Researchers have launched the Marine Organismal Body Size Database (MOBS) to catalog the maximum sizes of 85,204 marine species from the World Register of Marine Species. This initiative aims to address the bias in data collection that has historically favored larger marine animals over smaller ones. With approximately 40% of marine species represented, the database seeks to enhance our understanding of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, as small-bodied species play critical roles in marine food webs and ecological functions.
"Put simply, biologists have tended to focus on bigger organisms. As a result, a lot of our understanding of marine ecosystems is based on larger species."
"The database reflects the diversity of marine animals, ranging from tiny sea worms and plankton to mollusks, fish, and whales, covering about 40 percent of marine species."
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