july05b.indd inter net resources Peter Fritzler Marine science resources Starting points for researchers and students The American journalist and author Am­brose Bierce once defined the ocean as “a body of water occupying about two­thirds of a world made for man—who has no gills.” Perhaps it is for this reason that humans are so captivated by the marine environment, for it is one that has been the least understood. Despite the fact that the ocean covers the ma­ jority of the Earth’s surface and contains many organisms unique to it, human knowledge of the ocean is significantly less than that of terrestrial life. Yet with continued advance­ ments in technology over the last 150 years, humans have increasingly ventured into the deep. And with a new millennium of ocean exploration upon us, the need to improve our understanding of the ocean environment and its impact on humans is paramount. Like the oceans, the Web is also a complex and deep environment in need of human understanding. Despite the pervasiveness of Google and other search engines, fi nding in­ formation on the marine environment can be complex and daunting. By no means compre­ hensive, this guide serves to provide a starting point for researchers and students using the Internet to study this area. While emphasis has been placed on those sites signifi cant for academic studies, many of these sites may appeal to the general public as well. Metasites and general • AquaNIC: Aquaculture Network Information Center. Coordinated by the Mississippi­Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, AquaNIC is a gateway to the world’s elec­ tronic aquaculture resources. AquaNIC pro­ vides links to thousands of state, national, and international aquaculture publications; newsletters; visual media; calendars; job services; directories; and specialty sections for species and production systems. Access: http://www.aquanic.org/. • Census of Marine Life (CoML). Co­ ordinated by the Consortium for Oceano­ graphic Research and Education, CoML is a decade­long, international research program assessing and explaining the diversity, distri­ bution, and abundance of marine organisms throughout the world’s oceans. Through field studies and other projects, ranging from analyzing historical documents to modeling future ecosystems, CoML will enable scientists to compare what once lived in the oceans to what lives there now, and to project what will live there in the future. Access: http://www. coml.org/coml.htm. • EurekAlert Marine Science Portal. Maintained by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Marine Science Portal is an online global news service and direc­ tory providing links to digital libraries, databases, educational tools, maps, U.S. and international laws and regulations, programs, publications, and organizations. Of particular value are the press releases announcing significant news, new articles in journals, funding opportunities, and meeting dates. Access: http://www.eurekalert. org/marinescience/. • OceanPortal. Maintained by the IOC Ocean Services Section of UNESCO, OceanPortal includes a directory of Web Peter Fritzler is sciences librarian at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, e-mail: fritzlerp@uncw.edu © 2005 Peter Fritzler C&RL News July/August 2005 528 mailto:fritzlerp@uncw.edu http://www.eurekalert http://www http:http://www.aquanic.org sites providing information and data about the ocean and ocean­related topics. These include sections on marine data resources, scientific topics, agencies and institutions, associations, commerce and trade, marine policy and conservation, and an extensive list of resources for librarians. Access: http://ioc. unesco.org/oceanportal/. • UN Atlas of the Oceans. An Internet portal providing information relevant to the sustainable development of the oceans, the UN Atlas of the Oceans is designed for poli­ cymakers needing to become familiar with ocean issues and for scientists, students, and resource managers needing access to databases and approaches to sustainability. Access: http://www.oceansatlas.com/. Federal offices, agencies, and programs • Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP), U.S. Geological Survey. CMGP is charged with studying the marine geology of the nation’s coastal and offshore marine environment. The site provides access to the Interactive Map Server, allowing users to view and create maps using available CMGP datasets; seafloor mapping surveys; and an online resource locator for fi nding research projects, educational materials, photographs, movies, maps, publications, and datasets. Ac­ cess: http://marine.usgs.gov/. • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is the lead federal science­based agency responsible for predicting changes in the oceanic and atmospheric environments and living marine resources and providing related information to a diverse body of user groups. The NOAA site is a valuable starting point for obtaining information on tides and currents, current and archived weather data, buoy data, fi sheries statistics, marine mammal protection efforts, paleoclimatology, air quality and atmospheric processes, coastal services and management, navigation, mapping, real­time imagery and remote sensing, and historical information. Access: http://www.noaa.gov/. • National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Formed within the Na­ tional Ocean Service in March 1999, NCCOS centralizes all of NOAA’s coastal research centers in one group. NCCOS conducts and supports research, provides monitoring and assessment, and offers technical assistance to people managing coastal ecosystems and society’s use of them. Information on coastal ecosystems, particularly climate change, extreme natural events, pollution, invasive species, and land and resource use is available. Also included on the site is a searchable catalog of NCCOS publications from 1968 to the present, some of which are available full text. Access: http://www. nccos.noaa.gov/. • National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP). An innovative program established by Congress in 1997, NOPP fa­ cilitates new interactions among 15 federal agencies, academia, and industry to increase visibility for ocean issues, and achieve a higher level of coordinated effort and synergy across the broad oceanographic community. Information on funding opportunities, proj­ ects, reports, and a national integrated and sustained ocean observing system are avail­ able. Access: http://www.nopp.org/. • Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Wa­ tersheds (OWOW). One of four program offices within the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency, OWOW manages, protects, and restores the water resources and aquatic ecosystems of marine and fresh waters in the United States. This Web site is an excellent source of informa­ tion on estuaries, lakes, rivers and streams, and wetlands. Also available is information on pollution assessment and monitoring and habitat restoration. Users can also access the 2002 National Water Quality Assessment Database for state­reported water quality information and assessments of individual waterbodies along with information and da­ tasets for Total Maximum Daily Load by EPA­ regions and the states. Access: http://www. epa.gov/OWOW/. • Sea Grant. Administered through NOAA, Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 30 university­based programs that work July/August 2005 529 C&RL News http://www http:http://www.nopp.org http:nccos.noaa.gov http://www http:http://www.noaa.gov http:http://marine.usgs.gov http:http://www.oceansatlas.com http://ioc with coastal communities to conduct scientifi c research, education, training, and extension projects designed to foster science­based decisions about the use and conservation of aquatic resources. Users can access informa­ tion on theme research and national priority areas, funding opportunities, outreach and education initiatives, and a searchable direc­ tory of Sea Grant programs and directors through the Web site. Access: http://www. nsgo.seagrant.org/. International organizations • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). IOC is an agency of the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) whose mission is to provide a mechanism for global cooperation in the study of ocean and coastal issues. Information on IOC efforts to study and facilitate marine environmental pro­ tection, fisheries and ecosystems, climate change, ocean observation and monitoring, coastal management, data management, and disaster mitigation, along with news and announcements, is available. A searchable interface for access to IOC publications and reports, some of which are accessible in full text, is also provided on the Web site. Access: http://ioc.unesco.org/. • International Council for the Ex­ ploration of the Sea (ICES). Founded in 1902, ICES is an organization that coordinates and promotes marine research in the North Atlantic. It is the prime source of advice on the marine ecosystem to governments and international regulatory bodies that manage the North Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas. Users can access the ICES database, DATRAS, to obtain data on fi sh distribution from trawl surveys in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Southern and Western part of the Atlantic Ocean, and obtain yearly catch records from 1973 to 1990 for more than 200 species in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean using the site’s “Fish Stats” section. Also available via the ICES Web site is information on fish stocks and marine ecosystems, status reports on ocean climate (1998–2004), zooplankton (1999–2002), maps presenting the distribution of diseases of the fish and shellfish, and maps representing harmful algal bloom events from 1990 to 1999. Access: http://www.ices.dk/. • International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC). Established in 1965 by the In­ tergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the ITIC monitors the activities of the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacifi c. The Web site also provides information about tsunamis; what to do in case of a tsunami; access to the Historical Tsunami Databases for the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Pacifi c oceans; a directory of tsunami experts; links to tsunami­related research efforts; and a list of ITIC publications organized by year. Ac­ cess: http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/. • International Whaling Commission (IWC). Set up under the International Con­ vention for the Regulation of Whaling in 1946, the IWC reviews and revises measures which govern the conduct of whaling throughout the world. The Web site provides brief summaries on the classification of species, life history, abundance estimates, and some descriptions of individual whale species. Individuals can also access information on catch limits, wel­ fare issues, whale sanctuaries, environmental impacts on whales, a list of member nations, latest news, and information on ordering IWC publications, including the Reports of the International Whaling Commission. Access: http://www.iwcoffi ce.org/. Academic societies and organizations • American Elasmobranch Society. This society is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the scientific study of living and fossil sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras. The Web site includes information on species profiles, meetings, funding, bookstore, links to Web sites on elasmobranches, and careers. Also included is an image gallery and link to the International Shark Attack File. Access: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/organiza­ tions/aes/aes.htm. • American Fisheries Society (AFS). Founded in 1870, AFS is the oldest and larg­ est professional society representing fi sheries C&RL News July/August 2005 530 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/organiza http://www.iwcoffi http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic http:http://www.ices.dk http:http://ioc.unesco.org http:nsgo.seagrant.org http://www scientists who work to improve the conser­ vation and sustainability of fi shery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fi sher­ ies and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. Links to meetings, AFS chapters and divisions, an online bookstore, career information and job postings, and educational information are available. Access: http://www.fi sheries. org/html/index.shtml. • American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). A leading scientifi c organization for researchers and educators in the field of aquatic science. Information on publications, membership, funding, careers and job opportunities, minority programs, meetings, public policy, and related links are available. Access: http://aslo.org. • Consortium for Oceanographic Re­ search and Education (CORE). A nonprofi t organization representing 74 of the nation’s academic institutions, aquaria, nonprofit research institutes, and federal research labo­ ratories, CORE conducts a variety of public policy, research, and educational activities. A directory of CORE institutions along with links to research and education programs, federal ocean agencies, policy reports and speeches, weekly reports, employment opportunities, and related links are available on the site. Access: http://www.coreocean.org/. • Crustacean Society. This scientifi c organization focuses on the study and dis­ semination of knowledge regarding all aspects of the biology of the crustacea. The site includes information on society business and news, various downloads, and links to crustacean­related resources on the Web. Access: http://www.vims.edu/tcs/. • National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML). NAML is a nonprofi t organization representing 120 member labo­ ratories providing academic, research, and public service programs. NAML is composed of three regional associations: Northeast­ ern Association of Marine and Great Lakes Laboratories, Southern Association of Marine Laboratories, and the Western Association of Marine Laboratories. The site includes infor­ mation on meetings, funding and educational opportunities, downloadable videos, job post­ ings, information on minority recruitment and retention, links to affiliate marine laboratories, and LABNET (a pilot project for sharing data from multiple coastal data systems). Access: http://www.naml.org/. • Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR). Established by the Inter­ national Council for Science in 1957, SCOR is a leading nongovernmental organization promoting international cooperation in plan­ ning and conducting oceanographic research. Links to the SCOR newsletter, meetings, research highlights, national reports, and research cruises are available. Access: http:// www.jhu.edu/~scor/. • Society for Marine Mammalogy. Founded in 1981, the Society for Marine Mammalogy studies, evaluates, and promotes the educational, scientific, and managerial ad­ vancement of marine mammal science. Infor­ mation on meetings, funding and educational opportunities, publications, careers, and links to related sites are available on the site. Access: http://www.marinemammalogy.org/. Databases and catalogs • FishBase. Developed at the Interna­ tional Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and many other partners, FishBase covers more than 25,000 species of fi sh and has more than 70,000 synonyms and 180,000 common names in more than 200 languages. More than 35,000 pictures illustrate these fish, and information about them has been extracted from 20,000 references. The clas­ sification of higher taxa follows the version of William N. Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes. Data includes family, order, class, environ­ ment, climate, importance, resilience, distri­ bution, biology, ecology, diet, reproduction, and references. Access: http://www.fi shbase. org/home.htm. • Marine Realms Information Bank (MRIB). A collaborative effort of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program at the July/August 2005 531 C&RL News http:http://www.fi http:http://www.marinemammalogy.org www.jhu.edu/~scor http:http://www.naml.org http://www.vims.edu/tcs http:http://www.coreocean.org http:http://aslo.org http:http://www.fi Woods Hole Field Center and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the MRIB Web site is a distributed geolibrary that catalogs and provides organized access to information about coastal and marine environments, the adjacent parts of the atmosphere and solid Earth, as well as to people, techniques, and organizations involved in marine science. Access: http://mrib.usgs.gov. • NOAA Central Library Catalog. An online bibliographic catalog containing the holdings of NOAA libraries around the country, and, in some cases, containing the full text of the documents cataloged. Collec­ tions consist of reports, special data fi les and datasets, documents, articles, and audiovisual resources related to ocean and atmospheric sciences. Access: http://www.lib.noaa.gov/. • ReefBase. An online information system on coral reefs, ReefBase provides information services to coral reef professionals involved in management, research, monitoring, con­ servation, and education. ReefBase provides data and information on the location, status, threats, monitoring, legislation, and manage­ ment of coral reefs in 131 countries, along with data on coral bleaching between 1963 and 2005, downloadable datasets, and a bibliography of nearly 23,400 publications. Access: http://www.reefbase.org/. • Sea Grant Database. Maintained by the National Sea Grant Library, this database includes 36,000 bibliographic records for vari­ ous Sea Grant publications, and, in many cases, the full text of the document is also available online through the database. Subjects include oceanography, marine education, aquaculture, fisheries, limnology, coastal zone management, marine recreation, and law. Access: http://nsgd. gso.uri.edu/searchguide.html. • WODselect. The WODselect interface allows a user to search the World Ocean Database 2001 using user­specifi ed search criteria. The World Ocean Database is the world’s largest profile collection covering the oceans and contains measurements from 1874 through 2000. Retrieval options include data on temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, inorganic phosphate, and 20 other profi les. Access: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/SE­ LECT/dbsearch/dbsearch.html. Discussion lists and e-newsletters • CORAL­LIST. Provides a forum for Internet discussions and announcements among coral health researchers and scientists pertaining to coral reef health and monitoring throughout the world. Access: http://www. coral.noaa.gov/ • FishNews. An automated, e­mail newsletter distributed by the NOAA Fisheries Services that provides electronic notifi cation of important actions, rules, policies, and pro­ grams that may be of interest to researchers, practitioners, educators, and the public. Access: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fi shnews.htm. • IAMSLIC. Discussion list for the Inter­ national Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers, an association of individuals and organizations interested in aquatic and marine library and information science. Access: http://www. iamslic.org/about/listproc.html. • MARBIO. Discussion list providing a forum for all issues of interest to marine sci­ entists throughout the world. Access: http:// www.mote.org/marbio.phtml. • Marine Science and Education Lists. A directory of discussion lists related to ma­ rine science compiled by the Sea Grant Ma­ rine Advisory Program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Access: http://www.vims. edu/adv/ed/lists.html. More resources online A more complete marine science re­ source listing, including links to status reports not covered here, is available online. Visit www.acrl.org/c&rlnews. Correction In the May 2005 Internet Resources ar­ ticle, “Women’s resources,” the National Organization for Women (NOW) was mistakenly referred to as the National Organization of Women. The editors re­ gret the error. C&RL News July/August 2005 532 www.acrl.org/c&rlnews http://www.vims www.mote.org/marbio.phtml http://www http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/fi http:coral.noaa.gov http://www http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/OC5/SE http://nsgd http:http://www.reefbase.org http:http://www.lib.noaa.gov http:http://mrib.usgs.gov