A sustainable, integrated AMBON in the US Arctic

Unprecedented changes occurring in the Arctic affect all components of Arctic marine ecosystems, including humans. However, consistent, long-term observations for planning and adaptation are not fully in place in the Arctic Ocean. The current Arctic Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (AMBON) project is a sustainable approach to biodiversity observing in the Chukchi Sea. Grounded in the concept that sustained biodiversity across ecosystem components is critical for maintaining healthy ecosystem functions, this project is using strategic collaborations to build an observing network in the Arctic Chukchi Sea. We work with other research and monitoring projects to conduct logistically costly observations in the Arctic. This approach ensures that biodiversity is measured across multiple ecosystem components – from microbes to whales – and observations are being related to a full suite of environmental measurements that help understand diversity patterns in space and time. AMBON data streams include the Chukchi Ecosystem Observatory (CEO), the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO), and remotely sensed seascapes, which contribute to the National Marine Biodiversity Observing Network (MBON) Program and are paired with specific management needs of end users in the Arctic, including NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program, and BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program, and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for its subarctic regions.

USD: $450,000

2020-05-21 → 2024-02-29