Description
This dataset accompanies the manuscript “Biogeographical diversity meets functional similarity: Trait convergence in benthic fauna from the Arctic ice-covered North to ice-free South” (under review). It provides the biological, environmental, and trait data used to analyse benthic infaunal communities along the West Greenland shelf.
Study overview
Macrobenthic invertebrates were collected from nine stations between 64° N (Nuuk) and 71° N (Disko Bay) on board R/V Dana during the ECOTIP project (Horizon 2020). Samples were taken using a standard 0.1 m² box corer, sieved (1 mm mesh), and preserved in ethanol for taxonomic identification. Species densities were standardised to individuals m⁻². Environmental data include station position, depth, sediment characteristics (grain size fractions, organic and carbonate content, C / N ratios), and bottom-water properties (temperature, salinity, oxygen, density, and current speed). Sea-ice concentration and current velocity were derived from Copernicus Marine Service datasets, and CTD variables were processed in Ocean Data View.
Biogeographic and trait data
Species were assigned to Arctic, Boreal, or Cosmopolitan biogeographic groups using a combination of occurrence records (GBIF, OBIS, WoRMS) and trait information (Arctic Traits Database). A fuzzy-coded trait matrix was compiled for eight categorical traits related to resource and dispersal strategies.
Files included
WG_mf_classification.csv – WoRMS-based taxonomic classification for all taxa.
DANA_Env_Station.csv – Station-averaged environmental dataset (physical, chemical, and sediment variables).
WG_mf_count_station.csv – Mean species abundance matrix per station.
WG_mf_count.csv – Species abundance matrix including replicate samples.
WG_traits.csv – Trait scores (fuzzy-coded) for all taxa used in analyses.
WG_sti_trends.csv – Intermediate dataset created during species biogeographic affiliation procedures.
DANA_Env.csv – Environmental dataset including replicate samples.
Sp.Arctic.csv, Sp.Boreal.csv, Sp.Cosmopolitan.csv – Subsets of the total community abundance matrix by biogeographic group.
Usage
All data are provided in CSV format and are compatible with R (v. 4.3 or later). The dataset supports analyses of biogeographic composition, β-diversity, and functional trait structure of benthic infauna across Arctic–sub-Arctic gradients.
Study overview
Macrobenthic invertebrates were collected from nine stations between 64° N (Nuuk) and 71° N (Disko Bay) on board R/V Dana during the ECOTIP project (Horizon 2020). Samples were taken using a standard 0.1 m² box corer, sieved (1 mm mesh), and preserved in ethanol for taxonomic identification. Species densities were standardised to individuals m⁻². Environmental data include station position, depth, sediment characteristics (grain size fractions, organic and carbonate content, C / N ratios), and bottom-water properties (temperature, salinity, oxygen, density, and current speed). Sea-ice concentration and current velocity were derived from Copernicus Marine Service datasets, and CTD variables were processed in Ocean Data View.
Biogeographic and trait data
Species were assigned to Arctic, Boreal, or Cosmopolitan biogeographic groups using a combination of occurrence records (GBIF, OBIS, WoRMS) and trait information (Arctic Traits Database). A fuzzy-coded trait matrix was compiled for eight categorical traits related to resource and dispersal strategies.
Files included
WG_mf_classification.csv – WoRMS-based taxonomic classification for all taxa.
DANA_Env_Station.csv – Station-averaged environmental dataset (physical, chemical, and sediment variables).
WG_mf_count_station.csv – Mean species abundance matrix per station.
WG_mf_count.csv – Species abundance matrix including replicate samples.
WG_traits.csv – Trait scores (fuzzy-coded) for all taxa used in analyses.
WG_sti_trends.csv – Intermediate dataset created during species biogeographic affiliation procedures.
DANA_Env.csv – Environmental dataset including replicate samples.
Sp.Arctic.csv, Sp.Boreal.csv, Sp.Cosmopolitan.csv – Subsets of the total community abundance matrix by biogeographic group.
Usage
All data are provided in CSV format and are compatible with R (v. 4.3 or later). The dataset supports analyses of biogeographic composition, β-diversity, and functional trait structure of benthic infauna across Arctic–sub-Arctic gradients.
| Date made available | 14 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Zenodo |
Cite this
- DataSetCite