Abstract
There is little quantitative information by which to assess the recent importance of diving to the scientific community. This review is a bibliographic analysis of the papers published from 1995 to 2006 that have been supported by scientific diving. Diving supports scientific research through efficient and targeted sampling (including numerous new species and reports), quantitative survey, observing animal behaviour, making in situ measurement, undertaking impact studies, a variety of ecological analyses, the evaluation of new techniques, by mapping underwater areas, profiling subtidal geology, and by deploying and retrieving underwater apparatus. Each section is reviewed in detail. However, by comparing the database searches against a selection of publications known to have used scientific diving in the same period, possibly only 7% (with 95% confidence limits of 0-15%) of papers were captured. It is suggested that the significance of scientific diving is vastly unrepresented by the literature and that the divers themselves should try to ensure proper acknowledgement in order to preserve and promote scientific diving as a valid and cost-effective underwa-
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call