Artificial intelligence and automated monitoring for assisting conservation of marine ecosystems: A perspective

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 9

Published: July 28, 2022

Conservation of marine ecosystems has been highlighted as a priority to ensure sustainable future. Effective management requires data collection over large spatio-temporal scales, readily accessible and integrated information from monitoring, tools support decision-making. However, there are many roadblocks achieving adequate timely on both the effectiveness, long-term success conservation efforts, including limited funding, inadequate sampling, processing bottlenecks. These factors can result in ineffective, or even detrimental, decisions already impacted ecosystems. An automated approach facilitated by artificial intelligence (AI) provides managers with toolkit that help alleviate number these issues reducing monitoring bottlenecks costs monitoring. Automating collection, transfer, access greater information, thereby facilitating effective management. Incorporating automation big availability into decision system user-friendly interface also enables adaptive We summarise current state techniques used science use examples other disciplines identify existing potentially transferable methods enable improve predictive modelling capabilities making. discuss emerging technologies likely be useful research computer associated continues develop become more accessible. Our perspective highlights potential AI analytics for supporting decision-making, but points important knowledge gaps multiple areas processes. challenges should prioritised move toward implementing informed understanding successful outcomes managers. conclude emphasis assisted several scientific may mean future is improved implementation automation.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Services: Delivering Decision-Making for Salt Marshes

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 44(6), P. 1691 - 1698

Published: May 21, 2021

Language: Английский

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Tidal barriers and fish – Impacts and remediation in the face of increasing demand for freshwater and climate change

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 289, P. 108376 - 108376

Published: May 22, 2023

Worldwide, tidal barriers (e.g. barrages, dikes, tide gates) are constructed in the lower reaches and estuaries of rivers to limit saltwater incursion into upstream freshwater reserves, facilitate water diversion abstraction, flooding reclaim land, generate electricity. While performing these functions, also affect fish through: 1) reduced connectivity; 2) loss flux; 3) conversion estuarine habitats freshwater; 4) diminished discharge, which compresses spatio-temporal salinity regime downstream habitats. As such, commonly cause declines diadromous associated species, with a subsequent ecosystem services. These impacts will be exacerbated as climate change promotes sea-level rise alters flow regimes amplified by increasing demands for growing human population. result, more likely. Nevertheless, barriers, management that connectivity natural function is but remains complex from ecological, economic engineering perspectives. We present case studies Netherlands, southeastern United States Australia characterise on fishes different biogeographical regions document contemporary approaches restoring populations systems barriers. To meet goals, we suggest three key considerations future research provision passage, reinstating flux delivering environmental flows.

Language: Английский

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An integrative salt marsh conceptual framework for global comparisons

Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(6), P. 830 - 849

Published: July 15, 2023

Abstract Salt marshes occur globally across climatic and coastal settings, providing key linkages between terrestrial marine ecosystems. However, salt marsh science lacks a unifying conceptual framework; consequently, historically well‐studied locations have been used as normative benchmarks. To allow for more effective comparisons the diversity of marshes, we developed an integrative framework. We review ecosystem‐relevant drivers from global to local spatial scales, integrate these multi‐scale settings into framework, provide guidance on applying framework using specific variables 11 examples. Overall, this allows appropriate comparison study sites by accounting global, coastal, inter‐, intra‐system unique each marsh. anticipate that incorporating will mechanism critically evaluate research questions foundation quantitative studies deepen our understanding function scales.

Language: Английский

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Out of the shadows: automatic fish detection from acoustic cameras

Aquatic Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 57(4), P. 833 - 844

Published: May 26, 2022

Abstract Efficacious monitoring of fish stocks is critical for efficient management. Multibeam acoustic cameras, that use sound-reflectance to generate moving pictures, provide an important alternative traditional video-based methods are inoperable in turbid waters. However, like standard video methods, produce large volumes imagery from which it time consuming and costly extract data manually. Deep learning, a form machine can be used automate the processing analysis data. We convolutional neural networks (CNNs) detect count publicly available dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON) dataset. compared three types detections, direct acoustic, shadows, combination shadows. The deep learning model was highly reliable at detecting obtain abundance using Model accuracy counts-per-image improved by inclusion shadows (F1 scores, measure accuracy: 0.79, shadow 0.88, combined 0.90). MaxN per high all detections scores: 0.90, 0.91). Our results demonstrate CNNs powerful tool automating underwater analysis. Given this promise, we suggest broadening scope testing include wider range shapes, sizes, abundances, with view species (or ‘morphospecies’) counts.

Language: Английский

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Valuing the contribution of estuarine habitats to commercial fisheries in a seagrass-dominated estuary

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 274, P. 107927 - 107927

Published: June 1, 2022

Language: Английский

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Effects of Grazing by Native and Non-Native Terrestrial Vertebrates on the Growth of Tecticornia arbuscula in Australian Temperate Saltmarshes

Wetlands, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 44(7)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Co-Funding Robust Monitoring with Living Shoreline Construction is Critical for Maximizing Beneficial Outcomes

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 48(1)

Published: Oct. 28, 2024

Abstract Huge sums of money (billions) are being spent to combat the loss valuable coastal ecosystems and human infrastructure through stabilization shorelines. The last several decades have seen a large push towards implementation nature-based approaches, or living shorelines (LS), that seek both stabilize promote enhance ecosystem functions services. A growing body research has demonstrated ecological benefits LS restorations. However, our ability identify specific designs features most particular services remains limited. As result, we can provide limited guidance on best for future projects will maximize their benefits, therefore return investment. Every restoration project is essentially an experiment rich knowledge outcomes, but only if relevant monitoring properly funded information made widely available practitioners. Despite investment billions dollars into projects, considerably fewer funds directed research, monitoring, assessment these projects. In many cases, funding becomes after installed, meaning frequently forced use space-for-time substitution rather than more rigorous robust include sampling before construction. We call agencies embed allow greater understanding successes failures, wisely guide

Language: Английский

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Characterising fish habitat use of fringing oyster reefs using acoustic imaging

Marine and Freshwater Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 74(1), P. 39 - 49

Published: Oct. 28, 2022

Context Oysters provide structured habitat along coastal margins, but owing to the high turbidity of many estuaries, characterising faunal communities that utilise oyster reefs typically requires direct capture, which is potentially lethal or destructive. Acoustic imaging sonar can non-destructively sample abundance and size swimming organisms (nekton), collection data from acoustic files substantial processing time following field sampling. Aims We compared five alternate examination protocols could be applied intertidal identified a protocol (analysing randomly chosen 3 5 min imagery recordings) reduces parameter estimation bias time. Methods To demonstrate utility this protocol, we investigated diel differences in fish use fringing reefs. Key results During day-time night-time sampling, respectively recorded 4535 1924 across range 1–52 cm. found no difference between day night relative abundance, mean size, size-spectra community inhabiting Conclusions implications Active an effective, non-destructive method characterise shallow, turbid habitats used test hypotheses regarding ecology these ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Stable isotope mixing models demonstrate the role of an invasive plant in wetland songbird food webs

Applications in Plant Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10(4)

Published: July 1, 2022

Abstract Premise Invasive plants in wetlands are often ecosystem engineers, mediating changes functions like trophic support. We documented the impacts of Lepidium latifolium , an invasive plant, on food web omnivorous birds (Suisun song sparrows, Melospiza melodia maxillaris ) a tidal wetland northern California, USA. Methods used analysis natural abundance stable isotopes 13 C and 15 N sparrow blood, invertebrate sources, L. seeds, other marsh plant seeds to inform Bayesian, concentration‐dependent mixing models that predicted average diets. Results Season phenology influenced source incorporation isotopic signatures. Song sparrows showed higher variability summer. The observed diets were driven by altered communities related seasonal presence shifts from consumption sources during breeding season spring Discussion This study isotope tools modeling demonstrate two mechanisms influence sparrows. can site‐ species‐specific management strategies demonstrating how community impact entire systems.

Language: Английский

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