Name: Benthic invertebrate presence data, in and around the Cape Canyon (Southern Benguela Upwelling region)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

DOI: 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.05322023

Title	Benthic invertebrate presence data, in and around the Cape Canyon (Southern Benguela Upwelling region)
Project	Cape Canyon Exploration
Authors	Zoleka Filander Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Scientist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: zfilander@dffe.gov.za
Publisher	Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (2023)
Contributors	Project Member: Laurenne Snyders Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Technician; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: lsnyders@dffe.gov.za Project Member: Mfundo Lombi Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Technician; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: mlombi@dffe.gov.za Project Member: Charles Griffiths Zoology Department, University of Cape Town; role: Emeritus Professor; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: charles.griffiths@uct.ac.za Project Member: David Herbert Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum Wales; role: Honorary Research Fellow; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: phasianella@gmail.com Project Member: Christopher Mah Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution; role: Taxonomist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: brisinga@gmail.com Project Member: Jennifer Olbers Marine Conservation, WILDTRUST; role: Scientist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: Jennifer@wildtrust.co.za Project Member: Robyn Payne Anchor Environmental; role: Scientist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: robynppayne@gmail.com Project Member: Jannes Landschoff Sea Change Trust; role: Scientist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: jannes_l@hotmail.com Project Member: Dylan Clark Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko South African Museum; role: Taxonomist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: dclarke@iziko.org.za Contact Person: Zoleka Filander Oceans and Coastal Research, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE); role: Scientist; contact details: 2nd Floor, Foretrust Building, 1 Martin Hammerschlag Way, Cape Town, South Africa, email: zfilander@dffe.gov.za
Abstract	Canyon research is still an emergent field in South Africa and the true potential of canyons as biodiversity hotspots has seldom been studied in an integrated context. In response to this, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: Oceans and Coasts collected benthic data to better understand benthic species profiles within and around the Cape Canyon. This equated to 39 stations (whereby 13 were canyon and 26 non-canyon) and yielded 180 species.
Methods	Samples were collected with an epi-benthic sampler (i.e., a customized dredge with a mouth opening of 30 cm × 100 cm and mesh-lining of 1 cm2). To standardise sampling effort, dredge transects had a bottom-time of 15 to 20 minutes and constant speed of 0.5 knots. Specimens were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level using the recently published offshore field guide (Atkinson and Sink, 2018) and expert opinion. When identification was not possible (e.g., polychaetes, sponges, ascidians, etc.) organisms were separated according to broad morpho-types. Thus, a total of 180 taxonomically distinct specimens were identified. Samples were fixed and preserved in molecular-graded ethanol for long-term storage at the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.
Data	Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) Cite 10.15493/DEA.MIMS.05322023 Style Terms of use These data are made available with the express understanding that any such use will properly acknowledge the originator(s) and publisher and cite the accession numbers and/or associated Digital Object Identifiers. Anyone wishing to use these data should properly cite and attribute the data providers listed as authors in the metadata provided with each dataset. It is expected that all the conditions of the data license will be strictly honoured. Use of any material herein should be properly cited using the dataset’s persistent identifiers such as accession numbers and DOIs. I agree to the terms of use
Temporal extent	14 Mar 2016 – 28 Mar 2018
Geographic extent	South East Atlantic North: -32.351 South: -33.864 West: 17.073 East: 18.279
Vertical extent	Max: -50 m Min: -1000 m
Keywords	Benguela Upwelling, Benthic Species, SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN, Southern Benguela, Western Margin
Related resources	This digital object is referenced by https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.1025113

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