Automated fish identification and abundance using artificial intelligence

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On June 26, 2020

By Ellen Ditria While running video footage fresh from your underwater camera into a computer that automatically identifies species and determines abundance may seem like wishful thinking for ecologists, successes in recent research shows we’re close to having an accessible tool for researchers. The use of camera technology in aquatic sciences has increase rapidly over […]

Data Science: The new language of ecologists

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On June 24, 2020

By PhD candidate Sebastian Lopez-Marcano Read Time: 416 words about 3 minutes. Data creates magic. In ecology, data is necessary to make targeted management decisions. New tools (i.e. deep learning / computer vision) are allowing data to be processed at vast rates which is making data more accessible and useful. However, converting raw data into meaningful insights for ecological research can be challenging. Data nodes. Photo: Akamai. Through the years, ecologists have become familiar […]

Computer Vision Resources: Fish Classification Datasets

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On June 17, 2020

by Sebastian Lopez Computer vision is transforming the collection and processing of digital imagery for ecology and conservation. In aquatic environments, computer vision tools for automatic fish identification are heavily sought after, but robust and open-access fish datasets are hard to find. Here, I share some of the most used, open-access and updated fish datasets […]

Building a sustainable future for seagrass ecosystems

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On June 9, 2020

Seagrass ecosystems are among the most productive on the earth, providing a huge diversity of ecosystem functions and services that directly benefit humans. Despite this, seagrass habitats are usually overshadowed by some of the more charismatic ecosystems such as bright, colourful coral reefs. A report led by UNEP released on World Oceans Day has assembled […]

Fragmentation threatens mangrove forests but protection can help….in some areas

Posted by Ellen Ditria
On June 4, 2020

By Dr Mischa Turschwell, Global Wetlands Project Mangrove forest conservation is increasingly attracting international interest. That’s because mangroves support incredible biodiversity, enhance fisheries, protect vulnerable coastal communities from storms, and reduce climate change by storing carbon. Unfortunately, mangrove forests remain one of the worlds most threatened ecosystems. Pressures from forest fragmentation, climate change, increasing exploitation by humans, and altered river flows all continue to degrade and impact […]