IMIS

The challenge is to distinguish natural changes from human-induced ones over time. Nevertheless, the resulting data will help us all to gain a better understanding of these dynamic ecosystems, and to make wiser decisions about coastal development and marine conservation. To detect gradual changes to habitats and local biodiversity, we need long-term data sets. Shorekeepers is about collecting detailed data annually at the same site(s) for three or more years. As our population grows in coastal areas, so may our impacts on marine habitats. Protection of this fragile environment requires active participation and monitoring by local people and communities. Does there appear to be less marine life on a particular beach in recent years? Do you suspect that a nearby activity or industry is affecting the plants and animals of a particular shoreline? Shorekeepers is stewardship of coastal marine habitats by people who live near them. It is a monitoring methodology designed specifically for community groups and for people who may not have a strong science background to be able to contribute to scientific data collection. Having local community groups and individuals take an active role in looking after their coastline fosters "local ownership" and interest. DFO maintains the central database with the complete dataset from all shorekeeper surveys on the BC coast. The OBIS dataset is a subset of this larger collection and includes the date, location and percentage coverage of the intertidal area by various taxa. Quantitative abundance and biomass values are not included in this dataset. Information on the tidal cycle and the slope of the intertidal area is included in the notes. The OBIS dataset is a subset of the Shorekeepers collection and contains presence information for intertidal zone taxa. For the full dataset users should contact DFO