Demonstrating a prototype marine biodiversity observation network in the Santa Barbara Channel

Robert J. Miller, University of California Santa Barbara, miller@msi.ucsb.edu (Presenter)
David Siegel, University of California Santa Barbara, davey@icess.ucsb.edu
Craig Carlson, University of California Santa Barbara, carlson@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Phaedon Kyriakidis, University of California Santa Barbara, phaedon@geog.ucsb.edu
Kevin Lafferty, USGS, kevin.lafferty@lifesci.ucsb.edu
B. S. Manjunath, University of California Santa Barbara, manj@ece.ucsb.edu
Andrew Rassweiler, University of California Santa Barbara, andrew.rassweiler@lifesci.ucsb.edu
Daniel Reed, University of California Santa Barbara, dan.reed@lifesci.ucsb.edu

The Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) is a transition zone characterized by high species and habitat diversity and strong environmental gradients within a relatively small area. These characteristics make SBC an ideal test bed for our demonstration Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) project that integrates biological levels from genes to habitats and links biodiversity observations to environmental forcing and biogeography. We will build a comprehensive demonstration system that includes representation of all levels of biotic diversity, develops key new tools to expand the scales of present observation, and produces a data management network to integrate new and existing data sources. Our system will be scalable to expand into a full regional Marine BON, and most importantly the methods and decision support tools we develop will be transferable to other regions. The Santa Barbara Channel marine BON has three broad objectives:

1. Integrate biodiversity data to enable inferences about regional biodiversity. Synthesizing information relevant to biodiversity will require integrating highly heterogenous data collected at widely different temporal and spatial scales. We will employ advanced techniques in spatial statistics for this synthesis and will provide multiple biodiversity-related data products, including holistic indices that will provide measures of ecosystem health.

2. Develop advanced methods in optical and acoustic imaging and genomics for monitoring biodiversity in partnership with ongoing monitoring and research programs to begin filling the gaping gaps in our knowledge. We use two classes of methods that approach diversity observation from opposite directions: optical and acoustic imagery from the ecosystem scale down to the species level, and molecular biology from the genetic scale up through community level.

3. Implement a tradeoff framework that optimizes allocation of sampling effort. Optimal decisions about biodiversity data collection will require a framework for balancing costs and benefits of alternative sampling. Such a framework will be used to make recommendations for how resources should be allocated in a full-scale BON as a function of the program’s goals and anticipated funding level.

Presentation Type:  

Session:  Theme 1: Tracking habitat change through new integrative approaches and products

Associated Project(s): 

• Related Activity: Related Activity or Previously Funded CC&E Activity not listed ...details