CASCADE: Dataset of extant coccolithophore size, carbon content and global distribution

Abstract

AbstractCoccolithophores are marine calcifying phytoplankton important to the carbon cycle and a model organism for studying diversity. Here, we present (Coccolithophore Abundance, Size, Carbon And Distribution Estimates), a new global dataset for 139 extant coccolithophore taxonomic units. includes a trait database (size and cellular organic and inorganic carbon contents) and taxonomic-unit-specific global spatiotemporal distributions (Latitude/Longitude/Depth/Month/Year) of coccolithophore abundance and organic and inorganic carbon stocks. covers all ocean basins over the upper 275 meters, spans the years 1964-2019 and includes 33,119 gridded taxonomic-unit-specific abundance observations. Within , we characterise the underlying uncertainties due to measurement errors by propagating error estimates between the different studies. This error propagation pipeline is statistically robust and could be applied to other plankton groups. can contribute to (observational or modelling) studies that focus on coccolithophore distribution and diversity and the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on historical populations. Additionally, our new taxonomic-unit-specific cellular carbon content estimates provide essential conversions to quantify the role of coccolithophores on ecosystem functioning and global biogeochemistry.