Mind the Gaps: Taxonomic, Geographic and Temporal Data of Marine Invertebrate Databases from Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe

One of the best ways to share and disseminate biodiversity information is through digitization data making it available via online databases. The rapid growth publicly not without problems which may decrease utility In this study we analyze taxonomic, geographic temporal gaps, bias related existing on selected marine invertebrate occurrences along coastline two African countries, Mozambique São Tomé Príncipe. final dataset comprises 19.910 occurrences, but 32% original were excluded due gaps. Most invertebrates in collected seagrasses, whereas Príncipe they mostly offshore. has a coverage from 1816 2019, with most last decades. This provides baseline relevant better understanding gaps these habitats coasts countries. can be further applied complete contributing design informed sampling strategies advancing refined datasets that used management conservation plans both