Convict Tangs in the Coral Reef at Palmyra National Wildlife Refuge

Credit: Kevin Lafferty, U.S. Geological Survey

Green Sea Turtle in the U.S. Virgin Island

Credit: Caroline Rogers, U.S. Geological Survey

Harmful Algal Blooms

Credit: Dr. Barry H. Rosen, U.S. Geological Survey

Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Credit: Robert Dusek, U.S. Geological Survey

California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

Credit: John J. Mosesso, U.S. Geological Survey

Ocean Biodiversity Information System USA

OBIS-USA brings together marine biological observation data – recorded observations of identifiable marine species at a known time and place, collected primarily from U.S. waters or with U.S. funding. Coordinated by the Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program of the USGS, OBIS-USA, strives to meet national data integration and dissemination needs for marine biodiversity science.

OBIS-USA is part of an international data sharing network (Ocean Biodiversity Information System, OBIS) coordinated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange). Federal coordination is done in collaboration with the participants of the ad hoc biodiversity working group organized under the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Partnerships Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology.

For more information contact: Stephen Formel