OBIS-USA 2011 database Boulder, CO 80309, U.S.A. Retrieve from http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa. OBIS-USA http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa This will direct you to the OBIS-USA web site. Select Participants and Datasets from the panel on the left. Explore the table of dataset information to find the dataset of interest. Click on the Dataset Code (blue text) on the left for a brief summary of metadata. Or click on the "Go" button on the right for a Dataset Detail screen where you will see a map of dataset contents, and tabs for options to Get Data, see Metadata, or use the Data Dashboard for that dataset. OBIS-USA provides aggregated, interoperable biogeographic data collected primarily from U.S. waters and oceanic regions--the Arctic, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. It provides access to datasets from state and federal agencies as well as educational and research institutions. OBIS-USA handles both specimen-based data and survey results. Survey data come from recovered archives and current research activities. The datasets document where and when species were observed or collected, bringing together marine biogeographic data that are spatially, taxonomically, and temporally comprehensive. <p>The public OBIS-USA site (http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa) provides actual data contents as well as summary data about what is contained in each dataset to assist users in evaluating suitability for use. Current functionality allows the user to locate, view, and aggregate the datasets and FGDC compliant metadata as well as to view and search the taxonomic, geographic, and temporal extent. <p>To promote data interoperability, the data are available in accordance with the marine-focused implementation of the Darwin Core data standard. In addition to basic download functions (tab-delimited), OBIS-USA offers web services for query flexibility and a wide range of output formats, such as kml, NetCDF, MATLAB, json, and graph or map output, to enable diverse types of scientific and geospatial data use and analysis platforms and products. Web services enable integration of OBIS-USA biogeographic data with other data types, such as seafloor geology, physical oceanography, water chemistry, and climate data. OBIS-USA and collaborators are further deploying the Darwin Core standard to capture richer information, such as absence and abundance, observations on effort, individual tracking, and more advanced biogeography capabilities. <p>Data are accepted into OBIS-USA from the original developer or curator of the data, minimizing the burden on the participant. OBIS-USA works with data providers to understand the best process to transfer the data, review the data prior to their release, gather comprehensive metadata, and then allow public access to this information. Becoming part of the OBIS-USA network is intended to have tangible benefits for participants, for example, freeing the participant from responding to requests for data and alleviating security concerns since users do not directly access the participant's computers. <p>As of July 2011, OBIS-USA contains 149 datasets with 7,178,729 records from 39 different participants. There are over 84,000 distinct marine taxa represented in OBIS-USA. OBIS-USA is the U.S. regional node of the International Ocean Biogeographic Information System (iOBIS). International OBIS is a global system comprised of a series of regional and thematic nodes that collaborate to provide access to marine biogeographic data. They follow international data standards and operational protocols to facilitate access to and interoperability of data. <p>OBIS-USA is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) program with support from additional federal agencies and programs, such as NOAA/IOOS, BOEM, and U.S. Navy. Scientists, resource managers, and policy makers can use OBIS-USA data to understand species and ecosystems as well as to monitor, evaluate, and forecast change in our oceans. Data in OBIS-USA have been collected since 1611 with the majority of the data collected beginning in the 1970s. 16110101 20110303 Reference varies by dataset and within datasets Complete As needed Data were collected primarily from U.S. waters and oceanic regions--the Arctic, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. -180 180 90 -90 None marine animals marine mammals plants sea birds sea turtles plankton zooplankton vertebrates invertebrates algae phytoplankton biology biogeography biodiversity benthic habitat coastal habitat reef habitat coral reefs pelagic habitat fisheries management protected species abundance Census of Marine Life Ocean Biogeographic Information System OBIS None Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Caribbean Sea Gulf of Mexico South Atlantic Bight Gulf of Maine Puget Sound North America United States Canada None Animalia Plantae Annelida Arthropoda Chlorophyta Chordata Cnidaria Mollusca Crustacea Malacostraca Maxillopoda Actinopterygii Anthozoa unknown Unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown Empire Biovitae Carbon-based lifeforms Kingdom Animalia Phylum Annelida Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Crustacea Class Malacostraca Class Maxillopoda Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Phylum Cnidaria Class Anthozoa Phylum Mollusca Kingdom Plantae Division Chlorophyta To view constraints placed on data, please see Policies and Disclaimer section (from the panel on the left) on OBIS-USA web site at http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa. Prior to use of these records in any analysis or report, OBIS-USA must be notified and, if used, the provenance of the original data must be acknowledged. Acknowledge the use of specific records from data providers and acknowledge the use of the OBIS-USA facility. Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS-USA. Philip Goldstein OBIS-USA Principal Investigator physical

University of Colorado

Boulder CO 80309 303-887-6043 philip.goldstein at colorado.edu Data are accepted into OBIS-USA from the original developer or curator of the data. In the process of reformatting the data to the OBIS-USA schema, the data are thoroughly checked for consistency, duplication, and erroneous data. Unknown Unknown unknown Field OBIS-USA data has been captured by our participants through a multitude of methods, including trawls, traps, visual observations, and cameras. No process steps have been described for this data set Unknown Point MBG Database Schema Marine BioGeography (MBG) is the schema used for all OBIS-USA datasets. MBG is an implementation of the Darwin Core data standard. OBIS-USA Philip Goldstein OBIS-USA Principal Investigator physical

University of Colorado

Boulder CO 80309 303-887-6043 philip.goldstein@colorado.edu Each dataset is given a unique code, which can be used to access the dataset. OBIS-USA renders information prepared by contributors accessible through dynamic on-line publication. It does not peer-review the quality of the data provided. However, it is confident that the data are the best available in electronic form. OBIS-USA does not own or try to control or limit the use of any data or products accessible through its website. Accordingly, it does not take responsibility for the quality of such data or products, or the use that people may make of them. <p>Users must recognize that the analysis and interpretation of data requires background knowledge and expertise about marine biodiversity (including ecosystems and taxonomy). Users should be aware of possible errors in the use of species names, geo-referencing, data handing, and mapping. Users should crosscheck their results for possible errors, and qualify their interpretation of any results accordingly. Appropriate caution is thus necessary in the interpretation of results derived from OBIS-USA. Text No compression applied http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa None On the OBIS-USA web site, select Participants and Datasets from the panel on the left. Scroll down to the desired dataset and click on the "Go" button on the right for a Dataset Detail screen. Click on Download. Prompts for data download. Obtain data directly by contacting OBIS-USA None 20120306 Philip Goldstein OBIS-USA Principal Investigator physical

University of Colorado

Boulder CO 80309 303-887-6043 philip.goldstein@colorado.edu FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 None To view constraints placed on metadata, please see Policies and Disclaimer section (from the panel on the left) on OBIS-USA web site at http://www.usgs.gov/obis-usa.