Paleoceanographic proxies obtained from core M77/2-024-5 off Peru

This dataset includes paleoceanographic proxies developed in sediment core M77/2-024-5 (11°05.01'S; 78°00.91'W) collected at 210 meters depth off Peru during Meteor expedition M77/2 in 2008 (Meteor station No. M772/677). This dataset includes δ¹⁸O measurements, depth-age relationship, Uk’37 values, two records of ocean temperatures (alkenone and TEXH86), the difference between these two temperatures, δ ¹⁵N values (proxy for water column denitrification), diatom assemblages, fish vertebrae abundances and fluxes, the average and standard deviation of the width of fish vertebrae, the number of observations per sample and a preservation index of fish vertebrae. The δ¹⁸O record was obtained from at least 10 specimens of Bolivina seminuda per sampling interval, that did not show signs of degradation or alteration. According to the age model developed, core M77/2-024-5 covers the last 142 kyr BP including the last interglacial (MIS5e). The temperature difference between the UKˈ37 and the TEX86 can be attributed to changes in water column stratification, with higher offsets interpreted to indicate a deeper thermocline. The fish vertebrae identification includes the following species/groups: anchovy (Engraulis ringens), goby-like fishes, juvenile fishes, Vinciguerria lucetia, hake (Merluccius gayi peruanus), blue lanternfish (Tarletonbeania crenularis), eel-shaped fish and other unidentified species. The fish debris fluxes (#debris × cm−2 × y-1) were calculated by multiplying the fish debris abundance (number of fish debris x g-1) by the sedimentation rates (cm x y-1) by the dry bulk density (g x cm-3). Finally, the fluxes were multiplied by 1000. The widths of the complete vertebrae per sample were measured and the average per sample is presented in this dataset. The preservation index of fish vertebrae estimates the surface of the vertebrae that is not affected by bio-erosion. This index was calculated per each vertebra and an average per sample interval was done, where higher values indicate better preservation of the fish vertebrae remains.