The data will be integrated into the European DTO to help improve ocean modelling and predict the future state of fragile ecosystems
EMO BON (European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network) has released the first data collected from its sampling efforts around Europe. These data will be integrated into the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (European DTO) and are also available for anyone who wants to use them for meta-analysis. Future data releases will take place around every six months.
“The release of our first dataset provides an exciting opportunity for researchers around the world,” says Christina Pavloudi, data scientist at EMBRC.
"This data can be used to improve ocean modelling and help identify biodiversity patterns, novel microorganisms and newly introduced non-indigenous species (NIS) so we are better able to predict the future state of fragile ecosystems under the impact of climate change and human actions. This knowledge is vital for accurate and effective marine management and conservation strategies.”
EMO BON: driving better understanding of marine biodiversity
Created by EMBRC, EMO BON is Europe’s first centrally coordinated network of marine observatories for DNA-based observation. It is made up of 17 marine stations across Europe which regularly sample marine genomic data. Part of the UN Ocean Decade’s OBON programme, the EMO BON network was set up to contribute to the global ocean observation system, understand complex ecological problems, and find solutions to sustainability issues.
By monitoring a range of habitats across Europe, EMO BON aims to fill knowledge gaps and improve biodiversity observation. Regular sampling helps us improve projections and spot problems early so we have a better chance of addressing pressing issues such as climate change and human activities that negatively impact marine health. The use of DNA-based methods also improves the quality of data and is faster than traditional monitoring.
“We’re pleased to make the first set of EMO BON data available for use by researchers and policymakers around the world,” says Alice Soccodato, EMBRC Science Unit Manager. “By sharing data and collaborating in this way, we can find faster and more effective solutions to pressing challenges that impact marine life.”
The impact of data
By generating biodiversity data that can be analysed by scientists around the world, EMO BON provides Europe with a means to monitor and understand its marine ecosystems. Policymakers can access and use the data – as well as researchers’ analyses – to inform their decision-making.
“Basing management actions on robust biodiversity data – such as how marine life responds to external pressures like climate change or pollution – is vital if we are to protect important habitats and tackle pressing environmental and societal issues,” she says.
Data processing
EMO BON undertakes regular sampling campaigns to collect FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data at EMBRC marine sites using DNA-based methods. Generating continuous data will not only help Europe understand its marine biodiversity but become a global leader in developing new products and services that benefit society.
“Long-term biological observation is often beyond the scope of an individual marine station,” she says. “Through EMO BON, independent observatories benefit from centrally coordinated support from EMBRC. Sampling and handling in a coordinated and standardised manner minimises biases and ensures researchers deliver high-quality data.”
Once marine stations have collected samples from the soft and hard substrates and the water column, they send them to EMBRC’s headquarters in Paris for analysis. EMBRC manages the entire process once they have received the samples: they ship them to the French national sequencing centre (Genoscope) for DNA extraction and sequencing. The results are published six months later. Data from the current release were collected in 2021. They correspond to 13 sediment samples (total size ~80GB) and 67 water samples (~520GB) and they will be archived at the open European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) under the EMO BON project umbrella.
