Towards a Global Species Information System: Progress in the Oceans

1
Towards a Global Species Information
SystemProgress in the Oceans

• Rainer Froese
• IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany
• EU Project INCOFISH
• CBD-Bonn 19 May 2008

2
What do we know about Life in the Sea?

• 1.8 Million known Species on Earth
• 230,000 in the Oceans
• Key data are available for
• 30,000 Fishes in FishBase (www.fishbase.org)
• 30,000 marine mammals, seabirds and invertebrates
  in SeaLifeBase (www.sealifebase.org)
• 50,000 algae in AlgaeBase (www.algaebase.org)
• 10,000 species with standardized range maps
  (www.aquamaps.org)
• Only names for 120,000 remaining species

3
What are Key Data?

• Key Data on Species are
• Scientific names with classification
• Vernacular names
• Diagnosis with images
• Distribution (text, geographic units, range maps)
• Life history traits (size, food, growth,
  reproduction)
• Importance to humans
• Based on best scientific knowledge plus input
  from the public

4
Example from FishBasewww.fishbase.org
5
Example from FishBaseMore Key Data
6
Example from SeaLifeBasewww.sealifebase.org
7
Example from algaeBASE
8
Examples from AquaMapsGlobal Species
Richnesswww.aquamaps.org
9
Example from AquaMaps Equatorial Species
Richness Transect across the Indo-Pacific
10
Examples from AquaMapsNo Sharks in Antarctica
11
Examples from AquaMapsWhale shark (cosmopolitan)
12
Examples from AquaMapsWhale shark (cosmopolitan)
13
Examples from AquaMaps Blackfin spiderfish
(continental shelves)
14
Examples from AquaMaps Blackfin spiderfish
(preliminary 2050)
15
Bringing Scattered Species Data Together

• Global Species Information Systems
• Encyclopedia of Life (EOL)
• Atlas of Living Australia
• SpeciesBase

16
Example from EOL
17
Example from SpeciesBasewww.speciesbase.mobi
18
Tools from FishBasewww.fishbase.org
19
Tools from AquaMapsWhere to Place an MPA
20
Tools from AquaMaps Mnemiopsis leidyi (invasive
Black Sea)
21
Tools from AquaMaps Mnemiopsis leidyi (invasive
Black Sea)
22
Other Tools from AquaMaps

• What lives in my Bay?
• What species may invade my coast?
• Where shall I put an MPA?
• Deep-water biodiversity Cold Spots
• Checklists by Ecosystem and Country

23
No VaporWare

• www.fishbase.org
• www.sealifebase.org
• www.aquamaps.org
• www.speciesbase.mobi
• Thank You