Dataset: EPR vent colonists functional traits

Machine-readable Life Science Identifier (LSID) containing the AphiaID from World Register of Marine Species at the lowest level that matches the data provider name. This corresponds to Darwin Core term http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/scientificNameID

An estimate of the size of the organism with four categories: 1mm, 10mm, 100mm, and 1000mm. Measurements are rounded to the nearest estimate value. Note: the measurement used to express body size varies within taxonomic groups. For example, some disciplines measure diameter, others carapace length, total body length or wing span. Also body size can vary with gender and life stage. This category is the same as Estimated Maximum Body Size (mm) in sFDVent

Whether a species adds to the complexity of the habitat in which it is found, for example by introducing complex structures by its body form or by aggregating. This trait is taken from sFDVent, and has five modalities. “Does not add habitat complexity” indicates the species does not add complexity to its habitat. “Mat forming (<10 cm)” indicates this species forms mat-like habitat, less than 10 centimeters in height or depth, and flat in appearance. “Bed forming (>10 cm)” indicates this species forms bed-like habitat, which is higher or deeper than 10 centimeters, and more undulated in appearance than mat. It adds relief to the environment. “Open bush forming” indicates this species forms an open, penetrable habitat with a bush-like appearance. “Dense bush forming” indicates this species forms bush-like habitat that would be difficult to penetrate or observe fauna living within

This trait relates to the trophic level and nutritional requirements of a species. There are five modalities, four of which are taken from sFDVent. “Symbiont host” is not in sFDVent, but was included here to indicate organisms which do not feed but instead host chemosynthetic bacteria that provide food. “Bacterivore” indicates this species is a primary consumer feeding on bacteria. “Detritivore” indicates this species is a primary consumer feeding on fragmented particulate organic matter (detritus). “Carnivore S” indicates this species is a secondary consumer feeding on fragments of dead other animals (scavenger). “Carnivore O” indicates this species is a secondary consumer feeding on live animal tissue or killing prey (other)

This trait pertains to the feeding strategy of a species, or how it obtains its food. This trait taken from the Biological Traits Information Catalogue (BIOTIC), MarLIN 2006. It is similar to “functional feeding group” or “feeding guild” for freshwater invertebrates (Ding et al. 2017), “feeding position” in Veríssimo et al. (2017), “feeding mode” in Bolam et al. (2016), and “feeding type” in the online polychaete trait database Polytraits (Faulwetter et al. 2014). “Non-feeding” means this animal has no mouth or gut and does not feed. “Deposit feeder” indicates this species consumes organic matter from the substrate. “Suspension feeder” indicates this species filter feeds or gathers food from the water column. “Predator” indicates this species actively hunts and captures animal prey. “Parasite/commensal” indicates this species lives within or upon another organism and feeds off of its tissue. In some cases, species fell into two feeding categories. In these cases, both feeding categories were listed with a forward slash, for example “Deposit feeder/Suspension feeder,” “Deposit feeder/Predator,” and “Suspension feeder/Predator”

A scoring level with four modalities taken from sFDVent, which captures the ability of a species to move around its environment as an adult. “Sessile” (level 1) indicates this species is permanently attached at the base. “Movement restricted” (level 2) indicates the movement of this species is restricted, for example, a species only lives in (or moves in) a burrow. “Crawler” (level 3) indicates movement is partially restricted or slow, for example a snail or echinoderm that crawls along the substratum. “Freely mobile” (level 4) indicates movement is unrestricted, for example a swimmer, which moves through the water column

A scoring level with three modalities that categorizes the external protection of a species. “Soft bodied” indicates this species has no external protection. An example would be an unsclerotized worm. “Moderately protected” indicates this species has an exposed body, but has a slightly protective cuticle or lives in a thin mucous or papery tube. “Well protected” indicates this species has a hard protective shell or exoskeleton. An example would be a crab or snail.

A trait with four modalities expressing how a species develops as larvae. “Lecithotrophic” indicates larvae of this species develop at the expense of internal resources (i.e., yolk) provided by the female (Barnes et al., 2006). “Planktotrophic” indicates the larvae of this species feed (at least in part) on materials captured from the plankton (Barnes et al., 2006). “Direct” indicates this species develops without a larval stage (Barnes et al., 2006). “Brooding” indicates this species incubates eggs either inside or outside the body. Eggs may be brooded to a variety of developmental stages. Males or females may be responsible for brooding (Ruppert and Barnes 1994).

A trait with three modalities indicating how a species reproduces. “Gonochoristic” indicates this species has separate sexes (Barnes et al., 1993). “Hermaphroditic” indicates this species has individuals capable of producing both ova and spermatozoa (Barnes et al., 1993). “Asexual” indicates this species has at least one asexual stage in its life cycle. Defined as reproduction that does not involve the exchange of genetic material. In at least one life stage, individuals are derived form a single parent (Barnes et al., 2006).