The LifeWatch Data Cloud is launched!
This summer the LifeWatch Data Cloud was launched as a user-friendly platform for researchers who are looking for data to perform biodiversity and ecosystem research. In the background, the LifeWatch Data Cloud is using the Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC) resources to provide the users with a performant infrastructure. Let’s try it out immediately at https://datacloudmi.lifewatch.be!
WoRMS starring in season 3 of the LifeWatch ERIC podcast
The first of a new LifeWatch ERIC podcast series launched today, 20 July 2022, focuses on the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database.
Taxonomy and beyond: ecological trait information in Aphia and WoRMS
In recent years, the WoRMS editors and Data Management Team have made collective efforts towards documenting the following species traits information in Aphia and WoRMS: environment (99,5% complete), functional group (76% complete), qualitative (45% complete) and quantitative body size (9% complete) (percentages are for accepted species in Aphia). The availability of these traits greatly enhances the usability and utility of WoRMS towards ecologists and the public at large.
Artificial reefs in the spotlight in the podcast series “A Window on Science”
LifeWatch ERIC developed the podcast series 'A Window on Science'. In this series, scientists are given extensive time to explain what their research entails in an understandable way. In season 2, they clarify how they use artificial reefs to study hidden species on hard-bottom communities.
Scientists meet industry at the COST-ETN Annual meeting
The European Tracking Network (ETN) meets the manufacturers supplying acoustic telemetry equipment to discuss the way forward for compatibility in acoustic telemetry.
ZEEKERWETEN, the first citizen science festival at the coast
How to involve citizens in biodiversity research? And how can we show citizens the beauty and the importance of the diverse fauna and flora in the Belgian part of the North Sea and the coastal area? ZEEKERWETEN, the first science festival at the Belgian coast, lifts the participation of citizens in science to a higher level.
User tutorial videos available on WoRMS
Last year, the WoRMS Data Management Team (DMT) created instruction videos for the WoRMS editors, to assist them in their online editing activities. Now, the DMT is releasing a series of short tutorial videos specifically aimed at our users.
The Big Seashell Survey shows remarkable differences between Belgium and the Netherlands
Saturday 19 March 2022, about 750 citizens collected more than 38.000 shells on Belgian beaches, with a top-5 in line with the results of the 2021 edition. For the first time, the Netherlands joined this citizen science initiative and collected another 22.000 shells, showing remarkable differences between both countries.