MacroTraits: a global trait data and information system for marine benthic ecology

Abstract. For a long time, biological trait data have been a bottleneck in biodiversity research. Constraints of data unavailability and challenging analytical implementation are still obstacles to the investigation of functional biodiversity patterns. This is especially true in marine zoobenthic ecology where the use of biological traits became common much later than in terrestrial and freshwater ecology. Additionally, most of trait-based marine studies have dominantly been conducted in European waters while large gaps remain in other areas of the world. Therefore, this paper offers a framework to fill this gap by providing the most comprehensive zoobenthic trait data compilation at the global scale. Based on more than 8000 references, 1893 species of the marine macrozoobenthos are documented for life history, dwelling mode, ecosystem function, habitat and biogeography through 41 traits. Next to this compilation, the paper brings clarifications on research directions by means of these data within the dominant paradigms of modern ecology. In particular, the dichotomous expressiveness that opposes response to effect traits (i.e., fitness components versus ecosystem function) is emphasised. The data base is accessible through an R package in the repository https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20555888 and that facilitates data treatment such as trait selection, cross table construction and label handling.