BioTrack
Mapping marine biodiversity hotspots by integrating satellite and acoustic animal tracking with remotely sensed environmental data.
BioTrack is a collaborative project to assess and monitor biodiversity hotspots where marine species share habitat. By integrating satellite and acoustic tracking of marine animals with remotely sensed environmental data and modeling techniques, BioTrack maps these hotspots and their intersections with areas of human use such as marine sanctuaries and wind energy leasing blocks.
Knowledge about marine species hotspots and how they are changing provides opportunities for prioritizing spatial protections, planning for multiple use of ocean spaces, and monitoring ecosystem responses to environmental change. Data are made available through an interactive portal jointly hosted by MBON and the Animal Tracking Network (ATN). The current focus is the Western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, with a plan to scale to other regions.
News and publications
Frequently asked questions
What are the specific project objectives?
- Identify and predict the location and timing of biodiversity hotspots of marine species.
- Characterize the environmental conditions underlying these hotspots.
- Map hotspots with management areas and maritime jurisdictions to develop conservation options and reduce bycatch.
- Monitor and model how these hotspots change over time in response to environmental change.
What are the end products and deliverables?
- Multi-author scientific papers — data contributors will be co-authors.
- Data summary visualizations and infographics for management bodies.
- Stronger linkages between MBON and the ATN.
What data are you looking for?
Acoustic and satellite tagging data from past or current projects — any marine species (marine mammals, seabirds, teleosts, sharks, reptiles). Information needed includes species, deployment location, and dates.
How is my data protected?
Raw data are protected to the extent desired by the contributor. See the BioTrack data management plan .
How do I become a collaborator?
Contact Neil Hammerschlag .
Tracking
Electronic tags on fish, turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds reveal how animals move through and use ocean habitat — essential for conservation planning and understanding climate responses.
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Tracking Ocean Sunfish to Map Marine Biodiversity Hotspots
By combining satellite and acoustic tracking of marine species like the ocean sunfish, BioTrack is uncovering key patterns in biodiversity and making animal-movement data accessible to resource managers.
Read storyUNH - Coastal New England MBON - Atlantic cod
This is the OBIS extraction of the Atlantic Cooperative Telemetry and University of New Hampshire (UNH) UNH - Coastal New England MBON - Atlantic cod, consisting of the release tagging metadata, i.e.
View datasetBehavior of singing fin whales Balaenoptera physalus tracked acoustically offshore of Southern California
Lm Varga et al. · Endangered Species Research
Read paper