=39 in total) were finally stored at -20°C until further treatment in the laboratory.
In clean and contamination-free conditions of the laboratory, whole organisms were briefly thawed and the digestive tracts of fish (i.e. stomachs and intestines) were emptied and put back in individuals. Whole individuals were then cut into small pieces and a first fresh grinding of individuals (or pools of individuals for small fish and crustaceans) was carried out using an Ultra Turrax® type grinder with stainless steel arms. Samples were finally refrozen at -20° C in acid pre-cleaned and calcined (450°C) glass jars, lyophilized during 72 h, and ground again into a fine and homogeneous powder using a stainless-steel knife mill. If necessary, this was completed by ball milling (MM400 Retsch®) using bowls and marbles with zirconium oxide coating. Each material was conscientiously rinsed with a succession of ultrapure water/ethanol/ultrapure water between each sample.
Energy density was estimated on dried homogenised samples following Spitz et al. (2010), using a Parr® 1266 semi-micro-oxygen bomb calorimeter and an adiabatic bomb-calorimetry in which gross energy is determined by measuring heat of combustion. Values are presented in kJ/g dry weight and are means of duplicate determination (deviation between two assays <2%).
Total concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P) and strontium (Sr), as major constitutive chemical elements (macro-minerals) in biological organisms, were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, Vista-Pro Varian) according to an in-laboratory approved method. Briefly with this method, aliquots of samples (~250 mg dry mass of homogenised powder) were digested using a 6:2 (v/v) mixture with nitric acid (HNO3 69%, Trace Metal Grade®, FisherScientific) and hydrochloric acid (HCl, 34%, Trace Metal Grade®, FisherScientific). Acidic digestion of the samples was performed overnight at room temperature and then in a microwave oven (START-D, Milestone). The digests were finally diluted to 50 mL with ultrapure water before analyses with ICP-OES.
Total concentrations of 9 essential – arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn) – and 4 non-essential – silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) – trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, ICAP-Qc ThermoFisher) according to an in-laboratory approved method. Briefly with this method, aliquots of samples (~200 mg of homogenised powder) were placed in Teflon bombs and mineralized with a mixture of ultrapure HNO3 acid (PlasmaPure Plus grade, SCP Science®) and ultrapure water using a microwave (ETHOS-UP, Milestone). The digests were then diluted to 50 ml with ultrapure water before analyses with ICP-MS.
Finally, total mercury (Hg) concentrations (a non-essential-element) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using an Advanced Mercury Analyser (ALTEC AMA-254, Altec Ltd), on aliquots of homogenised powder (50 ± 5 mg), according to the standard operating procedure described in the US-EPA method N°7473 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998). The quality assurance of all metal analyses relied on blank and internal standard controls, and on the accuracy and reproducibility of data relative to the certified reference materials (CRMs) used in each analytical run. Blank values were systematically below the detection limits and CRM values concurred with certified concentrations. All elemental concentrations given on a dry weight basis can be converted on a wet weight basis according to the percentage of moisture measured for each sample.
