Research into marine biodiversity often involves long-term monitoring and detailed surveys designed to reveal which species and which habitat types can be found in each marine area. Such research does not only aim to obtain information on species’ numbers, scarcity and dominance relationships, however.
One key objective is to understand the functional diversity of marine species and species groups. Another goal is to find out about species’ capabilities and mechanisms for adapting to changes, and to assess how effectively populations can recover from disturbances. Such studies are often conducted using experimental methods. Biodiversity and the evolution of species can also today be studied using the latest genetic and molecular analytical techniques.
Studies of marine biodiversity can help us to understand how species and species groups react to changes in environmental factors, why their populations vary, and how they affect each other. Such research can thus help us decide how best to protect marine life – and how to use the sea and its valuable marine resources sustainably.
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