Ocean Biogeographic Information System

1
Ocean Biogeographic Information System

• Edward Vanden Berghe

2
Mission

• OBIS publishes primary data on marine species
  locations online through www.iobis.org
• It facilitates data discovery and exploration by
• Searching by species, higher taxa, time,
  location, depth, data set
• Mapping observed occurrences
• Modelling of potential environmental range
• Integrates data over marine themes
• Microbes to whales
• Genetics and morphology
• Poles to equator
• Enables data capture for re-use
• Provides the biogeographic context for ocean
  research

3
Global loss of species from LMEsBiodiversity
issue
Worm et al. 2006 in science
4
Why do this?

• Proper management of natural resources requires
  properly managed data and information
• Several organisations sharing fisheries data
• OBIS model makes data and information management
  more efficient
• Share responsibilities, tools, standards
• Share data across different organisations and
  countries
• OBIS is a way of ensuring data is not lost
• Archaeology and rescue for historic data
• Repositories for new data
• Assist in data discovery
• Links with EoL, BOLD

5
OBIS as part of GBIF

• Same technology
• DiGIR, investigating IPT
• Same structure
• Darwin Core, OBIS Schema
• Investigating expansion
• Same philosophy and terms of use

6
OBIS as part of UNESCO

• Adopted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
  Commission of UNESCO
• As part of their International Oceanographic Data
  and information Exchange programme
• So no longer an project-based activity, but
  intergovernmental

7
GBIF
OBIS
IODE
8
OBIS in context

• Data integration component of CoML
• Capturing and integrating data
• Support the 2010 synthesis
• Marine component of GBIF
• Fully inter-operable with GBIF standards
• Extending with marine-specific elements
• Biodiversity component of IOC
• Under IODE programme
• Contributing to GOOS
• Partner with FAO, UNEP (WCMC)
• Hosted by Rutgers University IMCS
• Funded by Sloan Foundation

9
(No Transcript)
10
Distribution of cod, Gadus morhua, shown as
c-squares map
11
Predicting distribution of invasive species,
Pterois volitans
12
OBIS records viewed
13
Standards

• Biogeography GBIF/TDWG
• Darwin Core, Extended to OBIS Schema
• ABCD
• Metadata discovery metadata
• Global Change Master Directory NASA
• MEDI IODE FGDC US Gov?
• Taxonomy World Register of Marine Species
  (WoRMS)
• Contribution to Species 2000 and Catalogue of
  Life
• Geography
• Polygon sets
• EEZs, FAO areas, IHO
• Gazetteer

14
Extensions to Darwin Core

• Begin and end point
• Position, depth, date/time
• Accommodate trawls
• Sample size
• Quantitative information
• In collaboration with GBIF working on system to
  extend standard
• Ecological information, EML

15
Standards taxonomy

• Aphia is general species register maintained at
  VLIZ
• Consists of several overlapping subsets
• defined geographical (ERMS, NWARMS)
• defined taxonomic (Porifera, Platyhelminthes)
• defined thematic (HABs, invasive species)
• Exposed through www.marinespecies.org
• WoRMS Aphia external GSDs
• Algaebase, Hexacorallia, FishBase

16
OBIS number of records

• 699 datasets
• 20.1 million distribution records
• 147,000 names, 107,000 taxa
• Among the largest provider to the Global
  Biodiversity Information Facility
• Whos providing data?
• Regional OBIS Nodes
• Census of Marine Life

17
Map of CoML field projects
18
CoML Ocean Observing
An example of how CoML technologies can be
implemented in earth and ocean observing systems
Some animals dive 1000m
7 seals tracked during 2-3 month summer feeding
migrations
19
Some CoML Discoveries
Ceratoserolis an isopod from the Weddell Sea
Athorybia rosacea a siphonophore from the
Sargasso Sea
Promachoteuthis sloani a squid from the
mid-Atlantic Ridge
Kiwa hirsuta a crab from around Easter Island
(nicknamed the Yeti crab)
Palinurus barbarae a lobster from around
Madagascar
20
HMAP data extends timeline
21
Location of RONs
22
Role of the regional nodes

• Ensuring true global cover for OBIS
• Regional nodes are closer to the providers of the
  data
• Local visibility for global OBIS data
• Mobilise data from region
• Technical assistance, also with standardisation
• Specialised information products and services
• Data available on the regional network are also
  available on the global network
• Increased global visibility for local data and
  data providers
• Data sharing

23
(No Transcript)
24
Still a lot of work

• We dont know the total biodiversity
• New species are discovered
• Selective sampling in geography
• Mostly in surface waters
• Temperate zones
• Selective sampling in taxonomy
• Mostly big things, vertebrates

25
New species are discovered
Data from http//marinespecies.org
26
Geographical bias
27
Bias in depth all data
28
Bias in depth deeper than 2500m
29
Taxonomic bias

• Taxon species in OBIS
• Cetaceans 133 117 88
• Seals 45 36 80
• Fish 24139 21258 88
• Echinoderms 6199 1624 26
• Decapods 8227 3796 46
• Bryozoans 6000 1096 18

30
Analysis of OBIS data

• First attempts at diversity pattern on a global
  scale, with a large number of taxa
• Previously either local or on one taxon (e.g.
  commercial large fish like tuna, forams)
• Safety in numbers
• Results not affected by idiosyncrasies of single
  taxon or study
• Results very preliminary, and need data cleaning
  and further checking
• E.g. by artificially removing datasets from
  analysis

31
Global pattern of sampling effort
32
Pattern in number of species
33
Corrected for bias ES(50)
34
Large Marine Ecosystems
35
Latitudinal gradient ES(50)
36
Marine fish to be discovered
Percentage completeness 1
100

• Mora et al (2007). The completeness of taxonomic
  inventories for describing the global diversity
  and distribution of marine fishes. Proc. R. Soc.
  B, published on line

37
Plans for the future

• More data and analysis
• Develop thematic portals, on issues of direct
  societal relevance
• Invasive species, HABs
• Develop demonstrator projects
• Species distributions, hotspots
• Support CoML scientists
• Integration across themes
• 2010 Synthesis
• Publications theme section(s)

38
Get in touch

• www.iobis.org
• team_at_iobis.org, edward_at_iobis.org