The Census of Marine LifeThe Census of Marine Life

Jesse H. AusubelJesse H. Ausubel

Alfred P. Sloan FoundationAlfred P. Sloan Foundation

http://www.coml.orghttp://www.coml.org

Census of Marine LifeCensus of Marine Life

• researchresearch program program to assess & explain diversity, to assess & explain diversity, distribution, & abundance of marine organisms distribution, & abundance of marine organisms

• an an internationalinternational program involving experts in a program involving experts in a variety of fields around the globevariety of fields around the globe

• feasibility studies initiated in 1997 with potential feasibility studies initiated in 1997 with potential users, funders, performers: resource managers, users, funders, performers: resource managers, fishers, environmentalists, navies, scientists fishers, environmentalists, navies, scientists

• to culminate in 2010to culminate in 2010• can prototype global ocean observing system for can prototype global ocean observing system for

marine life marine life

The Census of Marine LifeThe Census of Marine LifeWhy Now?Why Now?

Environmental obligations Environmental obligations• UN Convention on BiodiversityUN Convention on Biodiversity

- - requires signatories to collect information requires signatories to collect information on living resourceson living resources

• Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas• Sustainable FisheriesSustainable Fisheries• Habitat Loss and PollutionHabitat Loss and Pollution• Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

The Census of Marine LifeThe Census of Marine LifeWhy Now?Why Now?

State of current knowledge largely limited to-- 200 commercially important species-- Based on catch statistics by fishers-- Near-shore areas-- 95% of oceans unexplored biologically-- NO synchronous surveys of everything that lives in the water column, i.e., no “ecosystem” surveys

Census of Marine LifeCensus of Marine LifeWhy Now - New TechnologiesWhy Now - New Technologies

• Technologies Technologies • Active & passive acoustics: “Every fish is a submarine”Active & passive acoustics: “Every fish is a submarine”• Optical sensorsOptical sensors• Tags (animals doing surveys themselves)Tags (animals doing surveys themselves)• Vehicles: unmanned, remotely operatedVehicles: unmanned, remotely operated• GeneticsGenetics

• Data Management & CommunicationData Management & Communication • Satellite communications for real-time observations from fixed and Satellite communications for real-time observations from fixed and

floating platformsfloating platforms• Data Analysis Data Analysis

• On-line image libraries, recognitionOn-line image libraries, recognition• Modeling & simulation for population estimates Modeling & simulation for population estimates

• Tag about 10 speciesTag about 10 species• Total of 5000 animalsTotal of 5000 animals• Follow for 1-2 yearsFollow for 1-2 years• North Pacific prototypeNorth Pacific prototype

TOPP Project: To infer what must live in the ocean from behavior of wide-ranging species

TOPP Bioprobe CoverageTOPP Bioprobe Coverage

• History of Marine Animal Populations History of Marine Animal Populations What did live in the oceans?What did live in the oceans?

• New Field ProjectsNew Field Projects What does live in the oceans?What does live in the oceans?

• Future of Marine Animal PopulationsFuture of Marine Animal Populations What will live in the oceans? What will live in the oceans?

• Data assimilation frameworkData assimilation framework Ocean Biogeographic Information SystemOcean Biogeographic Information System

The Census of Marine LifeThe Census of Marine LifeComponent ProgramsComponent Programs

CoML Field Project DistributionCoML Field Project DistributionComing Soon…

Chemosynthetic (ChEss) EcosytemsA-G = Vent; H-K = Seep & Vent; Number = Fauna ID’d

Salmon MonitoringSalmon Monitoring Lines: Fish “EZ Pass”Lines: Fish “EZ Pass”

Ocean Biogeographical Information SystemOcean Biogeographical Information System• Vision: Click on maps of the ocean & bring up data on what Vision: Click on maps of the ocean & bring up data on what

has been reported to live therehas been reported to live there • Goal: Next generation info infrastructure for marine biology & Goal: Next generation info infrastructure for marine biology &

living marine resource mgmtliving marine resource mgmt • Technical progress:Technical progress:

• Portal, interoperable databases on growing list of species groups Portal, interoperable databases on growing list of species groups (fishes, squids, jellies, corals, molluscs, (fishes, squids, jellies, corals, molluscs,

mammals, turtles, seabirds…); standards & protocols mammals, turtles, seabirds…); standards & protocols • Institutional progress:Institutional progress:

• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) marine associate (July Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) marine associate (July 2001)2001)

• International Federation established, more than 100 partners in more International Federation established, more than 100 partners in more than 20 countries so farthan 20 countries so far

Census of Marine LifeCensus of Marine Life Education & Outreach Education & Outreach

• Outreach to learners of all ages• Consortium of aquariums (150 million visitors/yr), natural history museums• Web sites• Video, magazines

Census of Marine LifeCensus of Marine Life Institutional arrangements Institutional arrangements

• International Scientific Steering Committee• International Secretariat • Geographically distributed Program HQs Kyoto, Vancouver, Monterey Bay, New Brunswick (Canada), Southampton (UK), Bergen (Norway), Esbjerg (Denmark), Concepcion (Chile)… • Regional & National Committees: Western Pacific, S. America, Australia, Canada, European Union, Southern Africa…• International group of funding agencies (form in ’02)

Partnerships & MechanismsPartnerships & Mechanisms InternationalInternational

IntergovernmentalIntergovernmental• Atlantic International Council for ExplorationAtlantic International Council for Exploration of the Seas (ICES), Pacific…PICES of the Seas (ICES), Pacific…PICES • UN: IOC, FAO; World Bank/GEF?UN: IOC, FAO; World Bank/GEF?• GBIFGBIFNon-governmentalNon-governmental • ICSU (SCOR, Diversitas, IABO); POGOICSU (SCOR, Diversitas, IABO); POGO• Industries: eg Oil & Gas (IPIECA, OGPA)Industries: eg Oil & Gas (IPIECA, OGPA)• Environmental: Conservation Int’l…Environmental: Conservation Int’l…

Census of Marine Life

What’s knownWhat’s unknownWhat’s unknowableAn ancient dream, a real possibility

A here-and-now test for partnerships and mechanismsfor sustainable development