March 31st-April 4th, 2025, Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámides, Chubut, Argentina

Workshop lead:

Dr. Enrique Montes (U. Miami CIMAS / NOAA AOML)

Workshop supporters, moderators and facilitators:

Dra. Mariana Lozada (IBIOMAR-CONICET)

A total of 30 individuals participated in the workshop in Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámides, Patagonia, Argentina (Fig. 1). All participants contributed to the development of this work and are listed as co-authors. The group included representatives from universities, research centers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and institutions from both national and provincial parks. The complete list of participants, including their country of origin and institutional affiliation, is available in the supplementary material.

Rocky shores are key habitats that occupy extensive areas along the coasts of the Americas. Organisms living on rocky shores are sensitive indicators of broader ecosystem changes (Barry et al. 1995, Sagarin et al. 1999, Helmuth et al. 2006, Hawkins et al. 2008, Mieszkowska et al. 2014, Mieszkowska et al. 2021), highlighting the importance of rocky shore ecosystems as sentinel sites for tracking long-term environmental change. Monitoring Essential Ocean Variables (Miloslavich et al. 2018) such as macroalgal coverage and distribution, and benthic invertebrate diversity is therefore crucial to understanding how coastal biodiversity responds to both local and global drivers, and helps make decisions about the management of resources in a particular region (Thompson et al. 2002, Joseph and Cusson 2015, Mieszkowska et al. 2019). In recognition of the importance of sustained observation efforts, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Claudet et al. 2020, Guan et al. 2023) and Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water) emphasize the need for inclusive, coordinated, and long-term monitoring systems to support the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources (Estes et al. 2021).

Rocky intertidal areas are generally easy to access and inexpensive to study, making them ideal for long-term ecological monitoring. Large-scale efforts in these habitats have historically generated important insights on how a region changes (Miloslavich et al. 2019, Satterthwaite et al. 2021, Kaplanis 2023). Initiatives such as MarClim (Mieszkowska et al. 2019) in Europe, the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal network (MARINe; Gilbane et al. 2022), the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO; Carr and Bergen 2012) in the United States, and the South American Research Group on Coastal Ecosystems (SARCE; Miloslavich et al. 2016, Cruz‐Motta et al. 2020) in South America have all generated valuable time-series data. However, comparing these datasets remains challenging due to differences in sampling design, methodologies, financial resources and data formats (Duffy et al. 2019, Miloslavich et al. 2019). These inconsistencies in monitoring protocols may compromise standardization, scalability, and long-term feasibility. In this context, the Natural Geography in Shore Areas (NaGISA) project (Rigby et al. 2007), part of the Census of Marine Life, played a pivotal role by establishing standardized protocols for rocky intertidal surveys, which was later expanded across South America through the SARCE program (Miloslavich et al. 2016).

Building upon these foundations, the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network Pole to Pole of the Americas (MBON Pole to Pole) emerged as an international network that fosters standardized and participative biodiversity monitoring across coastal ecosystems (Moity et al. 2025). Since 2016, the network has promoted a standard methodology by adopting photo-quadrats as the primary data collection tool, promoting non-extractive, repeatable, and cost-effective monitoring practices (MBON Pole to Pole 2019). This transition to standardized protocols has enabled broader participation, improved data interoperability, and strengthened alignment with global organizations like the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS). Additionally, MBON Pole to Pole is broadening the adoption of GOOS Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) like macroalgal coverage and benthic invertebrate abundance (Miloslavich et al. 2018, Canonico et al. 2019).

Following a training workshop hosted by IBIOMAR-CONICET in Camarones, Argentina, in March 2023, the MBON Pole to Pole project implemented regionally coordinated, image-based surveys. This activity led to the development of a standardized protocol to guide users in collecting high-quality photo-quadrat images (Montes Herrera et al. 2024). Such methodological consistency enables the effective application of machine learning tools to efficiently and reliably analyze rocky shore photographs (Bravo et al. 2021). The streamlined, non-extractive approach not only facilitates large-scale monitoring but also enhances accessibility, allowing participation from a broad range of contributors across regions. The MBON Pole to Pole actively engages conservation practitioners and citizen scientists, who are trained through regional workshops organized by the network to support the collection of benthic imagery (Bravo et al. 2024).

This report summarizes the fifth MBON Pole to Pole workshop, held in Patagonia, Argentina, with participants from 10 countries: Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Ecuador (continental and Galapagos Islands), Colombia, and Honduras. This event marked a significant step towards expanding the monitoring network to the northern countries of the Americas and strengthening regional capacity for long-term biodiversity monitoring in coastal ecosystems. To broaden the scope of coastal monitoring, the workshop introduced two complementary techniques to the existing photo-quadrat protocol: seawater environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and coastal plankton analysis using imaging methods. These additions aim to enhance biodiversity assessments by offering accessible, scalable methodologies and promoting data availability through open access platforms.

General Objective of the MBON Pole to Pole workshop:

Expand regional surveying stations across the Americas by training new network participants capable of implementing and disseminating the rocky shore photo-quadrat protocol in their respective countries, and testing the integration of simplified methods for eDNA sample collection and coastal plankton analysis into the existing monitoring framework.

Specific Objectives:

Engage and provide theoretical and hands-on training to park rangers, scientists and managers of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in techniques for capturing standardized photo-quadrats and selecting suitable monitoring sites in rocky intertidal habitats.

The workshop was designed as an immersive, five-day experience that combined theoretical instruction with hands-on fieldwork and peer-to-peer exchange. The workshop kick-off took place in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, at the National Patagonian Centre of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Centro Nacional Patagónico of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [CENPAT-CONICET], Fig. 2a). The kick-off was a full day dedicated exclusively to theoretical training on rocky shore monitoring and photo-quadrat sampling methods as foundational elements of the MBON Pole to Pole rocky shore monitoring protocol.

On the second day, participants were transported to Puerto Pirámides in the MPA and UNESCO Heritage Site Península Valdés to continue training activities at the Municipal Hall "La Nona" Fig. 2b. Participants were introduced to the theoretical concepts of eDNA and its applications, the use of eDNA in marine biodiversity monitoring, and an overview of bioinformatics data analysis and visualization methods. This session included practical demonstrations of simple and replicable sampling techniques suitable for coastal environments and hands-on exploration of eDNA-derived biodiversity data from global repositories.

The third day was devoted entirely to fieldwork, with a visit to Estancia San Lorenzo near Puerto Pirámides Fig. 2c, d). This site was selected for its pristine rocky intertidal habitats and exuberant and diverse wildlife (e.g., penguins, sea lions, seabirds). The activity provided moments of contemplation and connection with a place of spectacular natural settings and wildlife, which enhanced the reason and justification for monitoring biodiversity. The immersive fieldwork provided participants an opportunity to build a deep connection with the coastal and marine biodiversity of the Argentinian Patagonia, which is key to catalyzing action and championing marine biodiversity monitoring efforts in their respective countries.

The fourth day returned to theoretical learning, this time focusing on coastal plankton sampling and analysis using the PlanktoScope technology. The PlanktoScope is a modular, community-supported, quantitative imaging platform, developed with the aim of lowering the threshold for the collection, processing, and analysis of plankton observations throughout the world’s ocean in a standardized fashion (Pollina et al. 2022).

On the fifth and final day, participants presented findings, reflections, and proposed next steps for applying what they had learned in their respective countries. The presentations fostered dialogue, mutual support, and the strengthening of a collaborative network committed to advancing coastal biodiversity monitoring across the Americas.

Several key recommendations emerged during workshop discussions. Emphasis was on the strengthening and expansion of the photo-quadrat protocol for rocky intertidal monitoring for regional operational and comparable biodiversity surveys, with the options of incorporating eDNA and plankton imaging into biodiversity monitoring efforts:

Adapting the protocol for low tidal amplitude regions: A need was identified to modify certain aspects of the protocol to ensure its applicability in areas with minimal tidal variation. This is the case with the Caribbean Basin. Given that much of the current protocol is based on experiences from high-amplitude tidal zones like Patagonia (Argentina and Chile), adjustments will help broaden its use across different geographical contexts.

As part of the conclusions, the sampling methodologies developed during the MBON workshop show strong potential for collaborative networks aiming to improve primary data collection through non-extractive, repeatable, and cost-effective monitoring practices and for future scientific initiatives that go beyond participatory approaches. These methodologies open the door to community-engaged projects involving park rangers, local schools and other non-scientific stakeholders, fostering inclusive and collaborative knowledge generation.

While inexpensive and easy-to-apply methodologies are being widely adopted by biodiversity monitoring efforts throughout the region, sustained financial and institutional support continues to emerge as a key challenge. Individual commitment has supported such efforts. Nonetheless, the inclusion of other stakeholders, such as park rangers and citizen scientists, the MBON Pole to Pole has strengthened its ability to sustain monitoring of coastal habitats, showing a large potential for expansion as a model along the Americas. This way, further steps may focus on

ensuring local engagement and financial support,

This workshop consolidated the MBON Pole to Pole network as a robust and collaborative platform for generating marine biodiversity data using standardized protocols across diverse regions. The network has demonstrated its scalability and stands as a global example of how coordinated, science-based monitoring can inform marine conservation and management. Moving forward, key priorities include securing sustained funding to maintain momentum, expanding monitoring coverage and stakeholder participation, and developing simplified and affordable protocols to integrate emerging tools like environmental DNA and plankton imaging into network activities. Implementing these innovations as proof-of-concept initiatives will be essential to further enhance the network’s capacity to support biodiversity assessments and ecosystem-based management at regional and global scales.