Towards a Global Species Information System: Progress in the Oceans Rainer Froese IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany EU Project INCOFISH CBD-Bonn 19 May 2008

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 ( –30,000 marine mammals, seabirds and invertebrates in SeaLifeBase ( –50,000 algae in AlgaeBase ( –10,000 species with standardized range maps ( Only names for 120,000 remaining species

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

Example from FishBase

Example from FishBase More Key Data

Example from SeaLifeBase

Example from algaeBASE

Examples from AquaMaps: Global Species Richness

Example from AquaMaps: Equatorial Species Richness Transect across the Indo-Pacific

Examples from AquaMaps: No Sharks in Antarctica

Examples from AquaMaps Whale shark (cosmopolitan)

Examples from AquaMaps Blackfin spiderfish (continental shelves)

Examples from AquaMaps Blackfin spiderfish (preliminary 2050)

Bringing Scattered Species Data Together Global Species Information Systems –Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) –Atlas of Living Australia –SpeciesBase

Example from EOL

Example from SpeciesBase

Tools from FishBase

Tools from AquaMaps: Where to Place an MPA

Tools from AquaMaps Mnemiopsis leidyi (invasive Black Sea)

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

No VaporWare Thank You