A sustainable, integrated AMBON in the Chukchi Sea: Passive Acoustic Monitoring Component

Abstract

Unprecedented changes are occurring in the Arctic and affect all components of Arctic marine ecosystems, including humans. However,,consistent, long-term observations for planning and adaptation are currently lacking in the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, we propose a su,stainable approach to biodiversity observing in the Chukchi Sea as one component of the development of a national marine biodiversit,y observing (MBON) program. Grounded in the concept that sustained biodiversity across ecosystem components is critical for maintain,ing healthy ecosystem functions, we are building on lessons learned from the first 5-year Arctic MBON demonstration project (AMBON)., Using strategic collaborations, we propose adding currently un-observed essential ocean variables (EOV) to other, ongoing long-term, research programs in a sustainable way to conduct logistically costly observations in the Arctic. This approach ensures that biodiv,ersity is measured across multiple scales of diversity - from microbes to whales. We specifically propose to link to and enhance a s,tationary mooring array in the northern Chukchi Sea (CEO) that provides year-round environmental and biological observations. The pr,oposed sustainable AMBON will use innovative technological approaches, such as the moored water sampler that collects year-round eDN,A samples, a sediment trap to sample phytoplankton, and passive acoustics to observe vocalizing marine mammal presence. In addition,, we will add the two emerging EOVs microbes (through eDNA collections) and epibenthic invertebrates, as well as fish and seabird col,lections, to an existing, spatially expansive sampling program in the Chukchi Sea, the DBO-NCIS. Together, the two programs link bio,diversity observations across time and space. Finally, we propose to link results from organismal observations to remotely sensed se,ascapes, which have recently become available for the Arctic. All biodiversity observations will be related to a full suite of envir,onmental measurements that help understand diversity patterns in space and time. Data publication and visualization is a strong focu,s of this proposal and we will continue to meet standard data formats (metadata, Darwin Core) to publish data on the MBON Portal, ar,chive data at NCEI, and provide data to OBIS.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Dec 10, 2021
Source ID
N000142212018

Entities

People

  • Kathleen M Stafford

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • Oregon State University
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space