1. BIOTIC (Biological Traits Information Catalogue) “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk

2. BIOTIC - Background “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk Based on MarLIN (Marine Life Information Network) Collating biological traits information on benthic species/habitat (since 1999) Focus on: Species and habitats of conservation importance (UKBAP, Hab. Dir., Rare/Scarce, OSPAR, CITES, etc) Traits relevant to autoecology, sensitivity and management Designed to provide an information resource for marine environmental conservation and management

3. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC - Background Biological Traits Analysis increasingly used to look a ecosystem structure and functioning uses functional groups rather than individual species Also development of trait based methods to look at sensitivity to human impacts And increased demand for outputs from MarLIN database Therefore, we set up a separate Biological Traits Information Catalogue (BIOTIC) to improve access (ca 2007).

4. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Aims & Objectives To support the use of biological traits analysis; To provide easy access to biological traits information in a standardised format; To create a single ‘repository’ for traits information, to circumvent the prolonged literature reviews required to collate traits information; To provide a platform for users to share and exchange traits information; Allow users to download traits for their analyses, and Allow users to contribute their traits information to the catalogue, and hence To provide a repository that the benthic science community itself can develop.

5. Primarily based on MarLIN with significant additions from: Dr Julie Bremner Dr Heidi Tillin (ABPmer); Dr Tom Webb (University of Sheffield); CCW connectivity study (consultancy) Dr Hilmar Hinz (Bangor) Dr Paul Somerfield (PML) Marine Genus Traits Handbook (Marine Ecological Survey’s Ltd) (http://www.genustraithandbook.org.uk/)http://www.genustraithandbook.org.uk/ “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Information content

6. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Information content

7. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Information content

8. Traits are grouped into the following categories: Taxonomy General biology (16 traits) Distribution and habitat preferences (12 traits) Reproduction and life history (15 traits) All supported by descriptive text and source references See http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/browse.php for details.http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/browse.php In addition, MarLIN includes information on conservation importance and sensitivity. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Traits

9. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Classification Based on MarLIN glossaries, standard glossaries where possible and MNCR (see list of glossaries). For example: Taxonomy – WoRMS General Biology and Reproduction – compiled by MarLIN from a variety of sources in liaison with academics and government agencies some under development e.g. biogeographic range – MEOW (http://comlmaps.org/how-to/layers-and- resources/boundaries/marine-ecoregions-of-the-world )http://comlmaps.org/how-to/layers-and- resources/boundaries/marine-ecoregions-of-the-world (NB – most are coded)

10. Habitat preferences – based on MNCR survey and UK Habitat classification: MNCR survey developed standard terms to describe the marine habitat, including Substratum type; Biological zone (supralittoral to lower circalittoral); Physiographic features (open coast to sea loch) Salinity regime Water flow rate / tidal stream strength Wave exposure MNCR also recorded additional habitat features. (see http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/resources.php and http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/staffonly/getEnumVals.php)http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/resources.php http://www.marlin.ac.uk/biotic/staffonly/getEnumVals.php “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Habitat classification

11. Collating traits information Extremely time-consuming Requires access to historical and grey literature (NMBL) Surprising lack of basic biology / autoecology on many marine species Information on life history traits variable (often only available a family level) Information on larval /juvenile traits especially difficult Information on rare/scarce species especially difficult Need for fully referenced traits - so that users can refer to source Peer review of content ideal – but difficult to organise “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Lessons learned

12. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Lessons learned Traits terms and classification No internationally accepted set of terms – e.g. definition of function groups varies from study to study Yet clearly defined terms essential to the use of traits MNCR /UK Habitat Classification /EUNIS /MEOW good examples of standardisation – but not agreed or used globally Coded or non-coded traits ? Also the entire marine community needs to work together due to the range of expertise and information required. How to do we organise and incentivise?

13. MBA (MarLIN/BIOTIC) – have been collating biological traits information for over ten years already collaborate with WoRMS BIOTIC is a good starting point MBA – has expertise to contribute to standardised attribute vocabulary MBA (MarLIN/BIOTIC) – collector and supplier of traits to EMODnet Knowledge Base MBA also has experts working with MSFD indicators and Ecosystem services, and biodiversity data (DASSH) AND we host the National Marine Biological Library (NMBL) – a specialist marine research library. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – WoRMS and EMODnet

14. BIOTIC was developed by: Dr Harvey Tyler-Walters and Charlotte Marshall, with expert advice from Drs Paul Somerfield (PML), Hilmar Hinz, and Stuart Jenkins (Bangor) Subsequent development by Drs Emma Jackson & Olivia Langmead (MBA), with contributions from: Dan Bayley, Jaret Bilewich, Andrew Hosie Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd Drs J. Bemner, H. Tillin, Tom Webb and others. Funded by MBA with contributions from Crown Estate, Scottish Natural Heritage, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Marine Ecological Surveys Ltd. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Credits

15. “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk BIOTIC – Links to resources

16. Final slide – Footer strip must appear on white background “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk

17. Final slide – Footer strip must appear on white background “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk

18. Final slide – Footer strip must appear on white background “ Advancing marine science through research, communication and education since 1884 ” www.mba.ac.uk