Here, we present abundance data from 20 soil macro-invertebrate groups from 22 different natural to artificial habitat types in the European Alps. The dataset contains data obtained from soil macro-invertebrate samples (i.e., soil blocks) collected between 1987 and 2020, with the majority of them already published individually in scientific journals. The purpose of this work is to collate the single datasets on Alpine soil macro-invertebrates to one uniform dataset, as such data is only sparsely available. We also want to appreciate the scientific lifework of our mentor and friend, the soil ecologist/soil zoologist Erwin Meyer (1948–2020). The samplings were mainly conducted by Erwin Meyer and his students at the University of Innsbruck (Austria) and Eurac Research (Italy). The assessments of the soil macro-invertebrate communities were part of several sampling campaigns including scientific projects, as well as diploma, master and doctoral theses. The sampling took place mainly during the vegetation period from April to October; in the alpine zone where snow can persist for a long time from June to September. The samples were taken in the following Alpine regions: Vorarlberg and Tirol (Austria), South Tyrol and Trentino (Italy), and the Canton of Uri (Switzerland). The abundance data is given as individuals per square metre (ind./m²) on order level (and species level in case of earthworms). Each row represents one single soil fauna sample. The event code (i.e., representing the different sampling plots) is composed of the sampling region (three letters capitalised), the habitat or plot code (three letters) and the replicate number of these plots (consecutive numbers). Additionally, to the soil fauna data, we present topographic data (elevation, exposition, inclination) as well as habitat classification (e.g., CORINE Land Cover (CLC) nomenclature code) and description.
Makrozoobenthos of soft-bottom benthic communiy was collected by van-Veen grabs and beam trawls to sample the infauna and epifauna. Further, the data contains a few hauls with otter trawls to sample the demersal fish fauna. Sediment data are included to specify the soft-bottom habitat. Samples were collected in autumn 2006 and spring 2007. Benthic data were collected in the North Sea, German Bight in the area of the Sylt outer reef. Based on sediment maps and multibeam echo sounder images, 15 stations of different sediments were defined. The sediment distribution in the study area is very heterogeneous even at small scales, with fine sand sections alternating with coarse sand or gravel as well as individual large stones. This mosaic of different habitats causes different bottom fauna communities. Data for the two sampling campaigns comprise different stations in these differing sediment mosaic. Biodiversity data of species include abundance (count data) and biomass (wet mass, g) per sample.