The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) hosted the annual U.S. MBON All-Hands Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana, March 18–22, 2024 — celebrating the tenth anniversary of the implementation of the first U.S. MBON pilot projects.
MBON is an open community of practice in which all can participate, contribute, and from which all can benefit. The goal of the meeting was to strengthen collaborations among the U.S. MBON projects and stakeholders in local and national government agencies. Topics included how the MBON can identify gaps in information and human capacity, support applications using biodiversity and ecosystem observations, and develop better products for resource management. An important focus was advancing data management strategies to support user needs.
We were honored to have participants from the U.S. and international offices of OBIS, GBIF, and FishBase, in addition to participants from multiple U.S. Federal Government agencies, State resource management agencies, and the private sector.
Species Distribution Modeling
As part of the annual meeting, experts discussed how to advance marine species distribution modeling (SDM) on March 21–22, 2024. The group included the AquaX team — advancing the historic work of AquaMaps — along with data management discussions and a conversation on possible standards for inputs and outputs to enable ensemble SDM analysis. The group discussed establishing a Species Distribution Model – Model Intercomparison Project (SDM-MIP), complementing the Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FISH-MIP) linked to IPCC and climate modeling efforts.
Current U.S. MBON Working Groups
MBON continues to make significant progress through a series of Working Groups and its leadership of the Marine Life 2030 Programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, in close collaboration with the MBON Secretariat led by the AIR Centre in the Azores (Portugal), GEO BON, GOOS, OBIS, GBIF, and other partners.
Current U.S. MBON Working Groups:
- eDNA — environmental DNA (lead: Luke Thompson)
- DMAC — Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (lead: Matt Biddle)
- Remote sensing/seascapes (leads: Dan Otis, Eurico D’Sa, Maria Kavanaugh)
- BioTrack (leads: Neil Hammerschlag, Megan McKinzie/ATN)
- BioSound (lead: Neil Hammerschlag)
- Indicators (lead: Ben Best) — cross-linked with NOAA CPO Sanctuaries Indicators Task Force
- Ecosystem function (leads: Katrin Iken, Nathan Furey)
- Stakeholder engagement and communications (leads: TBD; initial efforts led by Chris Simoniello, Jorge Brenner/GCOOS, Jen Dorton/SECOORA, Nathan Furey)
U.S. MBON continues to work closely with the MBON Secretariat to interact with the international community via the Marine Biodiversity Networking Fridays .
