RAMS was – and still is - the taxonomic backbone of the SCAR-MarBIN/ANTABIF/biodiversity.aq information network, which allowed compiling and validating an enormous amount of biogeographical data that in turn provided the foundations of the comprehensive Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean published some months ago  (http://atlas.biodiversity.aq). Together, RAMS and the Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean are legacy products from the Census of Antarctic Marine Life, and are now reference benchmarks for the whole SCAR community.
 
We noticed that in some taxonomic groups there are substantial gaps in the Southern Ocean species lists, e.g. in Asteroidea where most of the recently described species have not been registered, and for which the distribution of many taxa was largely underestimated.
 
We think it is time to check and envision a systematic update for the RAMS content, if needed, for at least two main reasons:

1. The Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean will be deployed as a dynamic, online product. The Dynamic Biogeographic Atlas will be built from the content of the static version, but will take advantage of a dynamic approach, including the capacity to build taylor-made maps, on-the-fly, based from the content of different databases (RAMS, biodiversity.aq, Antarctic Field Guides, etc…)
2. RAMS is currently involved in the new AquaRES project which aims to enhance the quality, interoperability and public availability of WoRMS, RAMS and FADA. For example, some informatic tools have been developed to optimize the data flows between international initiatives.

RAMS has now been integrated in the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS, www.marinespecies.org) and the World and Antarctic editors are working together, joining their expertise. This means that the RAMS Taxonomic Editor (considered “Thematic Editor”) has to contact the (other) WoRMS Taxonomic Editor(s) to agree on the best way to update the species register.
 
We would like to strongly encourage you to continue your essential contribution as RAMS Taxonomic Editor and to keep the Antarctic register as up-to-date as possible.
We thank you for your efforts in updating RAMS, and don’t hesitate to get back to us if you like to comment on RAMS or need further information or help.
 
Claude De Broyer, Bruno Danis, Anton Van de Putte, Quentin Jossart
RAMS Editorial Team