1. Traits for species in WoRMS EMODNET WP2.2
Mark J. Costello
Institute of Marine Science, Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, New Zealand

2. WP2.2 = species attributes information
Why?
How?
What traits (vocabulary)
Classification (relationships)
Definition (glossary)
Implementation
Data analysis and publication

3. Why add traits to WoRMS?
Classification is a hypothesis for species relationships
Taxonomic
Environmental
Geographic
Ecological etc..
Data analysis needs consistent terminology
Databases force standard terminology (fields)
Databases may reveal new insights
Each new trait (data field) has multiplier effect on potential data analyses

4. Need for standards Ecology is worse
Species names are the common currency and backbone for biodiversity informatics
Species names have semantic problems –names can change over time
But have taxonomic relationships and rules to minimise confusion
Ecology is worse
diverse and uncontrolled terminology
highly context dependant

5. User needs Food – fisheries, aquaculture Pests – invasives, others
Health – HAB, sharks, toxicity
Conservation status
BUT a species ‘status’ can change over time and place and so not ‘species’ traits

6. Kinds of traits Numerical, e.g. body size in mm
Continuous, e.g. coastline, polygon
Categorical, e.g. predator
Note 1 or 2 can = 3 but not the reverse

7. Relevance of traits Trait Relevance Taxonomic
Related species have similar traits so taxonomic relationships predict traits of related species
Environment
Most studies are confined to a particular environment so this trait allows users to quickly isolate species of interest for their purpose.
Depth
The most widely available variable to distinguish species habitat.
Substratum
A key physical factor determining benthic species habitat.
Habitat
Derived from environment, depth, and substratum.
Habit
Determines mode of dispersal and ecological role (e.g. habitat forming) in the ecosystem.
Diet
Influence on abundance of other species.
Feeding method
Determines its diet and potential prey, and functional role in the ecosystem.
Life-stage
Most marine species traits change significantly at different life-stages.
Body size
Related to position in food web, species abundance, metabolic rates, and dispersal.

8. Trait prioritisation IN OUT Unique to few taxa Temporal distribution
Taxonomy
Environment
(Geography)
Life-stage
Depth
Substratum
Body size
Diet
Feeding method
Habitat
depth, substratum, environment
Unique to few taxa
Temporal distribution
Seascapes
Ecosystems
OTHER ATTRIBUTE
“status”
Conservation
Economic

9. Proposed traits Taxonomic Geography Environment Depth Substratum
Habitat
Habit
Diet
Feeding method
Life-stage
Body size
Phylum to Genus
Marineregions.org, latitude – longitude
Marine, brackish, freshwater, terrestrial
Intertidal, subtidal, deep-sea (>500 m), max+min
Pelagic, mud, sand, gravel, boulders, bedrock, biological
= environment, depth + substratum
Sessile, sedentary, mobile, solitary, aggregated, infauna, pelagic
Carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, parasite, detrivore, plant, chemoautotroph
Suspension, deposit, grazer, predator
Adult, juvenile, larva, egg
In mm

10. Other traits to consider
Reproduction
Fecundity
Life-span (of each life-stage)
Calcareous skeleton
ocean acidification, fossils
Guilds
e.g. ‘functional groups’ based on body size, habitat or diet; or can these be derived?
Should we develop complete classification but only implement priority traits?
Do we want ‘classes’ and a hierarchy of traits?

11. > 40 years daily sea temperature & weather data
University of Auckland, north of New Zealand
> 40 years daily sea temperature & weather data
Variable biological data over time