ORAL - Costello

The exchange and combination of biodiversity data from different sources uses standardised species names. These names can be grouped in hierarchical classifications that enable browsing down to find the species of interest, and select groups of related species for more detailed analysis. Including the ecology component of biodiversity in data systems requires classifications of habitat terms. In addition to data systems such as the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), a wide range of intergovernmental, conservation and fishery organizations require classifications of marine habitats and ecosystems to enable comparisons between areas and to organize information in maps and reports. However, all of the terms used to describe habitats are concepts whose definition is context dependant. For example, the habitat of a benthic invertebrate is very different in spatial scale to that for a parasite, plankton, tuna or whale. An ecosystem can be physiographically defined as a lagoon, seamount, estuary, abyssal plain, or entire ocean. Different sampling methods will define different regions, such as satellite images of ocean colour, acoustic maps of the seabed, in-situ sampling of water or sediment cores, and maps derived from analyses of species distributions that may define biogeographic regions. To date, biogeographic boundaries have been more defined by expert opinions derived from selected taxa, than analysis of species distribution data. However, it will be possible to analyse data in OBIS for such boundaries across taxa in space and time. This presentation will review classifications in use as global regions and for characterising field data, and recommend present and future options for data management.

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