Polar science: bid for freely accessible biodiversity archive

• Published in: Nature
• Main Authors: Danis, Bruno, Griffiths, Huw J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2009
• Subjects: Marine Sciences; Ecology and Environment; Data and Information; Antarctic; Southern Ocean; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Polar Science
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10742/; http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v458/n7240/full/458830b.html

The Southern Ocean is of unique ecological, biogeographic and political interest, as noted by your Editorial 'The way ahead for polar science' (Nature 457, 1057; 2009). Given the rate and potential catastrophic impact of global change on the Antarctic marine ecosystem, we agree that it is vital to have a mechanism for the exchange of relevant scientific information. Information about Antarctic marine biodiversity has to be widely published, instantly accessible and thoroughly checked, in order to enable timely, science-based management.