Octocoral Trait Database

The Octocoral Trait Database curates global trait data for octocorals, providing species- and individual-level observations complemented by contextual information to advance marine science and coral reef research.

Key Features:

• Curated Trait Data: The database houses over 97,500 global trait observations across 98 traits and over 3,500 species.
• Species- and Individual-Level Data: The database contains both species-level and individual-level trait data for octocorals.
• Contextual Information: The database includes contextual information that provides a relevant framework for analyses.
• Open-Source Global Database: The database is open-source and global in scope, covering soft corals, gorgonians, and sea pens (Class Octocorallia).

Scientific Applications:

• Community Assembly Research: The database supports trait-based approaches to understanding community assembly in high-diversity ecosystems.
• Species Distribution Studies: The database enables research on principles underlying species distribution patterns.
• Resilience Analysis: The database facilitates investigation of resilience in coral reef ecosystems where octocorals play pivotal roles.
• Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning Relationships: The database supports research on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
• Coral Reef Ecosystem Research: The database addresses gaps in understanding of ecosystems where octocorals are significant members, complementing existing stony coral trait databases.

Methodology:

The database was developed through curation of global trait data for octocorals, with data compiled into the inaugural dataset OctocoralTraits v2.2.