A trait database for the characterization of diatom communities in disconnected pools.

Abstract

Trait-based approaches are increasingly used in ecology to understand biodiversity responses to environmental changes. However, information on diatom traits, particularly in temporary aquatic systems, remains limited. Here, we present DIATPOOL, the first database focused on diatom traits from disconnected pools. DIATPOOL includes 17 morphological, ecological, and physiological traits, derived from literature and expert knowledge, including size, shape, apical constriction, dispersal capacity, ecological guilds, colony formation, or habitat tolerance. The database also includes an initial inventory of diatom species, their relative abundances, and environmental characteristics of disconnected pools sampled across the Iberian Peninsula. DIATPOOL provides an open and standardized resource to explore diatom biodiversity and functional traits in temporary and intermittent aquatic systems, offering a valuable framework for ecological, taxonomic, and bioassessment studies in these transitional habitats.