AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Happywhale - Fin Whale in Arctic Ocean

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales.
Original provider: HappywhaleDataset credits: Happywhale and contributors Supplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 14 contributors in alphabetic order: Adelie Xiaohang Li; Andrew Thompson; Annette Bombosch; Chris Lewis; Heidi Krajewsky; Hondius; Lauren Farmer; Marilia Olio; MS Otto Sverdrup; MS Spitsbergen; Nick Savic; Patrick Mitchell; Ronny Hogstrom; Tobias Brehm
Scottish West Coast Survey for commercial fish species

The dataset includes age- and length-based catch per unit effort data for commercial fish species collected during the Scottish West Coast Survey. 

The Quarter 1 Scottish Groundfish survey started in 1981 and was initially intended to cover the fishing grounds on the continental shelf to the west of Scotland; in 1996 the survey area was extended to include the northern Irish Sea.
The Scottish West Coast Surveys use a similar ICES rectangle based sampling strategy to that used in the North Sea. Trawl stations are selected at one tow per rectangle based on a library of clear tows. There is no explicit return to the same trawling position every year, although this is generally the case. 

Since 1999 the potential for using a depth rather than rectangle based stratification has been under investigation. To this end, and where possible, those rectangles which display substantial internal depth variation have been sampled twice at different depths. The recent inclusion of samples collected between 200 and 500m would suggest that depth stratification should be initiated as soon as possible.

The survey covers Division Via and extends into the northern part of the Irish Sea and north west of Ireland. The depth range covered has been 20 to 500m since 2000. The survey is usually carried out in March of each year. The target species are cod, haddock, whiting, saithe and herring and age frequencies are constructed for these species. All other fish species encountered are also sampled for at least length frequencies. 

Indices of abundance at age are calculated for all the target species and these data are used at the Northern Shelf Assessment Working Group and also made available for the Herring Assessment Working Group.
Aegean Sea Bathyal Nematodes

Meiofaunal communities from the bathyal ecosystem of the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean). The dataset contains data on the community structure of nematodes from 7 stations (depth range 153 to 1772 m) which were sampled twice (September 1997 and March 1
Samples were obtained during two cruises (August - September ’97 and March - April ’98). In total, seven stations were sampled; four from the north Aegean and three from the south Aegean Sea. Depth range was from 153 to 1772 m. Samples were sectioned into four layers: 0-1, 1-2, 2-4 and 4-6 cm depth. For nematode identifications, specimens were selected randomly from each of the seven stations as follows: 300 specimens from September ’97 (100 specimens from the first two layers and 50 specimens from each of the two remaining layers) and 100 specimens from March ’98 (100 specimens from the first layer only). For nematode measurements 100 individuals were measured from the 0-1 cm layer only. Additionally, three replicates were taken for chlorophyll a, phaeopigments, organic carbon and nitrogen measurements, while one replicate was taken for sediment grain size and percentage of silt and clay estimations.
Cross Sands broadscale survey 1998

Broadscale benthic survey undertaken by CEFAS off the east coast of the United Kingdom.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was any evidence of a large-scale cumulative impact on benthic macro-invertebrate communities as a result of the multiple sites of aggregate extraction located off Great Yarmouth in the southern North Sea.  Forty 0.1m2 Hamon grab samples were collected from across the region, both within and beyond the extraction area, and analysed for macrofauna and sediment particle size distribution in order to produce a regional description of the status of the seabed environment.  In addition, the data were analysed in relation to the area of seabed impacted by dredging over the period 1993-1998.  Areas subject to ‘direct’ impacts were determined through reference to annual electronic records of dredging activity and this information was then used to model the likely extent of areas potentially subject to ‘indirect’ ecological and geophysical impact.  Results showed the study area to be characterised by sands in the northern half of the survey area, and sandy gravels in the south.  The low diversity communities found across much of the survey area were typical of mobile sandy sediments.  However, stations located in the southern half and northern extreme of the survey area tended to support higher numbers of species and individuals.  This may be due to marginally enhanced stability arising from the higher proportion of gravel found in samples to the south of the extraction licences and to the presence of Sabellaria spinulosa reef in the north.  Analysis of data in relation to areas of predicted dredging impact revealed proportionally less gravel and more sand within the ‘direct’ impact zone, compared to the ‘indirect’ impact zone.  Whilst multivariate analyses of macrofaunal data were unable to discriminate between dredging impact zones, a comparison of univariate measures revealed significantly lower numbers of species and individuals in areas which have been subject to ‘direct’ dredging impacts in comparison with ‘reference’ areas.  This provides good evidence of the near-field consequences of dredging.  Values of these measures in the ‘indirect’ zone were intermediate, although not significantly different from the ’reference’ zone.  We conclude that, although the dominant influence on assemblages in the region is that of sediment instability induced by tidal currents, we cannot dismiss the possibility of a subsidiary influence of dredging activity in the near vicinity of the licensed block and further investigation is warranted.
Universidad de Málaga: MGC - Algae

Herbario informatizado de la Universidad de Málaga.
El Herbario MGC pertenece a la Universidad de Málaga y está gestionado por el Departamento de Biología Vegetal (Área de Botánica). Se encuentra situado en la planta baja de la Facultad de Ciencias con una superficie aproximada de 50 m2. Las plantas están colocadas en un doble pliego e introducidas en cajas de cartón, que a su vez se hallan incluidas en armarios compactos. Todo el material es congelado y fumigado periódicamente. El Herbario incluye cerca de 80.000 pliegos, el 95% identificados a nivel de especie y todos ellos etiquetados y registrados bajo las siglas MGC. Se hallan representados fundamentalmente los grupos pertenecientes a Cormófitos (Angiospermas, Gimnospermas y Helechos), aunque también lo están algas, briófitos y liquenes. Los territorios mejor representados en el Herbario corresponden a Andalucía, aunque también posee numerosas plantas procedentes del resto de España y del norte de Marruecos. Se trata de un Herbario básico en los proyectos de Flora Ibérica, Flora de Andalucía y norte de África, y Flora de Andalucía Oriental, por lo que la mayoría del material ha sido confirmado o identificado por los investigadores de dichos proyectos. En la actualidad está siendo informatizado mediante el programa Herbar del Proyecto GBIF.
DATRAS North Sea Sandeel Survey

The purpose of the sand eel dredge survey is to collect sand eels buried in the seabed and compare catches (number and age composition) with the previous year's collections to assess the year class strength of sand eel in area 1r, 2r and 3r of the different areas adopted by ICES in 2016. Data from the dredge survey is the basis for calculating an index, which is used in the stock assessment for sand eel in the North Sea.
Length/Width and biomass of nematodes from sandbanks on the Belgian Continental Shelf

Firstly, one wanted to analyse the response of nematode biomass spectra (NBS) to three distinct stressors upon the sediment habitat and secondly, analysing the NBS in different ways to be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various methods.
This dataset was collected in the framework of the PODO-I project: "Structural and functional biodiversity of North Sea ecosystems: species and their habitats as indicators for a sustainable development of the Belgian Continental Shelf".
Happywhale - White-beaked Dolphin in North Atlantic Ocean

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales.
Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributorsSupplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 5 contributors in alphabetic order: Javier Cotin; Marilia Olio; Mark OBrien; S. Helgu; Ted Cheeseman
CeDoc de Biodiversitat Vegetal: BCN-Phycophyta

Unitat de Documentació d'algues. Conté uns 6.000 exemplars, que es conserven en dos tipus de formats: premsades o en flascons amb formol.
Les mostres premsades es disposen en capses d'herbari, ordenades per divisions i dins de cada divisió, alfabèticament per espècies. Corresponen a macròfits marins, bàsicament Feòfits, Rodòfits i Cloròfits, que provenen de tota la costa de la Península Ibèrica, però majoritàriament dels Països Catalans, del País Basc i de Galícia. Pel que fa als tàxons, hi ha una considerable representació del génere Cystoseira.

Els flascons amb formol bàsicament corresponen a algues microscòpiques d'aigua dolça. Les mostres solen ser pluriespecífiques, amb predominància d'un determinat tàxon. Aquestes mostres són excloses de préstec i només poden ser estudiades en el mateix centre.

La conservadora d'aquesta Unitat de Documentació és la Dra. Antonia Ribera, professora del Departament de Productes Naturals, Biologia Vegetal i Edafologia de la Universitat de Barcelona. 

La col·lecció de mostres premsades actualment ja està completament informatitzada i es pot consultar a través de la secció de bases de dades
Infaunal abundance and biomass data from surveys of the East Antrim Maerl bed in 2004

This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs in Red Bay, Co. Antrim in 2004 on the RV Lough Foyle. The data from this survey was used to help support the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) site designation for Red Bay, Co. Antrim. A day grab was used to collect the samples, in total there were 20 samples taken and analysed. Particle Size Analysis (PSA) and Carbon - Nitrogen analysis was carried out on the sediments from the grab. The presence and absence of Maerl (alive or dead) was also recorded. The most abundant species found was Calcarea sp. and the most frequently recorded was the polychaete Glycera lapidium.
"This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs carried out in Red Bay, Co. Antrim. The main aim of this survey was to collect data that could be used to support a potential site designation for Red Bay SAC. Also to investigate the infaunal communities associated with Maerl beds. Red Bay has been designated as an SAC since 2009. It contains EU Habitats Directive Annex 1 “Sandbanks slightly covered by seawater at all times” which are dominated by maerl and sub-fossil maerl. The Red Bay SAC covers an Area of 9.65km2 in the north of the bay. The grab samples were collected on 2004-05-20 on board the RV Lough Foyle using a day grab. The methodology for using a day grab is detailed below.
• A 0.1m2 day grab was used to take a sample of the sediment - associated infaunal communities.
• When the sample reaches the deck, a 250ml sample is taken for PSA and a further 25ml is taken for C - N analysis. The rest of the sample is carefully sieved to reveal any infauna.
• Fixed Formalin (4% buffered formaldehyde) is added to the remains of the sample and these are placed in labelled buckets.
• The samples are sent to accredited taxonomic laboratories were they are identified to as high a level as possible and weighed.
"
Benthic bycatch data from non-native Crepidula fornicata dredge surveys in Belfast Lough from 2013-2017

This dataset contains information on the presence and absence of bycaught infaunal species from Crepidula fornicata surveys in Belfast Lough from 2013 to 2017 on board the Fisheries Protection Vessel, Banríon Uladh (renamed in 2016 to Queen of Ulster). The surveys were carried out each year in late September and early October (each over 2 days of surveying). It is important to note that this dataset contains bycatch information and this was not the key aim of the survey. The C.fornicata survey is carried out to routinely monitor the extent of the breeding population of C.fornicata (non-native in Northern Ireland) to enable policies to be put in place to minimise the spread of non-native fauna. In the years 2013-2015, a small oyster dredge was used to collect samples, in 2016 and 2017 a small AFBI naturalist dredge was used. In total over the 4 years, 278 samples were collected for identification - analysis. The most frequently recorded species was the gastropod Philine aperta.
"This dataset contains information on the presence and absence of bycaught infaunal species from Crepidula fornicata surveys in Belfast Lough carried out annually (autumn) from 2013-2017. The survey was carried out on the DARD Fisheries Protection Vessel, Banríon Uladh (renamed in 2016 to Queen of Ulster). The surveys were carried out each year in late September and early October (each over 2 days of surveying). It is important to note that this dataset contains bycatch information and this was not the key aim of the survey. The main aim of the C. fornicata survey is to routinely monitor the extent of the population in Belfast Lough to advise management policies to minimise the spread of this non-native species. C.fornicata (Slipper limpet) is non-native in the UK and Ireland. It is native to the Western Atlantic Ocean and the 1st established population in Belfast Lough was recorded in 2009. 
From 2013-2015 a small oyster dredge was used to obtain the samples (63x50x18) and from 2016 a small AFBI naturalist dredge with a rectangular mouth (490mm x 215mm) was used (mesh size = 10mm). The dredges were towed for 3-5mins and the catch was sorted and the fauna recorded to species level where possible. The dates of the surveys and number of samples each year are detailed below.
• 2013: 23/09/2013 - 24/09/2013, 60 samples.
• 2014: 22/09/2014 - 23/09/2014, 59 samples.
• 2015: 13/10/2015 - 14/10/2015, 63 samples.
• 2016: 27/09/2016 - 29/09/2016, 52 samples.
• 2017: 25/09/2017 - 28/09/2017, 44 samples.
"
Baltic porpoise acoustic surveys 01-02

Boat-based acoustic surveys for harbor porpoises in the Baltic Sea during the summers of 2001 and 2002.
Boat-based acoustic surveys for harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were conducted during the summers of 2001 and 2002 in order to investigate their distribution and relative abundance in the Baltic Sea, and to compare the results with the adjacent Kiel and Mecklenburg Bights and the Little Belt.

Harbor porpoises are subject to year-round bycatch in gillnets and other fishing gear in these waters. This is of particular concern in the Baltic Sea where a survey carried out in 1995 indicated that the population is low and current levels of anthropogenic mortality are believed to be unsustainable.
Grab samples data from subarctic fjords in the Norwegian Sea 2013-2015

Macrobenthic dataset for three fjords in Nordland, Northern Norway: Saltfjord, Skjerstadfjord and Sørfolda. At each sampling station (36 stations total), two Van Veen grab (0.1 m2) samples were taken, sieved on a 1 mm mesh, and fixed with 4% buffered formaldehyde. The sorted individuals were identified to the lowest taxon possible (usually species level) and transferred to 70% ethanol. For each taxon, numbers, ind/0.1 m2, and biomass, mg/0.1 m2, are presented. The samples are stored at Nord University (Bodø, Norway)
North Atlantic and Arctic Cumacea sampled during the IceAGE (2011) and PASCAL (2017) project

This datasets contributes to a better understanding of diversity in small peracarid crustacean and their possible distribution patterns in remote deep-sea regions. It contains specimen ocurrence records of the taxon Cumacea sampled with diverse benthic gears (epibenthic sledges, box corer) on the Yermak Plateau north of Svalbard during the PASCAL project with RV Polarstern in 2017 and during the IceAGE expedition IceAGE1 in 2011 in deep sea regions of the Nordic GIN-Seas (Greenland, Iceland and Norwegian Sea).
The specimens investigated on morphological and molecular basis in this study were sampled in the course of different projects: The IceAGE program (Icelandic marine Animals: Genetics and Ecology, Brix et al. 2014a)  is an ongoing research project (IceAGE 2 in 2013, IceAGE-RR in 2018, IceAGE 3 in 2020) which was established as a follow up of the very successful BIOFAR (Biology of the Faroe Islands, Nørrevang et al. 1994; Gerken and Watling 1999) and BIOICE (Benthic Invertebrates of Icelandic waters, Omarsdottir et al. 2013) projects. It is aimed to develop into a long-term study to get an overview of the biodiversity in this extremely diverse region around Iceland with a variety of different habitats and environmental challenges in its adjacent waters. Based on genetic and morphological diversity, it aims to create an inventory of the fauna as elementary knowledge for a comprehensive understanding of possible responses to changing climate conditions in marine environments (Brix et al. 2014a). The focus of the expedition PS106/1 (ARK-XXXI/1.1, 24th of May – 21st of June, 2017) off northern Svalbard onboard the RV Polarstern in course of PASCAL (Physical feedbacks of Arctic PBL, Sea ice, Cloud and Aerosol) was an interdisciplinary approach for studying the interaction of different Arctic feedback mechanisms based on atmospheric, oceanographic, physical and biological studies (Macke and Flores 2018). In this context the vessel was attached to an ice floe during a two-week passive drifting according to the ocean’s current as a preliminary trial-expedition to the first year-round MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition (Sep/2019 – Sep/2020).
Marine mammal monitoring from coastal sites in Cardigan Bay, UK, 2004-2009

Since 1994, Ceredigion County Council and a network of shore-based volunteer observes have monitored levels of boat traffic and the occurrence of bottlenose dolphins at seven sites on the coast of Cardigan Bay, Wales. We report high rates of site use and site occupancy by this species during the summer. Although trends in site use may not reflect population trends in the wider region, these data were consistent with recent abundance estimates that indicate that the number of bottlenose dolphins using Cardigan Bay is stable or slightly increasing.

Cardigan Bay is a Special Area of Conservation for bottlenose dolphins and other species and habitats. Recreational boating is known to have the potential to cause disturbance to cetaceans and this monitoring study provides data that underpins the effectiveness of management.
HELCOM/OSPAR Finland ports water sampling

This dataset includes the data used in in the HELCOM/OSPAR Ballast Water Exemptions Decision Support Tool. This tool was developed in 2013 based on the overall IMO framework, the 21 Baltic and North-East Atlantic coastal states and the EU. It allows user to define 'low risk' routes, as well as other necessary steps in granting exemptions under regulation A-4 of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC)
Marine Awareness North Wales, Wildlife Trust harbor porpoise baseline surveys on the north coast of Anlesey, Wales, UK

Data collected from 2002 to 2004 on harbor porpoise populations at the north coast of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom.
A three year study was undertaken during 2002 to 2004 from May to September to estimate abundance and density of harbor porpoises on the north coast of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom. There were no ecological data regarding the harbor porpoises in Anglesey waters so the ability to influence conservation measures was highly constrained. Boat-based transects using distance sampling techniques were applied so a robust estimate of density and abundance could be attained. The study area consisted of a block approximately 489 km2 extending from the east of Point Lynas to the west of South Stack on north coast of Anglesey. The study area was divided into five blocks consisting of 31 perpendicular transect lines to the shore. Each of the transect lines were surveyed 1–5 times by the end of the three year study. Based on the assumption that g(0) = 1 the density of harbor porpoises for the 489 km2 study site was estimated to be 0.630 individuals/km2 (CV = 0.20) and the abundance is estimated to be 309 individuals (CV = 0.20). Heterogeneity in density and abundance was observed across the five blocks which showed Point Lynas and South Stack to have the highest densities. This distribution was closely associated to fine-scale oceanographic features which cause prey to be concentrated and may facilitate foraging for harbor porpoises. The study showed that Anglesey provides coastal habitats for the harbor porpoise and was the first study of this kind in North Wales, United Kingdom.

The need for abundance and density estimates was highlighted as a key factor in the conservation and management of the harbor porpoise in Anglesey waters. Moreover, proposed extension of the wind farms from Liverpool Bay to Anglesey and the potential of the area for marine renewable energy devices presented a problem to managers and planners due to the lack of knowledge of harbor porpoise populations in north Wales.
Canary Islands - OAG

Data from a monitoring program of the loggerhead in waters around Canary Islands.
The waters around Canary Islands constitute a foraging ground for juvenile loggerheads from different Atlantic nesting populations.

The Granadilla Environmental Observatory (OAG, Observatorio Ambiental Granadilla) is developing a monitoring program of the loggerhead in order to gain additional information on the distributional patterns of the species provided by previous programs (i.e. Aegina). 

The OAG is a Spanish State foundation recently created and based in Tenerife, Canary Islands, aiming to monitor environmental conditions of the sea and the state of biodiversity and marine protected areas in waters around the Canary Islands and, extensively, the archipelago of Madeira and the Azores (the Atlantic subregion called Macaronesia). One of its objectives is also the follow-up of the impacts of large marine-based infrastructures, such as large ports.
Macrobenthos collected in the Po River Delta - North Adriatic Sea (RITMARE Project) in December 2014

Macrobenthos collected in the Po Delta - North Adriatic Sea in the framework of the Italian Flagship Project RITMARE in December 2014.
Study Extent 	Sampling carried out in December 2014 in North Adriatic Sea in the framework of the Italian Flagship Project RITMARE.
Grab sampling (Van Veen, 0.1 square metre grab sampler), sieving on 0.5 mm, sample fixed with buffered formaldehyde (4% final concentration).