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Burns JA, Becker KP, Casagrande D, Daniels J, Roberts P, Orenstein E, Vogt DM, Teoh ZE, Wood R, Yin AH, Genot B, Gruber DF, Katija K, Wood RJ, Phillips BT. An in situ digital synthesis strategy for the discovery and description of ocean life. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4960. [PMID: 38232174 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Revolutionary advancements in underwater imaging, robotics, and genomic sequencing have reshaped marine exploration. We present and demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach that uses emerging quantitative imaging technologies, an innovative robotic encapsulation system with in situ RNA preservation and next-generation genomic sequencing to gain comprehensive biological, biophysical, and genomic data from deep-sea organisms. The synthesis of these data provides rich morphological and genetic information for species description, surpassing traditional passive observation methods and preserved specimens, particularly for gelatinous zooplankton. Our approach enhances our ability to study delicate mid-water animals, improving research in the world's oceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Burns
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA
| | - Kaitlyn P Becker
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - David Casagrande
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Joost Daniels
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Research and Development, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Paul Roberts
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Research and Development, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Eric Orenstein
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Research and Development, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Daniel M Vogt
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Ryan Wood
- PA Consulting, Concord, MA 01742, USA
| | - Alexander H Yin
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Baptiste Genot
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME 04544, USA
| | - David F Gruber
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Kakani Katija
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Research and Development, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - Robert J Wood
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Brennan T Phillips
- Department of Ocean Engineering, University of Rhode Island, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
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Corlett RT. Achieving zero extinction for land plants. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:913-923. [PMID: 37142532 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of plants for humans and the threats to their future, plant conservation receives far less support compared with vertebrate conservation. Plants are much cheaper and easier to conserve than are animals, but, although there are no technical reasons why any plant species should become extinct, inadequate funding and the shortage of skilled people has created barriers to their conservation. These barriers include the incomplete inventory, the low proportion of species with conservation status assessments, partial online data accessibility, varied data quality, and insufficient investment in both in and ex situ conservation. Machine learning, citizen science (CS), and new technologies could mitigate these problems, but we need to set national and global targets of zero plant extinction to attract greater support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard T Corlett
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China; Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan 666303, China.
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