MedSens data (Version 4.0.0, update April 23, 2023). 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.2020.107296**MedSens数据集**收录了经筛选的地中海海洋物种种群丰度数据，由经过专业培训的志愿者（**EcoDivers**，即水肺潜水员、自由潜水员及浮潜者）按照**Reef Check地中海水下海岸环境监测（RCMed U-CEM）**规程采集（Cerrano等，2017），并由非营利组织**Reef Check Italia**负责维护。 本数据集是**Reef Check Med - 地中海关键海洋物种**数据集的子集，仅包含25个筛选出的物种种群，专门用于计算由Eva Turicchia、Carlo Cerrano、Matteo Ghetta、Marco Abbiati及Massimo Ponti研发的**<em>MedSens</em>**指数（Turicchia等，2021）。 MedSens数据集以WGS84地理坐标系（EPSG:4326）下的ESRI形状文件（ESRI shapefiles）格式提供。 **<em>MedSens</em> 研究摘要** 公民科学（Citizen Science, CS）项目可开展基于社区的生态系统监测，拓展我们在时空尺度上的数据采集能力。然而，公民科学采集的数据往往未能有效融入机构监测计划与决策流程，在海洋保护领域尤为突出。该局限部分源于数据获取难度较高，且缺乏适配目标时空尺度的专业化管理工具与指数。 <em>MedSens</em>是一款专门为潮下带岩质海岸生境环境状况评估研发的生物指数，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。<em>MedSens</em>指数基于25个筛选出的物种种群，整合了其对欧盟《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，以及经培训志愿者（主要为水肺潜水员，亦包括自由潜水员与浮潜者）采用RCMed U-CEM规程采集的物种种群分布与丰度公开数据。 物种敏感性评估基于基准阈值与文献综述结果，结合其对物理、化学及生物压力因子的抗性与恢复力展开。<em>MedSens</em>指数的校准数据集包含2001年至2019年间，来自6个国家海岸、569名志愿者的33021条观测记录。 一款免费且易用的QGIS插件可便捷实现目标区域与时间范围内的指数计算。<em>MedSens</em>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，<em>MedSens</em>指数可较好响应既往调查所记录的当地压力因子。<em>MedSens</em>可将经培训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。 <em>MedSens</em>可助力保护工作者与决策者识别MSFD要求的该类生境面临的主要压力因子，辅助其制定合理的海洋生物多样性保护措施，并更好地向公众传递保护行动的成效。通过直接吸纳利益相关方参与，该方法可提升公众对管理决策的认知度与接受度，助力构建更具参与性的保护策略。 **参考文献** 1. 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 2. 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.2020.107296