Projects Database

Marine Ecosystem Health Monitoring Using Sentinel Species

Project Leader:
Dr. Alonso Aguirre

Earth Institute Contact: Dr. Alonso Aguirre

Locations: United States of America

Description:
Dr. Aguirre has for the last four years been developing a "sentinel species" project to determine if selected marine vertebrates could serve as indicators of marine health. Twenty-five researchers, including vertebrate biologists, conservation biologists, veterinarians, epidemiologists, and ecosystem health specialists, participated in a Wildlife Trust workshop titled, "Marine Vertebrates as Sentinels of Marine Ecosystem Health," October 2000. This workshop examined the feasibility of using marine vertebrates as sentinels to monitor marine ecosystem health. New ideas that emerged from the workshop have already been incorporated into interpretive graphics at the New England Aquarium and into a policy briefing that was held May 2001 in Washington, D.C.

EI Unit:
Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC)

Cross Cutting Themes:
Ecosystems

Climate and Society

Core Disciplines:
Biology

Collaborating Institutions:
Consortium for Conservation Medicine scientists; Wildlife Trust Project Leaders

Funding Agency:
Foundation, Federal Funding

Last Modified: 10-14-2003