Lessons from the first large FBIP Project The SeaKeys Project ‘semper aliquid novi Africam adferre’ Africa is always producing some novelty. Pliny the Elder (23-79AD) Copied from Aristotle Lessons from the first large FBIP Project Morning everyone and thanks very much for the opportunity to talk to you about the SeaKeys Project. But Before I get started I wanted to acknowledge the news of the new Natural Science Collections Platform - so I want thank the DST and especially Yonah Seleti for engaging with the other governance departments on this issue – I believe that we are on the right track with such a collaborative approach. It is no secret that SANBI and especially Michelle Hamer has played a leading role in these developments and so I also want to thank her and wish Tanya well on her retirement. Tanya I also want to let you know that Iziko has millions of entomology specimens on backlog – so when you are ready you are more than welcome to come home! Wayne K. Florence Curator: Marine invertebrate Collections, Iziko Museums of South Africa

Principle Investigator SeaKeys Project This is Kerry Sink Principle Investigator SeaKeys Project So while we on the subject of SANBI I want to just clear up a bit of confusion – My name is Wayne and I am not Kerry Sink. Don’t let the long hair fool you! This is Kerry Sink our SeaKeys Principal investigator and in women's month I am proud to acknowledge we are all part of her team of girls! This project was a bit of a nightmare to coordinate but Kerry through her leadership was able to

Take us from a marine biodiversity community that was uncoordinated, divided, with duplication of effort and most importantly a community that was, in part, ignorant of and not working towards any biodiversity information standards to something substantially better!

What is the SeaKeys Project? SeaKeys is a coordinated, multi-institutional partnership, comprised of a diverse group of scientists, decision makers and the general public. The real value of this project is that it is a coordinated, multi-institutional partnership, comprised of a diverse group of scientists, decision makers and the general public.

The SeaKeys project aimed to unlock marine biodiversity knowledge through the co-ordinated mobilisation, capture and dissemination of data, limited and focused new research and innovative knowledge generation, capacity building and information flow approaches. The SeaKeys project aimed to unlock marine biodiversity knowledge through the co-ordinated mobilisation, digitization and dissemination of data, limited and focused new research and innovative knowledge generation, capacity building and information flow approaches.

Key Objective One Develop new collaborations to improve the co-ordination, management and dissemination of marine biodiversity data, information and knowledge. So what I’d like to do is take you through the Key Objectives of the project and highlight the achievements towards each of these The first objective was to Develop new collaborations to improve the co-ordination, management and dissemination of marine biodiversity data, information and knowledge. 6

Key Objective One Achievements 13 co-investigators, >30 collaborations 19 new links and collaborations To this end – we have 13 co-investigators, more than 30 collaborations and 19 new links and collaborations The vision here is that the project would provide a platform for meaningful collaboration across the value chain. 7

Key Objective Two Unlock priority marine biodiversity records through the collation, verification and digitisation of existing historical and un-captured contemporary data and through citizen science initiatives Objective 2 was to Unlock priority marine biodiversity records through the collation, verification and digitisation of existing historical and un-captured contemporary data and through citizen science initiatives 8

Key Objective Two Achievements 150 815 new records unlocked Un-curated Specimen Occurrences from Iziko Museums Collections Observational species occurrence records from the UCT Ecological Survey So just over 150 000 species occurrence records were digitised and enriched. This component was not just a digitization project for Iziko. We also managed to address the curation of thousands of marine invertebrate and cartilaginous fish specimens, some that have been on backlog for decades! The majority of UCT Ecological Survey records that represent tens of thousands of records collected in a uniform manner, year on year, over multiple decades was digitised. And we had much success with our citizen science projects through using SANBI’s I-Spot platform. Citizen Science data - iSPOT 9

Key Objectives Three Undertake genetic, species and ecosystem research to support systematics, ecosystem description and evidence-based policy and management advice for priority taxa and ecosystems Object 3 was to Undertake genetic, species and ecosystem research to support systematics, ecosystem description and evidence-based policy and management advice for priority taxa and ecosystems 10

Key Objective Three Achievements Next NBA SeaKeys coral taxonomy and barcoding is feeding into monitoring for climate change Establish historical baselines and measure change in fish assemblages Mapping of sensitive taxa feeding into Marine Protected Area design Revised national marine ecosystem classification and maps for marine spatial planning include environmental assessments and decision making There are plenty of examples of these but Seakeys coral taxonomy and barcoding is feeding into monitoring for climate change We have used historical data to establish baselines and measure change in fish assemblages We also used historical data to Map sensitive taxa for use in Marine Protected Area design Revised national marine ecosystem classification and maps for marine spatial planning We aim to use the data in the next NBA as previous versions do not adequately take into account collection data of marine invertebrates and deeper water records. Next NBA 11

Key Objective Four Ensure marine biodiversity data and knowledge is disseminated and applied through co-ordinated on-line platforms and application of science based management and policy advice Objective 4 was to ensure marine biodiversity data and knowledge is disseminated and applied through co-ordinated on-line platforms and application of science based management and policy advice. The project was hampered by the delays in the development of the FBIP platform and data dissemination. But we recognised that it was important to adopt the Darwin Core Standard so that the data could be interoperable with the platform once developed. This objective was less successful due to delays in FBIP platform developments and data dissemination. 12

Key Objectives Five Pilot innovative capacity-building, knowledge generation and information flow approaches to increase, improve and apply knowledge in marine resource and ecosystem management, monitoring, global change management and marine spatial planning Object 5 was to Pilot innovative capacity building, knowledge generation and information flows 13

Key Objective Five Achievements 26 post grad students have progressed their studies with 15 completing their degrees to date. A total of 22 of the 12 planned workshop and training courses were held during the project. Albe Bosman Wayne Florence – Data Standards and Data Cleaning Workshop Dr David Obura (CORDIO, Kenya) : Coral Taxonomy Dr. Christopher Mah (Smithsonian Institution) : Echinoderm Taxonomy Dr Phil Alderslade (CSIRO, Austraila) : Soft Coral Taxonomy The achievements here include the advancement of 26 post graduate students with 15 completing their degrees to date A total of 22 training workshops where held and ranged from data standards, data cleaning and taxonomic training involving international expert taxonomists. 14

Key Objective Five Achievements 36 species checklists produced - 31 are new and 5 are updated lists = 7 471 species (exceeding the target of 6608) A total of 336 online species pages were compiled and for the SANBI species page platform (250 were planned) SeaKeys Bold (Barcoding) project registered (SEAKY) with 131 Barcode Index Numbers 36 taxonomic checklists were produced representing almost 7500 records. 31 were newly produced for South Africa. The SeaKeys species page team members worked with the SANBI Information management to produce content for 336 online species pages The SeaKeys Barcoding initiative registered 131 Barcode Index Numbers 15

Key Objective Five Achievements 42/13 peer reviewed papers, 2 Book chapters (additional), 28/10 planned popular articles, 45 Conference outputs, 1 Temporary Exhibition 4/4 planned press releases A number of other outputs including 42 peer reviewed papers were attained during the project. Other outputs include book chapters, popular articles conference presentations etc 16

Challenges/Lessons Coordination – Large Project requires almost full time coordinator – PI became the technical lead for Operation Phakisa MPA network during SeaKeys Delays and challenges in data management and delivery. development of FBI templates and dissemination platforms challenges in development of checklist challenges in adopting of occurrence record templates In terms of challenges A Projects of this nature require almost full time coordination. It is recommended that full time project co-ordinators are critical for these large projects. There were significant delays in data delivery and challenges related to institutional data management The delay in the development of the FBI templates and dissemination platforms lead to project delays. However, Large Projects like these should be considered opportunities for experts to workshop and agree on standards and templates which could be tested and used by the FBIP. SeaKeys took this approach. There was disagreement within the group on the methodology to produce species checklists. A golden rule of taxonomy is not to introduce unnecessary synonymy. Taxon specific experts are required to quality control the production of these lists but this was not always possible or enforced. We simply need more taxonomists! There was too much dependence on the batch names checking of the online World Register of Marine Species without a full understanding of its limitations. It is far more cost effect and efficient (from a quality control point of view) to influence the adoption of standards for digitisation at the point of specimen collection. Iziko lead the development of templates for digitizing occurrence data. This was rolled out to all members of the SeaKeys team but invariably contributors submitted data in other formats. Reformatting the data was then done by SANBI staff which significantly delayed the delivery of data. Make sure that people buy into and adopt standards and monitor this at regular intervals. 17

Challenges/Lessons Challenges in data quality Overestimation of occurrence records Unexpected expenses and procurement Taxonomic impediment Delays due to student protests, illness, technical challenges with DNA extraction or changing circumstances Data quality control protocols to address quality of taxonomy, georeferencing and keystroking error was poorly understood or valued by some contributors despite this being work-shoped and rolled out through training. In terms of estimating targets, projects of this nature are very difficult to scope. There was some overestimation of records but this was mitigated by the delivery of additional records beyond the deliverables . The taxonomic experts were not always available to the project. This is a serious challenge! Most deliverables are dependant on a stable up to date taxonomy. Without such expertise data quality is severely impeded. Allow enough contingency to deal with unforeseen circumstances or address issues as they arise and institute mitigation measures early enough. 18

“Together we can do more” Key Lesson “Together we can do more” – Yonah Seleti, 2017 In the words of Yonah Saleti, perhaps the key lesson has been Together we can do more!

Acknowledgements