AlgaeTraits: a trait database for (European) seaweeds

Sofie Vranken , Marine Robuchon (1) , Stefanie Dekeyzer , Ignacio Bárbara (2) , Inka Bartsch (3) , Aurélie Blanfuné (4) , Charles-François Boudouresque (4) , Wim Decock , Christophe Destombe (5) , Bruno de Reviers (6) , Pilar Díaz-Tapia , Anne Herbst , Romain Julliard (7) , Rolf Karez , Priit Kersen , Stacy Krueger-Hadfield (8) , Ralph Kuhlenkamp (9) , Akira Peters , Viviana Peña (2) , Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira , Fabio Rindi (10) , Florence Rousseau (11) , Jan Rueness , Hendrik Schubert , Kjersti Sjøtun (12) , Marta Sansón , Dan Smale , Thierry Thibaut (4) , Myriam Valero (5) , Leen Vandepitte , Bart Vanhoorne , Alba Vergés , Marc Verlaque , Christophe Vieira , Line Le Gall (6) , Olivier de Clerck , Frederik Leliaert

1 JRC - European Commission - Joint Research Centre [Ispra]
2 Universidade da Coruña
3 Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Helgoland, Germany
4 MIO - Institut méditerranéen d'océanologie
5 EBEA - Biologie évolutive et écologie des algues = Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae
6 ISYEB - Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité
7 CESCO - Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la COnservation
8 UAB - University of Alabama at Birmingham [ Birmingham]
9 CEVA - Centre d'études et de valorisation des algues
10 Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell’Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
11 ISYEB - Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité
12 UiB - University of Bergen

Abstract. The analysis of biological and ecological traits has a long history in evolutionary and ecological research. However, trait data are often scattered and standardised terminology that transcends taxonomic and biogeographical context are generally missing. As part of the development of a global trait database of marine species, we collated trait information for European seaweeds and structured the data within the standardised framework of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). We collected 45 175 trait records for 21 biologically and ecologically relevant traits of seaweeds. This resulted in a trait database for 1745 European seaweed species of which more than half (56 %) of the records were documented at the species level, while the remaining 44 % were documented at a higher taxonomic level and subsequently inherited at lower levels. The trait database for European seaweeds will serve as a foundation for future research on diversity and evolution of seaweeds and their responses to global changes. The data will contribute to developing detailed trait-based ecosystem models and will be an important tool to inform marine conservation policies. The data are publicly accessible through the AlgaeTraits portal, https://doi.org/10.14284/574 (AlgaeTraits, 2022).

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Sofie Vranken, Marine Robuchon, Stefanie Dekeyzer, Ignacio Bárbara, Inka Bartsch, et al.. AlgaeTraits: a trait database for (European) seaweeds. Earth System Science Data, 2023, 15 (7), pp.2711-2754. ⟨10.5194/essd-15-2711-2023⟩. ⟨mnhn-04158627⟩