Global Marine biodiversity data from Seawatchers Marine Citizen Science Platform 1980-2020

Observadores del Mar is a marine citizen science platform launched in 2012 devoted to enhancing the understanding of the conservation status of marine ecosystems. The platform hosts 13 projects covering 8 main taxa: corals, jellyfishes, decapod crustaceans, fishes, seaweeds, seagrasses, seabirds and molluscs, in addition to two projects focused on marine litter and reporting information on two main topics: i) biodiversity data focusing mainly on species distribution and abundance, and ii) the impacts of anthropogenic activities (e.g. jellyfish blooms) and associated mid- to long-term changes (e.g. colonization of invasive species). Almost 5500 observations validated by scientists have been already collected resulting in more than 20 scientific papers and communications. The major findings have been new records of introduced and invasive species, tracking the spread of novel pen shell mortality outbreak in the Mediterranean Sea and monitoring microplastic concentration on beaches.

海洋观测者（Observadores del Mar）是2012年启动的海洋公民科学平台，致力于深化对海洋生态系统保护现状的认知。该平台下设13个覆盖8个主要分类群（taxa）的项目，涉及珊瑚、水母、十足目甲壳类、鱼类、海藻、海草、海鸟与软体动物；另有2个聚焦海洋垃圾的项目。所有项目均报告两大主题的信息：① 以物种分布与丰度为核心的生物多样性数据；② 人类活动（例如水母暴发）的影响及其伴随的中长期变化（例如外来物种定植）。目前已收集经科学家验证的观测记录近5500条，相关成果已衍生出20余篇学术论文与学术交流报告。核心研究发现包括：外来与入侵物种的新分布记录、地中海地区新型江珧蛤死亡暴发事件的扩散追踪，以及海滩微塑料浓度监测。