Data Management for Marine Biodiversity Observation Networks

Marine Biodiversity Observation Networks (mBON) are a new initiative resulting from an innovative collaboration across multiple agencies including NOAA, NASA, and BOEM, for which the data management processes have been heavily influenced by decades of experience supporting integrative ecosystem studies. These networks make use of extensive time-series data collected with the expectation that they will improve our capacity for science-based decision making to describe and protect natural ecosystems and sustain the services they provide, and to distribute knowledge and understanding of the patterns and drivers of change in marine biodiversity. Three new mBONs are coordinating available data management tools and expertise, and developing techniques to integrate existing components and community standards into a cohesive program. This work will highlight joint management enabling integration across the three MBONs, and their connection to related efforts such as the Ocean Biogeographical Information System (OBIS) and GEO BON.