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A global dataset of demosponge distribution records
Ariadni Vafeiadou1, Eliza Fragkopoulou1, Jorge Assis1,2
1Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR-CIMAR), University of the Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
Data in Brief
|March 4, 2024
Summary
A quality-controlled dataset of Demospongiae (sponge) occurrence records was created to improve biodiversity research. This comprehensive data enables global-scale studies on sponge diversity and distribution patterns.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Biodiversity Informatics
- Zoology
Background:
- Species occurrence records are vital for biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
- Data quality issues like taxonomic and spatial errors, and format incompatibility, hinder biodiversity research.
- Demospongiae (sponges) are ecologically significant, structuring marine habitats and influencing nutrient cycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a quality-controlled dataset of Demospongiae occurrence records.
- To address data quality and interoperability challenges in biodiversity informatics.
- To provide a FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, Reusability) dataset for global sponge research.
Main Methods:
- Aggregating occurrence records from multiple sources.
- Implementing dereplication and taxonomic curation techniques.
- Flagging potentially incorrect records using expert knowledge of species' distributions.
Main Results:
- A dataset of 417,626 occurrence records for 1,816 accepted demosponge species.
- 321,660 records for 1,495 species were flagged as potentially correct.
- The dataset is provided in the Darwin Core Standard, adhering to FAIR principles.
Conclusions:
- This dataset represents an up-to-date global baseline for studying demosponge diversity.
- It facilitates research on biodiversity patterns, including species richness and endemicity.
- The data supports forecasting potential distributional shifts under climate change scenarios.
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