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Save our Sharks
This is a really fun and well designed website that has built an incredibly comprehensive information base on sharks. The drive behind building this well of data is to inspire understanding and ultimately conservation of these typically maligned animals. They’re constantly updating the information here, but it will take you a while to sift through the mountain of information they’ve already compiled. Definitely worth a visit!
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The PLoS Biodiversity Hub
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IUCN Redlist
Ever wonder how we know when a species has become endangered, or when it is no longer threatened? The International Union for the Conservation of Nature is at the forefront of tracking which species are in trouble, and provide direct information on those species, or link to sources that can expound on their status. They have developed the many commonly known status epithets that we toss around, such as “threatened” or “critically endangered”, each with precise criteria. This organization is tireless in its mission to maintain current status updates on nearly every species that has been studied in the wild. Take some time to look for your favorite animals, and discover their status. You may be surprised.
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EPA STORET Database
The EPA has done a wonderful job of making their information accessible to the public through online databases. Information is gathered and analyzed from buoys set out at numerous locations all over the U.S., and eventually archived into databases. The STORET allows access to these archives—a wealth of historical data on water parameters such as temperature, depth profiles, nutrients, etc. If you are planning a study near any watershed or coastal ecosystem, you can get a good idea of what to expect through this resource. However, it is not incredibly user-friendly and there is a bit of a learning curve. But once you get the hang of it, it’s fairly easy to start compiling the data you need.
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FishBase
Need to find a fish? FishBase can help you track down a species of interest as long as you know some part of its taxonomy (even just the common name!). It’s the most comprehensive effort to build an encyclopedia of fish that I’ve come across, and hopefully you’ll find it fun and helpful!
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Oceana’s Marine Life Encyclopedia
Oceana, a huge proponent of marine conservation, has recently launched a new website that allows you to search for valuable information on the vast number of marine creatures. It also highlights some of the most spectacular ecosystems for aquatic life, as well as the science behind some of the ecological and geological phenomena that make our oceans such an interesting place to explore.
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Encyclopedia of Life
If an encyclopedia of marine life isn’t broad enough for you, why don’t you check out the brainchild of legendary ecologist, E.O. Wilson. This is by far the most comprehensive effort to collect information about every organism on the planet, from the microbes we can’t even see, to the largest animals and plants. What’s even better is that you can be a part of it! Become a member and help make this a truly complete encyclopedia!
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