The (a) Regional Species Databases (RSD) and (b) Thematic Species Databases (TSD), hosted within WoRMS, and their editors.

<p>The (a) Regional Species Databases (RSD) and (b) Thematic Species Databases (TSD), hosted within WoRMS, and their editors.</p

Examples of possible applications of the WoRMS web service.

<p>Examples of possible applications of the WoRMS web service.</p

The Global Species Databases hosted within WoRMS. Those with their own web entry page are underlined.

<p>The Global Species Databases hosted within WoRMS. Those with their own web entry page are underlined.</p

The number of organisations using WoRMS for their research and/or data management as listed in <b>Table 9</b>.

<p>The number of organisations using WoRMS for their research and/or data management as listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0051629#pone-0051629-t009" target="_blank"><b>Table 9</b></a>.</p

Annual numbers of taxa names (species and above including synonyms), accepted species names, vernacular names, distribution data, and specimens, added to WoRMS and its precursor ERMS.

<p>Annual numbers of taxa names (species and above including synonyms), accepted species names, vernacular names, distribution data, and specimens, added to WoRMS and its precursor ERMS.</p

Examples of the same names being used for different species (including a marine species) found by Rees [114].

<p>These homonyms can be distinguished if the author and year of description are included after the name, because it is highly unlikely for an author to describe two different species with the same name in the same year.</p

Some of the WoRMS editors at workshops in Ostend in 2008 (upper panel) and Aberdeen in 2011.

<p>Some of the WoRMS editors at workshops in Ostend in 2008 (upper panel) and Aberdeen in 2011.</p

The countries and institutes represented by the editors of WoRMS and its associated databases. These are mapped at http://www.marinespecies.org/imis.php?module=gmap&amp;spcolid=507.

<p>The countries and institutes represented by the editors of WoRMS and its associated databases. These are mapped at <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/imis.php?module=gmap&amp;spcolid=507" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/imis.php?module=gmap&amp;spcolid=507</a>.</p

Some of the organisations using the WoRMS web service for their data management systems and/or research.

<p>Some of the organisations using the WoRMS web service for their data management systems and/or research.</p

The approximate present geographic coverage of the larger Regional Species Databases (i.e. all-species inventories) within WoRMS.

<p>The approximate present geographic coverage of the larger Regional Species Databases (i.e. all-species inventories) within WoRMS.</p