Large-scale studies of the European benthos: the MacroBen database

Somerfield, Paul J.; Arvanitidis, Christos; Berghe, E. Vanden; Avesaath, P.H. van; Hummel, H.; Heip, C.H.R.

doi:10.3354/meps08045

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In addition we agree with Naeem & Bunker (2009) that a concerted effort is required to collate existing trait data and to make them available in a standard format – possibly using existing portals, such as Sealifebase (http://www.sealifebase.org) for marine species. Recent international initiatives such as OBIS (see also Somerfield et al ., 2009) have vastly expanded our knowledge of where marine species occur. Finding out what they actually do remains a major challenge.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extensive gaps and biases in our knowledge of a well‐known fauna: implications for integrating biological traits into macroecology

Tyler

Somerfield

Berghe

et al. 2011

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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Aim Ecologists seeking to describe patterns at ever larger scales require compilations of data on the global abundance and distribution of species. Comparable compilations of biological data are needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind these patterns, but have received far less attention. We assess the availability of biological data across an entire assemblage: the well‐documented demersal marine fauna of the United Kingdom. We also test whether data availability for a species depends on its taxonomic group, maximum body size, the number of times it has been recorded in a global biogeographic database, or its commercial and conservation importance. Location Seas of the United Kingdom. Methods We defined a demersal marine fauna of 973 species from 15 phyla and 40 classes using five extensive surveys around the British Isles. We then quantified the availability of data on eight key biological traits (termed biological knowledge) for each species from online databases. Relationships between biological knowledge and our predictors were tested with generalized linear models. Results Full data on eight fundamental biological traits exist for only 9% (n= 88) of the UK demersal marine fauna, and 20% of species completely lack data. Clear trends in our knowledge exist: fish (median biological knowledge score = six traits) are much better known than invertebrates (one trait). Biological knowledge increases with biogeographic knowledge and (to a lesser extent) with body size, and is greater in species that are commercially exploited or of conservation concern. Main conclusions Our analysis reveals deep ignorance of the basic biology of a well‐studied fauna, highlighting the need for far greater efforts to compile biological trait data. Clear biases in our knowledge, relating to how well sampled or ‘important’ species are suggests that caution is required in extrapolating small subsets of biologically well‐known species to ecosystem‐level studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extensive gaps and biases in our knowledge of a well‐known fauna: implications for integrating biological traits into macroecology

Tyler

Somerfield

Berghe

et al. 2011

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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“…, 2010). The examination of general patterns in marine biodiversity at a regional scale has also been carried out using the MacroBen database, which holds data on the biodiversity of invertebrates inhabiting soft sediments from various regions across Europe (Somerfield et al. , 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeographical patterns of algal communities in the Mediterranean Sea: Cystoseira crinita‐dominated assemblages as a case study

Sales

Ballesteros

Anderson

et al. 2011

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim The aim of this study was to describe the composition, community structure and biogeographical variation of subtidal algal assemblages dominated by the brown alga Cystoseira crinita across the Mediterranean Sea.Location The Mediterranean coast, from Spain (1°25¢ E) to Turkey (30°26¢ E).Methods Data on the species composition and structure of assemblages dominated by the species C. crinita were collected from 101 sites in nine regions across the Mediterranean Sea. Multivariate and univariate statistical tools were used to investigate patterns of variation in the composition of the assemblages among sites and regions, and to compare these with previously defined biogeographical regions. Linear regressions of species richness versus longitude and versus latitude were also carried out to test previously formulated hypotheses of biodiversity gradients in the Mediterranean Sea. ResultsThe main features characterizing C. crinita-dominated assemblages across the Mediterranean included a similar total cover of species, a similar cover of C. crinita, and consistency in the presence of the epiphyte Haliptilon virgatum. Biogeographical variation was detected as shifts in relative abundances of species among regions, partly coinciding with previously described biogeographical sectors. A significant positive correlation was found between species richness and latitude, while no significant correlation was detected between species richness and longitude.Main conclusions The patterns of variation in community structure detected among the studied regions reflected their geographical positions quite well. However, latitude seemed to contribute more to the explanation of biological patterns of diversity than did geographical distances or boundaries, which classically have been used to delimit biogeographical sectors. Moreover, the positive correlation between species richness and latitude reinforced the idea that latitude, and possibly temperature as a related environmental factor, plays a primary role in structuring biogeographical patterns in the Mediterranean Sea. The lack of correlation between species richness and longitude contradicts the notion that there is a decrease in species richness from west to east in the Mediterranean, following the direction of species colonization from the Atlantic.

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