There is no single model that describes how marine biodiversity and ecosystems are fairing or predict how they will change in the future under increasing anthropogenic pressures. Thus there is no unique set of Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) for biological components of the ecosystem that will satisfy the scientific understanding needed to support and monitor management actions. Yet there is a need to come to international agreement on a set of variables that can be developed globally to support advanced and advancing countries and international conventions in understanding and managing the marine environment. The DPSIR framework is a commonly accepted framework used to identify the information needs to understand and manage human impacts on the environment and provides one high level model that can guide the process to identify EOVs. It is a complex space with many existing initiatives that we need to integrate with and build on. In this talk we are seeking input and feedback on our early progress in filling in this framework: D what are the societal questions, sectoral trends, national and international obligations and that Drive the need to monitor marine biodiversity and ecosystem health P what are the human Pressures affecting the environment that are or will impact marine biodiversity and ecosystem health S what are the existing initiatives that could be built on to measure the State of the marine environment I what are the priority Impacts on the marine environment that need to be monitored and how well do existing initiatives address those needs – what are the key gaps R which monitoring information is most likely to be used to help society Respond to identified impacts

1. Biology & Ecosystem Panel
Co-chairs: Nic Bax (CSIRO, Australia),
Sam Simmons (MMC, USA)
Secretariat: Patricia Miloslavich (SBU, Venezuela)
Ward Appeltans (UNESCO-IOC, OBIS)
GEO Blue Planet Symposium,
Cairns, 27 May 2015

2. Outline
1. Why do we need monitoring
2. Building on existing initiatives
3. Adding value to develop a GOOS network

3. Input
(Requirements)
Output
(Data &
Products)
Process
(Observations)
Framework for Ocean Observing
A simple system

4. Driver:
International
needs
Supporting
Response
(Data &
Products)
Human Pressures
Existing State measures
Impacts & Gaps
Framework for Ocean Observing
GOOS Biology and Ecosystem network

5. Driver:
International
needs
Supporting
Response
(Data &
Products)
Human Pressures
Existing State measures
Impacts & Gaps
Framework for Ocean Observing
GOOS Biology and Ecosystem network

6. US EPA:

8. Sustainable
Development
Goals
Primary
Productivity
Zooplankton
ApexPredators
Shallowreef
Coastalhabitat
Resilience and
adaptive capacity
Conservation and
Sustainable use
Improve N-S, S-S, etc
collaboration
Achieving DPSIR: Filters 1 and 2

9. Concept
Attributes:
Peer review of ideas and
studies at science, engineering,
and data management
community level.
Pilot
Attributes:
Planning, negotiating,
testing, and approval
within appropriate local,
regional, global arenas.
Mature
Attributes:
Products of the global
ocean observing system are
well understood, documented,
consistently available, and
of societal benefit.
Filter 3: Readiness

10. DPSIR Framework example
Hayes et al. in press

11. Statistical analysis

12. Value adding
Jellies
Worms
Bacterial mats
Bioturbation
Przeslawski et al. DSR I, 65, 2012
Macroalgae
Seagrasses
Crustacea
Echinoderms
Molluscs
Fishes
Seaspiders
Brachiopods
Cnidaria
Bryozoa
Ascidea
Sponges
Schoenberg & Fromont (in prep)
At each branch:
• Descriptive label
• CAAB
numeric code for data-base
centrally archived and maintained
‘Living classification’
sub-division of braches can be
Agree on
standards

13. Biotic community
Outcropping rock and sediment pockets with sparse sponge
and octocoral cover
BIOTA: Fishes: bony
fishes (37 990083)
SUBSTRATE: Consolidate
(hard): Rock (82 001002)
BIOTA: Sponge: Massive
forms: Simple (10 000904)
BIOTA: Cnidaria:
Black& Octocoral:
Branching 3D: bushy
(11 16898)
BIOTA: Sponge: Hollow
forms: Cups & alike: Cup/
goblet (10 000919)
SUBSTRATE:
Uncosolidated (soft): sand/
mud: Coarse sand
(82 001014)

14. Supporting new technology uptake

15. Supporting global networks
Reef Life Survey – Edgar and Stuart-Smith 2014
134,759 abundance records, of 2,367 fish
taxa, from 1,879 sites in coral and rocky reefs

16. Supporting transfer across the
science policy interface
Turnhout et al. 2007

17. Summary
• Assess statistical properties of existing data series
• Assess successful long-term series against FOO
using the DPSIR framework
– Rationale, impact
– What is minimum essential set
– Are there cheaper ways to get the same information
• Supporting existing programs to become global
(GOOS networks)
• Identify gaps
• Maintain high value of GOOS network

18. THANK YOU
Ward Appeltans – w.appeltans@unesco.org
Patricia Miloslavich – p.miloslavich@aims.gov.au
Sam Simmons – ssimmons@mmc.gov
Nic Bax – nic.bax@csiro.au

19. How, When and Who
• What/why
–Decadal goal and Ocean Obs ‘19
targets
• How/when
–Draft work plan
• Who
–Proposed panel members (Top Secret)

20. • Decadal vision
– All biology observing initiatives are aligned with FOO,
data are centrally accessible and being collected and
shared in standardized ways
• Ocean Obs ’19
– A clear framework to identify and support GOOS Vs has been
defined and is supported by existing initiatives.
– At least one (set of) GOOS Vs change indicator has been identified,
globally coordinated with a clear pathway to global coverage,
including open access data, and reporting to support international
reporting needs (including SDGs, CBD reporting needs, a future
WOA, international coral reef network, etc.) – ie. a mature
programme
– A further 3 (sets of) GOOS Vs have been identified as pilot EBVs
with a clear pathway to progress them to mature V

21. How and When – draft work plan
• Conduct a review of the selected observing initiatives - June
2015
• Constitute the panel –
– Invite participants June 2015 (includes development of background
materials)
– Confirm panel membership and schedule 1st teleconference of the
full panel (July 2015)
• Conduct a review of the major conventions and international
bodies/pressures (e.g. UN, WOA, CBD) that people are
looking to inform with biological data (Marine Policy paper
Dec 2015)
• Design/draft survey to go to the selected, existing observing
initiatives (beta-test, revise, complete by December 2015)

22. Draft work plan (cont…)
• First in-person meeting of the GOOS BEP (Early 2016 –
Jan/Feb, Ocean Sciences?) . Analyze survey data, draft
paper, discuss execution of DPSIR framework
• DPSIR analyses (March – Aug 2016). Focused on the
‘mature’ EOVs identified in the survey results
• Workshop (late 2016) Full panel and
• Bring together representatives from observing initiatives for which
survey and DPSIR results indicate they hold time series data of
variables that are highly feasible and high impact i.e. those that are
“mature” EOVs
• Discuss how to establish these EOVs as part of a “mature” GOOS
network (output will be identification of next steps to get there)
• How to advance pilot and concept EOVs within the GOOS
framework

23. Draft work plan (cont…)
• Panel will also then need to follow through on:
• Establishing and selling these identified EOVs (website, meetings,
etc.) (including facilitating completion of the EOV templates)
• Gap filling/gap analyses. The initial observing initiatives surveyed
are not exhaustive of all biological data time series collected
globally. So some effort will need to be made to identify and survey
additional time series including any that will fill geographic gaps in
coverage, e,g, from GRAs. This step could be prioritized by
searching for time series data on the recently identified EOVs first.
• Outstanding questions or ongoing action items:
• Communication and outreach strategy – development of
brochure/flyer, web content
• Idea of a mini symposium (late 2016/early 2017)
• Attendance of scientific meetings (June 2015 – 2017)
• Frequency of meetings and funding

24. Panel (Core group – Sam, Nic, Patricia, Ward)
Proposed Panel
Member
Affiliation
(Country)
Area of expertise Gender
Nic Bax Australia
Biodiversity/ ecosystems
modelling
M
Sam Simmons USA Marine mammals F
David Obura Kenya Corals & tropical coastal M
Yunne Shin France
Fisheries &
modeler (IndiSeas)
F
Sonia Batten Canada Plankton (GACS) F
Frank Muller-
Karger
USA
Marine Biodiversity Networks
(GEOBON)
M
Emmet Duffy USA
Seagrasses and benthic biology
(GEO)
M
David Checkley USA
Zooplankton & pelagic fish,
FOO, (PICES)
M
HABs / Pressures (??)
SE Asia (??)

25. Observing initiatives to be contacted (initially)
Phytoplankton / Zooplankton
IMBER
CLIOTOP
IGMETS
GACS (CPR Surveys)
CALCOFI
PISCO
Seagrasses / mangroves
Global Atlas of Mangroves / Seagrasses (WCMC)
ZEN (more information needed)
Shallow shelf (coral reefs, rocky shores…)
Reef Life Survey

26. Observing initiatives to be contacted (initially)
Fisheries / Ecosystem approach
PICES
ICES
GOAON (acidification)
PISCO
OTN
French Tuna Observatory (through Francis)
Apex predators
ORNITHOECO
Mammals
Others
SOOS
IMOS

27. • We cannot measure
everything, nor do
we need to
• basis for including new
elements of the
system, for expressing
requirements at a high
level
• Driven by
requirements,
negotiated with
feasibility
• Allows for innovation
in the observing
system over time
Driven by requirements, negotiated with feasibility
Essential Ocean Variables

28. Requirement
What to Measure
Essential Ocean Variables
Issues (Scientific and societal drivers)
DataAssembly
Data/Info.Products
IssuesImpact
Argo
VOS
Satellite
ConstellationSOOP
IOOS
Satellite
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
IMOS
Observations Deployment and
Structure of the Framework
OceanSITES

29. Approach: steps
(1) What are the objectives that we are trying to achieve
(2) Linking with complementary existing initiatives and identify panel
members (possible meeting end 2015)
(3) Identifying (and contacting) major monitoring initiatives (1 year)
- What is the monitoring initiative trying to achieve
-survey: how long? Lessons learned? Best indicators of change?
Feasibility? Level of uncertainty (statistically speaking)?
-3 levels (or systems):
* regular observations (mature monitoring)
* irregular or geographically limited observations (pilot
monitoring)
* getting started (concept monitoring)
Task: to evaluate the readiness of these observing systems
requires developing evaluation framework – what makes a FOO

30. Approach Steps II
(3) Apply DPSIR framework to mature monitoring systems and
develop a conceptual model that links them to societal issues and
evaluate potential impact on decision-making (2 year)
* links to SDGs etc.
* are there pressures that are not accounted for (cf.
Halpern) repackaging pressures to identify other variables (risk
products)
(4) Facilitate interaction / coordination at global level to improve
consistency and global impact (2 year)
(5) Report on and promote the biological and ecological EOVs that
are being collected and identify gaps (3 years)
(6) Continue to identify additional variables and determine how to
raise them from eg. Concept to mature.

31. What will be achieved by Ocean Obs 2019
• A clear framework to identify and support GOOS Vs has been
defined and is supported by existing initiatives.
• At least one (set of) GOOS Vs change indicator has been
identified, globally coordinated with a clear pathway to global
coverage, including open access data, and reporting to support
international reporting needs (including SDGs, CBD reporting
needs, a future WOA, international coral reef network, etc.) – ie.
a mature programme
• A further 3 (sets of) GOOS Vs have been identified as pilot
EBVs with a clear pathway to progress them to mature V
• Note difference between variables and global programs
• Check FOO documentation fro language
• Can we come up with an example of a suitable system eg.
HABs or coral reef network.

32. Panel membership
• Initiate panel to help develop the survey
– Outcome survey results  scientific paper
– Mix of data collection, and data into policy
– Core group – SS, NB, PM, WA
– Panel -- David Obura (CORDIO corals and tropical coastal
or McClanehan); Yunne Shin or co-chairs (Indiseas &
modeller & fisheries); Sonia Batten (GACS, Nick Owens
SAFOS); Frank Muller-Karger (MBON, MBON alternate);
Emmet Duffy (seagrass, GEO); David Checkley (PICES,
FOO, zooplankton) HABS/Pressures – SE Asia?
• Refine panel to develop GOOS programmes for selected
themes