ioos
[dataset]: Summerged Aquatic Vegetation
Contact details
Dataset Title
Summerged Aquatic Vegetation 2011 Yucatan
Describe your dataset and any specific challenges or blockers you have or anticipate.
I am compiling historic data on benthic morphofunctional groups on the Yucatan shelf. We want to publish those historic data for future comparative analysis, and I need help from scratch to prepare my data and compile all the OBIS requirements
Info about "raw" Data Files.
The raw data can be checked at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A5vbDIKED15AoLRDnFp2Y4f-gEeE3goe/view?usp=sharing
It isn't clear to me if there is taxonomic occurrence data here. Can you describe what the column headers (AVA, AC, AR, etc) in this dataset represent?
It isn't clear to me if there is taxonomic occurrence data here. Can you describe what the column headers (AVA, AC, AR, etc) in this dataset represent?
Thank you for the observation!! Sorry, I just shared the "very raw" matrix of data. Let me explain. Those data came from the analysis of submarine videos acquired from the benthic communities, and then each frame was analyzed using random dots with the CPCE Excel complement to estimate an indicator of abundance per morphofunctional group. This assessment was done for training satellite imagery and obtain a thematic map of the benthic community in Yucatan, MX. So, the letters are the abbreviations of the benthic groups (AV=green algae; AR=red algae, etc)
@amircuevas so if I understand this correctly, the values in each morphofunctional group column is a value of percent cover?
If that's correct, I think it will be very straightforward to map your data to Darwin Core, but describing the methodology and unit of effort will be critical to ensuring other people reuse your data carefully.
Here are some Darwin Core Terms that your data could map to. If you haven't yet, take some time to explore the 'DwC quick reference guide' before the workshop to think about other terms that might be useful.
OBJECTID = occurrenceID
LONGITUD = decimalLongitude
LATITUD = decimalLatitude SITIO_ = 'locationID
FECHA__ = eventDate
TEMPORADA = could end up in a variety of places like extended Measurement or Fact extension, or more simply, eventRemarks
PROF___FT_ = not needed
PROF___M_ = min/maxDepthInMeters
each morphofunctional group could be assigned a scientificName, but it may be more tricky depending on how complex the groupings are. Might be a fun discussion at the workshop!
Feel free to checkout the Hakai Seagrass example in the IOOS BioDataGuide too!
https://ioos.github.io/bio_data_guide/datasets/hakai_seagrass_data/hakaiSeagrassToDWC.html
This might be an informative webinar:
https://www.aircentre.org/marine-biodiversity-networking-fridays-goos-bioeco-eovs-webinar-series-seagrass-cover-and-composition-macroalgae-canopy-cover-and-composition/
On September 19th, 2025, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM UTC+0, we will have a special session focusing on the seagrass cover and composition and the macroalgae canopy cover and composition BioEco Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs).
Seagrass meadows are biodiversity hotspots, natural coastal protectors, and powerful carbon sinks – yet they remain under-observed on a global scale. Recognised by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) as an EOV, Seagrass Cover and Composition provide vital insights into ocean health, ecosystem resilience, and climate mitigation. Standardised monitoring of this EOV, through in-water surveys and remote sensing, enables reliable, comparable data from local to global scales. Such observations not only track change in real time but also guide conservation strategies, inform policy, and strengthen sustainable coastal management. This webinar will introduce the Seagrass EOV, highlight its scientific and societal importance, and showcase how coordinated monitoring efforts connect local action to global solutions.
Macroalgal forests cover rocky reefs in temperate and cold waters worldwide. These habitats maintain diverse and productive coastal environments and sustain artisanal fisheries providing key services for human wellbeing. Macroalgal canopy cover and composition is the EOV designed to assess the status of macroalgal forests using standardized observing methods. This webinar will explain the EOV’s purpose, implementation through specification sheets, potential integration with current observing programs, and how new technologies like environmental DNA and AI imaging enhance monitoring of macroalgal forest biodiversity. The webinar will also highlight the importance of articulating clear hypotheses and appropriate sampling design to generate interpretable data from the EOV and to identify the key drivers of change.
Join us to discover how seagrass and macroalgae data can help safeguard both marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.