An estimated 70% of coral reef restoration projects fail because stress or disease is detected too late for effective intervention. However, a new bespoke AI coral system could significantly reduce this statistic.
The system (BlueBiome), led by PhD research student Nicole Yeomans and University of Derby marine scientist Professor Michael Sweet, applies the same preventive and precision health principles commonly used in treating human gut health.
The AI system is trained to “see” coral stress like a marine biologist and is based on data developed as part of Dr Yeoman’s PhD. The platform then flags symptoms of stress such as bleaching, tissue lesions or necrosis, and changes in pigmentation.
This technology enables this monitoring on a scale that would not be possible manually in the field.
The AI analysis is then combined with genetic monitoring of the microbiome, where coral samples are analyzed over time to assess microbial health, similar to human gut health tests.
After assessing the coral’s ‘microbiome’, we provide targeted treatments based on the coral’s unique needs.
The research is currently being carried out in a controlled environment in collaboration with public aquariums and hobbyists, with the hope that in the long term the program can be implemented globally to improve coral reef success rates and protect coral reefs from increasing climate pressures around the world.
