Ocean Biogeographic Information System Edward Vanden Berghe

‘Mission’ OBIS publishes primary data on marine species locations through –It facilitates data discovery and exploration by Searching by species, higher taxa, time, location, depth, database Mapping, overlaying species distributions on ocean environment, modelling of potential environmental range –Integrates data over marine themes Microbes to whales Genetics and morphology Poles to equator… –Enables data capture for re-use

Why do this? Proper management of natural resources requires properly managed data and information –More data -> more knowledge OBIS model makes data and information management more efficient –Share responsibilities, tools, standards… –Share data across different organisations and countries OBIS is a way of ensuring data is not lost –Archaeology and rescue for historic data –Repositories for new data Assist in data discovery –Links with EoL, BOLD…

OBIS in context IT component of CoML –Capturing and integrating data –Support the 2010 synthesis Marine component of GBIF –Fully inter-operable with GBIF standards –Extending with marine-specific elements Marine component of Species 2000 –World register of Marine Species (WoRMS) – Partner with IOC, FAO, (UNEP) –Several OBIS Nodes are NODCs –FAO is large data provider and consumer

OBIS functions Caches species distribution data from many databases Creates taxonomic and geographic indices Seeks out new datasets Develops standards for data exchange and management Develops software tools for online use Makes all data freely accessible online

Distribution of cod, Gadus morhua, shown as ‘c- squares’ map

Predicting distribution of invasive species, Pterois volitans

Standards Biogeography: GBIF/TDWG –Darwin Core, Extended to OBIS Schema –ABCD Metadata: discovery metadata –Global Change Master Directory – NASA –MEDI – IODE; FGDC – US Gov? Taxonomy: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) –Contribution to Species 2000, Catalogue of Life –Collaboration with ITIS Geography –Polygon sets EEZs, FAO areas, IHO… –Gazetteer

Standards: taxonomy Aphia is general species register maintained at VLIZ –Consists of several overlapping subsets defined geographical (ERMS, NWARMS…) defined taxonomic (Porifera, Platyhelminthes…) defined thematic (HABs, invasive species) Exposed through WoRMS = Aphia + external GSDs –Algaebase, Hexacorallia, FishBase…

WoRMS plans 100,000 valid species end x0,000 valid species end 2008 –85-90% of known species Distribution records for all of these by 2010 –Many species only known from holotype!! Management classification –Species 2000, ITIS Gap analysis –Filling gaps in collaboration with ITIS

Standards: ‘OBIS Schema’ Minimum data –Taxonomic name –Position: lat/long –Bookkeeping fields: unique ID, date last modified, collection name Highly recommended –Date of observation –Depth –Taxonomic authority Others –Date of identification, specimen accession number…

Standards: metadata Global Change Master Directory –Separate portal Enriched with information extracted from the database –Taxonomic, geographic scope –First/last observation –Map of distributions Needs revision!

OBIS Nuts and Bolts Distributed system –Making use of recent developments in technology (XML, DiGIR) –Web based Three-tier system –OBIS provider installed at site of contributing database Registry of providers –OBIS portal, which can be accessed by the end-users

DiGIR

Distributed Generic Information Retrieval –Semantics decoupled from protocol and software Need to agree on a ‘federation schema’ –Defined as an XML schema OBIS Schema, Darwin Core Schema (GBIF) –Specifies which data elements are exchanged, and how they are labeled Data exchange and query formulation are XML files

OBIS number of records 231 databases In cache: –13.6 million records, 147,000 names In index: –6.9 million records at genus level and below, 80,000 species Among the largest provider to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Limitations of OBIS and OBIS data We don’t know the total biodiversity –New species are discovered Selective sampling in geography –Mostly in surface waters –Temperate zones Selective sampling in taxonomy –Mostly big things, vertebrates

New species are discovered Data from

Geographical bias

Bias in depth: deeper than 2500m

Taxonomic bias Taxon# species# in OBIS% Cetaceans Seals… Fish Echinoderms Bryozoans Decapods

Analysis of OBIS data First attempts at diversity pattern on a global scale, with a large number of taxa –Previously either local or on one taxon (e.g. commercial large fish like tuna, forams…) –‘Safety in numbers’ Results not affected by idiosynchrasies of single taxon or study Results very preliminary, and need data cleaning and further checking –E.g. by artificially removing datasets from analysis

Global pattern of sampling effort

Pattern in number of species

Corrected for bias: ES(50)

Current priorities Filling some of the gaps –In collaboration with existing RONs –By creating new RONs Philippines, Oman Completing the inventory of known marine species: WoRMS –Prioritise on having at least one distribution record per species, preferably the type locality Creating an inventory of existing data –Also data not now available through OBIS –Importance of metadata

Plans for the future More data and analysis Develop thematic portals, on issues of direct societal relevance –Invasive species, HABs… Develop demonstrator projects –Species distributions, hotspots… Support CoML scientists –Integration across themes –2010 Synthesis –Publications: theme section(s)