Biodiversity Observation Network Research Articles

Genomics Observatory Use-Case: The challenge to standardise image and sequence data to Darwin Core format

Genomics Observatory Use-Case: The challenge to standardise image and sequence data to Darwin Core format

Dynamic Satellite Seascapes as a Biogeographic Framework for Understanding Phytoplankton Assemblages in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, United States

Physical, chemical, geological, and biological factors interact in marine environments to shape complex but recurrent patterns of organization of life on multiple spatial and temporal scales. These factors define biogeographic regions in surface waters that we refer to as seascapes. We characterize seascapes for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and southwest Florida shelf nearshore environment using multivariate satellite and in situ measurements of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). The study focuses on three periods that cover separate oceanographic expeditions (March 11-18, May 9-13, and September 12-19, 2016). We collected observations on bio-optical parameters (particulate and dissolved spectral absorption coefficients), phytoplankton community composition, and hydrography from a ship. Phytoplankton community composition was evaluated using 1) chemotaxonomic analysis (CHEMTAX) based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pigment measurements, and 2) analysis of spectral phytoplankton absorption coefficients (aphy). Dynamic seascapes were derived by combining satellite time series of sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, and normalized fluorescent line height (nFLH) using a supervised thematic classification. The seascapes identified areas of different salinity and nutrient concentrations where different phytoplankton communities were present as determined by hierarchical cluster analyses of HPLC pigments and aphy spectra. Oligotrophic, Mesotrophic and Transition seascape classes of deeper offshore waters were dominated by small phytoplankton ( 60 %). Spectral analysis of aphy indicated higher absorption levels at 492 and 550 nm wavelengths in seascapes carrying predominantly small phytoplankton than in classes dominated by larger taxa. Seascapes carrying large phytoplankton showed absorption peaks at the 673 nm wavelength. The seascape framework promises to be a tool to detect different biogeographic domains quickly, providing information about the changing environmental conditions experienced by coral reef organisms including coral, sponges, fish and higher trophic levels. The effort illustrates best practices developed under the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) demonstration project, in collaboration with the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Research (SFER) project managed by the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory of NOAA (AOML-NOAA).

From Raw Biodiversity Data to Indicators, Boosting Products Creation, Integration and Dissemination: French BON FAIR initiatives and related informatics solutions

Most biodiversity research aims at understanding the states and dynamics of biodiversity and ecosystems. To do so, biodiversity research increasingly relies on the use of digital products and services such as raw data archiving systems (e.g. structured databases or data repositories), ready-to-use datasets (e.g. cleaned and harmonized files with normalized measurements or computed trends) as well as associated analytical tools (e.g. model scripts in Github). Several world-wide initiatives facilitate the open access to biodiversity data, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) or GenBank, Predicts etc. Although these pave the way towards major advances in biodiversity research, they also typically deliver data products that are sometimes poorly informative as they fail to capture the genuine ecological information they intend to grasp. In other words, access to ready-to-use aggregated data products may sacrifice ecological relevance for data harmonization, resulting in over-simplified, ill-advised standard formats. This is singularly true when the main challenge is to match complementary data (large diversity of measured variables, integration of different levels of life organizations etc.) collected with different requirements and scattered in multiple databases. Improving access to raw data, and meaningful detailed metadata and analytical tools associated with standardized workflows is critical to maintain and maximize the generic relevance of ecological data. Consequently, advancing the design of digital products and services is essential for interoperability while also enhancing reproducibility and transparency in biodiversity research. To go further, a minimal common framework organizing biodiversity observation and data organization is needed. In this regard, the Essential Biodiversity Variable (EBV) concept might be a powerful way to boost progress toward this goal as well as to connect research communities worldwide. As a national Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) node, the French BON is currently embodied by a national research e-infrastructure called "Pôle national de données de biodiversité" (PNDB, formerly ECOSCOPE), aimed at simultaneously empowering the quality of scientific activities and promoting networking within the scientific community at a national level. Through the PNDB, the French BON is working on developing biodiversity data workflows oriented toward end services and products, both from and for a research perspective. More precisely, the two pillars of the PNDB are a metadata portal and a workflow-oriented web platform dedicated to the access of biodiversity data and associated analytical tools (Galaxy-E). After four years of experience, we are now going deeper into metadata specification, dataset descriptions and data structuring through the extensive use of Ecological Metadata Language (EML) as a pivot format. Moreover, we evaluate the relevance of existing tools such as Metacat/Morpho and DEIMS-SDR (Dynamic Ecological Information Management System - Site and dataset registry) in order to ensure a link with other initiatives like Environmental Data Initiative, DataOne and Long-Term Ecological Research related observation networks. Regarding data analysis, an open-source Galaxy-E platform was launched in 2017 as part of a project targeting the design of a citizen science observation system in France (“65 Millions d'observateurs”). Here, we propose to showcase ongoing French activities towards global challenges related to biodiversity information and knowledge dissemination. We particularly emphasize our focus on embracing the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) data principles Wilkinson et al. 2016 across the development of the French BON e-infrastructure and the promising links we anticipate for operationalizing EBVs. Using accessible and transparent analytical tools, we present the first online platform allowing the performance of advanced yet user-friendly analyses of biodiversity data in a reproducible and shareable way using data from various data sources, such as GBIF, Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), eBIRD, iNaturalist and environmental data such as climate data.

Analyzing Essential Biodiversity Variables with the VAT System

The Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) are important information sources for scientists and decision makers. They are developed and promoted by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) together with the community. EBVs provide an abstraction level between measurements and indicators. This enables access to biodiversity observations and allows different groups of users to detect temporal trends as well as regional deviations. In particular, the analysis of EBVs supports finding countermeasures for current important challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. A visual assessment is an intuitive way to drive the analysis. As one example, researchers can recognize and interpret the changes of forest cover maps over time. The VAT System, in which VAT is an acronym for visualization, analysis and transformation, is an ideal candidate platform for the creation of such an analytical application. It is a geographical processing system that supports a variety of spatio-temporal data types and allows computations using heterogeneous data. For user interaction, it offers a web-based user interface that is built with state-of-the-art web technology. Users can perform interactive analysis of spatio-temporal data by visualizing data on maps and using various graphs and diagrams that are linked to the user’s area of interest. Furthermore, users are enabled to browse through the temporal dimension of the data using a time slider tool. This provides an easy access to large spatio-temporal data sets. One exemplary use case is the creation of EBV statistics for selected countries or areas. This functionality is provided as an app that is built upon the VAT System. Here, users select EBVs, a time range and a metric, and create temporal charts that display developments over time. The charts are constructed internally by employing R scripts that were created by domain experts. The scripts are executed using VAT’s R connectivity module. Finally, users can export the results to their local computers. An export contains the result itself and additionally, a list of citations of the included EBVs as well as a workflow description of all processing steps for reasons of reproducibility. Such a use case exemplifies the suitability of the VAT System to facilitate the creation of similar projects or applications without the need of programming, using VAT’s modular and flexible components.

Semantic Interoperability Solutions for the Essential Variables: Focus on biodiversity

The Earth system is enduring multiple, interacting stressors causing immense and irreversible change to its biosphere. The unprecedented magnitude of human influence on the planet is a cause for much concern, but also an opportunity to mitigate undesirable impact by instituting socio-ecological management strategies and monitoring their effectiveness. To do so, local and global policy developers and decision makers must have access to clear and globally consistent information streams that serve as planetary diagnostics. This need is being addressed by several international, multi-agency networks which have developed sets of "Essential Variables" (EVs) to improve consistency in the observation of key phenomena within their domains of operation. For example, the implementation of the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) led by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) has set an example being followed in the marine and biodiversity domains by, respectively, the Global Ocean Observing System's (GOOS) Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and the Group on Earth Observation Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON)'s Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). Each of these EV collections has a subset dedicated to biological and ecological phenomena. This is greatly encouraging for biodiversity science at large, but also runs the risk of parallel and conflicting developments occuring in the EV communities addressing thecross-cutting theme of biodiversity. As a consequence, there is an urgent need for these systems, and the communities behind them, to pursue tight conceptual and technical interoperability in aid of a coherent treatment of biodiversity in planetary-scale monitoring. In this contribution, we will describe our current research and implementation of a semantic interoperability layer for the EVs, with a focus on biology and ecology. Applying the best practices and core infrastructure of the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) Foundry and Library, we have leveraged both mature and emerging reference ontologies targeting the domains of ecosystems and environment, population and communities, and high-level ecological phenomena. This interoperable collection of ontologies constitutes a foundation for highly expressive EV knowledge representation and management through robust, FAIR-compliant technologies. Further, we are coordinating these efforts with semantic technology adopted by UN agencies, representing global directives and indicators of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030. With open editorial models behind each of these ontologies, we aim to offer a scalable and inclusive system to bridge data and information products across the EVs through machine-accessible knowledge representation.

A Global Plankton Diversity Monitoring Program

Plankton are the base of marine food webs, essential to sustaining fisheries and other marine life. Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPRs) have sampled plankton for decades in both hemispheres and several regional seas. CPR research has been integral to advancing understanding of plankton dynamics and informing policy and management decisions. We describe how the CPR can contribute to global plankton diversity monitoring, being cost-effective over large scales and providing taxonomically resolved data. At OceanObs09 an integrated network of regional CPR surveys was envisaged and in 2011 the existing surveys formed the Global Alliance of CPR Surveys (GACS). GAGS first focused on strengthening the dataset by identifying and documenting CPR best practices, delivering training workshops, and developing an integrated database. This resulted in the initiation of new surveys and manuals that enable regional surveys to be standardized and integrated. GACS is not yet global, but it could be expanded into the remaining oceans; tropical and Arctic regions are a priority for survey expansion. The capacity building groundwork is done, but funding is required to implement the GACS vision of a global plankton sampling program that supports decision-making for the scientific and policy communities. A key step is an analysis to optimize the global sampling design. Further developments include expanding the CPR for multidisciplinary measurements via additional sensors, thus maximizing the ship-of-opportunity platform. For example, defining pelagic ecoregions based on plankton and ancillary data could support high seas Marine Protected Area design. Fulfillment of Aichi Target 15, the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, and delivering the Essential Ocean Variables and Essential Biodiversity Variables that the Global Ocean Observing System and Group on Earth Observation's Biodiversity Observation Network have, respectively, defined requires the taxonomic resolution, spatial scale and time-series data that the CPR approach provides. Synergies with global networks exploiting satellite data and other plankton sensors could be explored, realizing the Survey's capacity to validate earth observation data and to ground-truth emerging plankton observing platforms. This is required for a fully integrated ocean observing system that can understand global ocean dynamics to inform sustainable marine decision-making.

Combining European Earth Observation products with Dynamic Global Vegetation Models for estimating Essential Biodiversity Variables

ABSTRACTGlobal, fast and accessible monitoring of biodiversity is one of the main pillars of the efforts undertaken in order to revert it loss. The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO-BON) provided an expert-based definition of the biological properties that should be monitored, the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs). Initiatives to provide indicators for EBVs rely on global, freely available remote sensing (RS) products in combination with empirical models and field data, and are invaluable for decision making. In this study, we provide alternatives for the expansion and improvement of the EBV indicators, by suggesting current and future data from the European Space Agencýs COPERNICUS and explore the potential of RS-integrated Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) for the estimation of EBVs. Our review found that mainly due to the inclusion of the Sentinel constellation, Copernicus products have similar or superior potential for EBV indicator estimation in relation to their NASA counterparts. DGVMs simulate the ecosystem level EBVs (ecosystem function and structure), and when integrated with remote sensing data have great potential to not only offer improved estimation of current states but to provide projection of ecosystem impacts. We suggest that focus on producing EBV relevant outputs should be a priority within the research community, to support biodiversity preservation efforts.

Integrated Observations and Informatics Improve Understanding of Changing Marine Ecosystems

Marine ecosystems have numerous benefits for human societies around the world and many policy initiatives now seek to maintain the health of these ecosystems. To enable wise decisions, up to date and accurate information on marine species and the state of the environment they live in is required. Moreover, this information needs to be openly accessible to build indicators and conduct timely assessments that decision makers can use. The questions and problems being addressed demand global-scale investigations, transdisciplinary science, and mechanisms to integrate and distribute data that otherwise would appear to be disparate. Essential Ocean Variables and marine Essential Biodiversity Variables, conceptualized by the Global Ocean Observing System and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network, respectively, guide observation of ocean. Additionally, significant progress has been made to coordinate efforts between existing programs, such as the Global Ocean Observing System, Marine Biodiversity Observation Network, and Ocean Biogeographic Information System collaboration agreement. Globally and nationally relevant indicators and assessments require increased data sharing and sharing of analytical methods, sustained long-term and large-scale observations, and resources to dedicated to these tasks. We propose a vision and key tenets as a guiding framework for building a global integrated system for understanding marine biological diversity and processes to address policy and resource management needs. This framework includes: using Essential Ocean Variables and Essential Biodiversity Variables and implementing the principles of FAIR data and action ecology. In doing so, we can encourage relevant, rapid, and integrative scientific advancement that can be implemented by decision makers to maintain marine ecosystem health.

A new 30 meter resolution global shoreline vector and associated global islands database for the development of standardized ecological coastal units

ABSTRACTA new 30-m spatial resolution global shoreline vector (GSV) was developed from annual composites of 2014 Landsat satellite imagery. The semi-automated classification of the imagery was accomplished by manual selection of training points representing water and non-water classes along the entire global coastline. Polygon topology was applied to the GSV, resulting in a new characterisation of the number and size of global islands. Three size classes of islands were mapped: continental mainlands (5), islands greater than 1 km2 (21,818), and islands smaller than 1 km2 (318,868). The GSV represents the shore zone land and water interface boundary, and is a spatially explicit ecological domain separator between terrestrial and marine environments. The development and characteristics of the GSV are presented herein. An approach is also proposed for delineating standardised, high spatial resolution global ecological coastal units (ECUs). For this coastal ecosystem mapping effort, the GSV will be used to separate the nearshore coastal waters from the onshore coastal lands. The work to produce the GSV and the ECUs is commissioned by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and is associated with several GEO initiatives including GEO Ecosystems, GEO Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and GEO Blue Planet.

Outcomes of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Ocean Biogeographic Information System OBIS-Event-Data Workshop on Animal Tagging and Tracking

The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) began in 2000 as the repository for data from the Census of Marine Life. Since that time, OBIS has expanded its goals beyond simply hosting data to supporting more aspects of marine conservation (Pooter et al. 2017). In order to accomplish those goals, the OBIS secretariat in partnership with its European node (EurOBIS) hosted at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ, Belgium), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Committee on International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE, 23rd session, March 2015, Brugge) established a 2-year pilot project to address a particularly problematic issue that environmental data collected as part of marine biological research were being disassociated from the biological data. OBIS-Event-Data is the solution that was developed from that pilot project, which devised a method for keeping environmental data together with the biological data (Pooter et al. 2017). OBIS is seeking early adopters of the new data standard OBIS-Event-Data from among the marine biodiversity monitoring communities, to further validate the data standard, and develop data products and scientific applications to support the enhancement of Biological and Ecosystem Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) in the framework of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO BON MBON). After the successful 2-year IODE pilot project OBIS-ENV-DATA, the IOC established a new 2-year IODE pilot project OBIS-Event-Data for Scientific Applications (2017-2019). The OBIS-Event-Data data standard, building on Darwin Core, provides a technical solution for combined biological and environmental data, and incorporates details about sampling methods and effort, including event hierarchy. It also implements standardization of parameters involved in biological, environmental, and sampling details using an international standard controlled vocabulary (British Oceanographic Data Centre Natural Environment Research Council). A workshop organized by IODE/OBIS in April brought together major animal tagging and tracking networks such as the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), the Animal Telemetry Network (ATN), the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), the European Tracking Network (ETN) and the Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP) to test the OBIS-Event-Data standard through the development of some data products and science applications. Additionally, this workshop contributes to the further maturation of the GOOS EOV on fish as well as the EOV on birds, mammals and turtles. We will present the outcomes as well as any lessons learned from this workshop on problems, solutions, and applications of using Darwin Core/OBIS-Event-Data for bio-logging data.

Advancing Marine Biological Observations and Data Requirements of the Complementary Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) Frameworks

Measurements of the status and trends of key indicators for the ocean and marine life are required to inform policy and management in the context of growing human uses of marine resources, coastal development, and climate change. Two synergistic efforts identify specific priority variables for monitoring: Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) from the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (see Data Sheet 1 in Supplementary Materials for a glossary of acronyms). Both systems support reporting against internationally agreed conventions and treaties. GOOS, established under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), plays a leading role in coordinating global monitoring of the ocean and in the definition of EOVs. GEO BON is a global biodiversity observation network that coordinates observations to enhance management of the world's biodiversity and promote both the awareness and accounting of ecosystem services. Convergence and agreement between these two efforts are required to streamline existing and new marine observation programs to advance scientific knowledge effectively and to support the sustainable use and management of ocean spaces and resources. In this context, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), a thematic component of GEO BON, is collaborating with GOOS, the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), and the Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR) project to ensure that EBVs and EOVs are complementary, representing alternative uses of a common set of scientific measurements. This work is informed by the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM), an intergovernmental body of technical experts that helps international coordination on best practices for observing, data management and services, combined with capacity development expertise. Characterizing biodiversity and understanding its drivers will require incorporation of observations from traditional and molecular taxonomy, animal tagging and tracking efforts, ocean biogeochemistry, and ocean observatory initiatives including the deep ocean and seafloor. The partnership between large-scale ocean observing and product distribution initiatives (MBON, OBIS, JCOMM, and GOOS) is an expedited, effective way to support international policy-level assessments (e.g., the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services or IPBES), along with the implementation of international development goals (e.g., the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals).

The Open Biodiversity Knowledge Management (eco-)System: Tools and Services for Extraction, Mobilization, Handling and Re-use of Data from the Published Literature

The Open Biodiversity Knowledge Management (eco-)System: Tools and Services for Extraction, Mobilization, Handling and Re-use of Data from the Published Literature

The next generation of site-based long-term ecological monitoring: Linking essential biodiversity variables and ecosystem integrity

Global change effects on biodiversity and human wellbeing call for improved long-term environmental data as a basis for science, policy and decision making, including increased interoperability, multifunctionality, and harmonization. Based on the example of two global initiatives, the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network and the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), we propose merging the frameworks behind these initiatives, namely ecosystem integrity and essential biodiversity variables, to serve as an improved guideline for future site-based long-term research and monitoring in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems. We derive a list of specific recommendations of what and how to measure at a monitoring site and call for an integration of sites into co-located site networks across individual monitoring initiatives, and centered on ecosystems. This facilitates the generation of linked comprehensive ecosystem monitoring data, supports synergies in the use of costly infrastructures, fosters cross-initiative research and provides a template for collaboration beyond the ILTER and GEO BON communities.

Integrating Marine Omics into the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) in Support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Agenda 2030

Integrating Marine Omics into the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) in Support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Agenda 2030

Traits as Essential Biodiversity Variables

Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) are harmonized biodiversity variables and their asssociated measurements needed for developing indicators of global biodiversity change. EBVs can serve the important purpose of aligning biodiversity monitoring efforts, much as Essential Climatic Variables (ECVs) help align allied efforts in climate science. One of six initially proposed EBV classes is devoted to species’ traits, since traits form the crucial link between the evolutionary history of organisms, their assembly into communities, and the nature and dynamic functioning of ecosystems. Despite their importance, prevalence, and scientific promise, the biodiversity community is still developing the conceptual, informatics, technical, and legal frameworks required for the large scale implementation and uptake. As part of an international consortium called GLOBIS-B, and in coordination with the The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON; geobon.org), we report on recent efforts to synthesize current efforts in trait data collection and trait datasets, computational workflows, ways to standardize data and metadata, and assessments of the openness and accessibility of existing species trait datasets. Members of the GLOBIS-B (www.globis-b.eu/) consortium also produced a set of candidate EBVs within the broader trait class ('Phenology', 'Organism morphology', 'Reproduction', 'Physiology' and 'Movement'). In this presentation, we begin by introducing the concept of EBVs, the current working definition of traits in the context of the EBV process, and workflows that have been developed for other EBV classes ('Species Populations') and the importance of standardizing EBV classes and the trait class, in particular. Building on this introduction, we discuss how the EBV concept is operationalized, focusing on workflows for trait integration, and the importance of data and metadata standards,following work from Kissling et al. 2017 (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/brv.12359/full). On the legal front, we suggest that the Creative Commons (CC) framework provides effective tools for designating legally interoperable and open data, especially when trait data are in the public domain (CC0, CC PDM) or assigned with a CC BY license, and metadata citation and other forms of attribution are available in both human and machine-readable form. We also suggest how EBVs can inform policy at national and global scales. Moving forward, renewed efforts of repeated trait data collection as well as standardised protocols for data and metadata collection are needed to improve the empirical basis of species traits EBVs. Moreover, open data as well as computational workflows are required for comprehensively assessing progress towards conservation policy targets and sustainable development goals. We conclude with a call to action for the TDWG community to consider their role in further developing, implementing, and scaling biodiversity monitoring under the EBV framework.

Building essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) of species distribution and abundance at a global scale.

Much biodiversity data is collected worldwide, but it remains challenging to assemble the scattered knowledge for assessing biodiversity status and trends. The concept of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) was introduced to structure biodiversity monitoring globally, and to harmonize and standardize biodiversity data from disparate sources to capture a minimum set of critical variables required to study, report and manage biodiversity change. Here, we assess the challenges of a 'Big Data' approach to building global EBV data products across taxa and spatiotemporal scales, focusing on species distribution and abundance. The majority of currently available data on species distributions derives from incidentally reported observations or from surveys where presence-only or presence-absence data are sampled repeatedly with standardized protocols. Most abundance data come from opportunistic population counts or from population time series using standardized protocols (e.g. repeated surveys of the same population from single or multiple sites). Enormous complexity exists in integrating these heterogeneous, multi-source data sets across space, time, taxa and different sampling methods. Integration of such data into global EBV data products requires correcting biases introduced by imperfect detection and varying sampling effort, dealing with different spatial resolution and extents, harmonizing measurement units from different data sources or sampling methods, applying statistical tools and models for spatial inter- or extrapolation, and quantifying sources of uncertainty and errors in data and models. To support the development of EBVs by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), we identify 11 key workflow steps that will operationalize the process of building EBV data products within and across research infrastructures worldwide. These workflow steps take multiple sequential activities into account, including identification and aggregation of various raw data sources, data quality control, taxonomic name matching and statistical modelling of integrated data. We illustrate these steps with concrete examples from existing citizen science and professional monitoring projects, including eBird, the Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring network, the Living Planet Index and the Baltic Sea zooplankton monitoring. The identified workflow steps are applicable to both terrestrial and aquatic systems and a broad range of spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales. They depend on clear, findable and accessible metadata, and we provide an overview of current data and metadata standards. Several challenges remain to be solved for building global EBV data products: (i) developing tools and models for combining heterogeneous, multi-source data sets and filling data gaps in geographic, temporal and taxonomic coverage, (ii) integrating emerging methods and technologies for data collection such as citizen science, sensor networks, DNA-based techniques and satellite remote sensing, (iii) solving major technical issues related to data product structure, data storage, execution of workflows and the production process/cycle as well as approaching technical interoperability among research infrastructures, (iv) allowing semantic interoperability by developing and adopting standards and tools for capturing consistent data and metadata, and (v) ensuring legal interoperability by endorsing open data or data that are free from restrictions on use, modification and sharing. Addressing these challenges is critical for biodiversity research and for assessing progress towards conservation policy targets and sustainable development goals.

Optimized monitoring sites for detection of biodiversity trends in China

Properly designed monitoring networks can generate data to understand status and trends of biodiversity, and to assess progress towards conservation targets. However, biodiversity monitoring is often affected by poor sampling design. We proposed an approach to choosing optimized monitoring sites among large areas. Based on comprehensive distribution data of 34,284 vertebrates and vascular plants from 2376 counties in China, we selected 564 optimized monitoring sites (counties) through complementarity analysis and pre-existing knowledge of nature reserves. The optimized monitoring sites are complementary to each other and reasonably distributed, to ensure that maximum species are covered while the total number of sites and monitoring costs are minimized. Incongruence of optimized monitoring sites among different taxa indicates that taxa with different ecological features should be selected for large-scale monitoring programmes. The results of this study have been applied in the design and operation of China Biodiversity Observation Network.

How Essential Biodiversity Variables and remote sensing can help national biodiversity monitoring

Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) have been suggested to harmonize biodiversity monitoring worldwide. Their aim is to provide a small but comprehensive set of monitoring variables that would give a balanced picture of the development of biodiversity and the reaching of international and national biodiversity targets. Globally, GEO BON (Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network) has suggested 22 candidate EBVs to be monitored. In this article we regard EBVs as a conceptual tool that may help in making national scale biodiversity monitoring more robust by pointing out where to focus further development resources. We look at one country –Finland –with a relatively advanced biodiversity monitoring scheme and study how well Finland’s current biodiversity state indicators correspond with EBVs. In particular, we look at how national biodiversity monitoring could be improved by using available remote sensing (RS) applications. Rapidly emerging new technologies from drones to airborne laser scanning and new satellite sensors providing imagery with very high resolution (VHR) open a whole new world of opportunities for monitoring the state of biodiversity and ecosystems at low cost. In Finland, several RS applications already exist that could be expanded into national indicators. These include the monitoring of shore habitats and water quality parameters, among others. We hope that our analysis and examples help other countries with similar challenges. Along with RS opportunities, our analysis revealed also some needs to develop the EBV framework itself.

4th European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON) Stakeholder Roundtable: Pathways to sustainability for EU BONs network of collaborators and technical infrastructure

4th European Biodiversity Observation Network (EU BON) Stakeholder Roundtable: Pathways to sustainability for EU BONs network of collaborators and technical infrastructure

Taking stock of nature: Essential biodiversity variables explained

In 2013, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) developed the framework of Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), inspired by the Essential Climate Variables (ECVs). The EBV framework was developed to distill the complexity of biodiversity into a manageable list of priorities and to bring a more coordinated approach to observing biodiversity on a global scale. However, efforts to address the scientific challenges associated with this task have been hindered by diverse interpretations of the definition of an EBV. Here, the authors define an EBV as a critical biological variable that characterizes an aspect of biodiversity, functioning as the interface between raw data and indicators. This relationship is clarified through a multi-faceted stock market analogy, drawing from relevant examples of biodiversity indicators that use EBVs, such as the Living Planet Index and the UK Spring Index. Through this analogy, the authors seek to make the EBV concept accessible to a wider audience, especially to non-specialists and those in the policy sector, and to more clearly define the roles of EBVs and their relationship with biodiversity indicators. From this we expect to support advancement towards globally coordinated measurements of biodiversity.