Online Help

Before you begin exploring the OBIS-SEAMAP web site

The OBIS-SEAMAP web site provides a variety of interfaces/tools to explore, map and download survey data for marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles collected from data providers across the globe.

You don't need an account to access the web site. However, use of the data available through the OBIS-SEAMAP web site is subject to the OBIS-SEAMAP Terms of Use.

The following Online Help contents will help you explore data more efficiently. You may find the video tutorials more fun and helpful for learning about OBIS-SEAMAP. User FAQ is another good resource if you have questions.

If you are interested in contributing your data to OBIS-SEAMAP, please visit Provider FAQ or contact us directly.

Site Structure

Front Page	Front page features a simple version of the distribution map along with the summary statistics (the total number of observations etc). With this map, you can search observations by species and/or region of interest. While the map shows the observations for a specified species or within the drawn region of interest, contributing species and datasets are listed below the map, from which you can go to the Species/Dataset pages. Dataset/Species Search provides more search options and features such as overlaying environmental layers.
Dataset Search	Dataset Search allows you to search datasets by species and/or region of interest as well as data provider and other search options. From here, you can go to the Dataset page.
Species Search	Species Search allows you to search species from taxonomic tree and by species name, region of interest and/or other search options. The results are linked to the Species Profile page.
Dataset	Dataset page shows you the detail information about the dataset including abstract and species observed. The page is spatially, temporally interactive so you can explore the observations from various aspects. Online Help can be found in [Help] tab in the page.
Species Profile	Species Profile page provides the species taxonomic information along with the SEAMAP observations for the species. The page is spatially, temporally interactive so you can explore the observations from various aspects. Online Help can be found in [Help] tab in the page.
Online Mapper	Online Mapper allows you to overlay multiple species/datasets on a single map and provides more advanced features such as uploading your own shapefile and overlaying Google Earth KMLs available in the Internet (OBIS-SEAMAP account required).

Video Tutorials

 Browser Requirements

The SEAMAP web site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2/3. Both Windows XP and Mac OS are supported. The recommended screen size is 1024x768 or larger.

Notes

• Internet Explorer 8 is not fully tested. There is at least one issue found that the slide bars below the time series graph do not work. To avoid this, please use "compatibility view" ([Tools]-[Compatibility View]).
• Internet Explorer 6 is supported but you may experience slow page loading.

• Safari on Mac OS basically works fine but is not fully tested.
• Javascript and cookie must be enabled.