Marine ecosystems are naturally rich habitats. Seabirds are part of these environments and their distribution and abundance can be influenced by human activity on the coast, as well as intrinsic factors of each species. The objective of this study was to assess the abundance of seabirds in Ilha Comprida, São Paulo. Eight points were chosen and, for one hour, data on the number and species of seabirds were gathered. Studies in this area are scarce, despite the ecological importance of...

Specimens are the raw material on which the science of natural history is based, and this is especially so in palaeontology where the only direct evidence of the historical diversity of life is fossilised remains of organisms' bodies and their activities.  The British Geological Survey's palaeontological collections house an estimated three million specimens, representing most phyla with a fossil record, and all geological periods from Neoproterozoic (< 1000 Ma BP) to Recent.  As well...

The biodiversity of the deep-water fish assemblages of coral and non coral areas in the Eastern Ionian Sea was examined in the framework of the sampling cruises of the 7FP EU research project CoralFISH conducted by HCMR in the Eastern Ionian Sea. Experimental long line fishing was carried out in deep waters from 300 to 800 m depth in June and October 2010.

 

Ocean acidification (OA) is a serious threat to marine biodiversity. Most of the OA research, however, investigates impacts of predicted future pH values on survival and performance of marine species, while less attention is paid to the possible effects that OA has in its current extent. Shells of different organisms are widely used as environmental proxies, describing e.g. past salinity and temperature conditions.

Understanding the advantages and limitations of different methods for mapping marine and coastal habitats is essential for the appropriate practical application of these datasets in real-world monitoring, assessment, and decision making.