Enabling coral reef triage through molecular biotechnology and artificial intelligence

Anderson B. Mayfield ； Chii-Shiarng Chen

《Platax》 2019卷 (2019/12) Pp. 23-47

https://doi.org/10.29926/PLATAX.201912_2019.0002

摘要

Coral reef ecosystems are threatened by an onslaught of anthropogenic stressors, most notably global climate change (GCC); indeed, no regions have been spared from our wide-ranging human impact. Consequently, there have been urgent pushes to 1) model how marine organisms will respond to changes in their environments and 2) make data-driven predictions as to which populations are most stress sensitive. Given our recently elevated understanding of how GCC affects reef corals, we are now in a position in which it may be possible to make projections as to which corals are most susceptible to GCC, as well as which will demonstrate resilience. Herein we explore the potential for artificial intelligence-based approaches to generate models that can accurately predict coral stress susceptibility (CSS). Specifically, we advocate that coral reef-focused partial least squares and neural networking algorithms should be developed, with their prognostic capability then field-tested at sites spanning a gradient of human impact and ecological resilience in the high-biodiversity ＂Coral Triangle.＂ If the developed actuarial models are characterized by the analytical capacity to forecast CSS, we will possess one means of identifying reefs that should be prioritized for conservation (i.e., coral reef ＂triage＂).

關鍵字

artificial intelligence ； coral reefs ； global climate change ； molecular diagnostics ； stress biology