A total of 19 stations were sampled between August and October 2011 onboard the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen. Two stations were sampled both in August and October to assess seasonal variability in stable isotope composition. At each station, a USNEL box corer (0.25 m2) was deployed to collect seafloor sediments for the determination of stable isotope composition and pigment (Chl a + phaeopigments) concentrations. From each box core, surface sediments (upper 1 cm) were sampled as three sub-cores using a 60 ml disposable syringe (2.6 cm diameter with a cut off anterior end). Sediment samples were immediately frozen at -20 °C for stable isotope analysis and at -80 °C for pigment analysis. Megabenthic invertebrates were principally collected with an Agassiz trawl (effective opening of 1.5 m and a net mesh size of 40 mm, with a 5 mm cod end liner) with average trawling time and speed of 5 min and 1.5 knots, respectively. At three stations, invertebrates were collected with the box corer. Trawl and box corer catches were washed over a 2 mm sieve under running sea water onboard and 1 to 3 individuals of the most abundant community representatives were collected at each station. Specimens were frozen immediately at -80 °C and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level in the lab.

The study area extends from the North Water Polynya to the Chukchi Sea across five geographic regions: North Water Polynya, Canadian Archipelago, Amundsen Gulf, Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea (14 stations). We collected data from July to October 2014 aboard the CCGS Amundsen including environmental data (bottom water temperature and salinity), particulate organic matter, sediments, and benthos. Stable isotopes analyses were practiced on benthic samples, particulate organic matter samples and sediments samples. Lipid extraction and ice algae biomarker analysis were practiced on benthic samples and sediments samples.

DMSP and DMS water concentrations were determine at fixed depths and at selected stations (ArcticNet stations) along a transect beginning in the North Water Polynya, going through the Lancaster Sound and the Northwest Passage, and terminating in the Beaufort Sea. During transit time, near surface DMS measurements were conducted every 2 hours from the pumping system of the CCGS Amundsen. In all cases, DMSP and DMS measurements were done following the methods of Kiene and Slezak 2006 (Limnol. Oceanogr.: Methods 4: 80-95). At selected stations, DMSP and DMS microbial cycling was determined during onboard incubations following the 35S-DMSP protocol (Merzouk et al. 2006, Deep Sea Res. 53:2370-2383).