10.25607/5iced5 https://ipt.medobis.eu/resource?r=chrysi-macrobenthos-2023 Maria Maidanou Instittute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Research Technician(PhD)

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mariam@hcmr.gr Giorgos Chatzigeorgiou Instittute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Research Technician(PhD)

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chatzigeorgiou@hcmr.gr 0000-0003-3507-6542 Panayota Koulouri Instittute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Research Director

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yol72@hcmr.gr Maria Maidanou Instittute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Research Technician(PhD)

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mariam@hcmr.gr Ioannis Rallis Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Data manager, Marine Biologist

Heraklion GR

i.rallis@hcmr.gr 0000-0002-1384-9906 custodianSteward Dimitra Mavraki Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Data manager

Thalassocosmos, Former American Base Heraklion Crete 71003 GR

dmavraki@hcmr.gr 0000-0001-6775-530X custodianSteward 2026-03-17 eng This study is the first to examine the species composition and population density of macrobenthic communities living in soft-bottom sediments within the sublittoral zone surrounding Chryssi and Mikronisi islands. Data were gathered from sediment samples taken during a baseline survey conducted between April 23rd and May 1st, 2023. A grid of eleven sampling stations was established around the two islands, covering water depths of roughly 10 to 30 meters, with samples collected using a Smith–McIntyre grab (0.1 m²). The sediments were predominantly coarse-to-medium and fine-to-very-fine sand, a characteristic linked to the intense hydrodynamic activity found on both the northern and southern sides of the islands. The resulting dataset offers an evaluation of soft-bottom macrobenthic community structure in the region, and forms part of a broader environmental baseline assessment conducted around Chryssi and Mikronisi islands under the project "Implementation of the Action Plan Measures for Chryssi Island," funded by the Region of Crete / Sub-Regional Unit of Lasithi. Samplingevent GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type_2015-07-10.xml macrobenthos none soft-bottoms none Chryssi island none protected marine ecosystem none Mediterranean Sea none Specimen GBIF Dataset Subtype Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_subtype.xml This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License. Chrysi Island, Crete, Greece 25.568 25.862 34.965 34.789 2023-04-26 2023-05-01 phylum Mollusca phylum Arthropoda phylum Annelida phylum Echinodermata unkown Panayota Koulouri Instittute of Marine Biology Biotechnology and aquaculture (IMBBC), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Research Director

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yol72@hcmr.gr "1) Macrofauna one replicate per station 2) Water Column Analysis Parameters: photosynthetic pigments, organic carbon, and nutrients 3) CTD Profiling In situ measurements of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) 4) Sediment Analysis one replicate per station Parameters: granulometry, photosynthetic pigments, organic carbon and in situ measurements of redox potential and temperature. " A grid of 11 stations at Chryssi island was established to assess the qualitative and quantitative composition of the main macrobenthic faunal groups inhabiting soft-bottom substrates. At each station, one sediment sample was collected using a quantitative Smith–McIntyre grab with a sampling surface of 0.1 m². The location of each station was recorded with a FURUNO SFN-70 satellite navigator, and water depth was measured using a SIMRAD K-400 echo sounder of the research vessel PHILIA of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). Samples were sieved on board through a 0.5 mm mesh and preserved in 75% ethanol buffered with seawater. Back to the laboratory, macrobenthic organisms were extracted from the sediment, counted, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level using both a stereoscope and a microscope. All samples were processed following a consistent protocol, and species identifications were cross-validated by expert taxonomists. Data management adhered to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), ensuring that both metadata and datasets were machine-actionable and appropriately connected through persistent identifiers and established community standards (Wilkinson et al., 2016). Taxonomic and occurrence data were standardized using Darwin Core terms, a globally recognized framework for structuring and exchanging biodiversity information (Wieczorek et al., 2012). Scientific names were harmonized through the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) using the Taxon Match tool (WoRMS Editorial Board, 2025). Additional measurements and contextual information were standardized using controlled vocabularies from the NERC Vocabulary Server, improving interoperability across marine data repositories (BODC, 2025). Finally, the dataset underwent validation with the LifeWatch & EMODnet Biology Quality Control Tool (Perez et al., 2024), which assesses Darwin Core Archive files against EMODnet Biology data quality criteria. Maria Maidanou author Georgios Chatzigeorgiou contentProvider Panayota Koulouri principalInvestigator Region of Crete / sub-regional Unit of Lasithi A grid of eleven stations, Chryssi island, (Crete, Greece) This study aimed to enhance understanding of the structure and spatial variability of soft-bottom macrobenthic communities around the marine area of Chryssi and Mikronisi Islands. 2026-03-17T13:30:08.588+00:00 dataset Maidanou M., Chatzigeorgiou G., Rallis I., Mavraki D., Koulouri P. (2026).Distribution of macrobenthic communities of the coastal marine ecosystem of Chrysi island (Crete, Greece, Spring 2023). http://ipt.medobis.eu/logo.do?r=egyptexpeditionbryozoa Distribution of macrobenthic communities of the coastal marine ecosystem of Chrysi island (Crete, Greece, Spring 2023). alcohol https://ipt.medobis.eu/resource?id=chrysi-macrobenthos-2023/v2.xml