EMO BON observatory releases new dataset
EMBRC’s European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) observatory has released a new dataset collected through its sampling activities across Europe. These data are now available for use worldwide at the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and will also be integrated into the DTO (Digital Twin of the Ocean) alongside EMO BON’s first data published in 2024. The newly collected data includes 18 sediment samples (total size ~200GB) and 90 water samples (total size ~712GB).
EMO BON’s datasets are vital resources for researchers around the world. They can improve scientific advances in ocean modelling, identify biodiversity patterns, novel microorganisms as well as newly introduced non-indigenous species (NIS).
EMO BON undertakes regular sampling campaigns at EMBRC marine sites to collect FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) marine genomic data. Generating continuous FAIR datasets helps to support top quality science and generate robust conclusions to advance Europe’s understanding of its marine biodiversity and the development of new products and services that benefit society.
These data are also essential to support climate change research and effective marine management strategic—as well as provide policymakers with the continuous flow of information needed to guide informed decision-making.
The metagenomic analyses of EMO BON’s data provide additional insights into community functions which opens new opportunities for scientific exploration. This knowledge is vital to advance discovery in bioprospecting, deepen our understanding of community dynamics across time and space and clarify how ecosystems respond to stressors such as climate change and pollution.
Established by EMBRC in 2021, EMO BON is Europe’s first centrally coordinated network of marine observatories for DNA-based observation. It is made up of 17 marine stations across Europe which regularly collect marine genomic data. As part of the UN Ocean Decade’s OBON programme, this initiative aims to build European capacity to fill gaps in biological observation as well as observe and monitor global marine biodiversity.
EMO BON ensures high-quality data that supports this research by applying Standardised Operational Protocols (SOPs) and centralised coordination. In 2024, EMBRC updated EMO BON’s SOPs for the marine observatories involved in the project. These detailed protocols help researchers sample the water column and hard and soft substrate in the same way to ensure safety, consistency, and compliance with relevant standards. By respecting these procedures, EMO BON observatories can avoid biases and generate FAIR consistent, accurate, comparable, and reliable data.
