National Geographic Map of the Census of Marine Life

Basic Layout

The map will have two sides. Main side: a world-wide map. Reverse side: three smaller thematic maps.

What themes do we want to display on the map?

The main side of the map will depict a theme, for example, Hot Spots and Ocean Realms. The main map can be augmented; photos that illustrate "Human Edges", a graphic that shows "Seamounts", a cross-section that presents the them from a different perspective:

 

 

The poster will be large enough that compact but detailed graphics can be incorporated on the face of the map.

The reverse side can present linked related themes, or a contrasting theme.

 

The content of the map should come primarily from Census results. If you leave a comment below, be sure to explain which CoML project the information is drawn from.

 

Theme One	Theme Two
Global Marine Life: Diversity, Distribution & Abundance	Ocean Discovery, Ocean Technologies, Expeditions & Innovations
Biogeography of Ocean Life	Our Chaning Oceans: Past, Present & Future
Hotspots, Corridors & Ocean Realms	Threats, Conflicts, Human Footprints
Special Places in the Ocean	What are the New Discoveries?
Ocean Extremes (biggest, fastest, deepest)	Physical Controls on Biodiversity
Ocean Scale: Microbes to Whales	Physical Controls on Biodiversity
Where are the New Discoveries	Known, Unknown & Unknowable
Ocean Connectivity & Isolation	Unique Habitats: Margins, O2 Minimum Zones, Ephemeral Features

 

A theme in detail

Taking the idea of "Ocean Extremes", Boris Worm illustrated how it could be tied to specific Census field projects. We should be able to connect ideas to specific Census results for the topic we choose to make our focus.

• The fastest swimmer: Bluefin tuna: show track: TOPP
• The deepest life: Mariana Trench: show animal that lives there: SYNDEEP
• The hottest life: Hydrthermal vent, highlight ‘boiling fish’ and bacteria ChESS
• The most species: Highlight coral triangle CReefs
• The coldest life: Highlight subzero waters in Antarctic CAML
• The greatest desert: Highlight southeastern Pacific subtropical gyre FMAP
• The longest mountain range: highlight discovereries on mid-atlantic ridge MARECO
• The biggest highway: pacific subtropical transition zone: highlight migrating turtles TOPP
• The largest bacterium: ask ICOMM where it occurs (Thiomargarita namibiensis has been found in Gulf of Mexico Seeps and is quite large.)
  
• The largest animal: show blue whale track TOPP
• The richest fishing grounds: Highlight grand banks: HMAP

 

But that is just one theme- we need to expand on at least one more of these themes for the other side of the map. We need to flesh out another topic in a similar matter.

 

Past, Present, Future theme  

• one area of focus could be Historically Productive/Abundant Fishing Grounds. 
• Brief descriptions of select areas or grounds within each ocean highlighting their change in productivity over time
• social and economic importance of the fisheries
• socio-economic consequences of depletion, and potential for recovery.
  

 

 

Contribute suggestions

Here are the slides from the Long Beach Synthesis meeting where the map was discussed. Can you elaborate on one of these themes? Can you illustrate a connection between a theme and your Census project?

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