ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

World Register of Marine Species

The World Register of Marine Species is like a big book that keeps track of all the different types of animals and plants that live in the ocean. It's kind of like a giant library for marine life! Just like how a library has lots of books with lots of information about different things, the World Register has lots of information about all the different kinds of creatures that live in the sea.

Now, think about how you know your friends and family members by their names - well, scientists do the same thing with animals and plants! Every organism has a special name, just like you have your own name. But, sometimes it can be hard for scientists to keep track of all the different names that people use to describe the same organism.

Here, the World Register steps in to help! It makes sure that everyone is using the same name for the same creature. So, if one scientist calls a fish "A" and another scientist calls it "B," the World Register steps in to say that they are actually talking about the same fish and should call it "C".

By having all the information about every marine organism in one place, scientists can keep track of which animals and plants are rare or have become extinct, which species are on the rise, and what is happening to the ocean's biodiversity. This helps scientists learn more about how the ocean works and how we, as humans, can protect it and make sure all these different species keep thriving. So, just like how a big library helps us learn about the world around us, the World Register of Marine Species helps scientists learn and keep track of all the wonderful creatures that live beneath the waves.