Southern Cross University and CSIRO have made significant advances in monitoring newly settled corals on the Great Barrier Reef using underwater macrophotogrammetry. This innovative imaging technique allows scientists to study the recruitment of corals and other attached organisms directly on the reef, without the need for artificial plates or microscopes.
In the past, the recruitment of corals required attaching artificial plates to the reef and then examining them under microscopes in a laboratory. However, this new method allows scientists to document and track organisms as small as 0.5 millimeters in their natural habitat. By combining macrophotography and photogrammetry, three-dimensional models of small sections of the reef can be created.
One of the main advantages of this approach is that it allows scientists to directly monitor larval settlement and recruitment on the reef. This is cost-effective for large-scale projects such as Coral Larval Restoration on the Great Barrier Reef, as it avoids the need for equipment installation or access to laboratory microscopes on the reef.
Additionally, this technique provides a permanent three-dimensional record of small reef areas, which aids in the characterization of reef-associated organisms. The advancements in modern photography and software for 3D model reconstruction have revolutionized coral reef research. Moreover, the macrophotogrammetry method opens new doors for automated processing and machine learning techniques. These advancements will deepen our understanding of larval settlement and early survival, optimizing coral restoration efforts on the reef.
Not only does this research contribute to closing critical knowledge gaps in reef recovery, but it also offers potential solutions for the effects of climate change on coral reefs. By being able to monitor and track coral recruitment at a submillimeter scale, scientists can develop more effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on coral reefs.
In conclusion, the use of underwater macrophotogrammetry for monitoring newly settled corals on the Great Barrier Reef is a significant breakthrough in coral reef research. It allows for more detailed monitoring and documentation of larval settlement, provides a permanent record of small reef areas, and offers potential solutions for the effects of climate change. This innovative method will undoubtedly contribute to the conservation and restoration of the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem.
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