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 4 SUB-TOPICS:
 Biological Development in the Oceans Biological Development in the Oceans
 Fishes, Mollusks and Crustaceans Fishes, Mollusks and Crustaceans
 Marine Mammal Information Marine Mammal Information
 Science for Living Marine Resources Science for Living Marine Resources
 Topic Overview
 ID# : 17761
 Visits: 9998
 Added: 01-Jan-2000
 Updated: 28-Oct-2004
 URL: http://www.oceansatlas.org/id/17761
 Editors
 Census of Marine Life
 John Everett
 
 
 
 
Biology
        
In addition to occupying 70% of the Earth's surface, the oceans constitute over 90% of the volume of the biosphere. They contain the evolutionary origins of biodiversity on Earth, with 75% of the major taxa of organisms being exclusively or primarily marine. The unique physical and chemical properties of our oceans render them excellent hosts for an abundance and diversity of life. However, we must first understand the biological and ecological factors controlling the marine environment before we can successfully develop global strategies for sustainable use. The biological factors controlling living marine resources collectively act as a fundamental constraint of sustainable development; as ocean policy-makers attempt to satisfy the socioeconomic aspirations of expanding human populations, they must also ensure the long-term viability of resources and habitats. (Image courtesy of NOAA). Click here for a 1.4 Mb pdf file with an overview report of our current knowledge of Ocean Biology (Baseline Report of the Census of Marine Life - 2003.)
Photo credit: <a href = "http://www.oceansart.us">OceansArt.US</a>
 
Census of Marine Life
 
In 1997, scientists and other stakeholders conceived of a program that would promote research to locate and quantify organisms in the sea. The result was the Census of Marine Life (CoML), an international research program that seeks to assess and explain changes in diversity, distribution, and abundance of life in the oceans. The emphasis of the program is field studies, which are to be conducted in poorly known habitats as well as those assumed to be well-known. Through field studies and other projects, ranging from analyzing historical documents to modeling future ecosystems, the CoML will enable scientists to compare what once lived in the oceans to current populations, as well as to project what will inhabit the oceans of the future. Through a developing partnership with the UN Atlas of the Oceans, the CoML has assumed editorial responsibility for the Biology section of the Atlas. To learn more about CoML field projects, click this link!   See More...
 
Ocean Biogeographic Information System
 
As data concerning living marine resource distribution and abundance accumulates, it has become clear that the multitude of independent databases harboring such information do not, individually, provide an adequate or easily accessible medium for a globally integrated, geo-referenced quantitative information system. Therefore, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) was created as a component of the Census of Marine Life (CoML) to serve as a consortium of interoperable databases of marine life information that maintain a high degree of individual autonomy.   See More...
 
Ecology
 
In the ocean, a certain interdependency exists between its living things. Ocean inhabitants enjoy a deep and intricate relationship between each other, as well as with their marine environment. To explore the relationship between Biology and Ecology in more depth, please visit the Ecology section of the UN Atlas!   See More...
 
 
 
 
 
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News
Websites
Marine research activities in the far eastern region of Russia Far Eastern Regional Hydrometeorological Research Institute (FERHRI) Marine research activities in the far eastern region of Russia 
Data from NOAA CSC cruises that are used for validating satellite ocean color algorithms is online. NOAA's Coastal Remote Sensing Ocean Color Applications (OCA) Project Data from NOAA CSC cruises that are used for validating satellite ocean color a...  
Undersea Research Program NOAA/NURP NOAA's Undersea Research Program Undersea Research Program NOAA/NURP 
Information and links to sea turtle topics Sea Turtles Information and links to sea turtle topics 
A website devoted to marine turtles Turtle Trax A website devoted to marine turtles 
Documents
There is growing realization that deep-water coral reef environments are habitat to a rich collection of flora and fauna that may form an integrated community providing habitats for both vertebrate and invertebrate growth and reproduction. Consequently, Canada’s Deep-Water Corals There is growing realization that deep-water coral reef environments are habita...  
A review of status and trends in Russian European seas during the 1990s Ecosystems and Biological Resources of Russian European Seas at the T...1st Century A review of status and trends in Russian European seas during the 1990s...  
Reports from various African countries on the status of knowledge of species diversity Marine Biodiversity in Sub-Saharan Africa: the known and unknown Reports from various African countries on the status of knowledge of species di...  
Being revised for the World Conservation Congress 2004 Marine Species: Victims of Complacency Being revised for the World Conservation Congress 2004 
Deep-Sea Corals Briefing NOAA NURP Deep-Sea Corals Briefing Deep-Sea Corals Briefing 
NOAA’S DEEP-SEA CORALS RESEARCH NOAA’S DEEP-SEA CORALS RESEARCH NOAA’S DEEP-SEA CORALS RESEARCH 
The first element of the proceedings deals with POGO- and CoML-associated scientists presenting the status of their respective programs. A second element involves senior/leading South American scientists reporting on their countries' activities in the area of marine boidiversity. Finally, the third element of the workshop saw collective group discussions in which several potential South American field projects were identified. These proceedings were published in 2003 as a special issue of the journal Gayana: International Journal of Biodiversity, Oceanology and Conservation. South American Biodiversity Workshop Proceedings The first element of the proceedings deals with POGO- and CoML-associated scien...  
International Planning and Collaboration Workshop for the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Ocean Galway, Ireland, January 16-17, 2003 Summary: Deep-Sea Corals Workshop; Ireland 2003 International Planning and Collaboration Workshop for the Gulf of Mexico and th...  
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1076 Topics - 5135 Related Knowledge - 2534 Members - 34 Editors
generationTime:2005/01/13 12:17:17