I N T E R N E T R E F E R E N C E S I T E S : M A R I N E S C I E N C E
This page contains a combined list of links to datasets, websites, and resources on the internet which will be of interest to Marine Scientists, broken into the following broad categories:
See also:
Marine Flora
AlgaeBase AlgaeBase is a database of information on algae that includes terrestrial, marine and freshwater organisms. At present, the data for the marine algae, particularly seaweeds, are the most complete. Sea-grasses are included even though they are flowering plants. It is a work in progress and much of the data is incomplete. AlgaeBase is made available in its incomplete form and is intended as an aid to taxonomic studies rather than a definitive source in its own right. Always check the information included prior to use.
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants Run by the University of Florida, this site contains a large amount of information relating to the management and control of aquatic and invasive plants, images, manuals, a glossary and many links to other relevant websites. Also provides access to the Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Information Retrieval System (APIRS), a computerised bibliographic database devoted to freshwater, aquatic and wetland plants as well as terrestrial and aquatic invasive plants.
Field Guide to the Mangroves of Queensland (PDF) Intended for people who wish to identify the plants they encounter in their coastal environment. Twenty-two of the most commonly occurring mangrove forest plants - both true mangroves and mangrove plant associates - are illustrated here. Examines many topics including: the mangrove environment, how mangroves tolerate their environment, propagule formation, mangrove ecosystems, animals of the mangroves, links between mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs, species identification, etc. Size: 2.4MB.
Treasures of the Sea A very accessible guide to marine life around New Zealand edited by University of Auckland graduate Dr.Alison MacDiarmid under the auspices of the World Wildlife Fund.
Marine Fauna
Aquaculture & the Environment Interactions Bibliography An assessment of available literature concerning the interaction of aquaculture and the environment was conducted by means of a classical search of 'grey' literature (Working Group Reports, Government Reports etc.) together with an electronic search using the Aquatic Science and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) database from 1978 to December 1991. In addition, electronic and on-line resources were utilised to update this where possible from 1992 to 1996. Many of the citations which are now included, came from the authors of the publications, in response to a request for references posted on several fish/ marine discussion lists.
Aquaculture Network Information Centre The Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC) is a gateway to the world's electronic resources for aquaculture. AquaNIC is maintained at Purdue University in the Department of Animal Sciences.
Blue Crab Home Page A comprehensive information source for blue crabs, including extensive bibliographies, links to other sites, a directory of researchers and managers, announcements of symposia and current developments. In addition to the thorough information on blue crabs, there are also links to sites on other species of crabs
Caribbean Conservation Corporation and the Sea Turtle Survival League These organisations are working to ensure the survival of sea turtles through research, education, advocacy and the protection of the natural habitats upon which they depend. This site is provided as a source of information for the world to learn about sea turtles and the threats to their survival.
FishScope FishScope is a site for teachers, students, researchers, and others interested in the developmental biology of fish and other aquatic organisms. Creators of the site use scanning-laser confocal microscopy and fluorescent vital stains to generate time-lapse recordings of developing fish embryos. The initial selection consists of Zebrafish embryos at various stages of development.
iSpecies iSpecies is an extension of E.O. Wilson's concept of having a web page for each living species, and is run by former University of Auckland biologist Rod Page. iSpecies uses web services to link to source databases, extract data, and assemble a page for each species, both marine and non-marine.
Mammal Species of the World Contains the names of the 4,629 currently recognized species of mammals, in a taxonomic hierarchy that includes Order, Family, Subfamily, and Genus.
Marine Invertebrates of Guana Island Images and information for hundreds of animals found during a three-year study intended to survey the hidden invertebrate animals (cryptofauna) in the shallow Caribbean waters around Guana Island.
Marine Organisms Database This is a database of approximately 200 species of marine organisms collected or maintained by the Aquatic Resources Division of the Marine Resources Department, Marine Biological Laboratory (MA., USA). Marlin The Ministry of Fisheries in New Zealand owns (on behalf of the Government) a large amount of data that describes New Zealand's marine fisheries and biodiversity. The most common examples of such data include electronic databases, paper forms, whole specimens and ageing specimens - mainly otoliths. MARLIN is a metadata database documenting the scientific data owned by the Ministry. MARLIN is intended to provide scientists with a catalogue of the Ministry's scientific data holdings. Currently MARLIN does not enable the downloading of source data (although this is a planned future enhancement), however MARLIN does provide details of where requests for access to the Ministry's scientific data should be directed to.
PROCFish/CoFish portal The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) maintains the PROCFish and CoFish databases. The coastal component of PROCFish is an information resource for the management of reef fisheries in the Pacific Islands that provides Pacific Island governments with scientific information on the status and prospects of reef fisheries. The SPC Reef Fisheries Observatory has a digital library of PDF articles that can be searched from the portal interface.
Zebafish Book : A guide for the laboratory use of zebrafish Danio (Brachydanio) rerio written by Monte Westerfield, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon. Chapters include general methods for zebrafish care; breeding; embryonic and larval culture; microscopic observations cellular methods; dissociated cell culture; genetic methods; histological methods; molecular methods; recipes; references.
Species Distribution and Information Services and Systems
ABNET Abalone on the Net seeks to aid communication between abalone researchers via a worldwide web server. Offers a searchable bibliography of abalone related topics, a diary of events both future and past, information about the abalone listserver and how to subscribe, and worldwide species distribution maps.
AquaMaps This site contains computer-generated predictions of natural occurrence of marine species, based on environmental tolerance with respect to depth, salinity, temperature, primary productivity, and its association with sea ice or coastal areas. These 'environmental envelopes' are matched against an authority file which contains respective information for the Oceans of the World. Independent knowledge such as distribution by FAO areas or bounding boxes. Maps show the color-coded likelihood of a species to occur in a half-degree cell, with about 50 km side length near the equator. Experts are able to review, modify and approve maps.
Database on Introductions of Aquatic Species (DIAS) This FAO database was initiated in the early 1980s and initially considered primarily only freshwater species of fish, but was expanded to include additional taxa, such as molluscs and crustaceans, and marine species. The database includes records of species introduced or transferred from one country to another and does not consider movements of species inside the same country. Coverage of accidental introductions of organisms (e.g., through ship ballast waters) is not complete and records on this topic have been generally entered only when important impacts on fisheries or on the environment have been caused. The database, which contains now almost 2900 records, can be queried through a search form.
FishBase FishBase is a relational database with information to cater to different professionals such as research scientists, fisheries managers, zoologists and many more. FishBase on the web contains practically all fish species known to science. FishBase was developed at the WorldFish Center in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other partners, with support from the European Commission.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) The GBIF data portal is a service that provides access to millions of scientific data records being shared via the GBIF network. These data are made available through the GBIF network by numerous institutions and organisations.The two types of data currently being shared through the GBIF Network are Species occurrence records (based on specimens and observations) with information about the occurrence of species at particular times and places. Names and classifications of organisms - information on the names (both scientific and common) used for species and on the classification of those organisms into taxonomic hierarchies.
Hexacorallians (anemones and their allies) of the world A compilation of publications concerning taxonomy, nomenclature, and geographic distribution of extant hexacorallians - members of cnidarian orders Actiniaria (sea anemones in the strict sense), Antipatharia (black corals), Ceriantharia (tube anemones), Corallimorpharia (sea anemones in the loose sense), Ptychodactiaria (sea anemones in the loose sense), Scleractinia (hard or stony corals), and Zoanthidea (sea anemones in the loose sense).
Mammal Networked Information System With support from the National Science Foundation, 17 North American institutions and collaborators developed the Mammal Networked Information System (MaNIS). The objectives of MaNIS are to facilitate open access to combined specimen data from a web browser, enhance the value of specimen collections, conserve curatorial resources, and use a design paradigm that can be easily adopted by other disciplines with similar needs. Marine Life Information Network The Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland (MarLIN) provides information for marine environmental management, protection and education. It is a centre of excellence in spatially based and time-series marine biological information and supports good stewardship in the marine environment. MarLIN was established in 1998 by the Marine Biological Association in collaboration with the major environmental protection agencies in Britain and Ireland together with academic institutions.
NABIS The National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System (NABIS) is an interactive web-based mapping tool run by the NZ Ministry of Fisheries that uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to enable users to map and display New Zealand marine biodiversity information. With NABIS, users can map information about New Zealand's marine environment, species distributions and fisheries management. NABIS is provided by the Ministry of Fisheries as part of New Zealand's Biodiversity Strategy.
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) An information resource for the United States Geological Survey, established as a central repository for accurate and spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species. Provided are scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, regional contact lists, and general information. The data is made available for use by biologists, interagency groups, and the general public. The primary geographical coverage is North America however other regions may be included as the need arises
O.B.I.S. Ocean Biogeographic Information System A significant amount of biogeographic data is available for taxa at different depths around the world from the global Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) which is led by Dr Mark Costello at the Leigh Marine Station. The University of Auckland contains the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) and the Chair of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. OBIS provides taxonomically and geographically resolved data on marine life and the ocean environment, interoperability with similar databases, and software tools for data exploration and analysis.
Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations This is the website for project OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biogeographic Information System - Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations). Marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle data are organized into a spatially referenced database. This project is one of the primary data providers to the Ocean Biogeographic Information System. Data records go back to1935.
Whale DNA surveillance DNA Surveillance is a web site run by the University of Auckland's School of Biological Sciences for determining the species identity of unknown specimens and samples using phylogenetic methods. The section Witness for the Whales allows phylogenetic identification of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) using DNA sequences by comprising sets of reference nucleotide sequences from a range of cetaceans, and is implemented within DNA Surveillance, a web-based program that applies standard phylogenetic methods to identify user submitted DNA sequences.
General Material
Careers in Oceanography, Marine Science & Marine Biology This career directory is divided into two sections: general guides for oceanography and marine science and guides for marine biology, marine mammals, zoos and aquariums. Many of the general guides have coverage of marine biology so be sure to look at the general guides if you are interested in marine biology.
Environmental Data Centre The Environmental Data Centre from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ( ICES), although relatively new, contains probably the largest international databank on contaminants in marine media. Computerized in 1983, the databank contains data back to 1978 for contaminants for which the data are considered to be valid, mainly on trace metals in finfish and shellfish. At present, the databank contains the following components: contaminants in marine invertebrates, fish, birds, and mammals (ca. 275,000 records); contaminants in sea water (ca. 280,000 records); contaminants in sediments (ca. 80,000 records); data from measurements of the biological effects of contaminants: enzyme assay and oyster embryo bioassay (ca. 4000 records); fish disease prevalence data (ca. 80,000 records); quality assurance information.
State of the Environment Information provided by the Ministry for the Environment (NZ).
Hydrographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean The atlas, produced by the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, is based upon a combined data set obtained from several scientific organisations. Measurements and data from about 38000 hydrographic stations taken in the Southern Ocean since the beginning of the oceanographic observations are available.
JGOFS The Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) has been established under the auspices of the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and as a Core Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Its purpose is to plan and execute the research that requires international cooperation. Twenty one countries are already contributing to JGOFS planning or field work.
Marine Biology Web An educational resource for marine biology students containing reference lists organised by subject. Also contains links to marine stations, tide information, a glossary and other marine biology information.
New Zealand Legislation Full-text links to relevant NZ Acts, Bills and Regulations.
New Zealand Tidal Predictions Tide tables for the 16 Standard Ports, French Pass and Tory Channel are provided in Adobe Acrobat® Portable Document Format (pdf).
New Zealand Tide Graphs The tide height is shown for all times over a 24-hour period. The height is relative to Chart Datum which is the zero depth for marine charts.
Ocean Color Data Support The Goddard DAAC provides access to data from ocean color sensors currently in operation, as well as historical data sets.
OceanLaw This website, incorporating the Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law, contains leading resources on international fisheries law, policy and management and a discussion/mailing list on ocean affairs. The site is being expanded to cover further areas of the law of the sea. There are links to International Fisheries Treaty Database; a Case Law Compendium; International Organization Profiles; international fisheries law; a Glossary of common fisheries terms; and an on-line paper series. The Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law includes links to maritime boundary issues, and summaries of national claims to maritime zones.
Oceanography Database A substantial amount of activity in some International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Member Country laboratories is involved in the routine collection of data. ICES maintains a bank of oceanographic data supplied by Member Countries, dating back to the early 1900s. This databank is supplemented by an inventory of cruise information, based on Cruise Summary Reports (CSR/ROSCOP), which summarize all cruise activities in Member Countries related to physical oceanographic, marine biological, pollution, fisheries, and geophysical research.
Ocean Data Portal This searchable directory of more than 5,000 related websites is organized into several major areas, each of which is the top of a subject tree. The major areas include Information Resources; Data Resources files, images, software, data inventories, data centers, data products; Scientific Topics -- marine topics, including detailed descriptions of specific research projects within the topic; Agencies & Institutions; Government agencies, schools and laboratories, international scientific unions, etc.; Societies & Associations; Administration, Conservation & Policy -- conventions/treaties/laws, coastal zone management, marine protected areas; and Commerce & Trade -- commercial fishing equipment/services, maritime industry.
Plankton Net Focuses on plankton ecology, marine biology and biological oceanography, with links to plankton-related research homepages.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) WHOI is America's largest independent, not-for-profit, oceanographic research institute. It aims to advance and communicate knowledge of the oceans and their decisive role in addressing global questions. An animation/video gallery is included, as well as information on employment opportunities, and links to research centres and marine operations.
World Register of Marine Species The aim of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is to provide an authoritative list of names of marine organisms, including information on synonymy. While highest priority goes to valid names, other names in use are included so that this register can serve as an interpretive taxonomic guide. Content is controlled by taxonomists rather than database managers.
Aquariums, National and International
Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World
Sydney Aquarium
Florida Aquarium The official website of the Florida Aquarium. Features a photo gallery, a pictorial tour through aquatic habitats, educational activities and a FAQ list.
Gulf of Maine Aquarium Features 'Space Available' (a selection of satellite images demonstrating the principles of remote sensing, imaging science, oceanography, meteorology and ecology), information on lobsters and turtles, streams, ponds, aquifiers, bogs, estuaries, beaches, tidepools and the Gulf of Maine, and an 'On Location' section featuring current research plus links to related websites.
Monterey Bay Aquarium An online version of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, featuring conservation information, research, educational activities and a 'habitats path', exploring the marine environment.
File last updated : December 21, 2009 Comments and suggestions to : John Lavas