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Pacific Science Association. Pacific Science Association - PSA Working Group on Ocean Acidification. PSA Task Force on Ocean Acidification The Pacific Science Association is facilitating international scientific collaboration on ocean acidification, an emerging issue of critical regional and global significance. PSA has formed a Task Force on Ocean Acidification led by acting co-chairs Dr. Yoshihisa Shirayama and Dr. Peter Brewer. Scientific data collected over many years are conclusive that oceanic absorption of atmospheric CO2 is causing chemical changes in seawater, making them more acidic (i.e. lowering pH). Early data is highly suggestive that ocean acidification (OA) will negatively impact many important marine organisms. Changes in mean ocean pH in relation to anthropogenic CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Caldeira & Wickett 2003).

PSA has established a Task Force on Ocean Acidification in the Pacific (TFOAP). Change in sea surface pH caused by anthropogenic CO2 between the 1700s and the 1990s Source: Wikipedia Commons. TFOAP Co-Chairs: Dr. Dr. Agardy, T. (2006). Explore the World of Birds and Biodiversity. Behind the Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna Trade | Pew. Pew Environment Group. News Room. The deep sea, home to some of the world’s most unusual creatures, is teeming with biological diversity, most of which has yet to be scientifically documented. But in spite of the wonders that exist far below the surface, the deep sea is being destroyed. While threats to this fragile marine habitat are not new, the blatant failure of high-seas fishing countries to safeguard deep-sea ecosystems can no longer be ignored.

A new report, Unfinished Business: A Review of the Implementation of the Provisions of UNGA Resolutions 61/105 and 64/72 (PDF), reveals that many high-seas fishing countries and regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) have failed to implement measures to protect the deep sea. This comes five years after the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) passed the first of several resolutions outlining how vulnerable deep-sea biodiversity should be safeguarded. The answer, according to deep-sea experts and environmental organizations around the world, is ‘no.’ Enough is enough. Biodiversity On Earth Plummets, Despite Growth in Protected Habitats.

Despite rapid and substantial growth in the amount of land and sea designated as protected habitat over the last four decades, the diversity of species the world over is plummeting, a new study has found. Over 100,000 so-called "protected areas" representing some 7 million square miles of land and nearly 1 million square miles of ocean have been established since the 1960's, noted the analysis, published Thursday in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.

And yet, according to a widely cited index used to track planetary biodiversity, the wealth of terrestrial and marine species has seen steady decline over roughly the same period, suggesting that simply protecting swaths of land and sea -- a common conservation strategy worldwide -- is inadequate for preventing the steady disappearance of earth's creatures. The precise value of such services is difficult to quantify, but one economic analysis estimated they were worth as much as $33 trillion globally. From the study: Dr. Biodiversity Heritage Library. A book of birds. BioStor. The BHL-Europe portal. The Biodiversity Heritage Library for Europe aims to make early published biodiversity literature accessible to anyone who’s interested. One of the most important access points to this content will be the BHL-Europe portal, which will be available in no less than 12 languages!

The portal’s development now nears its end – and it’s high time we take a look at the homepage’s design and functionality.  Simple search The simple search function lets you search for the most frequent metadata: title, author, year (date of publication) and scientific name. Obviously, you need to enter at least one of those to perform a search. Several web services are integrated in the simple search: these include autocomplete search, fuzzy search and taxon finder for a scientific query. In addition to this simple search, an advanced search option will also be available. Content highlights One of the coolest features of the homepage is the rotating carousel.

Help and tutorial Social media bar. WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY (WMBD) CI's Photos | SmugMug. A to Z of areas of biodiversity importance. Eco Preservation Society. Home | The Big Wild. Save Our Seas. MarineBio.org - Marine Biology, Ocean Life Conservation, Sea creatures, Biodiversity, Oceans research... Countdown 2010 - Save Biodiversity.