The need for a marine biodiversity observation network (mbon) was summarized by duffy ET AL (2013), who concluded that an mbon should integrate biological levels, from genes to habitats link…

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) was awarded a $1.05 million cooperative agreement by a civilian federal agency to develop and expand a Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) across the Southern California Bight. Building on a five-year demonstration project in the Santa Barbara Channel, this effort aims to transition the MBON to operational status while extending geographic coverage throughout the region. The project integrates biodiversity data across multiple biological scales—from genetic to habitat levels—and incorporates environmental variables to enable regional biodiversity assessments. The work involves synthesizing heterogeneous datasets collected at varying temporal and spatial scales while expanding the geographical scope of existing monitoring efforts.

To address knowledge gaps in marine biodiversity, the project develops advanced methodologies in optical and acoustic imaging, remote sensing, and genomic analysis that operate across ecosystem scales down to individual species identification. Deliverables will be prioritized in collaboration with federal and state partners including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, National Park Service, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The contract was not designated as set-aside and is scheduled for completion on October 22, 2024. UCSB, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and Land Grant university, is performing this work through its Office of Research division, leveraging its established capabilities in interdisciplinary scientific research and federal collaboration.

The need for a marine biodiversity observation network (mbon) was summarized by duffy ET AL (2013), who concluded that an mbon should integrate biological levels, from genes to habitats link biodiversity observations to abiotic variables site projects to incorporate environmental forcing and biogeography and monitor adaptively to address emerging issues. Our demonstration mbon project in the santa barbara channel, now in its fifth year, has endeavored to meet these goals. Our mbon includes all levels of biodiversity, and has developed new tools to expand the scales of present observation and a data management system to integrate data sources. Here we propose to move toward an operational mode and expand into a full regional mbon, covering the entire southern california bight (SCB). SCB mbon has two broad objectives, described below. 1. Integrate biodiversity data to enable inferences about regional biodiversity. Synthesizing information relevant to biodiversity requires integrating highly heterogeneous data collected at widely different temporal and spatial scales. We will continue to produce existing mbon datasets while adding new data to expand our geographical scope. 2. Develop advanced methods in optical and acoustic imaging and genomics for monitoring biodiversity to fill gaps in our knowledge of marine biodiversity using two classes of methods: remote sensing, optical and acoustic imagery from the ecosystem scale down to the species level, and molecular biology from the genetic scale up through community level. The approach we outline below continues our effort to build an integrated mbon, adding data on ecosystem components (e.g., phytoplankton biodiversity) as stepping stones. Products will be prioritized with input from partners and stakeholders, including the bureau of ocean energy management, national park service, NOAA s office of national marine sanctuaries and national marine fisheries service, the U.S. Geological survey, and the southern california coastal water resources program.