title: A call for an international network of genomic observatories (GOs).
abstract: We are entering a new era in genomics-that of large-scale, place-based, highly contextualized genomic research. Here we review this emerging paradigm shift and suggest that sites of utmost scientific importance be expanded into 'Genomic Observatories' (GOs). Investment in GOs should focus on the digital characterization of whole ecosystems, from all-taxa biotic inventories to time-series 'omics studies. The foundational layer of biodiversity-genetic variation-would thus be mainstreamed into Earth Observation systems enabling predictive modelling of biodiversity dynamics and resultant impacts on ecosystem services.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK. dfield@ceh.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amaral-Zettler
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deck
authors.forename: Mesude
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bicak
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rocca-Serra
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assunta-Sansone
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Field