Advanced Search
MEPS

Marine Ecology Progress Series

MEPS Home Latest Volume About MEPSEditorial Board

MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.

Online: ISSN 1616-1599

Print: ISSN 0171-8630

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps

Volume contents
Mar Ecol Prog Ser 382:225-238 (2009)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07826

copied

MacroBen integrated database on benthic invertebrates of European continental shelves: a tool for large-scale analysis across Europe

ABSTRACT: We describe an integrated database on European macrobenthic fauna, developed within the framework of the European Network of Excellence MarBEF, and the data and data integration exercise that provided its content. A total of 44 datasets including 465354 distribution records from soft-bottom macrobenthic species were uploaded into the relational MacroBen database, corresponding to 22897 sampled stations from all European seas, and 7203 valid taxa. All taxonomic names were linked to the European Register of Marine Species, which was used as the taxonomic reference to standardise spelling and harmonise synonymy. An interface was created, allowing the user to explore, subselect, export and analyse the data by calculating different indices. Although the sampling techniques and intended use of the datasets varied tremendously, the integrated database proved to be robust, and an important tool for studying and understanding large-scale long-term distributions and abundances of marine benthic life. Crucial in the process was the willingness and the positive data-sharing attitude of the different data contributors. Development of a data policy that is highly aware of sensitivities and ownership issues of data providers was essential in the creation of this goodwill.

KEYWORDS

MacrofaunaBiogeographyIntegrated databaseData managementData rescue

E. Vanden Berghe (Co-author)

  • Flanders Marine Institute, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende, Belgium

S. Claus (Co-author)

W. Appeltans (Co-author)

S. Faulwetter (Co-author)

C. Arvanitidis (Co-author)

P. J. Somerfield (Co-author)

I. F. Aleffi (Co-author)

J. M. Amouroux (Co-author)

N. Anisimova (Co-author)

G. Bachelet (Co-author)

S. J. Cochrane (Co-author)

M. J. Costello (Co-author)

J. Craeymeersch (Co-author)

S. Dahle (Co-author)

S. Degraer (Co-author)

S. Denisenko (Co-author)

C. Dounas (Co-author)

G. Duineveld (Co-author)

C. Emblow (Co-author)

V. Escaravage (Co-author)

M. C. Fabri (Co-author)

D. Fleischer (Co-author)

A. Grémare (Co-author)

M. Herrmann (Co-author)

H. Hummel (Co-author)

I. Karakassis (Co-author)

M. Kedra (Co-author)

M. A. Kendall (Co-author)

P. Kingston (Co-author)

L. Kotwicki (Co-author)

C. Labrune (Co-author)

J. Laudien (Co-author)

E. L. Nevrova (Co-author)

A. Occhipinti-Ambrogi (Co-author)

F. Olsgard (Co-author)

R. Palerud (Co-author)

A. Petrov (Co-author)

E. Rachor (Co-author)

N. Revkov (Co-author)

H. Rumohr (Co-author)

R. Sardá (Co-author)

W. C. H. Sistermans (Co-author)

J. Speybroeck (Co-author)

U. Janas (Co-author)

G. Van Hoey (Co-author)

M. Vincx (Co-author)

P. Whomersley (Co-author)

W. Willems (Co-author)

M. Wlodarska-Kowalczuk (Co-author)

A. Zenetos (Co-author)

M. L. Zettler (Co-author)

C. H. R. Heip (Co-author)

Volume contents
Previous articleNext article