This dataset shows the global distribution of cold-water corals. Occurrence records are given for 86 Families under the subclass Octocorallia (octocorals; also known as Alcyonaria) and four Orders (in Class Anthozoa): Scleractinia (reef-forming corals), Antipatharia (black corals), Zoanthidae (encrusting or button polyps), and Pennatulacea (sea pens). Occurrence records are also available for the order sub-Order Filifera (lace corals) in Class Hydrozoa.
Citations:
Freiwald A, Rogers A, Hall-Spencer J, Guinotte JM, Davies AJ, Yesson C, Martin CS, Weatherdon LV (2017). Global distribution of cold-water corals (version 5.0). Fifth update to the dataset in Freiwald et al. (2004) by UNEP-WCMC, in collaboration with Andre Freiwald and John Guinotte. Cambridge (UK): UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. URL: http://data.unep-wcmc.org/datasets/3
Other cited reference(s):
Freiwald A, Fosså JH, Grehan A, Koslow T, Roberts JM (2004). Cold-water coral reefs: out of sight – no longer out of mind. Biodiversity Series 22. Cambridge (UK): UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. 86 pp. URL: https://archive.org/details/coldwatercoralre04frei
OSPAR Commission. (2015) OSPAR Threatened and/or Declining Habitats 2015. URL: http://www.ospar.org/work-areas/bdc/species-habitats/list-of-threatened-declining-species-habitats. Data URL: http://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/download.
Use Constraints:
UNEP-WCMC General Data License.
For commercial use, please contact business-support@unep-wcmc.org.
