Citizens and Scientists Unite to Unravel the Mysteries of the Deep Sea
The vast oceans, covering 71% of the Earth’s surface, hold secrets yet unknown. Three-quarters of the ocean floor remains unmapped, a treasure trove of biodiversity with an estimated million undiscovered species adapted to extreme conditions. This biodiversity plays a crucial role in the ocean’s overall functioning.
Enter “Sea Spies,” a web platform launched in 2023 that allows the public to contribute to research on marine life inhabiting the ocean’s depths. Participants can annotate images collected by the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) from its observatories (such as EMSO-Azores) and submarines in diverse marine habitats, ranging from underwater geysers to cold-water coral reefs and the Brest harbor. Users can choose which underwater world to “dive” into and switch between environments at their leisure.
“No prior expertise is necessary,” emphasizes Hélène de Pontual, a researcher at Ifremer. “Participants are guided by tutorials and assistance, enabling them to conduct analysis similar to scientists.”
Cutting-Edge Technologies for Exploration and Study
Marine scientists face technological challenges in accessing, exploring, and studying these distant and deep environments. Specialized techniques are deployed to overcome these obstacles.
“We use deep-sea oceanographic vessels and submarines capable of reaching depths of thousands of meters, or observatories placed directly on the seabed to continuously record data,” explains Stéphane Lesbats, an Ifremer engineer.
Imaging: A Powerful Tool for Data Collection
Imaging has become a widely used technique for studying the ocean, from coastal areas to the open sea, from the surface to the abyss.
“Advances in underwater technology have made image acquisition invaluable for collecting information on the habitat and distribution of marine life, species abundance and size, as well as behavior, feeding habits, growth, reproduction, and responses to environmental changes,” notes de Pontual.
Participatory Science: A Collaborative Approach
To extract information from the massive volume of collected images, researchers face a time-consuming task: viewing and analyzing each photo or video to identify organisms and describe their habitats.
“The sheer number of camera-equipped devices used in marine science has led to an overwhelming influx of data,” says de Pontual. “Participatory science has emerged as a powerful approach to multiply our efforts and break down barriers to research.”
Public Participation Drives Scientific Progress
The public’s participation in annotating images is crucial for advancing science. It fosters a partnership between citizens and researchers, contributing to knowledge creation and technological development of AI for image classification. Simultaneously, it raises awareness about scientific endeavors and the changes affecting marine ecosystems.
“The more citizens annotate images, the more they progress and level up, gaining access to new species for identification,” says de Pontual. “Gamification makes the process enjoyable, expanding their knowledge of the marine environment.”
Data Validation and AI Development
Experts in ecology validate citizen data using statistical methods for scientific use. These validations reveal statistical trends and correlations between the presence (or absence) of species and various environmental conditions.
“AI experts utilize the datasets generated through ‘Sea Spies’ to develop and train machine learning algorithms,” de Pontual explains. “These algorithms will eventually be used routinely, accelerating the detection of species in images.”
Citizen Science and AI: A Synergy for Conservation
The synergy between marine scientists, AI experts, and the public holds great promise for better protecting the deep sea. This collaboration can lead to new management tools and decision-making aids to preserve biodiversity and the ocean’s heritage.
“Science and society mutually benefit from and contribute to each other,” de Pontual concludes. “Participatory science empowers citizens, improves daily life, and informs public policy. The ‘Sea Spies’ platform is a testament to this transformative dialogue.”
Mehek