MedSens data (Version 2.0.0, update June 4, 2021). Dataset maintained by Reef Check Italia

MedSens data is a dataset including the abundance of selected Mediterranean marine species, collected by trained volunteers (<strong>EcoDivers</strong>, i.e. scuba divers, free divers and snorkelers) according to the <strong>Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring</strong> (<strong>RCMed U-CEM</strong>) protocol (Cerrano et al., 2017), and maintained by the non-profit association <strong>Reef Check Italia</strong>. This dataset is a subset of 25 selected species from the <strong>Reef Check Med - key Mediterranean marine species</strong> dataset, and it is specifically intended to calculate the <strong><em>MedSens </em></strong>index developed by Eva Turicchia, Carlo Cerrano, Matteo Ghetta, Marco Abbiati and Massimo Ponti (Turicchia et al., 2021). MedSens data is provided as ESRI shapefiles in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326). <strong><em>MedSens </em>abstract</strong> Citizen science (CS) projects may provide community-based ecosystem monitoring, expanding our ability to collect data across space and time. However, the data from CS are often not effectively integrated into institutional monitoring programs and decision-making processes, especially in marine conservation. This limitation is partially due to difficulties in accessing the data and the lack of tools and indices for proper management at intended spatial and temporal scales. <em>MedSens</em> is a biotic index specifically developed to provide information on the environmental status of subtidal rocky coastal habitats, filling a gap between marine CS and coastal management in the Mediterranean Sea. The <em>MedSens</em> index is based on 25 selected species, incorporating their sensitivities to the pressures indicated by the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSDF) and open data on their distributions and abundances, collected by trained volunteers (mainly scuba divers, but also free divers and snorkelers) using the Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring (RCMed U-CEM) protocol. The species sensitivities were assessed relative to their resistance and resilience against physical, chemical, and biological pressures, according to benchmark levels and a literature review. The <em>MedSens</em> index was calibrated on a dataset of 33,021 observations from 569 volunteers (2001 to 2019), along six countries’ coasts. A free and user-friendly QGIS plugin allows easy index calculation for areas and time frames of interest. The <em>MedSens</em> index was applied to Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) and the management and monitoring zones within Italian MPAs. In the studied cases, the <em>MedSens</em> index responds well to the local pressures documented by previous investigations. <em>MedSens</em> converts the data collected by trained volunteers into an effective monitoring tool for the Mediterranean subtidal rocky coastal habitats. <em>MedSens</em> can help conservationists and decision-makers identify the main pressures acting in these habitats, as required by the MSFD, supporting them in the implementation of appropriate marine biodiversity conservation measures and better communicate the results of their actions. By directly involving stakeholders, this approach increases public awareness and the acceptability of management decisions, enabling more participatory conservation tactics. <strong>References</strong> Cerrano C, Milanese M, Ponti M (2017) Diving for science - science for diving: Volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquat Conserv 27:303–323 https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2663<br> Turicchia E, Cerrano C, Ghetta M, Abbiati M, Ponti M (2021) MedSens index: The bridge between marine citizen science and coastal management. Ecol Indic 122:107296 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107296MedSens数据集是一类收录选定地中海海洋物种丰度的数据集，由经过培训的志愿者（**EcoDivers**，即水肺潜水员、自由潜水员与浮潜爱好者）按照**Reef Check地中海水下海岸环境监测规程（Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring, RCMed U-CEM）**（Cerrano等，2017）采集，并由非营利组织**Reef Check Italia**维护。该数据集是**Reef Check Med - 关键地中海海洋物种**数据集的子集，仅包含25个选定物种，专门用于计算由Eva Turicchia、Carlo Cerrano、Matteo Ghetta、Marco Abbiati与Massimo Ponti开发的**MedSens**指数（Turicchia等，2021）。 MedSens数据集以**ESRI形状文件（ESRI shapefiles）**格式提供，采用WGS84地理坐标系（EPSG:4326）。 **MedSens 摘要** 公民科学（Citizen Science, CS）项目可提供基于社区的生态系统监测服务，拓展了时空尺度下的数据采集能力。然而，公民科学产生的数据往往未能有效融入官方监测计划与决策流程，在海洋保护领域这一问题尤为突出。该局限部分源于数据获取门槛较高，且缺乏适配目标时空尺度的专业化管理工具与指数。 **MedSens**是一类专为潮下带岩质海岸生境环境状况评估开发的生物指数，填补了地中海海域海洋公民科学与海岸管理之间的研究空白。 该指数基于25个选定物种构建，整合了这些物种对欧盟《海洋战略框架指令（Marine Strategy Framework Directive, MSFD）》所明确的各类压力因子的敏感性，以及由经过培训的志愿者（主要为水肺潜水员，同时涵盖自由潜水员与浮潜爱好者）按照Reef Check地中海水下海岸环境监测规程采集的物种分布与丰度公开数据。 物种敏感性的评估基于基准阈值与文献综述结果，综合考量其对物理、化学与生物压力因子的抗性与恢复力。 MedSens指数的校准数据集涵盖2001年至2019年间来自6个国家海岸、569名志愿者采集的33021条观测记录。一款免费且易用的**QGIS插件**可实现针对目标区域与时间范围的指数快速计算。 MedSens指数已应用于地中海**海洋保护区（Marine Protected Areas, MPAs）**以及意大利境内海洋保护区内的管理与监测区域。在本次研究案例中，MedSens指数可较好地响应既往调查所记录的当地压力因子。 MedSens可将经过培训的志愿者采集的数据转化为适用于地中海潮下带岩质海岸生境的高效监测工具。该指数可帮助保护工作者与决策者识别这些生境面临的主要压力因子，契合MSFD的相关要求，助力其制定针对性的海洋生物多样性保护措施，并更好地传播保护行动的成效。通过直接吸纳利益相关方参与，该方法可提升公众的保护意识与对管理决策的接受度，推动形成更具参与性的保护策略。 **参考文献** Cerrano C, Milanese M, Ponti M (2017) 以科研助力潜水，以潜水支撑科研：志愿水肺潜水员助力地中海海域科研与保护. *Aquat Conserv* 27:303–323 https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2663 Turicchia E, Cerrano C, Ghetta M, Abbiati M, Ponti M (2021) MedSens指数：搭建海洋公民科学与海岸管理的桥梁. *Ecol Indic* 122:107296 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107296