Toward a new data standard for combined marine biological and environmental datasets - expanding OBIS beyond species occurrences

The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) is the world's most comprehensive online, open-access database of marine species distributions. OBIS grows with millions of new species observations every year. Contributions come from a network of hundreds of institutions, projects and individuals with common goals: to build a scientific knowledge base that is open to the public for scientific discovery and exploration and to detect trends and changes that inform society as essential elements in conservation management and sustainable development. Until now, OBIS has focused solely on the collection of biogeographic data (the presence of marine species in space and time) and operated with optimized data flows, quality control procedures and data standards specifically targeted to these data. Based on requirements from the growing OBIS community to manage datasets that combine biological, physical and chemical measurements, the OBIS-ENV-DATA pilot project was launched to develop a proposed standard and guidelines to make sure these combined datasets can stay together and are not, as is often the case, split and sent to different repositories. The proposal in this paper allows for the management of sampling methodology, animal tracking and telemetry data, biological measurements (e.g., body length, percent live cover, ...) as well as environmental measurements such as nutrient concentrations, sediment characteristics or other abiotic parameters measured during sampling to characterize the environment from which biogeographic data was collected. The recommended practice builds on the Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A) standard and on practices adopted by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). It consists of a DwC Event Core in combination with a DwC Occurrence Extension and a proposed enhancement to the DwC MeasurementOrFact Extension. This new structure enables the linkage of measurements or facts - quantitative and qualitative properties - to both sampling events and species occurrences, and includes additional fields for property standardization. We also embrace the use of the new parentEventID DwC term, which enables the creation of a sampling event hierarchy. We believe that the adoption of this recommended practice as a new data standard for managing and sharing biological and associated environmental datasets by IODE and the wider international scientific community would be key to improving the effectiveness of the knowledge base, and will enhance integration and management of critical data needed to understand ecological and biological processes in the ocean, and on land.Fil: De Pooter, Daphnis. Flanders Marine Institute; BélgicaFil: Appeltans, Ward. UNESCO-IOC; BélgicaFil: Bailly, Nicolas. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, MedOBIS; GreciaFil: Bristol, Sky. United States Geological Survey; Estados UnidosFil: Deneudt, Klaas. Flanders Marine Institute; BélgicaFil: Eliezer, Menashè. Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Fujioka, Ei. University Of Duke. Nicholas School Of Environment. Duke Marine Lab; Estados UnidosFil: Giorgetti, Alessandra. Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Goldstein, Philip. University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, OBIS; Estados UnidosFil: Lewis, Mirtha Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Lipizer, Marina. Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Mackay, Kevin. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research; Nueva ZelandaFil: Marin, Maria Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Moncoiffé, Gwenaëlle. British Oceanographic Data Center; Reino UnidoFil: Nikolopoulou, Stamatina. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, MedOBIS; GreciaFil: Provoost, Pieter. UNESCO-IOC; BélgicaFil: Rauch, Shannon. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Estados UnidosFil: Roubicek, Andres. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; AustraliaFil: Torres, Carlos. Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur; MéxicoFil: van de Putte, Anton. Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences; BélgicaFil: Vandepitte, Leen. Flanders Marine Institute; BélgicaFil: Vanhoorne, Bart. Flanders Marine Institute; BélgicaFil: Vinci, Mateo. Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Wambiji, Nina. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute; KeniaFil: Watts, David. CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere; AustraliaFil: Klein Salas, Eduardo. Universidad Simon Bolivar; VenezuelaFil: Hernandez, Francisco. Flanders Marine Institute; Bélgic

The AMT data management experience

As the UK’s National marine data centre, a key responsibility of the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) is to provide data management support for the scientific activities of complex multidisciplinary long term research programmes. Since the initial cruise in 1995, the NERC funded Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) project has undertaken 18 north-south transects of the Atlantic Ocean. As the project has evolved there has been a steady growth in the number of participants, the data volume, complexity and the demand for data. BODC became involved in AMT in 2002 at the beginning of phase II of this programme and since then has provided continuous support to both the AMT and wider scientific community through rescue, quality control, processing and access to the data. The data management comprises a team of specialist data managers using a sophisticated infrastructure of software and hardware to manage, integrate and serve the physical, biological and chemical data. Here, we discuss the approach adopted, techniques applied and some guiding principles for management of large multi-disciplinary programmes

Reflection on a hygiene and sexual health education project in the context of child prostitution in Madagascar

Madagascar, pays riche par son sol et son sous-sol, sa population multiculturelle, ses paysages et l’absence de guerres et conflits, est classé parmi les pays les moins avancés. Des différentes crises politiques ainsi que des évènements météorologiques découlent un sentiment d’insécurité et d’instabilité économique parmi la population en majorité rurale, dus à la corruption qui touche tous les secteurs de l’île, la mauvaise qualité des infrastructures, les manques de moyens et de personnel. C’est dans ce contexte d’extrême pauvreté que l’on relève chaque jour un nombre croissant de petites filles ayant recours à la prostitution de survie. Ces jeunes filles mineures sont exposées aux risques de grossesses précoces, de transmission de maladies sexuellement transmissibles et du VIH, en plus des violences physiques et psychologiques qu’elles subissent. En moyenne, leur scolarité atteint le niveau primaire quant à l’hygiène, la puberté et la sexualité, elles n’en ont pas de connaissances voire très peu. Si nous voulons apporter une aide à ces jeunes filles, il est nécessaire d’étudier dans quel engrenage naît ce phénomène pour pouvoir le comprendre et tenter de trouver des solutions efficaces et viables sur le long terme. Ces aides pourront donc prendre plusieurs formes, tant au niveau de l’éducation, de la santé que de la lutte contre la pauvreté des familles elles-mêmes

Seasonal and short-time-scale dynamics of microplankton community production and respiration in an inshore upwelling system

16 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables.An intensive study of pelagic primary production and microplankton community respiration was carried out during an entire upwelling season in the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain). From April to November measurements of oxygen production and respiration using the light-dark bottle technique were made twice a week at the surface, 1% light depth (1% LD, 12 ± 4 m) and 40 m (8 m above sea floor) alongside routine physical, chemical and biological measurements. During the major part of the survey period intermittent intrusions of cold, nutrient-rich upwelled water were observed in the ria with a periodicity of about 2 wk. Rates of gross primary production (GPP) were high but variable averaging 37.3 ± 30.7 µM O2 d-1 and 3.6 ± 4.8 µM O2 d-1 at the surface and 1% LD respectively over the period of survey (n = 50). Rates of dark community respiration (DCR) were also high and variable with maximum values being observed in the surface layer where the seasonal average was 12.2 ± 9.8 µM O2 d-1. At the 1% LD and 40 m, DCR averaged 5.3 ± 4.4 and 2.8 ± 3.0 µM O2 d-1 respectively. Although seasonal average and maximal DCR (up to 46.5 µM O2 d-1) were among the highest reported for coastal areas, microplankton production over the period of survey was dominated by autotrophic processes. Respiration losses by the microplankton community in the euphotic zone represented on average 43% of estimated mean seasonal water column GPP (2.1 to 2.7 g C m-2 d-1). Net heterotrophy in the aphotic layer consumed the equivalent of a further 25% of estimated water column GPP. The degree of coupling between primary production and respiration was primarily controlled by upwelling. During upwelling events respiration was generally low in the water column but it increased as a linear function of chlorophyll a concentration (R2 = 0.55, n = 13) and GPP (R2 = 0.47, n = 13) in the surface layer. Under such condition phytoplankton appears as the dominant component of community respiration consuming 14% of GPP. During periods of upwelling relaxation respiration was high relative to GPP. High water column respiration rates extending occasionally down to 40 m took place at the expense of organic matter trapped inside the bay. The seasonal breakdown of thermal stratification in autumn presented a relationship between surface respiration and chlorophyll a or GPP similar to that observed during upwelling events. The large excess primary production during this period was not remineralised inside the ria, suggesting that a large fraction may be exported towards the shelf.The project was funded by the EU MAST Contract CT90-0017 'Control of Phytoplankton Dominance'. G.M. is grateful to the British Council for a 6 mo fellowship which enabled her to continue her study at the Queen's University of Belfast. X.A.A.-S. acknowledges support from a visiting fellowship of the Departamento de Postgrado y Especializacion (CSIC) during the preparation of the paper. The authors thank the staff of Queen's University Marine Laboratory in Portaferry and of the Grupo de Oceanoloxia at the Instituto de Investigacions Marbias in Vigo for their help and support during the project.Peer reviewe

Thermohaline, chemical and biological characterisation of the poleward flowing slope current off the NW Iberian Upwelling System

Poster.-- 32nd International Liege Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics Exchange Processes at the Oceans Margins, Liège, Belgium, May 8-12 2000A high-salinity poleward-flowing compensation undercurrent, carrying subtropical Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW1), is recurrently observed off NW Spain during the "upwelling season" (April to September). The poleward flow surfaces during the transition from upwelling-favourable northeriy winds to downwelling-favourable southerly winds by September-October. The poleward transport of ENACW1 in the upper ocean produces unexpectedly warm and salty waters off NW Spain during the autwnn and winter compared to the surrounding subpolar waters of the NE Atlantic. NO3 -, HPO4- and Si(OH)4 levels in ENACWT -fipm south of 40°N. the latitude of Cape Mondego, Portugal- are much lower than in subpolar ENACW (ENACWr)-from north of 43°N, the latitude of Cape Finisterre. Spain. Contrasting nutrient status affect the microplankton community structure and the distributions of the reduced forms ofN-nutrients (NO2- and NH4-). Seasonal changes in the thermohaline, chemical and biological setting of the poleward flowing slope current are studied in response to the decreasing stratification from the middle summer to the middle winter. Data collected during cruises Be9815c (June 27- July 7, 1998; OMEX-II. MAST-III). Galicia XII (September 1991, MAST-I), MORENA II (December 1993. MORENA. MAST-II) and CD110b (10-16 January 1998, OMEX-11, MAST-III)N

Dashboard for the State of the Environment

The Environmental Research Infrastructure (ENVRI) community is a cluster of European research infrastructures focused on the environment and Earth system science. The ENVRI-FAIR project aims to advance the FAIRness of their data and services with emphasis on interoperability and connect the ENVRI community to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). In this article, we present a proposal for a science project that will develop and launch a dashboard for environmental indicators as a contribution from the ENVRI cluster to the EOSC platform. The dashboard will provide easy access to environmental data and services from multiple research infrastructures and disciplines and support interdisciplinary Earth system science and societal challenges. The proposal describes the objectives, implementation, impact, and dissemination measures of the project, as well as the partners involved and the target groups that can benefit from the dashboard service. We explain how the dashboard will showcase the usefulness and relevance of the observations provided by the research infrastructures, and how it will engage a larger community of researchers and potential data providers in co-creation processes. We also discuss how the dashboard will make use of existing and new EOSC services and resources, and how it will contribute to several EU initiatives and directives related to the environment and climate change

Dashboard for the State of the Environment

The Environmental Research Infrastructure (ENVRI) community is a cluster of European research infrastructures focused on the environment and Earth system science. The ENVRI-FAIR project aims to advance the FAIRness of their data and services with emphasis on interoperability and connect the ENVRI community to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). In this article, we present a proposal for a science project that will develop and launch a dashboard for environmental indicators as a contribution from the ENVRI cluster to the EOSC platform. The dashboard will provide easy access to environmental data and services from multiple research infrastructures and disciplines and support interdisciplinary Earth system science and societal challenges. The proposal describes the objectives, implementation, impact, and dissemination measures of the project, as well as the partners involved and the target groups that can benefit from the dashboard service. We explain how the dashboard will showcase the usefulness and relevance of the observations provided by the research infrastructures, and how it will engage a larger community of researchers and potential data providers in co-creation processes. We also discuss how the dashboard will make use of existing and new EOSC services and resources, and how it will contribute to several EU initiatives and directives related to the environment and climate change

Expanding the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) beyond species occurrences

The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) aims to integrate smaller, isolated datasets into a larger, more comprehensive picture of life in our oceans. Therefore, OBIS provides a gateway to many datasets containing information on where and when marine species have been observed. The datasets within OBIS are contributed by a network of hundreds of institutes, projects and individuals, all with the common goal to gain scientific knowledge and to make these data and knowledge easily available to the public. Until recently, OBIS had solely focused on biogeographic data, in the form of presence of marine species in space and time. Data collected for biological studies however often include more than just presence or abundance. Physical and chemical measurements are often taken concomitantly providing insights into the environmental conditions the species live in. Details on the nature of the sampling methods, equipment used and effort can also be of major importance. Based on requirements from the growing OBIS community for data archiving and scientific applications, OBIS completed the OBIS-ENV-DATA project in 2017 to enhance its data standard by accommodating additional data types (De Pooter et al. 2017). The proposed standard allows for the management of sampling methodology, animal tracking and telemetry data, and environmental measurements such as nutrient concentrations, sediment characteristics and other abiotic parameters measured during sampling. The new OBIS data standard builds on the Darwin Core Archive and on practices adopted by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). It consists of an Event Core in combination with an Occurrence Extension and an enhanced MeasurementOrFact Extension Fig. 1. This new structure enables the linkage of measurements or facts - quantitative or qualitative properties - to both sampling events and species occurrences, and includes additional fields for property standardization. The OBIS standard also embraces the use of the new Darwin Core term parentEventID, enabling a sampling event hierarchy. During the follow-up project “OBIS-Event Data”, the format will be further fine-tuned during two workshops with two different communities of practice. The first workshop (April 2018) will focus on animal tagging and tracking data, while the second one (October 2018) will tackle macro- and meiobenthos data. The OBIS-Event Data project will also develop the first data products and applications based on the standard and make these tools part of the core OBIS data system output. We believe that the adoption of this new data standard by the international community will be key to improving the effectiveness of the knowledge base and will enhance integration and management of critical data needed to understand ecological and biological processes in the ocean