The University of Southampton INDEEP Project (International Network for Scientific Investigation of Deep-Sea Ecosystems – funded by the Total Foundation) provided funding for the World Register of Deep-Sea Species, a new web portal which aims to bring together the most up-to-date taxonomy with a suite of identification tools (online keys, monographs and papers) recommended by taxonomic experts.
The primary goal of the project has been to build a comprehensive database of known deep-sea species and to present this as a thematic species database (TSD) of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), with all data dynamically linked to WoRMS and their team of taxonomic editors. All deep-sea biologists will be able to use this website as a rapid tool to search for deep-sea species, create deep-sea species lists and browse using an up-to-date taxonomy.
As a secondary goal, INDEEP also provided funding for the first version of Deep Sea ID, an iOS field guide app to the marine life of the deep sea. The project was led by the Natural History Museum, the National Oceanography Centre and the World Register of Marine Species.
The app allows offline access to the World Register of Deep-Sea Species and currently stores taxonomic information for over 20,000 deep-sea species on a device, over 350 high-resolution photographs of deep-sea specimens as well as links to online taxonomic tools, sources and important references.
The app is designed to improve access to taxonomic information for researchers and contractors working at sea or in the laboratory as well as educators and science communicators who wish to learn more about the remarkable diversity of deep-sea life. The app will be regularly updated with more images.
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March 20, 2013; Image: marinespecies.org