Exploitable results BIOMARE: Implementation and networking of large-scale long-term marine biodiversity research in Europe The concerted action aimed to establish the infrastructure and conditions required for marine biodiversity research at a European scale. The CA started November 2000, and will last 2 years and includes 23 actively participating European institutes. Consensus had grown that concentration and co-ordination at European scale is urgently required to implement long-term and large-scale marine biodiversity research and to plan the adequate use of the European research infrastructure. Many research questions cannot be addressed at local scales and require cooperation and the establishment of a committed network of scientists and institutes. There is no agreed common methodology for many aspects of biodiversity research; this needs careful preparation. The objectives of the Concerted Action were to achieve a European consensus on the selection and implementation of: - Network of Reference Sites as the basis for long-term and large-scale marine biodiversity research in Europe; - Internationally agreed standardised and normalised measures and indicators for (the degree of) biodiversity; - Facilities for capacity building, dissemination and networking of marine biodiversity research, by: workshops; improving training and mobility; an Internet web site including an overview of ongoing research programs and existing infrastructure for marine biodiversity research in Europe; a database on, reviewed and evaluated, available data, aiming at employing data for socio-economic questions such as the impact of fisheries or tourism. A set of 155 Focal sites (WP1) provide the geographical skeleton for the implementation. Of these sites approximately thirty are defined on the basis of an evaluation list as Reference sites. The Reference sites may be the basis for intensive surveys to assess the status and long-term development of marine biodiversity in Europe. The Focal sites are intended to provide the skeleton for the long-term research as well as for comparative studies on selected groups of microbiota, plants and animals. A book on the Focal Sites and their main characteristics has been composed (Warwick, R.M., C. Emblow, J.-P. Féral, H. Hummel, P. van Avesaath, & C. Heip. 2003. European Marine Biodiversity Research Sites. ISBN 90-74638-15-5). The second work package on indicators focused on a catalogue of indicators that are used, and tried to find the right translation of very complex biological structures and processes into more simple parameters and concepts that can be understood by non-scientists. The challenge was to construct a scientific rigid system that yet is equally of use for the interested scientist, the CZM manager and the public at large. To aid the different groups of users a decision scheme was developed. To present these results in a manageable fashion, the decision scheme and protocols on biodiversity indicators have been assembled in a book (Féral, J.-P., M. Fourt, T. Perez, R. Warwick, C. Emblow, C. Heip, P. van Avesaath, H. Hummel, 2003. European Marine Biodiversity Indicators. ISBN 90-74638-14-7). The CA will enhance Marine Biodiversity Research in Europe through a network of marine institutes establishing an agreed series of reference stations and indicators. This allows inter-site comparisons and long term surveys, maximises the integration of efforts in marine biodiversity research at pan-European scale for students, researchers and managers dealing with socio-economic questions, and increases the awareness of the public. Searching for OpenAIRE data... There was an error trying to search data from OpenAIRE No results available
