Lessons from the marine census

Now that the ten-year effort to take stock of the diversity of life in the oceans came to a triumphant end late last year, researchers involved in the Census for Marine Life are reflecting on the project's shortcomings.

Written byCristina Luiggi
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School master snapperAYESHA CANTRELL / DREAMSTIME.COM

Now that the ten-year effort to take stock of the diversity of life in the oceans came to a triumphant end late last year, researchers involved in the Census for Marine Life are reflecting on the project's shortcomings. Of main concern is the future of the project, which cost around $635 million, now that the funding has ended, stressing the lack of "procedures for bringing forward new leaders to continue the projects," Nature reports. The review was commissioned by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the main funder of the census, and will be presented in draft form today (May 19).

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