Nord University – At the NOW 2026 Conference, Dr. L. Ribas-Deulofeu @ribas-deulofeu.bsky.social explored how AI can help close the gap between biodiversity monitoring & data availability, to support adaptive conservation & policy decisions.
Credits: @isfold.bsky.social
#MarineEcology #AI
Through the BioBoost+ project, both historical and newly collected samples are being digitised and analysed using AI-assisted approaches—combining computer vision and machine learning to accelerate data availability and support more responsive, adaptive management of marine ecosystems.
Drawing on experiences from Bioboost+ & GuardIAS Project @guardias.bsky.social she emphasised that AI must be applied thoughtfully—its reliability depends on understanding how models work and on building high-quality, representative training datasets.
#biodiversity #ArtificialIntelligence
The key message: AI can make benthic monitoring faster and more scalable, but expert knowledge remains essential.
Research: Igor Granado, Xabier Lekunberri, Inma Martin, Natalia Montero, Joxe M. Garmendia
Coordination: Jose A. Fernandes-Salvador, Ibon Galparsoro
@azti.bsky.social l
NORD activity – Zooplankton sampling in Sub-Arctic Fjord (Mistfjorden). Earlier in the year there were perfect conditions for Dr. Ribas-Deulofeu @ribas-deulofeu.bsky.social to sample zooplankton in the sub-Arctic fjord Mistfjord (Norway).
#MarineEcology #Bioboostplus #Biodiversa
Two deep-learning models were tested: YOLOv8x and Faster R-CNN.
Organisms were then tracked across video frames so each individual was counted only once per transect.
#ComputerVision #ROV
Can AI help us monitor life on the seafloor?
In this BioBoost+ case study, the AZTI team tested computer vision to detect and count benthic taxa from ROV videos in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay.
#BioBoostPlus #AZTI @azti.bsky.social
These new samples extend a remarkable long-term monitoring time series that began in 1983.
#Biodiversity #OceanScience #Zooplankton #Arctic #FieldScience #ArtificiaIntelligence
Credits: L. Ribas-Deulofeu, M. Krogstad