Project 01 · Monitoring · Active
NudiBank
Mapping nudibranchs for ocean-health monitoring in the Central Mediterranean.
The brief
Sea slugs as
sentinels.
Our team leads a targeted research initiative in Malta to map the spatial and temporal distribution of Mediterranean nudibranchs.
Combining precision SCUBA-based surveys with structured citizen-science campaigns, we collect high-resolution data on nudibranch occurrence by geography, season and year.
By tracking these sensitive invertebrates, NudiBank seeks to validate nudibranchs as bioindicators of ocean health — particularly temperature shifts and acidification. Grounded in collaboration with dive communities and academic partners, our work delivers actionable insights for climate adaptation and marine conservation strategies.
Why nudibranchs?
Small, sensitive, and so so cool.
Nudibranchs are soft-bodied sea slugs with no shell to hide behind. Their short life cycles and narrow tolerances mean populations shift quickly when the water around them changes.
- Thermal sentinels. Range and timing track sea-surface temperature, flagging marine heat stress early.
- Acidification-sensitive. Many depend on prey and habitats vulnerable to a shifting carbonate balance.
- Diver-visible. Charismatic and identifiable, they make ideal subjects for citizen science at scale.
Methodology
From dive log to dataset.
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01
Precision SCUBA surveys
Standardised transects at fixed sites record species, depth, substrate and date, building a controlled scientific baseline season after season.
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02
Citizen-science campaigns
Trained dive communities submit structured sightings with photos and metadata, multiplying our spatial and temporal coverage across the islands.
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03
High-resolution mapping
Occurrence is resolved by geography, season and year, turning thousands of observations into a living map of nudibranch distribution.
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04
Indicator validation
Patterns are tested against temperature and acidification signals, validating nudibranchs as actionable bioindicators of ocean health.
Citizen science
Record a slug,
read the sea.
If you dive Mediterranean waters, you can help build the NudiBank dataset. Log what you see — a photo, a place, a depth, a date — and become part of a Mediterranean-wide early-warning system for ocean health.
Nudibranch questions, answered.
What is a nudibranch?
Nudibranchs are soft-bodied marine gastropods — commonly called sea slugs. There are thousands of species worldwide, many strikingly coloured, and they are highly sensitive to environmental change.
Why are they good bioindicators?
They respond rapidly to temperature shifts and ocean acidification. By tracking where and when they occur, NudiBank detects early signals of change in Mediterranean ocean health.
How can divers contribute?
Trained recreational and scientific divers join structured citizen-science campaigns, recording sightings with photos, location, depth and date to feed our high-resolution occurrence dataset.
Where does NudiBank operate?
Fieldwork is centred on Malta and the surrounding Central Mediterranean, in collaboration with local dive communities and academic partners.