- University of Alaska Fairbanks United States
- United Nations United States
- Jet Propulsion Lab United States
- University of Pisa Italy
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory United States
- University of California System United States
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute United States
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres Germany
- California Institute of Technology United States
- Universidade Lusófona do Porto Portugal
- University of Porto Portugal
- Secretariat of the Pacific Community New Caledonia
- Florida Southern College United States
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Greece
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement France
- Duke University United States
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Washington DC, USA United States
- University of South Florida St. Petersburg United States
- Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), France France
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Japan
- International Water Management Institute Sri Lanka
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, NASA, Pasadena, CA United States
- University of Tasmania Australia
- German Center for Integration and Migration Research Germany
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Earth Science United States
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Germany
- Polish Academy of Sciences Poland
- California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory United States
- ICETA INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS, TECNOLOGIAS E AGROAMBIENTE DA UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO Portugal
- INTERNATIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE IWMI Sri Lanka
- University of Maryland Center For Environmental Sciences United States
- German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research Germany
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Germany
- Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation, Oceans and Atmosphere Australia
- US Geological Survey ER NRP, VA United States
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Center for Deep Earth Exploration Japan
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration United States
- Pacific Community
- University of Auckland New Zealand
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) California Institute of Technology United States
- United Nations Environment Programme Kenya
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center United States
- University of Tasmania, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia Australia
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering Japan
- Smithsonian Institution United States
- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre United Kingdom
- Institute of Oceanology Poland
- Martin Luther Universitat Halle Wittenberg Germany
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 fromtraditional andmolecular 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). Refereed 14 Manual (incl. handbook, guide, cookbook etc) 2018-06-27