Understanding where organisms live and why they live there is the key aim of
ecology. SOMBASE is a tool for looking at marine molluscs in the seas around
Antarctica. Using a database and the latest mapping technology it is possible
to display all the places where a family, genus or species has been found on an
electronic map. These maps show us how widely spread different organisms are
and if they prefer a particular area or type of habitat. The database can also
be used to address questions about biodiversity in the seas around Antarctica
and how it's unique environment affects which animals are found there.
SOMBASE contains comprehensive distribution records of Antarctic, Magellanic,
and Sub-Antarctic Gastropods and Bivalves as well as records for many other
species from the Southern Hemisphere. Based upon published records and British
Antarctic Survey data these distribution maps form part of a biogeographic
database, which also includes taxonomic, ecological and habitat data. The
database contains information on over 1,400 species from more than 3,350
locations.
SCAR-MarBIN serves 7695 records from the database.
Contact_Organization: ICSU/SCAR/SCAR-MARBIN > Marine Biodiversity Information Network, Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, International Council for Science
Contact_Person: BRUNO DANIS
Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
Address: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
