A Revolutionary Approach to Marine Biodiversity Discovery
Scientists from Ifremer, in collaboration with colleagues from Japan’s JAMSTEC, the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Netherlands, and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Germany, have embarked on an unprecedented initiative. By employing a unique method that melds 3D high-resolution imaging with artificial intelligence (AI), the Meiodyssea project aims to discover and catalog between 125 to 200 new species of meiofauna—tiny organisms under one millimeter in size living within the seabed—across all five oceans within the next three years. Funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the project’s goal is to enhance our understanding and conservation efforts for the perpetually unseen yet biologically pivotal marine meiofauna.
Deep-sea Exploration Across Global Ocean Floors
Under Ifremer’s coordination, this pioneering project stands out not only for its novel methodology but also for the vast array of sediment samples to be processed. These sediment specimens are sourced from 1,437 global sites, reaching depths from a few centimeters to over 6,000 meters, spanning from icy polar waters to warm tropical seas. The gathered data will create a comprehensive database that reflects the diverse marine environments from coastlines to the deepest oceanic trenches.
The Incredible Diversity of the World’s Marine Life
Despite the two million species currently documented, only a quarter-million belong to the marine animal category. Research highlights that even on the world’s most recognized shores, about half of the species sampled are new to science. This number escalates in lesser-studied habitats such as the deep sea, where up to 90% of meiofauna species await description.
The Critical Role of Miniscule Marine Species
Daniela Zeppilli, the leading force behind Meiodyssea and head of Ifremer’s deep environment laboratory, points out that these minute creatures possess complex organs pivotal to larger food chains. Some meiofauna species, such as certain small worms, are sentinel indicators of environmental pollution. Delving into the understanding of these hidden species can reveal the significant impact of human activities on the oceans and may inspire biotechnological advancements due to their resilience in extreme conditions.
Creating an Open Database for the Taxonomy Community
Sifting through millions of specimens to highlight the unknown, scientists will employ AI-trained software to identify and describe new species rapidly—transforming weeks of work into a mere 15 minutes. A comprehensive record including genetic, proteomic, and functional traits will then flesh out a 3D high-resolution image database. This vast repository will be openly accessible in 2025, welcoming taxonomists worldwide to draw from a wealth of information, laying the foundation for “cybertaxonomy”—a path toward global data conservation and taxonomy standardization to accelerate marine biodiversity knowledge.
To add further context and information around the Meiodyssea project’s endeavors to identify hundreds of unknown marine species, consider these additional facts:
– The importance of meiofauna in marine ecosystems extends beyond their own biological roles; they serve as a measure of environmental health and biodiversity. Since meiofauna are an integral part of the food web, changes in their populations can have cascading effects on larger organisms.
– Advances in technology such as high-throughput DNA sequencing (metabarcoding) aid in identifying organisms quickly and accurately, which is especially useful for studying meiofauna due to their small size and the difficulty of morphological identification.
Key Questions and Challenges:
1. How will scientists ensure that the vast amount of data collected is accurately interpreted using AI?
Answer: The project will use advanced AI-trained software that has been designed to identify and describe new species efficiently. However, this process likely involves critical calibration with expert taxonomists to ensure the accuracy of species identification.
2. What is the potential impact of this project on conservation efforts?
Answer: By identifying and cataloging unknown species, the project will greatly enhance our understanding of marine biodiversity, which is fundamental to developing effective conservation strategies and policies to protect these ecosystems.
Controversies and Challenges:
– There is ongoing debate about the prioritization of taxonomy in the scientific community, with some arguing that funding could be better allocated to direct conservation efforts.
– Taxonomic impediment, a lack of taxonomic expertise and resources, can hinder biodiversity studies. Although AI can help, the interpretation of results still requires human expertise.
Advantages:
– The merging of 3D imaging with AI for rapid species identification could revolutionize taxonomic science, making it more efficient and accessible.
– The creation of a comprehensive and open-access database can democratize marine biodiversity research, enabling scientists from around the world to participate and contribute.
Disadvantages:
– There is a potential for misidentification of species if the AI software is not thoroughly trained or if data quality is compromised.
– The extensive focus on a smaller subset of marine life (meiofauna) may overlook the broader ecological context and connections with larger marine species.
Related to this topic, one can explore the website of Ifremer, the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, at Ifremer or JAMSTEC, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, at JAMSTEC for more information on their respective research and involvement in the Meiodyssea project. The database in 2025 will likely be linked through these or similar institutional platforms.
The source of the article is from the blog be3.sk