EMBRC is excited to announce that it is launching the European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) today.
The network’s primary aim is to ensure steady, continuous generation of ‘baseline’ data on biodiversity at EMBRC sites following FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles. EMO BON will ultimately provide Europe with a means to better monitor and understand its marine biodiversity, filling current gaps in European biological observation data and complementing existing global initiatives.
‘EMO BON responds to the important need for regularly produced biological data that are generated in a standardised way, with appropriate accompanying meta data, and are FAIR-compliant’, said Nicolas Pade, EMBRC Executive Director. ‘Our hope is that through EMO BON, we will enhance the understanding of marine biodiversity and this will facilitate the development of new products and services for society’.
EMO BON includes 16 coastal observatory stations around Europe and aims to frequently sample different habitats for marine biodiversity. Plankton microorganisms, sediment microorganisms, meio- and macrobenthos are among the communities to be analysed by applying metagenomics and DNA metabarcoding. The sampling conducted through EMO BON will complement the significant observation efforts already being carried out at EMBRC sites. The first sampling will be conducted on 21 June 2021.
