Posted: Thursday, February 18, 2021 14:35
A bounty of marine corals and sponges from Canada’s Eastern Arctic and Grand Banks off the eastern coast of Newfoundland have been donated to the Canadian Museum of Nature. Photos and information about them will be shared with the world through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
While corals may be associated with tropical waters, they exist in colder marine environments and are integral to healthy ecosystems. They provide habitat and nurseries for many other species and they may be used as indicators for potential or existing conservation areas.
The 572 specimens including 27 sponges were donated by scientists at the Canadian government’s department called Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). They were collected during DFO surveys between 2005 and 2019 at 194 locations.