CORMedNet is a collaborative initiative that aims to gather information on distribution, population dynamics and genetics of key species dwelling in the Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages. Besides CORMedNet aims promoting the adoption of standardized protocols for the acquisition on demographic data. The final goal is to provide the most comprehensive and updated dataset to support research and management actions enhancing the effectiveness of conservation of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages.
The core data currently available in CORMedNet was gathered from published (SCI papers, grey literature and technical reports) and non-published validated data obtained from citizen science initiatives (such as www.seawatchers.org, www.reefcheck.org).
Researchers collecting (having) data on distribution, population dynamics and genetics are invited to join and contribute to the growing data compilation effort. The system was carefully designed to ensure that the contributors have full control on their data (i.e. citation system, data edition etc…). The contributors have also the option to declare the data status –private or public- to guarantee the full control on the data use. We expect that private data will become public once the data has been published.
This collaborative effort is intended to provide a unique opportunity to map population distribution and conservation status while identifying data and geographic gaps. Besides the contributors will be able to download data from the public database for use in their analysis. The citation system proposed will guarantee the transparency about the origin of the data through the adoption of specific License.
In its current version, CORMedNet gathered information for more than 230 habitat-forming invertebrate species from coralligenous habitats and provides a full description on how to apply photogrammetric methods to quantify population size structure developed for the red coral but with potential application to other species with similar arborescent growth form. CORMedNet aim is to expand progressively incorporating genetics and traits data of species from Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages.