Ferramenta interativa e colaborativa: um agregador sobre espécies marinhas, www.especies.info

Abstract

The increasing complexity of environmental data and the dispersion of information pose significant challenges to marine biodiversity conservation. This study identified opportunities to optimize the collection, integration, and analysis of environmental data. Aiming to improve marine monitoring, the main objective was to develop an interactive and collaborative tool to integrate dispersed information, with a focus on monitoring marine species, particularly invasive ones. Specifically, we aimed to: (1) Develop a digital tool that enables the recording of occurrences with data storage, including mechanisms for monitoring exotic, invasive, or threatened marine species, while facilitating public engagement in species reporting. (2) Structure a georeferenced occurrence database of monitored species, establishing levels of information reliability. (3) Define a general workflow of participants and their contributions. A tool was developed that allows systematic georeferenced data collection, with expert validation, user interaction, and access control, designed to meet the needs of managers, researchers, and citizens. This promotes increased collaboration and improves the quality of information about species. The development of data validation protocols by experts enhanced the reliability of the information and contributed to more effective environmental management and control strategies. This study aims to contribute to the integration of dispersed environmental data and to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address the challenges of marine conservation. The developed tool (www.especies.info) has demonstrated strong potential to enable data collection activities and foster the creation of a collaborative network, supporting the fight against bioinvasion and the management of marine biodiversity.