CMarZ - Census of Marine Zooplankton
The Census of Marine Zooplankton (CMarZ) is a field project of the Census of Marine Life (see www.CoML.org). CMarZ is working toward a taxonomically comprehensive assessment of biodiversity of animal holoplankton throughout the world ocean. The project goal is to produce accurate and complete information on zooplankton species diversity, biomass, biogeographical distribution, genetic diversity, and community structure by 2010. This assemblage currently includes ~6,800 described species in fifteen phyla; our expectation is that at least that many new species will be discovered as a result of our efforts.
Sampling zooplankton in many ocean regions is being accomplished during the first years of the project by coordinating with ongoing, planned, and proposed programs, surveys, and initiatives. CMarZ is also making use of existing data and archived zooplankton collections. The global survey design is being optimized using theoretical and numerical models in collaboration with the CoML FMAP (Future of Marine Animal Populations) project. Sampling systems include traditional nets and trawls, remote detection, optical sensors, and integrated sensor systems deployed on towed, remotely-operated, or autonomous vehicles and submersibles. New sampling methodologies are needed to collect and study rare and fragile organisms. Molecular analyses include determining a DNA barcode (i.e., reference DNA sequence) for each species; describing genetic diversity and structure of populations and species, identifying cryptic species, and reconstructing their evolutionary histories.
A distributed database – fully integrated with and searchable from the Ocean Biogeographical Information System (OBIS) portal – is being created, with species-level, specimen-based, geo-referenced entries.
CMarZ has established regional centers for scientific leadership, planning and implementation of field activities, and raising funding. Three project offices have been established: in N. America (University of Connecticut, USA), Europe (AWI, Germany), and Asia (ORI, Japan). The CmarZ Steering Group reflects the project’s geographic, taxonomic, and disciplinary diversity; guides scientific and technical development; and ensures close coordination with other CoML field projects.
Important outcomes for CMarZ will be more complete knowledge of biodiversity hotspots and unexplored ocean regions, new understanding of the functional role of biodiversity in ocean ecosystems, and better characterization of global-scale patterns of zooplankton biodiversity in the world ocean.
