Welcome to the OceanVibration Marine Species Identification Database! This project aims to create a collaborative, publicly accessible database of marine species, using photos contributed by marine scientists, diving professionals, and citizen scientists like you. By sharing your photos and knowledge, you are directly contributing to marine science and conservation efforts in Mauritius and also helping OceanVibration raise awareness about marine biodiversity.
What is Citizen Science?
Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research. It leverages the collective knowledge and effort of individuals to gather data, analyze results, and contribute to scientific discoveries. In the context of marine species identification, citizen scientists, using photographs and their knowledge, can play a significant role in:
Raising Awareness: Engaging the public in marine science, and promoting conservation and appreciation for the oceans.
Monitoring Biodiversity: Identifying and documenting the different species present in various marine environments.
Tracking Species Distribution: Understanding where species are found, can help track migration patterns and range expansions.
Identifying New or Rare Species: Discovering and documenting new or less-known species and identifying important areas for conservation.
Supporting Research: Providing valuable data for scientific studies and conservation projects.
Why Does This Project Matter?
Our goal is to build a comprehensive resource that can be used by researchers, conservationists, students, and anyone passionate about marine life. This database is more than just a collection of pictures, it’s an interactive community-driven learning tool and an instrument for raising public awareness about our planet. By identifying and sharing the different species you find, you’re helping us better understand the biodiversity of the waters of Mauritius and its surroundings.
Contribute To The Database
We invite you to contribute your photos and observations to help us expand the database. Follow these steps to submit your contributions:
Your Contribution Will Be Reviewed: We are committed to maintaining accuracy and quality in this database, so we will carefully review all submissions before they are published. Once the contribution is approved it will be added to the database.
Take Clear Photos: Capture high-quality images of marine species during your dives or marine activities. Make sure the animal is clearly visible, and it is identifiable. Make sure that you are complying with local laws and regulations, and not disturbing or stressing marine life in the process.
Check the Database: Check the existing database to make sure the species you want to share is not already present. This is a collaborative effort, so you will be helping us, as well as the overall community by not duplicating work.
Share Your Photos and Information: Send your image files (1280/720px) and the required information to our email: info@oceanvibration.com using WeTransfer or a similar service. You may include your personal signature on the image (business names are not accepted).
Common Name of the species (if known)
Scientific Name of the species (if known)
Location & Depth where the photo was taken
Your Name as you want it to appear in the credits (business names are not accepted)
