The Census of Marine Life pilot project

The Census of Marine Life pilot projectPATTERNS AND PROCESSES OF THE

ECOSYSTEMS OF THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC

www.mar-eco.no

Area:

Iceland – Azores

Taxa/components:

Pelagic, benthopelagic and epibenthic macrofauna.

Fishes, cephalopods, gelatinous plankton, crustaceans.

Planning phase: 2001-2003

Field phase: 2003-2005

Analytical phase: 2004-2008

The orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus.Target of deep-sea fisheries on seamounts. Longevity at least 130 yrs., Size: to approx. 60 cm.Photo: J.D.M. Gordon, Scotland.

Selection of mesopelagic fishes,inhabitants of the twilight zone of the oceans.Photo: O.A. Bergstad, Norway.

Selection of demersal fishes,inhabitants of the near-bottom zone of the oceans.

Photo: O.A. Bergstad, Norway.

Peculiar deep-sea squid, only known from photographs. This species can probably become 10 m long.

Photo: M. Vecchione, USA.

Black scabbardfish, Aphanopus carbo.

Rabbitfish, Chimaera monstrosa.

Photos: J.D.M. Gordon, Scotland.

The euphausid Meganyctiphanes norvegica, important player in the oceanic food-web. A prey of many predators such as fishes, seabirds, and baleen whales.Photo: Øystein Paulsen, Norway.

A comb jelly, representative of a diverse group of gelatinous plankton.

Photo: Ulf Båmstedt, Sweden.

A colonial siphonophore, another representative of the many gelationous organisms of open-ocean communities.Photo: Ulf Båmstedt, Sweden.

RV G.O. Sars

RV Arni Fridriksson

Deep diving submersible Mir-2.

03:00

Day Echosounder observations of mid-water plankton and nekton.

Patterns and processes of the ecosystems of the northern mid-Atlantic

MAR-ECO Public Outreach modules

• film documentary, other video material

• communication network and classroom contacts

• publication projects

• exhibitions

• web support

scientists

public

publicoutreach

A multi-dimensional approach to ensure public participation in the project

North Atlantic network of

experts

New techniques and technology, modern platforms

New insight, public awareness, enhanced competence

http://www. mar-eco.no/

MAR-ECO LEADERSHIP

• The Institute of Marine Research, Norway (www.imr.no)• The University of Bergen (www.uib.no)