FUN Azores: A trait database for the marine species of the ridges, seamounts, and hydrothermal vents of the Azores, NE Atlantic

Trait-based approaches that complement taxonomic-based studies have increased in popularity among the scientific community over the last decades. The collection of biological and ecological characteristics of species (i.e., traits) provides insight into species and ecosystem vulnerability to environmental and anthropogenic changes, as well as ecosystem functioning. While most of the available trait databases to date contain essential information to understand the functional diversity of a taxonomic group or functional group based on size, the FUN Azores trait database has an ecosystem-based approach that provides a comprehensive assessment of diverse fauna (meio-, macro-, and megafauna) from benthic and pelagic environments in the Azores Marine Park; including ridges, seamounts, and hydrothermal vents. We used a collaborative approach involving 30 researchers with different expertise to develop the trait database; which contains compiled data on 14 traits representing morphological, behavioral, and life history characteristics for 1210 species, across 10 phyla.

近几十年来，作为分类学研究补充的基于功能性状（trait）的研究方法在科学界愈发受到青睐。对物种生物学与生态学特征（即功能性状）的收集，能够帮助研究者深入理解物种与生态系统在环境变化和人为扰动下的脆弱性，以及生态系统的功能运转。目前已公开的多数功能性状数据库，仅涵盖用于理解基于体型划分的分类类群或功能群的功能多样性所需的核心信息；而FUN Azores功能性状数据库则采用基于生态系统的研究范式，对亚速尔海洋公园内底栖与浮游环境中的小型、大型及巨型动物群开展了全面的性状评估，研究覆盖海脊、海山与热液喷口等多种生境。本数据库由30名不同研究领域的科研人员合作构建，共收录了跨越10个门类、共计1210个物种的14项功能性状数据，涵盖形态学、行为学与生活史特征三大类。