Ocean Biogeographic Information System

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Ocean Biogeographic Information System

• Edward Vanden Berghe

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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

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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
• Marine component of Species 2000
• World register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
• http//marinespecies.org
• Partner with FAO, UNEP (WCMC)
• Part of IOC/IODE
• Hosted by Rutgers University IMCS
• Funded by Sloan Foundation

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OBIS functions

• More than a database, is a community of practice
• Seeks out new datasets
• Develops standards for data exchange and
  management
• Develops software tools for online use
• Data system very visible product of community
• Caches species distribution data from many
  databases
• Creates taxonomic and geographic indices
• Makes all data freely accessible online

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Distribution of cod, Gadus morhua, shown as
c-squares map
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Predicting distribution of invasive species,
Pterois volitans
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OBIS records viewed
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OBIS number of records

• gt700 datasets
• 21 million distribution records
• 147,000 names, 104,000 taxa
• Among the largest provider to GBIF
• Whos providing data?
• Regional OBIS Nodes
• Census of Marine Life

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Map of CoML field projects
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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
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Location of RONs
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Role of the regional nodes

• Ensuring true global cover for OBIS
• Better serving local/regional needs
• 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

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RONs in CarSA

• Tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic
• Fabio Lang da Silveira
• Brazil, University of Sao Paulo
• Argentina (also very active in Antarctica)
• Argentina, Centro Nacional Patagónico
• Mirtha Lewis
• South-East Pacific
• Chile, FONDAP COPAS
• Ruben Escribano
• Active groups in Venezuela and Columbia
• Preliminary discussions in Mexico (UNAM)

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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

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New species are discovered
Data from http//marinespecies.org
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Geographical bias
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Bias in depth deeper than 2500m
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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

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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

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Species richness ES(50)
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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

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Collaboration?

• Forging links between RONs and NODCs
• Assisting RONs with data mobilisation
• Government agencies
• Marine Atlas
• Biodiversity component
• Creation of local portals integrating physical
  oceanography and biodiversity

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Get in touch

• www.iobis.org
• team_at_iobis.org, evberghe_at_iobis.org