Ocean Biomolecular Observing Network (OBON)

Ocean life - from viruses to whales - is built from "biomolecules''. Biomolecules such as DNA infuse each drop of ocean water, grain of sediment, and breath of ocean air.

The Biomolecular Ocean Observing Network (OBON) will develop a global system that will allow science and society to understand ocean life like never before. The programme will transform how we sense, harvest, protect, and manage ocean life, which faces multiple stresses including pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. It will also help communities detect biological hazards like harmful algal blooms and pathogens and be a key component of next-generation ocean observing systems

Start Date: 15/01/2021
End Date: 31/12/2030

This Programme hosts the following Ocean Decade Projects:

Mission Ocean Microbiomes

WCO Biomolecular Observing Network

Naples Ecological REsearch Augmented observatory

Hakai Institute Biomolecular Observing Network

Better Biomolecular Ocean Practices

Pacific Islands Marine Bioinvasions Alert Network (PacMAN)

E-DNA expeditions in marine World Heritage sites

Pacific eDNA Coastal Observatory

Scripps Ecological Observatory

European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Net

Observing and Promoting Atlantic Microbiomes

DNA-based approaches for fisheries monitoring

National Biodiversity DNA Library (NBDL)

OceanOmics: Monitoring & Protecting Ocean Life

Lead Contacts: Margaret Leinen (mleinen@ucsd.edu) and Fiona Beckman (fbe@pml.ac.uk)