Mangrove cover and composition & Coral cover and composition

The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) considers mangrove cover and composition, and coral cover and composition as Essential Ocean Variables (EOV). Mangroves are critical ecosystems for tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, creating highly productive systems which support a wide range of biodiversity, with fisheries the most important for the livelihoods and food security of coastal communities. Other important services they provide include climate change adaptation and mitigation, through the buffering of storms and sequestration of carbon, respectively. Here we highlight how to collect the variables for the mangrove EOV -cover, species composition, and extent - which allow those that collect and collate monitoring data to provide globally standardised measurements to assess ecosystem health.

This webinar also discusses the Coral EOV, its scientific and social value, and how coordinated monitoring can focus global observing. Coral assemblages require custom technology and management, and research is bridging methodological gaps to integrate data across depth ranges. SCUBA can reach warm-water coral species (0-30 m), but most cold-water corals require technical diving, ROVs, AUVs, and submersibles. The mesophotic zone (30-150 m) presents a particular knowledge gap, as it is beyond routine SCUBA limits yet above typical deep submersible operations. By integrating specialised methods across depths, researchers can capture high-resolution imagery, collect physical samples and DNA, and map seafloor terrain to better understand coral community composition, distribution, and health. This data is critical for conservation, policymaking, and sustainable management.

The GOOS BioEco EOV Webinar Series was co-organised by GOOS, the EU-funded BioEcoOcean project, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and the Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre).