How AI and crowd-sourcing helps us understand seadragons | Nerida Wilson | TEDxPerth

TL;DR

Researchers are using computer algorithms and public contributions to study sea dragons and gather information to better understand and protect them.

Transcript

in April 2007 someone took a photograph of a sea dragon in Tasmania it's a male sea dragon and we later named him Speedy he's already an adult in this Photograph and you can tell from the mtled skin on the underside of his tail that he's recently carried a brood of egg you see in Sea Dragons It's the males who are left holding the babies in our dat... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌊 Sea dragons are unique and endemic species found only in Australian waters.
• 🤢 The Great Southern Reef, where sea dragons are found, is under threat from climate change, development, and pollution.
• 🤢 Facial recognition technology is being used to track and identify individual sea dragons, eliminating the need for physical tagging.
• 🤢 The public's contributions, such as submitting photographs, are crucial in gathering data on sea dragons and supporting conservation efforts.
• 🤢 Sea dragons are masters of camouflage, making them challenging to study underwater.
• 🤢 Researchers are using computer algorithms and machine learning to analyze sea dragon photographs and identify unique individuals.
• 🤢 Speedy, a sea dragon, is the oldest known living wild sea dragon at 16 years old.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are sea dragons important to study?

Sea dragons are important to study because they are unique, endemic species found only in Australian waters. Understanding their population and behavior can help inform conservation efforts and protect their habitats.

Q: How do researchers gather data on sea dragons?

Researchers use a method called mark recapture survey, where they track and identify individual sea dragons. Instead of physically tagging the animals, they use facial recognition technology to identify unique patterns on the dragons' faces and bodies.

Q: What is the role of the public in studying sea dragons?

The public plays a crucial role in gathering data on sea dragons. Researchers ask the public to submit photographs of sea dragons, which are then analyzed using computer algorithms. The public's contributions help expand the dataset and improve understanding of sea dragon populations.

Q: Why is studying sea dragons important for conservation?

Studying sea dragons is important for conservation because it provides valuable information about their population size, distribution, and behavior. This information can guide conservation policies and efforts to protect sea dragon habitats.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• There are three species of sea dragons found in Australia, and they are only found in Australian waters.

• Sea dragons, particularly the common or weedy sea dragon, are found in the Great Southern Reef, which is under threat from climate change and pollution.

• To gather information about sea dragons, researchers are using computer algorithms and facial recognition technology to track and identify individual sea dragons.