ReefSYN | Standardized datasets of Brazilian reef diversity in space and time - Dataset XIII: Extended benthic communities from the Brazilian province

Study Extent

This dataset was compiled by Erika Santana, Anaide W. Aued, and Ronaldo Francini-Filho, and consists of data on benthic organisms sampled in photoquadrats deployed in several locations disposed along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands (see Santana et al. 2023). This dataset is complementary to the dataset of Aued et al. (2018).

Sampling

Data was collected using photoquadrats of different sizes, described in Aued et al. (2018). and Santana et al. (2023). Benthic organisms were identified at different taxonomic levels (morphotype, species, order). Morphotypes were adapted from Steneck and Dethier (1994) whereby algae are grouped according to morpho-anatomical characteristics. However, morphotype, bare substrate, sediment, lost information (shade, quadrat, tape) and turf were not included in the data because they do not represent taxonomic entities in which DCS standards are based.

Method steps

1. Image processing was done using the Coral Point Count with Excel extensions software (CPCe v. 4.1) (Kohler and Gill, 2006).

1. Mussismilia hispida
   rank: species
2. Mussismilia harttii
   rank: species
3. Mussismilia braziliensis
   rank: species
4. Agaricia fragilis
   rank: species
5. Agaricia humilis
   rank: species
6. Siderastrea
   rank: genus
7. Montastraea cavernosa
   rank: species
8. Madracis decactis
   rank: species
9. Mussismilia leptophylla
   rank: species
10. Favia gravida
    rank: species
11. Meandrina brasiliensis
    rank: species
12. Porites branneri
    rank: species
13. Porites astreoides
    rank: species
14. Stephanocoenia intersepta
15. Astrangia solitaria
    rank: species
16. Millepora
17. Palythoa
    rank: genus
18. Zoantharia
    rank: class
19. Porifera
    rank: phylum
20. Corallinales
    rank: order
21. Cyanobacteria
    rank: phylum
22. Octocorallia
    rank: subphylum
23. Bryozoa
    rank: phylum
24. Ascidiacea
    rank: class

This dataset was compiled by Erika Santana, Anaide W. Aued, and Ronaldo Francini-Filho, and consists of data on benthic organisms sampled in photoquadrats deployed in several locations disposed along the Brazilian coast and oceanic islands (see Santana et al. 2023). This dataset is complementary to the dataset of Aued et al. (2018).