Through the magnifying glass: how cutting-edge technology is helping scientists understand baby corals
In a study just published, researchers from Southern Cross University and CSIRO describe how advanced imaging techniques offer new ways to monitor baby corals.
- In a study just published, researchers from Southern Cross University and CSIRO describe how advanced imaging techniques offer new ways to monitor baby corals.
- So it’s useful to better understand how baby corals select and attach to reefs, establish themselves and grow into adult corals.
The secret life of corals
- They all rise to the surface where the eggs are fertilised, developing into embryos and then later, into larvae.
- If things go according to nature’s plan, the larvae eventually fall through the water, attach to a reef and grow into adult corals.
- Once corals have established themselves, the plates are taken back to the lab to be inspected under a microscope.
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Capturing the reef in incredible 3D detail
- The technology combines macrophotography – photographing small objects close-up, at very high resolution – and photogrammetry – taking measurements from photos.
- The three round objects in the model are “targets” we placed to help the software stitch the photos together.
- Photogrammetry software was used to process the photos, creating precise 3D models that represent the small sections of reef at very high resolution.
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Looking ahead
- For example, coral larvae can be dyed various colours before release, making them more visible when they swim to and settle on the reef.
- This could be captured in 3D models to allow even better tracking of larval restoration efforts.
- The use of macrophotogrammetry will deepen our understandings of why some larvae settle and survive on reefs, and others do not.