This dataset provides abundance data for macrofaunal taxa determined from sediment samples collected in the Weddell Sea (mostly South-Eastern). A minimum of three samples (cores) were collected at each station with a MUC10 multicorer or a giant box corer during PS96. Sediment cores were sliced into depth layers (stations 017, 026, 061, 072: 0–2cm, 2–5cm, 5– bottom; stations 001, 037, 048: 0–1cm, 1–2cm, 2–3cm, 3–4cm, 4–5cm, 5– bottom) and preserved in 4%-borax-buffered formaldehyde solution prior to sieving (sieve size 500 µm, 1000 µm) and counting (detailed methods in Säring et al. submitted). Abundance is presented per depth layer (note different slice volume) as ind./m². Data from different size fractions are available upon request. Macrofauna communities included individuals from 18 higher taxa. The macrofauna abundance data are part of a larger ecological study on meio- and macrofauna communities and their relation to environmental conditions and remineralisation at the sediment-water interface (see Related to below). For the larger study, sediment cores from which macrofauna abundance data are deposited here were also used for microcosm incubations: Untreated incubations (Benthic ecosystem Function Experiments BEFEx), and incubations with and without microalgae addition (Algae Feeding Experiment AFEx). Cores from BEFEx and AFEx without algae are labeled with NT (not treated), cores from AFEx with algae are labeled as T (treated).

Higher taxa without foraminiferans, bryozoans, and undetermined individuals