Dataset update: Bioconstructors, British Antarctic Survey

Yet another version of BAS bioconstructors dataset: porting the data mass to ca 30k records. View and download here...

New dataset: SOMBASE - Pycnogonids

This dataset was compiled by Huw Griffiths, from the British Antarctic Survey. It includes data on Pycnogonids of the Southern Ocean and other Southern Hemisphere regions.

View and download the data here

New dataset: British Antarctic Survey Argos satellite tracking data

Location information derived from ARGOS PTT tracking devices deployed on higher predators since 1990. These have been deployed on wandering albatrosses, grey headed albatrosses, black browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, southern giant petrels, northern giant petrels, white-chinned petrels, chinstrap penguins, adelie penguins, macaroni penguins, gentoo penguins and Antarctic Fur seals. The majority of deployments have been made from Bird Island, South Georgia, with some from Signy, South Orkney Islands and some from other locations on South Georgia. Currently all data collected up until April 2004 has been made available, more recent records may be added in the future.

View and download the data here 

Job offer: SOOS is seeking an executive officer

The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS) is an international program to collect sustained observations from the Southern Ocean.  The SOOS mission is to establish a multidisciplinary observing system to deliver the sustained observations of the Southern Ocean needed to address key challenges including climate change, sea level rise, and the impacts of global change on marine ecosystems. IMAS seek to appoint an Executive Officer to lead the International Project Office (IPO) based  at the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) on the Hobart campus of the University of Tasmania.  The Executive Officer will assist the Scientific Steering Group (SSG) of SOOS to design, implement and maintain a sustained observing system in the Southern Ocean.  The Executive Officer will act as a focal point and advocate for SOOS, monitor and report on implementation of SOOS, co-ordinate contributions to SOOS  and interaction with related national and international programs, seek funds and take responsibility of the budget of the IPO and maintain the project website.
Download the job offer...

Dataset update: Bioconstructors, British Antarctic Survey

Huw Griffiths, from the British Antarctic Survey has just released a new version of the Total Bioconstructors dataset, making it up to 13060 records. This great dataset includes data on large sessile habitat-forming organisms such as sponges, corals, bryozoans and hydroids, which play a crucial role in the structure of Antarctic marine communities and enhance the local biodiversity. Not only are there many species of these groups found in the Antarctic (387 sponges, 141 corals, 320 bryozoans and 337 hydroids) but they also form vital habitats for countless other organisms. The habitats formed by these megafaunal organisms are increasingly being recognized as both vulnerable and important ecosystems. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted a proposal to declare two areas of the Southern Ocean as Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs). Both areas proposed are highly biodiverse, particularly with respect to habitat-forming hydrocorals, sponges and associated fauna.

New feature: autolink to the Smithsonian in RAMS

A new feature has been added to RAMS, which allows a direct link to the Smithsonian Antarctic Invertebrates website. By clicking the link, the user is directed towards the corresponding page on the Antarctic Invertebrates website. see an example, here.