Aquatic Species Distribution Map Viewer uses a GIS approach, maps of the distribution of a large number of aquatic species are accurately reproduced and disseminated. Geographic terms and habitat descriptions were extracted from the FAO Catalogues of Species and combined with global databases from authoritative sources.
Habitat descriptions and geographic distributions derived from the official FAO Catalogues of Species are the main source of information for the compilation of the aquatic species distribution maps.
FIGIS. These are the basic steps that were undertaken to prepare all maps available in the Aquatic Species Map Viewer:
For species which show some type of relationship with the ocean bottom, habitat's description has been translated in a sequence of depth ranges, using the limits indicates in the Table below.
Depth ranges were extracted from the GEBCO Digital Atlas (Natural Environment Research Council. 1994. Digital version of the IOC/IHO General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans).
Information about localities and or oceanographic regions, were extracted from a variety of sources, including
the GEBCO Digital Atlas Gazetteer,
the VLIZ (2011). Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase, version 5. Available online at http://www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/marbound. Consulted on 2011-04-04,
the Spalding MD, Fox HE, Allen GR, Davidson N, Ferdaña ZA, Finlayson M, Halpern BS, Jorge MA, Lombana A, Lourie SA, Martin KD, McManus E, Molnar J, Recchia CA, Robertson J (2007) Marine Ecoregions of the World: a bioregionalization of coast and shelf areas. BioScience 57: 573-583, and
the UN Cartography section for national and sub-national administrative boundaries.
For species with oceanic behaviour, the main source of information derived from direct knowledge of experts and different FAO sources of information.
On the final outputs, two different distributions were identified, one where species has been certainly checked and one were spotted or uncertain distribution was provided.