GOOS-OBON Workshop at ISME-Lat 2025

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) is the global coordination center for ocean observations. GOOS leads and supports ocean observation efforts at all levels, from communities to governments and international research organizations. GOOS is guided by the Framework for Ocean Observation (FOO) to help the scientific community define the requirements for a comprehensive, adequate, and sustainable global ocean observation system. This approach is based on a minimum set of key variables called Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), which enable the transition from individual observation systems to a globally coordinated system. EOVs are intended to improve coordination between national and regional initiatives, enabling the collection of data that is globally comparable and useful for advancing science and supporting environmental agreements, policy, and management decisions. In addition, it supports the targeting of investment in marine observation infrastructure.

The GOOS Panel of Experts on Biology and Ecosystems has identified a set of biology and ecosystem EOVs (BioEco) using the Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, and Response (DPSIR) framework, combined with feasibility and impact assessments. These BioEco EOVs represent the fundamental biology and ecosystem observations needed to better understand ocean health and provide benchmarks for measuring and reporting on the impacts of human pressures and climate change. To date, GOOS has recognized 12 BioEco EOVs, including microbial and phytoplankton biomass and diversity.

The objective of this workshop is to present the concept of BioEco EOVs and their role in coordinating marine observations and managing data for comparison at different scales and for different applications. In particular, the workshop will focus on the marine microbial biomass and diversity EOV.

AGENDA

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and BioEco EOVs
Dr. Ana Lara López
UNESCO-GOOS and University of Tasmania
(10+5 min)

Description of the microbial EOV and the specification sheet (SpecSheet)
Dr. Alejandra Prieto Davo
National Autonomous University of Mexico
Dr. Julie Robidart
National Oceanographic Centre, UK
(10+5 min)

Description of the phytoplankton EOV
Prof. Frank Muller-Karger
University of South Florida
(10+5 min)

Methods and protocols and the Ocean Best Practice System (OBPS)
Dr. Carolina Peralta
University of South Florida
(10+5 min)

The Ocean Data Information System (ODIS)
Dr. Pier Luigi Buttigieg
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research
(10+5 min)

Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON)
Dr. Vanessa Yepes Narváez
Institute for Marine and Coastal Research (INVEMAR), Colombia
(10+5 min)

The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)
Dr. Marcos Zárate
Center for the Study of Marine Systems (CESIMAR-CONICET), Argentina
(10+5 min)

Panel discussion
Suggestions for improving coordination between GOOS and the scientific community and BioEco panel questions to be answered by the LATAM scientific community
(15 min)