NOAA ‘Omics Seminar Series (July 20, 2022): Global marine biodiversity monitoring

This seminar is part of the NOAA 'Omics Seminar Series, which takes place on the third Wednesday of every month at 12pm ET / 9am PT through June 2022. 'Omics describes a suite of cutting-edge tools used to analyze DNA, RNA, proteins, or metabolites.
Date: July 20, 2022
Title: Global marine biodiversity monitoring through partnership and innovation
Presenter: Dr. Luke Thompson
Abstract: Understanding of marine biogeochemistry and conservation of marine communities depends on high-quality assessments of biodiversity. A growing component of biodiversity monitoring is DNA sequencing, which is being coupled with high-throughput imaging and remote sensing to provide ever more comprehensive profiles of marine communities. Some of the challenges in this effort include inconsistent sampling programs, incomplete reference databases (for both genetic and optical data), lack of analytical reproducibility, and under-developed machine learning and modeling methods. At AOML, we are addressing these challenges to help realize the potential of global ocean sampling for oceanography, climate science, and conservation. We are sampling multiple ocean basins with a standardized approach, including the Gulf of Mexico projects South Florida MBON (2015 - present), SEAMAP (2019 - 2021), and GOMECC (2017 - 2021) and global sampling projects Bio-GO-SHIP (2022 - beyond) and Tara Mission Microbiomes (2022). We are sequencing taxa missing from reference databases and creating software tools to improve existing reference databases. We are developing workflows to promote rapid and iterable analysis and meta-analysis of genetic data. And we are developing and refining algorithms to improve taxonomic assignment of genetic sequences, model biodiversity data with environmental parameters, and create composite indices from multiple measures of biodiversity. In this talk, I will present the progress we have made on each of these fronts, describe the datasets we have assembled and have planned, and share some of the initial emerging patterns from our surveys of the Gulf of Mexico.