Enhancement of Private Sector Partnerships and NOAA Vessel Infrastructure for ‘Omics Tracking of Ecosystem Condition and Trends

PI: Goodwin, Kelly (NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory)
Co-PI(s): Colwell, Rita (CosmosID) : Chavez, Francisco (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) : Pitz, Katie (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
Start Year: 2020 | Duration: 3 years
Partners: NOAA, CosmosID, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Project Abstract:

‘Omics approaches can be faster, cheaper, less invasive, and can provide more comprehensive information than traditional monitoring methods, resulting in improved ecosystem assessments. We will establish sample collection for ‘omics aboard a NOAA fisheries trawl vessel and track regional ecosystem state via an environmental DNA time series. Through private-sector partnerships, we will procure cloud storage and computation. We will test whether strategic application of long-read technology can improve interpretation of ocean metagenomes and, if successful, transition the approach and developed bioinformatic workflow into a commercial offering.