M. Lebrato
Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)
Düsternbrooker Weg 20, Kiel, 24105, Germany
E-mail: mlebrato@geomar.de

J. B. McClintock
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 USA

M. O. Amsler
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 USA

J. B. Ries
4202G Venable Hall, CB# 3300
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA

H. Egilsdottir
Marine Research Institute (ESSAS)
Skulagata 4, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland

M. Lamare
University of Otago
PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

C. D. Amsler
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 USA

R. C. Challener
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 USA

J. B. Schram
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 USA

C. L. Mah
Smithsonian Institution
MRC-163, PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013 USA

J. Cuce
4202 E. Fowler Ave. CHE205
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620 USA

B. J. Baker
4202 E. Fowler Ave. CHE205
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620 USA

Full_trace_elemental_concentrations_ratios_Echinodermata.csv (MD5: e3aca29305b72ec8d8bf23204237e639)

Full_trace_elemental_concentrations_ratios_latitude_Echinodermata.csv (MD5: 5bab247412aad7047f36064c5aba4e9c)

Biogenic carbonate production in benthic marine ecosystems is dominated by representatives of the Echinodermata. Carbon and other major, minor, and trace elements are exported to the seabed where they accumulate or dissolve. Preserved carbonates (Mg-calcite) have applications in oceanography and geochemistry and are used to reconstruct various parameters of ancient seawater, such as temperature (from Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca), seawater Mg/Ca (from Mg/Ca), and pH (from B/Ca). In general, the benthos is widely ignored for its role in the global carbon cycle despite the importance of echinoderms as a carbon sink (~ 0.1–0.2 Pg C/yr). Echinoderms produce their skeletons from Mg-calcite, which is more soluble than pure calcite and, therefore, more vulnerable to ocean acidification (OA). Little is known about the concentration of minor and trace elements within their tests, which can also destabilize the calcite lattice increasing the mineral’s solubility. Expanding our knowledge on their composition will improve our understanding of elemental flux in the oceans. Furthermore, establishing relationships between the physical parameters of seawater and minor/trace elemental ratios within echinoderm Mg-calcite should expand the utility of fossils, renowned for their high-quality preservation as geochemical archives. Herein, we present elemental composition data for Asteroidea (n = 108; 9 families, 23 species), Echinoidea (n = 94; 8 families, 12 species), Ophiuroidea (n = 24; 4 families, 5 species), Holothuroidea (n = 7; 3 families, 3 species), and Crinoidea (n = 3; 1 family, 1 species), collected from the Arctic to the Antarctic Oceans, from depths ranging from surface waters to 1200 m. The following elements were measured and normalized to [Ca]: Li, Be, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Te, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Dy, W, Re, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, and U. Data are presented for the whole body, arms (plates), calcareous ossicles, spines, and test plates. Elements were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Our study presents the most comprehensive data set to date for a phylum whose skeletons are composed of Mg-calcite.

Key words: biomineralization; calcification; carbonate; Echinodermata; elemental composition; ICPMS; Mg-calcite; minor elements; ocean acidification; paleoceanography; paleoproxies; trace elements.