Using Essential Biodiversity Variables and Essential Ocean Variables, FAIR Guiding Principles, and the Principles of Action Ecology to Inform Our Understanding of Changing Marine Ecosystems

Marine ecosystems contribute to the stability, health, and well-being of human societies around the world. Many policy initiatives are aimed at maintaining the health of these ecosystems. To report on progress towards these initiatives policy makers and resource managers need accurate and timely information in the form of statistical measures and assessments that address the goals and thresholds in these policy initiatives. Marine Essential Biodiversity Variables and their complementary Essential Ocean Variables provide a foundation for ocean observing by defining the measurements necessary to evaluate current marine biodiversity and assess changes. Similarly, the FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) guiding principles provide a basis for scientific data management aimed at increasing data sharing and sharing of analytical methods. Furthermore, the principles of action ecology advocate for policy-ready, transdisciplinary science that hastens the speed with which data are incorporated into policy and management decision-making. By combining these three foundational elements together, we present a vision and key tenets for building a global integrated system for understanding marine biological diversity and processes to address policy and resource management needs. We will highlight the example of the Global Ocean Observing System - Marine Biodiversity Observation Network - Ocean Biogeographic Information System collaboration agreement where portions of this vision are already taking place and opportunities for future use.