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ChEssBase: an online information system on biodiversity and biogeography of deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems
Entry ID: ChEssBase

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Summary

Abstract: ChEssBase is a dynamic relational database available online since early 2005. The aim of ChEssBase is to provide taxonomic, biological, ecological and distributional data for all species described from deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems, as well as information on available samples, images, bibliography and information on the habitats. These habitats include hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls, sunken wood and areas of minimum oxygen that intersect with the continental margin or seamounts.

Since the discovery of hydrothermal vents in 1977 and of cold seep communities in 1984, over 590 species from vents and over 230 species from seeps have been described (Van Dover et al., 2002. Science 295: 1253-1257). Chemosynthetically fuelled communities have now also been found on large organic falls to the deep-sea floor such as whale falls and sunken wood, as well as on benthic zones of oxygen minimum. The data gathered in the last 30 years has shown that some species are shared amongst these ecosystems and our knowledge of their phylogeography improves with every new discovery. New species are continuously being discovered and described from research programmes around the globe and therefore ChEssBase is in active development and new data are being entered regularly. At present, ChEssBase includes data on 642 species from 421 genera from 76 chemosynthetic sites around the globe. These data contain information (when available) on the taxonomy, morphology, trophic level, reproduction, endemicity, habitat type and distribution. There are now 953 papers in our reference database.

In summer 2005, ChEssBase and the InterRidge biological database ("http://www.interridge.org") were fused into a single source of information for biological data from chemosynthetic ecosystems (Ramirez-Llodra et al., 2005 IR News, 14). This second version of ChEssBase is available online since August 2005, with new records as well as new search and download options. Taxonomically these data comprise all species living on deep-water chemosynthetic ecosystems: hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, whale falls and sunken wood.

SCAR-MarBIN (http://www.scarmarbin.be/) serves a subset of the data described here for Southern-Ocean locations.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA
Description: OBIS Advanced Search Data Extent Map and related functions

Link: GET DATA
Description: Acon Map

Link: GET DATA
Description: Southern Ocean data is downloadable from the SCAR-MarBIN web portal

Link: VIEW PROJECT HOME PAGE
Description: ChEssBase home page

Geographic Coverage

N: 72.0 S: -55.1 E: 179.7 W: -155.45

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Ramirez-Llodra, E., Freitga, K., Blanco, M. & Baker, C.
Dataset Title: ChEssBase: an online information system on biodiversity and biogeography of deep-sea chemosynthetic ecosystems
Dataset Release Date: 2005
Dataset Release Place: Southampton, UK
Dataset Publisher: University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre, School of Ocean and Earth Science; World Wide Web electronic publications
Version: Version 2
Data Presentation Form: SQL-server
Online Resource: http://www.soc.soton.ac.uk/chess/

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1977-01-01

Stop Date: 2006-04-30

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ARCTIC OCEAN
OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN
OCEAN > INDIAN OCEAN
OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN
OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH CHINA AND EASTERN ARCHIPELAGIC SEAS
CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA
GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

Data Resolution

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA
OCEANS

Platform

SUBMARINE [Information]

Project

OBIS >OCEAN BIOGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM    [Information]

IPY >INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR    [Information]

SCAR-MARBIN >SCAR Marine Biodiversity Information Network    [Information]

CAML >CENSUS OF ANTARCTIC MARINE LIFE    [Information]

COML >CENSUS OF MARINE LIFE    [Information]

EBA >Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic    [Information]

CHESS >Biogeography of Deep-Water Chemosynthetic Ecosystems    [Information]

Access Constraints

None.

Use Constraints

Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases in the form appearing in the 'Citation' field thereof (if any); and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility.

For information purposes, email to obissupport@marine.rutgers.edu the full citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any constituent part.

Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS.

Also see SCAR-MarBIN data policy at http://www.scarmarbin.be/datapolicy.php

Keywords

Habitat: cold seeps, whale falls and sunken wood

remotely operated vehicle

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

National Oceanography Centre, Southampton

Data Center

International Ocean Biogeographic Information System [Information]
Data Center URL: http://www.iobis.org/

Data Center Personnel

Name: EDWARD VANDEN BERGHE
Phone: (732) 932-6555 x 565
Fax: (732) 932-8578
Email: evberghe at marine.rutgers.edu, evberghe at iobis.org
Contact Address:
Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences
Rutgers University
71 Dudley Road
City: New Brunswick
Province or State: NJ
Postal Code: 08901-8521
Country: USA

Marine Biodiversity Information Network, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, International Council for Science [Information]
Data Center URL: http://www.scarmarbin.be/

Data Center Personnel

Name: BRUNO DANIS
Phone: +32(0)2 6274139
Fax: +32(0)2 6274277
Email: bruno.danis at scarmarbin.be
Contact Address:
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
29 Rue Vautier
City: Brussels
Postal Code: 1000
Country: BELGIUM

Distribution

Distribution_Media: HTTP
Distribution_Format: OBIS Schema
Fees: None

Personnel

EVA RAMIREZ-LLODRA
Role: INVESTIGATOR
Phone: 34 93 2309544
Email: ezr at icm.csic.es
Contact Address:
Institut de Ciències del Mar,
Psg. Marítim Barceloneta 37-49
City: Barcelona
Postal Code: 08003
Country: SPAIN

DANIEL PERRY
Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
Email: dvp at noc.soton.ac.uk

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2010-04-20

Last DIF Revision Date: 2012-12-20

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