biodiversity

Advances in Molecular eDNA Techniques

Central to the US MBON is the development of new and innovative means to assess marine biodiversity. The MBON community has made significant advances in molecular eDNA techniques to evaluate taxa diversity – from microbes to whales – in highly contrasting ecosystems such as the Florida Keys and Monterey Bay in California. The team is examining the effectiveness of eDNA in the detection of change in biodiversity over time across Sanctuaries and other areas (e.

Arctic MBON

in regional-mbon, US

**Arctic** MBON Unprecedented changes are occurring in the Arctic and affect all components of Arctic marine ecosystems, including humans. However, consistent, long-term observations for planning and adaptation are currently lacking in the Arctic Ocean. AMBON is working towards a sustainable approach to biodiversity observing in the Chukchi Sea as one component of the development of a national MBON. Grounded in the concept that sustained biodiversity across ecosystem components is critical for maintaining healthy ecosystem functions, this project is building on lessons learned from the first 5-year **AMBON** demonstration project.

Asia-Pacific MBON

in regional-mbon

**AP** MBON The Asia-Pacific BON has been working on the identification of threats to biodiversity, in particular, drivers of biodiversity loss, mangrove loss, wetland loss, and anthropogenic actions that hamper the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. The Asia Pacific BON, or AP-BON, was organized by the participants of the International Workshop for Networking Biodiversity Observation Activities in Asia Pacific Region held from July 21-22 2009, in Nagoya University, Japan. It was established as a regional network related to GEO BON, covering most countries of the Asia-Pacific region and covering all levels of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Marine Biodiversity Networking on Coral Reefs

in events

Marine Biodiversity Networking Friday on IOC/WESTPAC and coral reef survey and recovery activities DATE: **April 8th, 2022, 8-9 AM UTC (3-4 PM in Thailand, 4-5 PM in the Philippines, 5-6 PM in Japan)** AIR CENTRE NETWORKING FRIDAYS More information about the Webinar series here THE NETWORKING FRIDAYS WAS ENDORSED AS A OCEAN DECADE ACTIVITY This is a Ocean Decade Event WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE Link to live stream (please subscribe to our channel) DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS To be available after the session

Marine Foundation Species and Biodiversity

in news, science

Marine foundation species like giant kelp, seagrass, and corals, harbor great reservoirs of biodiversity in coastal oceans. Now the Santa Barbara Channel MBON team, supported in part by NOAA, has shown the extent to which one of these species, giant kelp, supports coastal ecosystems. MBON work has revealed that kelp positively affects reef biodiversity, especially predators and sessile invertebrates that form the base of the food web. Stability of giant kelp forests, moreover, stabilize the community, dampening fluctuations in populations of many other species.

MBON Europe

in regional-mbon

MBON **EUROPE** The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network for Europe (MBON Europe) will spearhead coordination of active monitoring of marine biodiversity by organisations in Europe. Long term time series are essential to recognise and understand trends that may be due to natural or human activities, especially climate change. MBON Europe will formalise coordination between organisations through Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), collate information on what monitoring is being done and how, discuss how to harmonise methods, facilitate data publication, synthesise the current situation, and develop a strategy for improved coordination.

Southern California Bight MBON

in regional-mbon, US

**Southern California Bight** MBON This project will continue the demonstration MBON in the Santa Barbara Channel, and expand it to the entire Southern California Bight (SCB) region. The focus on SCB allows the team to cover the complete spectrum of biodiversity from ecosystems to microbes due to the profusion of existing biological monitoring and research programs by our partners including government agencies, universities and NGOs. The project will use a pincer strategy to address these issues, using remote sensing, optical and acoustic imagery to approach diversity from ecosystem scales downwards and genetics to assess diversity from genes and microbes upwards with the goal of developing future capacity for satellite observation of marine biodiversity.

US MBON

in regional-mbon, US

**US** MBON The **U.S. MBON** projects are integrating independent historical and current biology and ecosystem surveys with new observations, and expanding application of remote sensing methods, novel molecular (eDNA) technologies, traditional environmental research tools, and coordinated experiments. Benefits of **MBON:** MBON projects, partners and data play an important role in enabling the scientific community to describe the relationships between biodiversity, organism abundance, system productivity, ecosystem health and ecosystem services. Visit the Join MBON page for more information about the benefits of MBON.

Watching for Changes in Marine Biodiversity

in news

Changes in marine biodiversity—the variety and variability of life in the ocean—can be an early indicator of change, provided it’s noticed. Read more here.

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