OBIS: The Global Atlas of Marine Biological Data
The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) serves as a comprehensive, worldwide atlas designed for accessing, modeling, and mapping marine biological data within a multidimensional geographic context. By aggregating vast amounts of georeferenced data, OBIS provides scientists and policymakers with a critical tool for understanding the distribution and diversity of life in the world's oceans.
Key Facts
- Founded by: Dr. J. F. Grassle.
- Current Host: Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend, Belgium.
- Governing Body: International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
- Data Scale: Over 45 million observations of nearly 120,000 marine species (as of July 2018).
- Global Reach: Contributions from 500 institutions across 56 countries.
The Evolution of OBIS
The conceptual foundations of OBIS were laid in October 1997 during a CoML meeting focused on benthic (bottom-dwelling) ocean life. This led to the creation of a demonstration website at Rutgers University in 1998. The project gained significant momentum following an inaugural International Workshop in Washington, DC, in November 1999, which helped define the project's scope and identify potential partners.
Initial funding was secured in May 2000 through the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which supported eight foundational research projects. By May 2001, the US National Science Foundation funded Rutgers University to develop a global portal, and an OBIS International Committee was established that same year.
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Growth and Data Expansion
The production version of the OBIS Portal launched in 2002, initially hosting 430,000 species-based georeferenced records from eight partner databases, including specialized sources like FishBase (fish), CephBase (cephalopods), and the Indo-Pacific Mollusc Database (mollusks). The system experienced rapid growth over the following decade:
- May 2006: Expanded to 9.5 million records of 59,000 species from 112 databases.
- December 2010: Reached 27.7 million records representing 167,000 taxon names at the conclusion of the Census of Marine Life.
- July 2018: Reported over 45 million observations of nearly 120,000 species. The decrease in the number of species names is attributed to synonym resolution, the process of consolidating multiple recorded names for a single taxon into one accepted name.
Governance and Infrastructure
In 2009, OBIS was adopted by the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) programme of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Following the end of Sloan Foundation funding for the Rutgers secretariat in 2011, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend, Belgium, became the long-term host.
The system is currently maintained at the IOC Project Office for IODE in Ostend. VLIZ supports the system through two critical taxonomic databases: the World Register of Marine Species and the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG). These databases provide the taxonomic hierarchy and decision-making framework used to control how species information is displayed and navigated within OBIS.
Operationally, OBIS is directed by IODE with guidance from the IODE Steering Group for OBIS (SG-OBIS). Daily activities are managed by the OBIS Executive Committee (OBIS-EC), supported by various task teams and ad-hoc project teams. The secretariat provides essential training, technical assistance, and data standard guidance to international contributors.
Scope of Biological Data
OBIS encompasses all organisms associated with marine or estuarine habitats, including shorelines and the atmosphere immediately above the ocean. The data covers a diverse array of life forms:
- Marine Vertebrates: Including fish, marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds.
- Marine Invertebrates: Including zooplankton.
- Microorganisms: Marine bacteria.
- Marine Plants: Including phytoplankton, seaweeds, and mangroves.
| Year/Period | Milestone/Status | Data Volume (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-1998 | Initial concept and Rutgers demo site | N/A |
| 2002 | Production Portal launch | 430,000 records |
| 2006 | Expansion of partner databases | 9.5 million records |
| 2010 | Conclusion of Census of Marine Life | 27.7 million records |
| 2018 | Current global network status | 45+ million observations |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of OBIS?
OBIS is an online, worldwide atlas used for accessing, modeling, and mapping marine biological data in a multidimensional geographic context.
Who currently manages and hosts OBIS?
OBIS is hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend, Belgium, and is directed by the IODE programme of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).
What types of organisms are included in the OBIS database?
The database includes all organisms associated with marine or estuarine habitats, such as vertebrates (fish, mammals, birds), invertebrates (zooplankton), bacteria, and plants (phytoplankton, mangroves).
Why did the number of species names decrease between 2010 and 2018?
The reduction was due to synonym resolution, which is the process of reducing multiple names used for the same taxon to a single, accepted scientific name.
Which taxonomic databases support OBIS?
OBIS utilizes the World Register of Marine Species and the Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera (IRMNG) to control species display and navigation hierarchy.