Antarctic Marine Biodiversity - Information Summary

• Main Authors: Griffiths, H. J., Danis, B., David, B., De Broyer, C., d'Udekem d'Acoz, C., Grant, S., Gutt, J., Held, C., Hosie, G., Huettmann, F., Koubbi, P., Post, A., Raymond, B., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Van de Putte, A. P.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Antarctic Environments Portal 2018
• Subjects: Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.18124/d4f04j; https://www.environments.aq/information-summaries/antarctic-marine-biodiversity/

The past two and a half centuries of marine biological work in the Southern Ocean have resulted in a vast catalogue of living organisms. During this time there have been several attempts to classify distinct regional biodiversity patterns in the seas around Antarctica. The recent publication of the SCAR Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean represents the most comprehensive international effort to date. The complete database represents 1.07 million occurrence records (from Antarctic and neighbouring waters) for 9,064 recognised species from ~434,000 distinct sampling stations. It highlights the hotspots of biodiversity and areas of high levels of sampling, as well as identifying areas, geographical and taxonomic, which require substantial future investigation. It also utilises habitat modelling methods to predict species and community distributions. This compilation serves as a vital benchmark of current biodiversity knowledge and as a significant tool for future scientific, conservation and resource management planning.