Publication Date:
2020-02-12
Description:
For over a decade, multi-omics technologies have rapidly matured into affordable and powerful tools to assess
biodiversity in virtually every ecosystem. These technologies can provide deeply informative and highly reusable
data, providing insight into the distribution, metabolic capacities, and activity of organisms. Naturally, the value of
multi-omic data is maximised when combined with contextualising environmental data. The union of multi-omic
and biogeochemical data is one example of this synthesis which can greatly enhance global understanding of the
role of living systems in planetary element cycling, especially for microbial life. The time has come to integrate
these technologies into global, long-term observatory programmes in ecology and Earth observation. This talk will
describe the efforts of the recently established Global Omics Observation Network (GLOMICON) in coordinating
international, long-term omics observation efforts in the context of existing Earth system observatories, many of
which already monitor key biogeochemical phenomena. It will also explore how GLOMICON seeks to federate
efforts through interfaces with organisations such as the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), the Genomic
Observatory Network, the Group on Earth Observation Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), and the
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). Using the GOOS Biological and Biogeochemical Essential Ocean
Variables (EOVs) as a concrete example, we will present how omics and biogeochemistry are quickly converging
to provide multiple stakeholders with deeper understanding of the biosphere. We will conclude with guidance on
how researchers and other stakeholders can contribute to building this interface over the next few years.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Conference
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