Picton, B.E. and Costello M. J. (editors). 1998. BioMar biotope viewer: a guide to marine habitats, fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland. Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin. ISBN 0 9526 735 4 1

Copies are available on request from:
EcoServe, 17 Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W, Ireland.
Fax + 353-1-492 5694. Email mcostello@ecoserve.ie.
They cost £10 + £2 P & P (standard economy rate).

Some data:

VBTag  Lat Long Wave Exposure County Site Description SurveyNo SiteNo
6042 51° 38.76' N 009° 45.54' E  Sheltered  Cork
The site was located on a submerged rock in the entrance to an area of enclosed coast. The seabed was bedrock characterised in the lower circalittoral by sponges and Corynactis viridis with Antedon bifida common on upper circalittoral bedrock. The flora was dominated by Delesseria sanguinea and Hypoglossum hypoglossoides. 501 7

This description does not do justice as you can click on groups of organisms and get more details.

The database is very strong on the description of habitats.

I have not really had a chance to explore this datatbase yet. It is not comprehensive (e.g. Chondrus crispus not included) , but it has got to be worth  the dosh just for the photographs and information on sea anemones and other anthozoans.

Example of what a species web page-style on Biomar looks like: Dead Men's Fingers
(The links on this linked page refer to Biomar and they will not work on this web site)
 

Biomar
British Sea Anemones

British Anthozoa

To the non-marine enthusiasts, the Anthozoa are a subphylum of the Cnidaria (stinging animals like jellyfish). The Anthozoa contain the attractive sea anemones, corals, sea fans, sea-pens etc.

Up until now there has not been a readily available colour photographic guide to these most attractive animals in British seas. The standard literature was British Anthozoa by R L Manuel  (Academic Press: Synopsis of British Fauna series) ISBN 0.12.470050.0 This is the 1981 edition. A later edition was produced. It contains the accurate line drawings.

There was a preceding MCS Mini-Print series on sea anemones.
Not quite true - there was a very useful mini-print set that R Manuel produced for MCS in 1980, although I fear that the master set was destroyed in the fire that also finished off the sponge guide.
It has photos of most, and descriptions of 69 species.
I don't know if its still available
From: paul tyler <paultyler@mac.com>

The Biomar CD-ROM rectifies this shortfall, and the section on the sea anemones is reason enough for acquiring this CD-ROM.
(I found the sea anemones the prompt that got me interested in marine life around Britain: a compulsion at the time.)

Almost all the sea anemones found around the British Isles are illustrated by superb photographs and a brief explanation about the anemones and other anthozoans. These include rare and uncommon species that I have never seen in the wild or even in photographs before.

There is a comprehensive database with photographs of the British Opisthobranch Molluscs (sea slugs) included as well.

Essential for any marine enthusiast.

URL = http://www.ecoserve.ie/biomar/aims.html

BioMar-Viewer

Dear Editor,

Enclosed is a complimentary copy of the BioMar-Viewer compact disc for review by your journal. If you get it reviewed please send a copy of the review to Dr Mark J. Costello, EcoServe, 17 Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W, Ireland.

It includes

•  a database of marine species recorded during field surveys around Ireland;
•  descriptions and photographs of marine biotopes defined by the BioMar project;
•  photographs and descriptions of some of the species recorded;
•  a bibliography of marine envimment literature for Ireland.

Information in this publication may be searched based on geographical location, habitat and/or species, if you use the special installation routine (details on enclosed). The data files may also be accessed directly if you have the necessary software.

This viewer was produced as part of BioMar, a project part flinded by the European Commission under the LIFE - Environment programme.

The publication may be cited as:
Picton, B.E. and Costello M. J. (editors). 1998. BioMar biotope viewer: a guide to marine habitats, fauna and flora of Britain and Ireland. Environmental Sciences Unit, Trinity College, Dublin. ISBN 0 9526 735 4 1

Further copies are available on request from:
EcoServe, 17 Rathfarnham Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W, Ireland.
Fax + 353-1-492 5694. Email mcostello@ecoserve.ie.
They cost £10 + £2 P & P (standard economy rate).