Motivated by a visit to the dentist, Dr. Kate Quigley offers a novel method for tracking coral size and growth that cuts surveying time by 99%.
A new non-destructive method for quickly and safely scanning coral has been developed by Dr. Kate Quigley, a senior research scientist at the Minderoo Foundation who conducted the research at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, replacing earlier time-consuming and laborious surveying techniques.
Dr. Quigley made the comparison between coral and teeth after going to the dentist because both are calcium-based and call for measurement instruments that can endure moist surfaces.
"One day, I was at the dentist, and they rolled out this new scanning machine. I knew immediately that it was something that could apply to scanning very small corals given corals and teeth actually share many similar properties. The rest is history!" says Dr. Quigley.
One of the most productive ecosystems on earth, coral reefs offer vital nutritional and defensive functions to people worldwide. These significant ecosystems have experienced substantial reductions in recent decades, which has sparked a frenzy of research into the fundamental biology and restoration of these ecosystems. Scientists can forecast ecological changes, the effects of disturbance, and the possibility of recovery by understanding the crucial life stage of young coral.
Understanding coral's health and how it responds to stressors like climate change and acidity can be learned by reconstructing coral 3D models. There are several ways to create and evaluate these 3D models, but they are less successful when measurements are made at tiny scales.
Dr. Quigley said: "At the moment, it is difficult to accurately measure tiny objects in 3D, especially if you are interested in measuring small live animals, like coral, without hurting them.
"During my Ph.D., it would take half a day to produce one scan, and I was interested in scanning hundreds of corals at a time.
"For the first time, this new method will allow scientists to measure thousands of tiny corals fast, accurately, and without any negative health impacts on the coral. This has the potential to expand large-scale monitoring of ocean health and for up-scaling coral reef restoration."
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