Prof Natalie Moltschaniwskyj from the University of Newcastle has spent a week in the local area catching up with some potential research partners whilst giving four community presentations about Redmap.  Keen audience members now feel ready to brush up on their species identification and photography skills and then upload their own data to the interactive website.

Redmap stands for Range Extension Database and Mapping project. This project invites Australians to share sightings of marine species that are ‘uncommon’ to their local seas. Over time, Redmap will use this ‘citizen science’ data to map which Australian marine species may be extending their distribution range – a.k.a moving house – in response to changes in the marine environment, such as ocean warming.

Redmap members use their knowledge of the seas to help monitor Australia’s vast coastline. The citizen science data also highlights regions and species that may be experiencing more  distribution changes,  so that research can be focused into these areas.

SCMDC staff members have found the concept extremely interesting and attractive as it brings local knowledge together with scientific expertise. The outcome is a database with valid and robust data for use into the future.

Visit the Redmap website here for all the details and find out just how easy it is for you to become part of an Australia-wide marine research database.