Spatio-temporal assessments of biodiversity in the high seas

Abstract

Biological diversity is one of the most important measures for marine conservation in the high seas. However, data and tools to assess and quantify biodiversity in the high seas are still not well developed. This hinders the development of the open-access tools necessary to assess biodiversity across space and time. Here, we examine prototype online mapping and visualization tools we developed within the OBIS-SEAMAP data center, a thematic node of the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) specializing in marine mammal, seabird and sea turtle observations, to facilitate spatiotemporal assessments of biodiversity in the high seas. Our aims are to (1) summarize basic data needs for assessing biodiversity issues in the high seas; (2) discuss technical challenges to address such needs and establish a publicly accessible framework for biodiversity assessments; and (3) demonstrate how our prototype framework facilitates these assessments using a preliminary case study. We anticipate that this will serve as a model for marine researchers and managers to develop similar frameworks or improve the existing ones for ecological assessments. Of special importance is the application of these assessment tools to emerging high seas biodiversity identification processes such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas.

Coral Reefs of the High Seas: Hidden Biodiversity Hotspots in Need of Protection

“…Developing such habitat suitability models would be a logical next step for the results of this study; however, in order for these models to be useful, they will require high-quality datasets with good spatial coverage globally, particularly on the high seas. With the exception of data that can be obtained via satellites, data coverage on the high seas is still extremely poor (Fujioka and Halpin, 2014;Ortuño Crespo et al, 2019;Visalli et al, 2020). The Ocean Biogeographic Information System, In cases when multiple datasets included the same record, only the dataset with the most detailed attribute information was kept in the dataset.…”

Linking loggerhead locations: using multiple methods to determine the origin of sea turtles in feeding grounds

“…These stepwise contributions of complementary insights into the life-histories of sea turtles may directly impact conservation measures, as management plans are revised in line with the latest ecological findings (Fujioka and Halpin 2014). …”

Influence of seasonality on cetacean diversity, abundance, distribution and habitat use in the western Mediterranean Sea: Implications for conservation

“…Gathering data on these highly dynamic marine animals is extremely challenging. Cetaceans are mostly wide ranging pelagic species and are not homogenously distributed within the Mediterranean basin; they also perform seasonal movements which differ by species and depend on a synergistic combination of environmental and anthropogenic parameters (Evans & Hammond, ; Fujioka & Halpin, ). Individual variations were also recognized by some studies (Panigada et al ., ), likely due to gender differences, life stages, or site fidelity, and a significant behavioural plasticity adds more variability to the general pattern.…”

“…More difficulties with data comparison are due to the use of different methodologies by different research groups and to a general lack of repeatability. Consequently, despite the investigation effort, many aspects of cetacean diversity, seasonal movements, and habitat use still remain unclear, and information is especially lacking in remote high sea areas throughout the whole year (Evans & Hammond, ; Fujioka & Halpin, ; Notarbartolo di Sciara & Birkun, ; Pace, Tizzi et al ., 2015).…”