Dear Colleagues, Please consider submitting your abstracts on marine mammal and related LMR observing to our Ocean Sciences 2016 session (Feb. 21-26th, New Orleans). Integration of active and passive acoustics, as well as other types of bio-sensors (as described below) into ecosystem observing systems are encouraged contributions to this session. The deadline for abstract submissions is *Wednesday, 23 September 23:59 EDT.* *Session Topic:* Ocean Observing and Data Management *Session ID:* 9235 *Session Title:* Evolving Biologically-Enabled Ocean Observing Systems: Integrating Biological Observations with Physicochemical Measurements for Informed Ecosystem-Based Decision Making *Chairs:* Rebecca Green (BOEM), Gabrielle Canonico (IOOS), Barbara Kirkpatrick (GCOOS), Heidi Sosik (WHOI), *Coordinated with: *Jay Pearlman (J&F Enterprise), Samantha Simmons (MMC), Francisco Chavez (MBARI) *Session Description:* The rapidly expanding efforts to integrate biological, physical, and chemical measurements into a “whole ecosystem” understanding of coastal and oceanic regimes will play an increasing role in informing conservation and management needs. Sustained, interdisciplinary observing now spans spatial, temporal, and trophic scales, utilizing a wide variety of platforms (e.g., moored observatories, gliders, profiling floats, satellites) and technologies, including rapidly advancing biological observing capability, such as eDNA tools for assessing biodiversity, in-situ bio-optical instrumentation for measuring planktonic assemblages, acoustic telemetry for tracking tagged animals, and passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammal vocalizations. Expanding national and international networks contribute to the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON), Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) and Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), and other programs collecting long-term biological observations. Incorporation of living marine resources into the ocean observing framework is a high priority as we strive toward a long-term understanding of ecosystem trends to inform policy in a world faced by multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors to our coastal and marine environments. This session will address both advances in sensors and in systems necessary to achieve this long-term understanding. We hope you will contribute your research and perspectives to this session! Regards, Session Organizing Team *Rebecca Green, PhD* *Senior Oceanographer* *Environmental Studies Program* *Bureau of Ocean Energy Management* *Gulf of Mexico Region* *phone: (504) 736-2740*