Standardized datasets of Brazilian reef diversity in space and time

Abstract. The Brazilian marine biogeographical province (SW Atlantic) hosts coral and rocky reefs that cover ~27 degrees of latitude and are distributed along a relatively narrow continental shelf and four oceanic islands and archipelagos. The broad gradients in temperature, productivity and salinity shape patterns of biodiversity and lead to distinct local communities within the province. Although existing research has helped to unveil spatiotemporal patterns of marine diversity in this province, data availability and scale have limited broader inferences on the main processes shaping biodiversity. Here, we bring together 16 datasets (n = 11 for reef fish, n = 5 for benthic reef organisms) comprising 22 years of research conducted across most of the Brazilian province. These datasets are unprecedented in terms of temporal, spatial, and taxonomic coverage. For example, eight datasets (six for reef fish, two for benthos) span seven (fish monitoring in Rio Grande do Norte) to 18 years (fish monitoring in Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro) of survey data. Also, these datasets contain data collected in priority areas for conservation in the Brazilian province, such as the Abrolhos Bank and the Trindade island. The data comprise detection and fish count/benthic cover data for 24,498 sampling events deployed at 55 locations, formatted according to the Darwin Core Standard, being therefore interoperable with other existing datasets. The 11 fish datasets comprise the detection and counting of 361 fish taxa (312 identified at species level, 49 identified at genus, subfamily and family) from 178 genera, 71 families and 2 classes (Teleostei and Elasmobranchii). The five benthic datasets comprise the description of the detection and cover of 81 taxa, 82 genera, 68 families, 15 classes, and 4 kingdoms (Animalia, Bacteria, Plantae, Chromista). By making this an open-access resource, we share with the public the result of two decades of federal and state funding for scientific research on Brazilian reefs.