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During the 2022 Nekton Maldives Mission, approximately 80 hours of stereo-video footage were collected during the benthic transect surveys, and were processed to evaluate benthic biodiversity and community composition.
This Benthic field ID guide, written by a group of scientists supporting the Maldives mission, can help with the identification of reef benthos encountered, including corals, sponges, and other invertebrates inhabiting the Maldives’ nearshore habitats.
It is intended to aid future imagery-based surveys or observations of organisms during fieldwork.
A total of 283 morphotypes were identified.
Examples of the 5 most common groups included:
Of these 283 morphotypes, 40 were identified to species level, 120 to genus, 47 to family, 14 to order and suborder, 58 to class and subclass, two to phylum, and one was of unknown phylum.
"The first attempt to catalogue the mesophotic and deep-sea benthic megafaunal diversity in the Maldives using underwater imagery"
Erika Gress: Black coral taxonomist (James Cook University)
Hana Amir: Hard Coral Taxonomist / Ecologist (University of Bangor / former Maldives Marine Research Institute employee)
Farah Amjad: Ecologist/ Lead Author (Nekton, Maldives)
This guide represents the culmination of a very successful initiative that includes a field expedition and a taxonomic workshop. I am very proud of having contributed to it because of its scientific value, and because it demonstrates the benefits of global scientific collaboration.
Benthic identification and accessible guides that support identification have been a challenge, and a barrier, to marine research in the Maldives. This guide provides a key resource that can aid in overcoming this barrier. In the era of climate change and biodiversity loss, countries like the Maldives have struggled to account for what is being lost because records either don't exist or are poorly maintained.
Documenting species localities offers essential data for developing targeted conservation strategies and sustainable management practices. This helps identify critical habitats and species that need protection.
By highlighting the rich marine biodiversity of the Maldives, the guide raises awareness among local communities, policymakers, and the global audience, emphasising the importance of preserving these understudied ecosystems.
Discover more about the rich marine biodiversity of the Maldives.
Dive into the comprehensive Benthic Guide to learn about nearly 300 unique species, including potential new discoveries.
Amjad F, Ahusan M, Amir H, de Villiers N, Gress E, Mah C, Naeem S, Rico-Seijo N, Samaai T, Afzal M, Woodall L, Stefanoudis P (2024) An underwater imagery identification guide for shallow, mesophotic and deep-sea benthos in Maldives. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e120128.