SeaKeys

SeaKeys is the first large collaborative project funded by the Foundational Biodiversity Information Program. Over the next three years (2015-2017), more than 30 SeaKeys team members from many organisations will work together to unlock marine biodiversity knowledge and opportunities.

The SeaKeys project has delivered national species lists, new species records, Encyclopaedia of Life pages, DNA barcodes, new species descriptions and identification guides. And the project team will ensure that all this information flows up the biodiversity knowledge chain to make a difference!

The success of this project is dependent on contributions from researchers, post-graduate students, citizen scientists, marine managers and decision makers. Core to this is are four new atlas projects on three web-based platforms.

To contribute, please add this Project "SeaKeys" to your observation.

The four atlas projects are:

• Sea Fish Atlas – mapping the distribution of our marine fish species: check out the fish submissions starting to come into iNaturalist. Please use the Project "Sea Fish Atlas"

• Sea Slug Atlas – please start photographing nudibranchs, bubble shells and seahares and add to iNaturalist. Please use the Project "Sea Slug Atlas"

• Sea Coral Atlas - this will target hard, soft and black corals, seafans, soft corals and even anemones on iNaturalist. Please use the Project "Sea Coral Atlas"

• Marine Invasive Atlas - The project also includes a group of scientists working on marine alien and invasive species and we will also request the public to photograph and report potential introduced species. (Further information with target species such as the European green crab currently only confirmed from Table Bay and Hout Bay will come later). The project for this is discontinued. Please Add the Projects "Alien (s Afr)" and "Invasive (s Afr)", if appropriate and "Habitats (s Afr)" - chosing one of the marine options () use this link to see them

The three platforms used were:

iSpot (from 2017 - now on iNaturalist) - will be used to collect marine species observations.
We are asking scuba divers, fishers, snorkelers, beach-goers and any interested public to assist us. Photographs of marine species (including those found in estuaries) can be uploaded along with locality (using Google earth maps or GPS co-ordinates) information to create detailed distributions of South Africa marine species . These will be used in habitat classifications and in the assessment of species threat status and protection levels. iSpot is also a great place to learn how to identify species and we need as many experts, students and knowledgeable public to help build and mentor marine species identification skills.

Echinomap - Atlas of African Echinoderma:
Please add your photographs of starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and feather stars to this site.
Or post them here on Echinoderm Atlas , under the project Echinoderm Atlas.

SA Jelly Watch –
Jellyfish are becoming more common and they threaten many coastal activities. By taking a few minutes to observe them in your area you can help us to understand if they pose a threat to our way of life. Record mass outbreaks and records of jellyfish on this site.

Also try:
Sea Shell Atlas
Seaweed Atlas
Crustacean Atlas
Blue Community

Posted on January 19, 2018 09:07 AM by tonyrebelo