This dataset contains records of benthic marine communities collected from shallow subtidal rocky habitats around São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, during July 2020. Sampling was conducted at five coastal locations at approximately 5 m depth using a combination of quadrat surveys and visual belt transects to characterize the composition and structure of benthic assemblages. The dataset provides information on the diversity, abundance, and spatial distribution of macroalgae and other benthic organisms inhabiting shallow coastal ecosystems of the Azores. It constitutes a valuable baseline for biodiversity assessments, ecological monitoring, and studies investigating spatial variation, community structure, and environmental change in Atlantic island marine ecosystems.
","language":"eng","citation":{"text":"Faria J, Lorente B, Moreu I, Prestes A (2026). Benthic marine census in São Miguel Island (Azores): 2020 survey. Version 1.4. Universidade dos Açores. Samplingevent dataset. https://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=subtidal3bvent&v=1.4 https://doi.org/10.15468/a3n64g accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-10-13.","citationProvidedBySource":true},"contactsCitation":[],"lockedForAutoUpdate":false,"createdBy":"0a80feca-b411-428a-a34e-c5c2fa07cdba","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-06-17T13:17:01.872+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.850+00:00","contacts":[{"key":7604814,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"João","lastName":"Faria","position":[],"email":["joao.fo.santos@uac.pt"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-Açores)","address":["Rua Mãe de Deus"],"city":"Ponta Delgada","country":"PT","postalCode":"9501-801","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.821+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.821+00:00"},{"key":7604815,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Beatriz","lastName":"Lorente","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Universidade dos Açores","address":[],"city":"Ponta Delgada","country":"PT","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.823+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.823+00:00"},{"key":7604816,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Ignacio","lastName":"Moreu","position":[],"email":["nacho.moreu.badia@gmail.com"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Department of Ecology and Geology, University of Malaga, Instituto Andaluz de Biotecnología y Desarrollo Azul (IBYDA)","address":[],"city":"Malaga","country":"ES","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.825+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.825+00:00"},{"key":7604817,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Afonso","lastName":"Prestes","position":[],"email":["afonsoprestes@gmail.com"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-Açores)","address":[],"city":"Ponta Delgada","country":"PT","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.826+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.826+00:00"},{"key":7604818,"type":"METADATA_AUTHOR","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"João","lastName":"Faria","position":[],"email":["joao.fo.santos@uac.pt"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-Açores)","address":["Rua Mãe de Deus"],"city":"Ponta Delgada","country":"PT","postalCode":"9501-801","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.827+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.827+00:00"},{"key":7604819,"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"João","lastName":"Faria","position":[],"email":["joao.fo.santos@uac.pt"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO-Açores)","address":["Rua Mãe de Deus"],"city":"Ponta Delgada","country":"PT","postalCode":"9501-801","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.829+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:25:42.829+00:00"}],"endpoints":[{"key":1323118,"type":"DWC_ARCHIVE","url":"https://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/archive.do?r=subtidal3bvent","createdBy":"0a80feca-b411-428a-a34e-c5c2fa07cdba","modifiedBy":"0a80feca-b411-428a-a34e-c5c2fa07cdba","created":"2026-09-24T09:24:41.235+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:24:41.235+00:00","machineTags":[]},{"key":1323117,"type":"EML","url":"https://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/eml.do?r=subtidal3bvent","createdBy":"0a80feca-b411-428a-a34e-c5c2fa07cdba","modifiedBy":"0a80feca-b411-428a-a34e-c5c2fa07cdba","created":"2026-09-24T09:24:41.118+00:00","modified":"2026-09-24T09:24:41.118+00:00","machineTags":[]}],"machineTags":[{"key":33138940,"namespace":"crawler.gbif.org","name":"crawl_attempt","value":"17","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-10-08T19:10:07.656+00:00"}],"tags":[],"identifiers":[{"key":472691,"type":"UUID","identifier":"9112a11d-8965-47cb-b06a-2e59e9bbc65a","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-09-08T10:01:10.548+00:00","primary":false},{"key":469328,"type":"URL","identifier":"https://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=subtidal3bvent","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-06-18T07:03:18.991+00:00","primary":false}],"comments":[],"bibliographicCitations":[{"text":"Dethier MN, Graham ES, Cohen S, Tear LM (1993) Visual versus random-point percent cover estimations: ‘objective’ is not always better. Marine Ecology Progress Series 96: 93-100.","citationProvidedBySource":false},{"text":"Martins, G.M., Wallenstein, F.F.M., Álvaro, N.V., Neto, A.I. & Costa, A.C. (2005). Sampling strategies for biotope definition: minimal sampling area for selected groups of macroinvertebrates in the rocky subtidal of São Miguel, Azores. Helgoland Marine Research, 59(3), 219–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10152-005-0222-x","citationProvidedBySource":false}],"curatorialUnits":[],"taxonomicCoverages":[{"coverages":[{"scientificName":"Plocamiales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Bonnemaisoniaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Rhodophyta","rank":{"verbatim":"phylum","interpreted":"PHYLUM"}},{"scientificName":"Peyssonneliales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Corallinales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Gigartinales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Ceramiales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Delesseriaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Plocamiaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Dictyotales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Ulvaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Sphacelariaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Fucales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Ulvophyceae","rank":{"verbatim":"class","interpreted":"CLASS"}},{"scientificName":"Nemaliales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Cystocloniaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Ulvales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Cladophorales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Dictyotaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Gelidiaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Stypocaulaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Plantae","rank":{"verbatim":"kingdom","interpreted":"KINGDOM"}},{"scientificName":"Gelidiales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Chlorophyta","rank":{"verbatim":"phylum","interpreted":"PHYLUM"}},{"scientificName":"Corallinaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Sargassaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Cladophoraceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Ochrophyta","rank":{"verbatim":"phylum","interpreted":"PHYLUM"}},{"scientificName":"Florideophyceae","rank":{"verbatim":"class","interpreted":"CLASS"}},{"scientificName":"Peyssonneliaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Sphacelariales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Liagoraceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Scytosiphonales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Scytosiphonaceae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Bonnemaisoniales","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Phaeophyceae","rank":{"verbatim":"class","interpreted":"CLASS"}}]}],"geographicCoverages":[{"description":"This study was conducted on São Miguel Island, part of the Azores Archipelago (Portugal), located in the Eastern Group of the archipelago. Sampling was carried out at multiple coastal sites distributed around the island, targeting representative shallow subtidal rocky habitats.","boundingBox":{"minLatitude":37.713042,"maxLatitude":37.909614,"minLongitude":-25.835686,"maxLongitude":-25.133758,"globalCoverage":false}}],"temporalCoverages":[{"@type":"range","start":"2020-07-01T00:00:00.000+00:00","end":"2020-07-31T00:00:00.000+00:00"}],"keywordCollections":[{"thesaurus":"NA","keywords":["benthic communities","São Miguel Island","macroalgae","subtidal habitats","marine biodiversity","Azores"]},{"thesaurus":"GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type_2015-07-10.xml","keywords":["Samplingevent"]}],"project":{"title":"3bvent - Biodiversity, Biological interactions and Biotechnological products of coastal hydrothermal vents in Azores","contacts":[{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"João","lastName":"Faria","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Ana","lastName":"Neto","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Gustavo","lastName":"Martins","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Afonso","lastName":"Prestes","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Ana","lastName":"Seca","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Carla","lastName":"Cabral","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Carmo","lastName":"Barreto","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Duarte","lastName":"Toubarro","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Ignacio","lastName":"Moreu","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Joana","lastName":"Ramos","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Vitor","lastName":"Gonçalves","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Aschwin","lastName":"Engelen","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]},{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Hall-Spencer","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]}],"funding":"This study is a contribution for the research project ACORES-01-0145-FEDER- 000112 funded through FEDER (85%) and Regional funds (15%) via Programa Operacional Açores 2020. Funding was also provided from National Funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, within the projects UID/BIA/50027/2013, UID/BIA/00329/2015–2019, UID/BIA/00329/2020–2023, UIDB/50027/2020 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006821. This work also benefited from FEDER funds, through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors – COMPETE, as well as through the Regional Government of the Azores (M1.1.a/005/Funcionamento-C-/2016, CIBIO-A; M3.3.B/ORG.R.C./005/2021) and is a contribution to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science ICONA Program (Grant No: JPJSCCA20210006).","awards":[],"studyAreaDescription":"The study was conducted around São Miguel Island, in the Eastern Group of the Azores archipelago, North Atlantic Ocean. São Miguel is the largest island in the archipelago, covering approximately 745 km², and is located about 1,600 km west of mainland Europe. The island is volcanic in origin, with a rugged morphology, steep coastal sectors, and a pronounced altitudinal gradient reaching approximately 1,105 m above sea level. The coastline of São Miguel is strongly shaped by volcanic processes and coastal erosion, forming an irregular shore dominated by lava flows, cliffs, rocky platforms, boulder fields, cobble areas, crevices, and tide pools. Sandy coastal habitats are comparatively scarce and localized, making rocky substrates the dominant coastal environment around the island. Sampling was carried out in shallow coastal habitats along the southern shore of São Miguel Island. The sampled areas are characterized mainly by medium- to large-sized boulders in the shallow subtidal zone, with sandy bottoms occurring at greater depth. These habitats support diverse benthic assemblages, including turf-forming algae, crustose and articulated coralline algae, filamentous algal assemblages, frondose macroalgae, cyanobacterial films, limpets, littorinids, barnacles, molluscs, and other invertebrates adapted to exposed volcanic shores.","designDescription":"Sampling was conducted in July 2020 at five coastal locations around São Miguel Island (Azores, Northeast Atlantic) at approximately 5 m depth. At each location, benthic assemblages were surveyed using two complementary methods. Ten replicate 50 × 50 cm quadrats were haphazardly placed on the seabed and sampled following the protocol of Dethier et al. (1993). Additionally, five 15 m × 2 m belt transects were laid parallel to the coastline and surveyed following Martins et al. (2005), with all conspicuous benthic species recorded within each transect. This combined sampling design enabled the characterization of benthic community composition and spatial variability across locations.","relatedProjects":[],"abstract":"This project intends to investigate the diversity of microbiomes associated to marine species inhabiting coastal hydrothermal vents. Environmental communities will also be sought out, and transplants will be performed to understand host–microbial interactions in a changing ocean. This study also aims at identifying putative bacteria as a source of novel marine bioactive natural products that may be use in a wide range of applications, providing advice towards the establishment of innovative/ profitable investments with economic and societal benefits to the Azorean population."},"samplingDescription":{"studyExtent":"The study was conducted in shallow subtidal rocky habitats around São Miguel Island, the largest island of the Azores archipelago (Portugal, Northeast Atlantic). Sampling sites were distributed along the island’s coastline in representative rocky habitats at approximately 5 m depth. These environments are characterized by volcanic substrates, including bedrock, boulders, and cobble areas, which support diverse benthic communities dominated by macroalgae and other sessile organisms. The dataset documents the composition and distribution of benthic assemblages across five coastal locations, providing baseline information on the biodiversity and community structure of shallow subtidal ecosystems in the Azores.","sampling":"Sampling was conducted in July 2020 at five coastal locations around São Miguel Island, Azores. Benthic communities were surveyed at approximately 5 m depth using a combination of quadrat and visual transect methods. At each location, ten replicate 50 × 50 cm quadrats were haphazardly placed on the seabed and sampled following Dethier et al. (1993). In addition, five 15 m × 2 m belt transects were laid parallel to the coastline and surveyed following Martins et al. (2005), with all conspicuous benthic species recorded. This approach provided complementary quantitative and qualitative information on the composition and structure of shallow subtidal benthic assemblages.","qualityControl":"Field sampling was conducted by trained personnel following standardized protocols for benthic community surveys. Quadrat and transect sampling methods were applied consistently across all locations, using the same sampling effort, depth range, and survey procedures. Species identification was carried out in the field by experienced marine biologists familiar with Azorean benthic flora and fauna. Data quality control included verification of sampling metadata, location codes, replicate identifiers, and species records. Taxonomic names were reviewed and standardized according to accepted nomenclature, and records were checked for consistency, completeness, and potential transcription errors. The resulting dataset was validated to ensure comparability among locations and sampling units","methodSteps":["Fieldwork and Laboratory Procedures: Benthic community surveys were conducted in July 2020 at five coastal locations around São Miguel Island, Azores, in shallow subtidal rocky habitats at approximately 5 m depth. At each location, ten replicate 50 × 50 cm quadrats were haphazardly placed on the seabed and surveyed following the semi-quantitative protocol of Dethier et al. (1993). Within each quadrat, the cover and abundance of benthic taxa were recorded to characterize community composition. In addition, five visual belt transects (15 m × 2 m) were laid parallel to the coastline at each location and surveyed following Martins et al. (2005). All conspicuous benthic species observed within the transects were recorded, providing complementary information on species occurrence and assemblage composition. Species identification was carried out in situ by experienced marine biologists familiar with Azorean benthic communities.","Data Preparation and Standardization: Field observations from quadrats and transects were compiled into a structured dataset organized by location, sampling method, and replicate. Taxonomic names were reviewed and standardized according to accepted nomenclature, and records were checked for consistency, completeness, and potential transcription errors. Quality control procedures included verification of sampling metadata, species records, and abundance or cover estimates. The resulting dataset provides a standardized baseline for assessing the composition, diversity, and spatial variability of shallow subtidal benthic communities in the Azores."]},"countryCoverage":[],"collections":[],"dataDescriptions":[],"dataLanguage":"eng","acknowledgements":"The authors acknowledge funding by FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors-COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects UID/BIA/50027/2020 and UID/50027/2025-Rede de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Biologia Evolutiva, as well as Azorean regional funds through DRCID (M1.1.A/FUNC.UI&D/015/2025/RTF/001/Apoio UI&D). Funding to put data open access in AZORES BIOPORTAL was obtained from the project “Upgrading the Azorean Biodiversity Portal Infrastructure (AZORES BIOPORTAL-PORBIOTA) to Boost Biodiversity Research, Management, and Education -PORBIOTA” (DRCID, ACORES2030-FEDER-03420600). Data transformation and publication was funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Programme with Grant Agreement No. 101112823 (DTO-BioFlow) through an FSTP call.
","pubDate":"2026-09-24T00:00:00.000+00:00","maintenanceUpdateFrequency":"UNKNOWN","maintenanceDescription":"","license":"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode","dwca":{"coreType":"http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/Event","extensions":["http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/Occurrence","http://rs.iobis.org/obis/terms/ExtendedMeasurementOrFact"],"modified":"2026-09-24T12:42:00.896+00:00"},"approximateCounts":{"occurrenceCount":2970}}