Seaweeds, or marine macroalgae, are macroscopic algae that grow along seashores worldwide and in many cases are key to the functioning of benthic ecosystems. Seaweeds comprise three groups, brown (Phaeophyceae), red (Rhodophyta) and green (Chlorophyta) seaweeds, which evolved independently from unicellular algal ancestors. The amazing diversity of seaweeds is reflected in the ecological and morphological characteristics of the various species. Seaweed traits and functional forms have therefore long been used as a tool to answer various ecological and evolutionary questions.

AlgaeTraits (https://algaetraits.org/) provides standardized trait information for all European seaweeds, enabling the use of trait-based approaches over broad taxonomic, spatial and temporal scales. AlgaeTraits is a thematic subregister of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (https://marinespecies.org/) which links to AlgaeBase (https://www.algaebase.org/), the most complete database on global algal taxonomic information.

AlgaeTraits is a work in progress. The AlgaeTraits portal was launched in September 2022, and the number of documented traits is currently being expanded towards a global trait database. Furthermore, the editor community of AlgaeTraits is being built. The AlgaeTraits editors will meet for the first time during an online workshop in December 2022.

Through the online AlgaeTraits portal, editors have access to the Aphia platform (the database behind WoRMS) to add new traits and related non-taxonomic information, and to make changes to already existing records. With this course, the AlgaeTraits editors will become more at ease with the online AlgaeTraits editing interface and will learn how to use the available functionalities and tools to standardize their actions and improve the AlgaeTraits and WoRMS databases.

Aims

The aims link directly with the above information:

• Teach the AlgaeTraits editors how to work with the online editing interface, based on the training material available through the OceanTeacher e-Learning Platform
• Plan the future of AlgaeTraits.

Workshop Format:

Through the structured learning environment of the OceanTeacher e-Learning Platform, the AlgaeTraits editors can follow tutorial videos and learn tips and tricks on how to do certain online actions (adding, editing, checking and deleting information). The editors can go through the online training material at their own pace prior to the synchronous online sessions.

From December 5^th to 7^th, 2022, a series of online sessions with the WoRMS Data Management Team (DMT) are scheduled. During these sessions, the AlgaeTraits editors can engage in Q&A with the DMT about the online training material and start open discussions on the way forward for AlgaeTraits.

Participation is by invitation only.

Contact: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): info@marinespecies.org

Online (synchronous) workshop: 5-7 December 2022, Synchronous (Zoom) sessions from 14:00 – 16:00 CET