Identifying African bushmeat for sale in Brussels using DNA
Red Tail Monkey

Identifying African bushmeat for sale in Brussels using DNA

Bushmeat is often defined as the meat derived from wild animals, including terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, harvested for subsistence or trade, most often illegally. It is a freely accessible source of food that can be captured rather than bred and often represents both the...

Assessing the state of the oceans
WOA II

Assessing the state of the oceans

The second World Ocean Assessment – WOA II – is a global exercise by hundreds of marine scientists to evaluate trends and identify knowledge gaps in the world ocean. Two chapters of WOA II have made use of several components of the LifeWatch Species Information Backbone.

Observing plankton to understand ocean health
RV Stevin mesh

Observing plankton to understand ocean health

Increasing human activities are putting the ocean under stress, threatening the ecological health of marine ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Since plankton are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and are short-lived, they can be used as early warning systems for the...

Augmenting the potential of vessel position data with Maritime Boundaries (MarineTraffic)
speed boat

Augmenting the potential of vessel position data with Maritime Boundaries (MarineTraffic)

MarineTraffic displays the movement of over 550.000 vessels worldwide, based on their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals. The website attracts millions of users on a monthly basis. Since March 31st, these vessel locations can also be plotted against the global Exclusive Economic Zones...

Tracking plastics using fish tags
tags

Tracking plastics using fish tags

Acoustic telemetry proves to be a valid method to follow up the pathway of marked ‘daily use’ plastic items in rivers, in a more detailed manner than ever before. The idea of using acoustic telemetry to track plastic items came to mind, during a fish monitoring campaign organized by the Research...

Mapping the marine migration of an IUCN endangered species
anguilla anguilla

Mapping the marine migration of an IUCN endangered species

The spawning grounds of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) have been a mystery for centuries and with the declining population, making it a critically endangered species on the IUCN Red List, it is important to unravel this mythical place and the migration routes leading to it. Understanding...

Clarion-Clipperton Zone Species Checklist launched!
Clarion-Clipperton Zone  Species Checklist launched!

Clarion-Clipperton Zone Species Checklist launched!

ISA and WoRMS release a species checklist for the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Sustainable Seabed Knowledge Initiative.
The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!
The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!

The LifeWatch ERIC BEeS: abstract book, video recordings and more!

The LifeWatch ERIC family met again, for the first time in four years, at the "BEeS" Biodiversity & Ecosystem eScience Conference. It took place in Seville from 22 - 24 May, on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity. Explore the abstract book, watch the video of the live-streamed round table, and download the presentations!
Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds
Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds

Calling in our Corals: citizens helping to recognise underwater sounds

Anyone with 3 minutes time and an internet connection can assist coral researchers, and help to restore coral reefs around the world. Google Arts & Culture is launching the unique experiment 'Calling in our Corals', and you all can contribute!