Mapping for taxonomic studies

Padua, Shelton (2024) Mapping for taxonomic studies. In: Training Manual on "Know Your Marine Biodiversity and Environment (MarBiE 2)" Taxonomy of Marine Organisms. CMFRI Training Manual Series (41). ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, pp. 175-191.

Text MarBiE II_2024_Shelton Padua.pdf Download (3MB)

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in taxonomic studies and related research. One of the important applications is making location maps from where the samples have been collected. This helps visualize species distribution patterns, identify biodiversity hotspots, and track changes in distribution over time due to factors like climate change. By combining species occurrence data with environmental data (like water temperature, depth, salinity) in a GIS environment, researchers can create models that predict the suitability of habitats for specific species. This can guide targeted collection efforts and identify areas potentially harbouring different species. GIS also helps in designing marine protected areas (MPAs) by considering factors like species distribution, habitat types, and human activities. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of MPAs in protecting marine biodiversity. By overlaying species distribution data with geographic features like currents, oceanographic boundaries, and geological formations, GIS helps researchers understand the factors influencing biogeographic patterns in the marine environment. Moreover, GIS facilitates the integration of data from various sources, such as field surveys, remote sensing, and historical records. This promotes collaboration among researchers by allowing them to share and analyze data in a centralized platform. Thus, GIS plays a crucial role in advancing marine taxonomic studies by providing a powerful platform for data visualization, analysis, and modeling, leading to a better understanding of marine biodiversity and its distribution.

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