Keeping Track of Marine Ecosystems
With climate change influencing and causing rapid changes in the behaviour of our ocean, the importance of protecting the diverse communities that live in it has never been greater. Without marine biodiversity, many of the vital ocean systems like the biological carbon pump would fail.
NOC conducts extensive marine biodiversity monitoring, focusing on deep-sea benthic communities, ecological shifts, and the impact of anthropogenic disturbances. Advanced technology like autonomous and remotely operated vehicles are utilised to monitor habitats and map the abundance of life on the seabed.
NOC's Biodiversity Mission
Marine biodiversity spans the full spectrum of life in our ocean, from microscopic plankton to great whales, and includes the genetic variation within species and the diversity of habitats which they depend. This rich variety underpins healthy, functioning ecosystems, sustaining intricate food webs and vital chemical cycles.